Program Overview
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Location: Candelaria 0190
Email: HSS@unco.edu
Website: www.unco.edu/hss/world-languages-cultures
Advising Information:
Students must consult with their assigned major advisor each semester prior to registering.
To find your advisor, log into ursa.unco.edu; go to 'Student' tab and click 'View Student Information' link. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.
The program consists of three parts:
- Liberal Arts Curriculum (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. Suggested minors are: Business Administration, Chinese, Film, Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality, History, or Gender Studies.
Students demonstrate their cultural competence through completion of their senior research project in the ASIA 475, and 61 credit hours of work in Asia-related courses.
Program Admission Requirement:
Academic Good Standing.
Program Requirements:
- Students must achieve a rating of Intermediate in one Asian language demonstrated through an Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI).
- In accordance with University Policies, coursework earned more than 10 years prior to the date of matriculation to UNC may not be used to satisfy any major or minor requirements. Any exception to this policy is at the discretion of the academic program.
Program Recommendations:
Suggested minors are: Business Administration, Chinese, Film, Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality, History, or Gender Studies.
Degree Requirements — 120 Credits
1. Liberal Arts Curriculum — 31 credits
To complete the degree in 120 credits as outlined, the program recommends the below LAC courses that also count toward the 61 required major credits.
Any additional coursework completed outside of the recommended list below may extend the length of the program of study.
Written Communication — 6 credits
Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.
See Written Communication courses
Mathematics — 3 credits
Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.
See Mathematics courses
Arts & Humanities, History, Social & Behavioral Sciences, U.S. Multicultural Studies [MS], and International Studies [IS] — 15 credits
To complete the LAC in the minimum number of credits, be sure to choose at least one course with an IS designation and one course with an MS designation.
HIST 113 (3) is recommended to fulfill History requirement and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.
See Arts & Humanities, History, and Social & Behavioral Sciences courses
Natural & Physical Sciences — 7 credits
Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.
See Natural & Physical Sciences courses
See Liberal Arts Curriculum
2. Required Major — 61 credits
Take the following courses:
| ASIA 475 | Research Seminar | 3 |
| HIST 112 | Asian Civilization I: From Prehistory to 1500LAH1LAIS | 3 |
| HIST 113 | Asian Civilizations II: From 1500 to the PresentLAH1LAIS | 3 |
Choose six credits from the following courses:
| ASIA 216 | South and Southeast Asian LiteratureLAA2LAIS | 3 |
| CHIN 216 | Masterpieces in Chinese LiteratureLAA2LAIS | 3 |
| ENG 236 | Ethnic American LiteratureLAA2LAMS | 3 |
| ENG 262 | Masterpieces of World LiteratureLAA2LAIS | 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 level proficiency in one Asian language, demonstrated through the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) through Language Testing International. The following language courses are acceptable:
Note: WLC 195 must be in an approved Asian language to count towards Asian Studies.
Electives: 12 credits
Choose 12 additional credits from the following list, or from any other group of required Asian Studies courses listed above:
| ANT 313 | Anthropology of Globalization | 3 |
| ART 484 | Asian Art History | 3 |
| ASIA 116 | State, Society, and Culture in Contemporary AsiaLAB3LAIS | 3 |
| ASIA 499 | Asian Studies Thesis | 3 |
| CHIN 116 | Introduction to Chinese CivilizationLAB3LAIS | 3 |
| GEOG 218 | Emerging AsiaLAB2LAIS | 3 |
| GNDR 285 | Gender in the Contemporary Global OrderLAB3LAIS | 3 |
| JAPN 116 | Contemporary Japan | 3 |
| MIND 181 | Great Traditions of Asia: India, China and JapanLAA3LAIS | 3 |
| MIND 281 | Modernity in AsiaLAA1LAIS | 3 |
| MUS 248 | Asian Musical CultureLAA1LAIS | 3 |
| PHIL 246 | Early Chinese Philosophy | 3 |
| PSCI 319 | Asian Politics | 3 |
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 — 28 credits*
Complete additional credits to achieve the minimum credits needed for any degree at UNC; for this program, that will typically be 28 credits.
*Note: Students who apply the recommended courses to both the liberal arts curriculum and the major requirements will have an increased number of university wide electives to apply to this degree. See your advisor for details.