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Asian Studies

 

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 out of the three-targeted countries (China, Japan, and Vietnam).
  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.
  • 8 additional courses within Asian Studies.

    • (a) Students should take at least one of the following gateway content courses that either introduce them to Asian Studies (ASTA 1800 core course) or expose them to the major disciplinary concerns of various fields of study that focus on Asia. Here is a current listing of the relevant courses:


    (b) 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:
    (c) Students need to complete a writing-intensive practicum, either by taking a 4000-level or 6000-level course with a writing-intensive section or by completing ASTA 5100-01 Asian Studies Senior Colloquium.

    (d) Students need to complete a capstone requirement by •writing a senior thesis •enrolling in ASTA 5100-01 Asian Studies Senior Colloquium No more than 7 of the 10 required courses may focus on a same country or its language. Please note that if students have another major apart from Asian Studies, students must have at least 18 separate courses in the two majors. That is, if you make a list of all the courses that are used to complete your major requirements in the two majors, and then count each course once, even if it appears on both lists, there should be at least 18 courses. If a third major is added, there must be a total of 27 separate courses for the three majors; for 4 majors, there must be at least 36 separate courses, etc.
  • No more than 7 of the 9 required courses may focus on a same country or its language.

Please note that all students must have at least 18 separate courses in the primary major and the Asian Studies coordinate major. That is, if you make a list of all the courses that are used to complete your primary major requirements, and another list of all the courses used to complete the Asian Studies coordinate major requirements, and then count each course once, even if it appears on both lists, there should be at least 18 courses. If a third major is added, there must be a total of 27 separate courses for the three majors; for 4 majors, there must be at least 36 separate courses, etc.

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 coordinate 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 coordinate 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 coordinate 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.

Minor in Chinese Language

Students selecting a minor in Chinese Language must complete six 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 to satisfy the undergraduate language proficiency requirement may not find sufficient additional Chinese language courses available to complete the minor.)

Minor in Japanese Language

Students selecting a minor in Japanese Language must complete six 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 to satisfy the undergraduate language proficiency requirement may not find sufficient additional Japanese language courses available to complete the minor.)

Chinese Language Courses

Japanese Language Courses

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