Undergraduate Programs

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