Undergraduate Programs

Undergraduates with an interest in Asia matriculating in 2014 and later may pursue a major in Asian Studies, as well as minors in Chinese Language or Japanese Language.

Asian Studies Major

The major in Asian Studies is designed so that students may pursue their particular areas of interest within the Asian Studies program offerings. The major consists of ten courses; students may fulfill these course requirements with courses taken for either three or four credits.

Specific measurable learning outcomes of students graduating with a major in Asian Studies.

1. Possess at least an elementary proficiency in Chinese (Mandarin), Japanese, or Vietnamese.
2. Possess at least a basic understanding of the historical, social, and cultural background of at least two of the three program-targeted regions, East Asia, South asia, and Southeast Asia.
3. Able to locate, evaluate and utilize research materials germane to Asian studies.
4. Able to analyze and interpret specific issues and to develop arguments for research papers related to Asia.

Requirements

• 2 courses in an Asian language (students who demonstrate proficiency in an Asian language may substitute other Asian Studies courses).
• Language Courses taken in fulfillment of the foreign language requirement may not count toward a major.
• NO MORE THAN FIVE ASIAN STUDY LANGUAGE COURSES MAY BE USED TO FULFILL THE MAJOR REQUIREMENTS.
• 8 additional courses within Asian Studies must include:

1. ASTA 1800 Introduction to Asian Studies
2. 2 courses from any two of the targeted regions – East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia.

   The below list of Asian Studies classes does not include occasional "Special Topics" classes:

   • ASTA 1800 Introduction to Asian Studies
   • ASTA 3000 Chinese Literature in Translation
   • ASTA 3180 People of South Asia
   • ASTA 3510 Pre-Modern Japanese Culture
   • ASTA 3511 Introduction to Chinese Linguistics
   • ASTA 3520 Modern Japanese Culture
   • ASTA 3540 Anime, Japan, and Globalization
   • ASTA 3550 Feudal Japan – The Age of the Samurai
   • ASTA 3810 Modern Chinese Literature and Society
   • ASTA 3910 Special Offerings in Asian Studies
   • ASTA 3920 Special Offerings in Asian Studies
   • ASTA 3930 Chinese Language and Culture
   • ANTH 3030 Contemporary Chinese Society
   • ANTH 3080 East Asia
   • ANTH 3160 Peoples of the Pacific
   • ANTH 3180 Ethnic China
   • ANTH 3370 Locating Southeast Asia
   • ANTH 3770 Global Vietnam
   • ECON 3740 Asian Pacific Economic Development
   • HISC 2010 History of China, Prehistory to 1800
   • HISC 2020 History of China, 1800 to Present
   • HISC 2910 Special Topics in Asian Studies
   • HISC 3910 Special Topics in Asian Studies
   • PHIL 3500 Buddhism
   • POLC 3380 Asian Governments
   • POLI 3660 The Rise of China
   • THEA 3030 Suzuki Method of Acting
   • SOCI 1460 Contemporary Asian Communities
3. Students will take at least one advanced content course in Asian Studies. This can be either a 4000-level course or a 6000-level seminar. Here is a current listing of the relevant Asian Studies courses:
   • 4000-level:
     • ASTA 4500 Special Topics in Japanese Literature
     • COMM 4330 Global Media, Politics, and Culture: Globalization and Malaysian Film
     • HISC 4910 Special Topics in Asian Studies
     • POLC 4350 Chinese Politics
     • POLT 4870 Asian Political Thought
   • 6000-level:
     • ASTJ 6070 Languages and Linguistics of Japan
     • ANTH 6070 Contemporary Chinese Society
     • ANTH 6180 Ethnic China
     • HISC 6210 The PRC: China under Communism
     • HISC 6310 China in Revolution, 1900-1949
     • HISC 6410 Empire and Rebellion in China
     • HISC 6510 Imperialism in East Asia
     • HISC 6610 Seminar on Modern Japan
     • HISC 6910 Special Topics in Asian History
     • POLC 6930 Regime Change in Asia
4. Students need to complete a writing-intensive course

China Studies within the Asian Studies Program

Students selecting to pursue the China track within the Asian Studies major must complete five Chinese-related classes as part of the overall requirements for the major. At least two Chinese language classes must be included within the five required track courses. However, students who use Chinese language classes to fulfill the Newcomb-Tulane language proficiency requirement may elect to take five non-language courses to fulfill the track requirements. At least two of these courses must be at or beyond the 3000-level. No more than five Chinese language courses may be applied to the China track requirements. In addition, at least half of the required credits must be taken on the Tulane campus or through a Tulane approved off-campus program. In the case of special topics courses, only China-related topics will be considered and pre-approval is required from the Director of Asian Studies.
Specific measurable learning outcomes of students graduating with a major in Asian Studies with a concentration in the China track.

1. Possess at least an elementary proficiency in Chinese.
2. Possess at least a basic understanding of the historical, social, and cultural background of China.
3. Able to locate, evaluate and utilize research materials germane to Chinese studies.

Japan Studies within the Asian Studies Program

Students selecting to pursue the Japan track within the Asian Studies major must complete five Japanese-related classes as part of the overall requirements for the major. At least two Japanese language classes must be included within the five required track courses. However, students who use Japanese language classes to fulfill the Newcomb-Tulane language proficiency requirement may elect to take five non-language courses to fulfill the track requirements. At least two of these courses must be at or beyond the 3000-level. No more than five Japanese language courses may be applied to the Japan track requirements. In addition, at least half of the required credits must be taken on the Tulane campus or through a Tulane approved off-campus program. In the case of special topics courses, only Japan-related topics will be considered and pre-approval is required from the Director of Asian Studies.
Specific measurable learning outcomes of students graduating with a major in Asian Studies with a concentration in the Japan track.

1. Possess at least an elementary proficiency in Japanese.
2. Possess at least a basic understanding of the historical, social, and cultural background of Japan.
3. Able to locate, evaluate and utilize research materials germane to Japanese studies.

Asian Studies Minors

Asian Studies Minor

Students selecting a minor in Asian Studies must complete six classes within the approved Asian Studies course options. At least two of the six classes must be taken in two of the three-targeted regions – East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia. No more than 2 Asian language courses may be used as part of the required 6 courses.

Chinese Language Minor

Students selecting a minor in Chinese Language must complete five Chinese language courses. Chinese language courses used to fulfill the undergraduate language proficiency requirement may not be counted toward this minor. (Note: students who use Chinese language courses below ASTC 2040 to satisfy the undergraduate language proficiency requirement may not find sufficient additional Chinese language courses available to complete the minor.)

Incoming freshmen who are placed in ASTC 2040 and who are planning to pursue a minor in Chinese language are encouraged to take a proficiency test before the fall semester starts, joining those students who wish to test out of ASTC 2030.

Japanese Language Minor

Students selecting a minor in Japanese Language must complete five Japanese language courses. Japanese language courses used to fulfill the undergraduate language proficiency requirement may not be counted toward this minor. (Note: students who use Japanese language courses below ASTJ 2040 to satisfy the undergraduate language proficiency requirement may not find sufficient additional Japanese language courses available to complete the minor.)

Incoming freshmen who are placed in ASTJ 2040 and who are planning to pursue a minor in Japanese language are encouraged to take a proficiency test before the fall semester starts, joining those students who wish to test out of ASTJ 2030. 

 

Chinese Language Courses

• ASTC 1010 Beginning Chinese I
• ASTC 1020 Beginning Chinese II
• ASTC 1030 Beginning Chinese I: Heritage Learners
• ASTC 1040 Beginning Chinese II: Heritage Learners
• ASTC 2030 Intermediate Chinese I
• ASTC 2040 Intermediate Chinese II
• ASTC 3050 Advanced Chinese I
• ASTC 3060 Advanced Chinese II
• ASTC 3070 Business Chinese
• ASTC 4070 Advanced Chinese Reading and Writing
• ASTC 4080 Advanced Chinese Media Literacy

Japanese Language Courses

• ASTJ 1010 Beginning Japanese I
• ASTJ 1020 Beginning Japanese II
• ASTJ 2030 Intermediate Japanese I
• ASTJ 2040 Intermediate Japanese II
• ASTJ 3050 Advanced Japanese Speaking I
• ASTJ 3051 Advanced Japanese Speaking II
• ASTJ 4060 Advanced Japanese Composition and Presentation I
• ASTJ 4070 Advanced Japanese Composition and Presentation II