East Asian Studies Major/Minor Requirements

The interdisciplinary program in Asian Studies dedicated to the study of the languages, histories, cultures, and contemporary importance of Asia. The rich cultural heritages and the political and economic significance of the region are covered by courses in anthropology, art history, history, government, ethnic studies, literature, religious studies, and more. To achieve in-depth and critical understanding of Asia, the Asian Studies major combines the study of an Asian language offered at Lawrence at the advanced intermediate level (the equivalent of one year) with coursework on Asia taught in English. To achieve in-depth and critical understanding as well as offer flexibility to students, the Asian Studies major offers three tracks.  

Majors further strengthen their Chinese or Japanese language skills by studying in an off-campus program. Content majors may also opt to study elsewhere in Asia, including existing programs in Korea, Thailand, and India. In addition to improving language skills and filling out the student’s program in regionally specific courses, studying abroad enhances the students’ academic program through firsthand cultural experience in Asia.  

Beginning with foundational coursework in pre-modern and modern Asian history, Asian Studies students gain an understanding of the basic historical development of Asian political and cultural traditions. Students then draw from this historical knowledge in their subsequent seminars to analyze in depth how these traditions have evolved with modernization, and to examine contemporary areas of social change. Through coursework and off-campus studies, majors articulate the relevance of Asia to broader contexts. 

The major in Asian Studies thus seeks to prepare students intellectually, linguistically, and personally for further graduate work or professional careers as Asian specialists. Students planning to pursue graduate work in an area of Asian Studies are strongly advised to develop competence in one of the disciplines by taking additional courses that teach the methods of the discipline. 

Required for the major in East Asian studies 

Students who major in Asian Studies will demonstrate an understanding of the basic historical development of relevant political and cultural traditions and use this knowledge to analyze how these traditions have evolved with modernization, which may include analysis of contemporary areas of social change. Students will be able to relate the relevance of the study of Asia to a broader international or academic context. In the culmination of the major, students will critically analyze an aspect of Asian history, philosophy, art, culture, society, economics or politics in a clearly written, thesis-driven project, and will utilize some target language sources, as primary or secondary literature, in carrying out their research. 

Required for the major in East Asian studies 

Students who major in Asian Studies will demonstrate an understanding of the basic historical development of relevant political and cultural traditions and use this knowledge to analyze how these traditions have evolved with modernization, which may include analysis of contemporary areas of social change. Students will be able to relate the relevance of the study of Asia to a broader international or academic context. In the culmination of the major, students will critically analyze an aspect of Asian history, philosophy, art, culture, society, economics or politics in a clearly written, thesis-driven project, and will utilize some target language sources, as primary or secondary literature, in carrying out their research. 

The major in Asian Studies with Content Focus requires (11 six-unit courses):

1. Completion of the first-year language sequence (CHIN 101, 102, and 201 or JAPN 101, 102, and 201)

2. ASIA 212/ HIST 212 East Asia in the Premodern World

3. ASIA 213/HIST 213: East Asia in the Modern World

4. 5 six-unit ASIA cross-listed electives, two of which must be at 300-level or higher

5. Senior Experience, which will be taken as a 1-unit 600-level Directed Study course with a concomitant enrollment in an upper-division (300 or above) ASIA course, with instructor approval. Senior majors would complete the work for the upper-division ASIA course and do additional work for the capstone. This will allow the FTE to count for ASIA, as well as giving the senior major a sense of community.

The major in Asian Studies with Chinese Language Focus requires (12 six-unit courses):

1. Completion of first- and second-year Chinese language sequence (6 six-unit courses), plus one 400-level language course (CHIN 101, 102, 201; 202, 203, 301; and one 400-level CHIN course)

2. An exit proficiency interview

3. ASIA 212/ HIST 212 East Asia in the Premodern World

4. ASIA 213/HIST 213: East Asia in the Modern World

5. Two elective ASIA courses, taught in English, one at the 300-level or higher

6. Senior Experience, which will be taken as a 1-unit 600-level Directed Study course with a concomitant enrollment in an upper-division (300 or above) ASIA course, with instructor approval. Senior majors would complete the work for the upper-division ASIA course and do additional work for the capstone. This will allow the FTE to count for ASIA, as well as giving the senior major a sense of community.

The major in Asian Studies with Japanese Language Focus requires (12 six-unit courses):

1. Completion of first- and second-year Japanese language sequence (6 six-unit courses), plus one 400-level language course (JAPN 101, 102, 201; 202, 203, 301 and one 400-level JAPN course)

2. An exit proficiency interview

3. ASIA 212/ HIST 212 East Asia in the Premodern World

4. ASIA 213/HIST 213: East Asia in the Modern World

5. Two elective ASIA courses, taught in English, one at the 300-level or higher

6. Senior Experience, which will be taken as a 1-unit 600-level Directed Study course with a concomitant enrollment in an upper-division (300 or above) ASIA course, with instructor approval. Senior majors would complete the work for the upper-division ASIA course and do additional work for the capstone. This will allow the FTE to count for ASIA, as well as giving the senior major a sense of community.

In addition to the requirements listed above, majors are advised to have a disciplinary focus to frame their Senior Experience, which will be taken as a 1-unit independent study  with an upper-division (300 or above) ASIA course, with permission of the instructor. If undertaken, ASIA coursework in a discipline of interest, as well as additional coursework in methods and theory in that same discipline, should be completed prior to the Senior Experience course.

Majors in all three focal areas are encouraged to further strengthen their language skills by studying in Asia (see Off-Campus Programs) and/or in one of several intensive summer language programs offered in the U.S. There are programs in Japan, Taiwan, the PRC, South Korea, India, and Thailand that attract students.

In addition to the requirements listed above, majors are advised to have a disciplinary focus to frame their Senior Experience, which will be taken as a 1-unit independent study with an upper-division (300 or above) ASIA course, with permission of the instructor. If undertaken, ASIA coursework in a discipline of interest, as well as additional coursework in methods and theory in that same discipline, should be completed prior to the Senior Experience course.

Required for the minors in Asian Studies, Chinese, and Japanese

The minor in Asian Studies with Content Focus requires:

1. ASIA 212/HIST 212: East Asia in the Premodern World
2. ASIA 213/HIST 213: East Asia in the Modern World
3. Four 6-unit elective courses in ASIA, one of which must be at the 400-level or higher

The minor in Chinese requires:

1. CHIN 101, 102, 201; 202, 203, 301 and one 400-level language course
2. An exit proficiency interview

The minor in Japanese requires:

1. JAPN 101, 102, 201; 202, 203, 301 and one 400-level language course
2. An exit proficiency interview

Teacher certification in Chinese (K-12)

Asian Studies majors with a Chinese language focus can seek certification to teach Chinese at the elementary and secondary levels. To be certified, students must spend a term in a Chinese-speaking country studying the language and culture and must pass an oral and writing proficiency test. Students can add an endorsement in a second area (such as another language or English as a second language) by completing the appropriate minor. Students who plan to seek teacher certification should review the requirements in the Education section of the catalog and meet with the director of teacher education, preferably before the end of the sophomore year.