Asian Studies (BA)

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Offered by the Asian Studies program , College of Arts and Sciences , the BA in Asian Studies aims to understand Asia in a dynamic global context. It enhances students’ understanding of historical and contemporary global culture and politics by enabling students to engage with an extensive and intensive study of Asia in the past and present. Students explore the societies of East and South Asia and their global ramifications. The program offers a lively academic study of Asia through interdisciplinary curriculum, internships, international exchange programs, and study abroad.

Admission to the Program

Formal admission to the major requires a grade point average of 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) and the approval of the program director.

University Requirements

120 credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or better
Completion of college writing requirement
Completion of university mathematics requirement

General Education Requirements

A total of ten courses, consisting of two courses from each of the five foundational areas
At least one course from Area Five: The Natural and Mathematical Sciences must include a laboratory science component
No more than two courses may be taken in the same discipline

Major Requirements

39 credit hours with grades of C or better including at least 15 credit hours at the 300-level or above
Demonstrate proficiency in at least one Asian language equivalent to two years of college-level study as certified by the Department of World Languages and Cultures

Course Requirements

Core Requirements (9 credit hours)

Electives (12 credit hours)

Complete 12 credit hours from the following or other courses approved by the major advisor:

ARTH-225 Buddhist Arts of Asia FA1 (3)
ARTH-320 Introduction to the Arts of Japan (3)
ECON-458 Economics of the World Regions (3) (approved topics)
HIST-214 History of the World Regions (3) (approved topics)
HIST-447 Asian Studies (3) (topics)
PHIL-418 Chinese Philosophy (3)
PHIL-419 Buddhist Philosophy (3)
RELG-473 Hinduism (3)
SISU-212 China, Japan and the United States FA3 (3)

Internship (3 credit hours)

Note: With approval of the major advisor, up to an additional 3 credit hours of internship may also be applied toward the elective requirements.

ASIA-491 Internship in Asian Studies (1-6) (3 credit hours required)

Concentration (12 credit hours)

Complete 12 credit hours from the following or other approved upper-level courses, focusing on a concentration determined by the student’s research interests; concentrations may be discipline-based (history and politics, arts and culture, philosophy and religion) or region-based (China, India, Japan, Korea):

ARTH-423 East-West Photography (3)
ARTH-424 Envisioning the Nation: Modern and Contemporary Art in Asia (3)
CHIN-308 Chinese Immersion: Folklore (1) (study abroad)
CHIN-309 Chinese Immersion: Popular Culture (1) (study abroad)
CHIN-310 Chinese Immersion: Social Issues (1) (study abroad)
ECON-458 Economics of the World Regions (3) (approved topics)
HIST-485 Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Beyond (3)
LIT-242 Chinese Literature and Society (3) (study abroad)
LIT-467 Advanced Studies in World Literature (3) (approved topics)
PHIL-413 Studies in Asian Philosophy (3) (topics)
RELG-470 Islam (3)

Senior Capstone Project (3 credit hours)

3 credit hours in an approved capstone project course

Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees

American University offers students the opportunity to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees through its combined bachelor’s/master’s programs. See Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for more information.