Undergraduates with an interest in Asia may pursue a major or minor in Asian Studies, as well as minors in Chinese Language or Japanese Language. Please consult the online schedule of classes for courses approved for credit in Asian Studies in a given semester.
Asian Studies Major
Asian Studies draws from a broad range of courses in the liberal arts, including anthropology, art history, communication, English, film, history, philosophy, political science, and sociology.
Ten courses (minimum of 30 credits) are required for the major:
Gateway course
Students are required to take ASTC 1800 Introduction to Asian Studies
Asian Languages
Students should demonstrate elementary proficiency or the equivalent of the first year of instruction in Chinese (Mandarin), Japanese, or another Asian language in consultation with the Director of the Program by taking at least two language courses. A maximum of four language courses can be counted towards the major.
Please note that a Chinese or Japanese language course used to fulfill the core curriculum foreign language proficiency requirement cannot be counted toward this major.
Geographic Distribution
They are encouraged to demonstrate breadth by taking at least one elective course concerning the East Asian region (i.e. China, Korea, or Japan), and at least one elective course outside of that region – for example, a class on Vietnam or Malaysia.
Upper level seminar
Students are expected to demonstrate the ability to locate, evaluate, and use research materials relevant to Asian Studies as evidenced by a 4000-level and above seminar.
Please note that upper level seminars can also be used to fulfill the geographic distribution requirement.
- ANTH 3160 Peoples of the Pacific
- ANTH 3370 Locating Southeast Asia
- ANTH 3770 Global Vietnam
- ANTH 6770 Global Vietnam
- ASTA 1800 Introduction to Asian Studies
- ARHS 3111 Tombs and Temples: East Asian Art before 1300
- ARHS 3112 Monks and Merchants: East Asian Art from Medieval to Contemporary
- ARGH 6871 Art of Death: Funerary Art and Ritual in Ancient China
- ASTA 3180 People of South Asia
- 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
- ANTH 3770 Chinese Cinema
- ASTA 3810 Modern Chinese Literature and Society
- ASTA 3910 Special Offerings in Asian Studies
- ASTA 4500 Special Topics
- ASTA 4600 Dragon and Lotus
- COMM 2405 Topics in Comparative and Transnational Asian Media
- COMM 4303 Globalization & Malaysian Film
- COMM 4650 Asians in American Film & TV
- 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
- HISC 6110 Women in East Asian History
- HISC 6201 The PRCC: China under Communism
- HISC 6310 China 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
- HISU US War in Vietnam
- PHIL 3490 Buddhist EthicsPHIL 3500 Buddhism
- POLC 3380 Asian Governments
- POLC Chinese Politics
- POLI 3660 The Rise of China
- SOCI 1460 Contemporary Asian Communities
Asian Studies also offers students the option to pursue a China or Japan track within the major.
China Studies within the Asian Studies Program
Students pursuing 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 but no more than five Chinese language classes can count towards the major. At least two of these courses must be at or beyond the 3000-level. In addition, at least half of the required credits must be taken on the Tulane campus or through a Tulane approved off-campus program. Please note that a Chinese language course used to fulfill the core curriculum foreign language proficiency requirement cannot be counted toward this major.
Japan Studies within the Asian Studies Program
Students pursuing 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 but no more than five Japanese language classes can count towards the major. A minimum of two courses must be at or beyond the 3000-level. Please note that a Japanese language course used to fulfill the core curriculum foreign language proficiency requirement cannot be counted toward this major.
Asian Studies Minors
Asian Studies Minor
Students selecting a minor in Asian Studies must complete six classes (minimum 18 credit hours) from the approved Asian Studies course options, including ASTA 1800.
Students should demonstrate breadth by taking at least one elective course concerning the East Asian region (i.e. China, Korea, or Japan), and at least one elective course outside of that region – for example, a class on Vietnam or Malaysia.
Student may also count up to two Asian language courses towards the minor.
Chinese Language Minor
Students selecting a minor in Chinese Language must complete five Chinese language courses. Please note that a Chinese language course used to fulfill the core curriculum foreign language proficiency requirement cannot be counted toward this 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.
Japanese Language Minor
Students selecting a minor in Japanese Language must complete five Japanese language courses.
Please note that a Japanese language course used to fulfill the core curriculum foreign language proficiency requirement cannot be counted toward this minor.
Incoming students who are placed in ASTJ 2030 may not find enough classes offered to fulfill this minor.
Chinese Language Courses
- ASTC 1010 Beginning Chinese I
- ASTC 1020 Beginning Chinese II
- ASTC 2030 Intermediate Chinese I
- ASTC 2040 Intermediate Chinese II
- ASTC 3050 Advanced Chinese I
- ASTC 3060 Advanced Chinese II
- ASTC 3065 Issues in Contemporary China
- ASTC 3070 Business Chinese
- ASTC 4070 Advanced Chinese Reading and Writing
- ASTC 4080 Chinese Media Literacy
- ASTC 4350 Chinese Literature and Culture1
- ASTC 4360 Special Topics in Chinese Language1
1 This course is not offered year.
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 I1
- ASTJ 4070 Advanced Japanese Composition and Presentation II1
1 This course is not offered year.