Academic Learning Compact - Asian Studies

This interdisciplinary major provides intermediate linguistic facility in an Asian language through a minimum of two years of study (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hindi, Vietnamese). You will acquire knowledge of the geography, history, culture and traditions of one or more Asian sociolinguistic regions or countries, and learn to distinguish between a humanities and social science approach to the study of Asia. You will develop the capacity to relate social and cultural traditions to contemporary phenomena and to conduct formal social inquiry. You will be able to construct analytical arguments and communicate your perspective confidently in spoken and written form.

Additional information is available from your major's website.

Before Graduating You Must

• Pass the SAT II exam in Chinese or Japanese, or complete an internal department exam in the fourth semester of study of a less-commonly taught Asian language.*
• Submit a student portfolio, consisting of one social science and one humanities paper from your major's courses, or complete a senior thesis. The portfolio or senior thesis will be evaluated by faculty committee and a grade of C will be considered passing.**
• Complete requirements for the baccalaureate degree, as determined by faculty.

* You must register for the SAT II the second semester of your second year of language study.
** During your senior year, you will be advised to revise and assemble two portfolio papers, submitting one at the beginning of each semester. Faculty committee review will occur between weeks 9-12 each semester of your senior year.

Skills You Will Acquire in the Major (SLOs)

1. Satisfactory proficiency in an Asian language as determined by SAT II score or internal department exam.
2. Familiarity with the culture and traditions of one or more Asian sociolinguistic regions or countries.
3. Capacity to relate social and cultural traditions to contemporary phenomena.
4. Research project with identified strategies to conduct social inquiry on modern Asia.
5. Construct analytical arguments, handle materials judiciously and communicate independent perspectives in spoken and written formats.

* Courses in these departments at the 3000-/4000-level with a focus on Asia or an Asian region count as courses in the major.

Recurring courses can include:

• African and Asian Languages:
  Chinese - CHI 1130/1131, CHI 2200/2203/2340, CHI 3410/3411
  Japanese - JPN 1130/1131, JPN 2203/2204, JPN 3410/3411
  Hindi, Korean - currently taught as ASN 4905
• African and Asian Literature/Cultures:
  Chinese - CHI 3500, 4850, 4905, 4930; CHT 3110, 3123, 3124, 4111;
    CHW 4120, 4130, 4140
  Japanese - JPN 3391, 3730, 4850, 4905, 4930, 4935, 4940;
    JPT 3100, 3120, 3121, 3130, 3140, 3150, 3300, 3500, 4502; JPW 4130, 4131
• Anthropology: ANT 3364, 4145, 4366
• Art History: ARH 3552, 3555
• History: ASH 3305, 3323, 3381, 3400, 3404, 3442, 3443, 3930
• Political Science: POS 4931
• Religion: REL 3318, 3330, 3335, 3336, 3366, 4337, 4345, 4349