Major in Asian Studies
The major in Asian Studies focuses on the history, culture, and socities of Asia. Beyond courses specifically in Asian Studies, it can include courses in Art History, Chinese, Comparative Literature, Economics, Geography, History, Japanese, Philosophy, Political Science, Religious Studies, and Theater.
Majors in Asian Studies become analysts of culture and history, learn how to relate the present to the past, and the past to the future. They analyze historical documents, learn to think contextually about social and ecologically change, and to understand the history of the world as a group of systems, and as a single system.
All majors must take the fourth semester of an Asian language (Chinese, Japanese, Hindi, or Korean), as well as courses in Asian history, religion, and literature or philosphy. Study abroad is not required, but it is encouraged.
Double majoring in Asian Studies: Many students in majors such as Japanese, Comparative Literature, History, or Religious Studies have added East Asian Studies as a second major. Double majors in Chinese and Japanese must take at least two Asian Studies courses (one of which must be at the 400 level) that focus on regional topics, or on countries that are not identical with their language major. Also, at least 12 credits cannot be double-counted in the double major.
Study Abroad in Asia: Charlotte Eubanks has developed a Powerpoint presentation that outlines options for Penn State undergraduates who want to major or minor in Asian Studies programs and go abroad. Find it here.
Requirements
The major requires a total of 31 credits, divided as follows:
Language: Select 4 credits beyond the 12-credit level of proficiency in an East Asian language: CHNS 110, JAPNS 110, K0R 110 or the fourth semester of Hindi.
Core courses: ASIA 100 and ASIA 405Y.
Additional coures: Select 3 credits from the following: HIST 174 GH;IL(3); HIST 175 GH;IL(3); or HIST 176 GH;IL(3).
Related courses: Select 18 credits from a department list , at least 12 credits of which are to be at the 400 level; independent study credits selected in consultation with adviser; additional further credits in language studies may be permitted up to 6 credits (credit received for a specific course will not count in more than one category) (Sem: 1-8).
Courses not on the list that deal substantially with some aspect of Asia in any discipline may also count, pending approval of an advisor.
Below is the most recent version of the departmental list:
ARCH 312 (3); ARCH 317 (3); ART H 120 GA;IL(3), ART H 320 GA;IL(3), ART H 340 GA;IL; ASIA 083S IL(3): ASIA 100 GH;IL (3); ASIA 401 IL (3-6); ASIA 405Y IL(3); CHNS 083SIL(3); CHNS 120 GH;IL(3); CHNS 121 GH;IL(3); CHNS 401 IL(4), CHNS 402 IL(4), CHNS 403Y IL(3); CHNS 452 IL(3), CHNS 453 IL(3), CHNS 496(1-18), CMLIT 004 GH;IL(3), CMLIT 111 GH;IL(3), CMLIT 404 IL(3), ECON 474(3), HIST 172 IL(3), HIST 174 GH;IL(3), HIST 175 GH;IL(3), HIST 176 GH;IL(3), HIST 475Y IL(3); HIST 480 IL(3), HIST 481 IL(3), HIST 483 IL(3), HIST 485Y IL(3), HIST 486 IL(3), JAPNS 120 GH;IL(3); JAPNS 121 GH;IL(3); JAPNS 401 IL(4), JAPNS 402 IL(4), JAPNS 403Y IL(3), JAPNS 452 IL(3), JAPNS 453 IL(3), JAPNS 454 IL (3), JAPNS 496(1-18), PHIL 007 GH;IL(3), PL SC 458(3), RL ST 003 GH;US;IL(3), RL ST 103 GH;US;IL(3), RL ST 104 GH;US;IL(3), RL ST 181 IL(3), RL ST 408 US;IL(3); RL ST 409 US;IL(3), RL ST 481 IL(3), RL ST 483 IL(3), THEA 406 IL(3) (Sem: 1-8).
Courses not on the list above may count toward the major. However, Asian Studies majors taking these courses must notify the advisor of the major of this fact so that the course(s) can be placed in the proper category on the transcript manually (it will not happen automatically). Furthermore, ad hoc offerings (083; x96; x97) must be applied to the major manually. These courses may include:
- Any course numbered x96 or x97 that deals with Asia in any discipline
- Any PSU course not listed above that deals with Asia
- Any course dealing with Asia from another institution that appears on a student's PSU transcript as transfer credit
- Any course dealing with Asia taken while participating in a PSU-sponsored study abroad program. Non-PSU study abroad programs require prior approval before their courses can be applied to the major.
Advising
Advising for the major in East Asian Studies and the minor in Asian Area Studies is handled by Dr. Rebecca Egger <rme13@psu.edu>. You can make an appointment to meet with Dr. Egger using this web-based calendar.
