Asian Studies B.A. – Liberal Arts Emphasis
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Contact: Michelle Low, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Location: Candelaria 0095
Telephone: 970.351.1366
Fax: 970.351.2829
Advising Information:
Students must consult with their assigned major advisor each semester prior to registering.
Assigned advisor is available through the Ursa login; http://ursa.unco.edu; under Student tab Academic Profile channel and is term specific. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.
The program consists of three parts:
- Liberal Arts Core (LAC) Credits
- Required Major Credits
- University-Wide Credits
Program Description:
The program in Asian Studies prepares individuals who have a broad understanding of Asia as a region, and in-depth understanding of a particular region of Asia through the study of the languages, history, literatures, arts, and cultures of Asia. Upon completion of this course of study, students will have a highly individualized but broad familiarity with the region, and will also understand the history and culture of Asia, as well as how this history and the various cultures affect its current dynamics.
The program fosters knowledge and study of international, specifically Asian, issues, as well as national and local diversity by inclusion of courses on the Asian Diaspora. Courses in Asian civilizations, literature, history, and the arts train students in Asian culture, and develop their cultural competence. Because the program requires study of Asian languages and encourages study abroad to one of UNC’s direct exchange partner institutions in Asian countries, this program prepares student to work effectively with “diverse populations.”
Students completing this program will have linguistic competence in at least one Asian language, and an understanding in Asian cultures, literature, art and history. Students are further encouraged to take on a minor in other subjects that complement their understanding of Asia, and enable them to continue to graduate studies in Asian studies, or to broaden their career prospects.
Program Admission Requirement:
Academic Good Standing.
Program Requirements:
- A thesis is required to graduate from the program. Students should begin their thesis proposal at least two semesters before the intended graduation date. Both the thesis topic and the thesis advisor must be presented to and approved by the Asian Studies Board in the semester before graduation. Thesis credit will be taken as ASIA 499 with a thesis advisor chosen in consultation with the Asian Studies advisor. Additionally, students must present their thesis in a public setting, such as UNC Research Day or a thesis defense.
- Students must maintain a C or better in courses to be counted towards the major. C- is not acceptable.
Program Recommendations:
Suggested minors are: Business Administration, Chinese, Film, Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality, History, or Gender Studies.
Degree Requirements — 120 Credits
Degree Requirements
1. Required Specified LAC — 3 credits
LAC area 4 — History
| HIST 113 | Asian Civilization II: From 1500 to the Present | 3 |
Remaining LAC — 37 credits
See “Liberal Arts Core ”.
2. Required Major — 61 credits
Take the following courses:
| HIST 112 | Asian Civilization I: From Prehistory to 1500 | 3 |
| ASIA 499 | Asian Studies Thesis | 3 |
A 3-hour thesis course must be completed with a thesis advisor selected in consultation with the Asian Studies Advisor.
Capstone
Choose one of the following courses:
Choose six credits from the following courses:
| CHIN 216 | Masterpieces in Chinese Literature | 3 |
| ENG 236 | Ethnic American Literature | 3 |
| ENG 262 | Masterpieces of World Literature | 3 |
| HIST 211 | History of Asian America | 3 |
Advisor approval is required prior to registering for ENG 236 and ENG 262, which can only count toward this requirement if at least 1/3 of the course focuses on Asia.
Choose six credits from the following courses:
Language Requirement: 28 credits in Asian languages
Students may divide the 28 credits among more than one Asian language, but must also achieve at least intermediate-mid level proficiency in one Asian language, demonstrated through 1) the Simulated Oral Proficiency Interview (SOPI) based on ACTFL standards and 2) a written examination in which students translate graded texts from the target languages into English.
If the Capstone course is taken in an Asian language, it may count towards the 28 total language credits, but the student must then take an additional 3 credits of Asian Studies coursework. A course adjustment form must be sent to the Office of the Registrar to facilitate this adjustment.
Course that may count towards fulfillment of the language requirement are:
CHIN 450, CHIN 495, AND JAPN 450: If any of these courses is used to satisfy the 28 total Asian Lanugage credits, the student would need to take an additional 3 credits of Asian Studies coursework. A course adjustment form must be sent to the Office of the Registrar.
Choose 12 additional credits from the following list, or from any other group of required Asian Studies courses listed above:
Advisor approval is required prior to registering for the following courses, which can only count toward this requirement if at least 1/3 of the course focuses on Asia. A course adjustment form will need to be submitted to the Office of the Registrar for courses approved from this list.
3. University-Wide Credits — 19 credits