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**Review** Undergraduate Catalog 2025-2026

Asian Studies B.A. – Liberal Arts Concentration

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:

  1. Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Credits
  2. Required Major Credits
  3. 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 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 all of the following courses:

ASIA 475Research Seminar

3

HIST 112Asian Civilization I: From Prehistory to 1500LAH1LAIS

3

HIST 113Asian Civilizations II: From 1500 to the PresentLAH1LAIS

3

Take 6 credits from the following:

ASIA 216South and Southeast Asian LiteratureLAA2LAIS

3

CHIN 216Masterpieces in Chinese LiteratureLAA2LAIS

3

ENG 236Ethnic American LiteratureLAA2LAMS

3

ENG 262Literary Voices from Around the WorldLAA2LAIS

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.

Take 6 credits from the following:

HIST 307History of China to 1500

3

HIST 310History of China Since 1500

3

HIST 311History of Japan

3

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:

CHIN 101Elementary Chinese I

3

CHIN 102Elementary Chinese II

3

CHIN 201Intermediate Chinese ILAA4LAIS

3

CHIN 202Intermediate Chinese IILAA4LAIS

3

CHIN 301China and the Chinese

3

CHIN 302China and the Chinese II

3

CHIN 311Introduction to Literary Chinese

3

CHIN 313Chinese Cinema

3

CHIN 395Topics in Modern China

3

CHIN 407Chinese for Oral Proficiency

3

CHIN 450Modern Chinese Literature

3

CHIN 495Topics in Traditional China

3

JAPN 101Elementary Japanese I

3

JAPN 102Elementary Japanese II

3

JAPN 201Intermediate Japanese ILAA4LAIS

3

JAPN 202Intermediate Japanese IILAA4LAIS

3

JAPN 301Japan and the Japanese I

3

JAPN 302Japan and the Japanese II

3

JAPN 407Japanese for Oral Proficiency

3

JAPN 450Japanese Literature

3

WLC 195Elementary World Language

1-5

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 313Anthropology of Globalization

3

ASIA 116State, Society, and Culture in Contemporary AsiaLAB3LAIS

3

ASIA 499Asian Studies Thesis

3

CHIN 116Introduction to Chinese CivilizationLAB3LAIS

3

GEOG 218Emerging AsiaLAB2LAIS

3

GNDR 285Gender in the Contemporary Global OrderLAB3LAIS

3

JAPN 116Contemporary Japan

3

MUS 248Asian Musical CultureLAA1LAIS

3

PHIL 246Early Chinese Philosophy

3

PSCI 319Asian 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.

ANT 408Workshop in Anthropology

3-12

ANT 470Seminar in Anthropology

3

ASIA 392Internship in Asian Studies

2- 5

FILM 320Special Topics in Film

3

HIST 395Topics in History

3

PHIL 300Topics in Philosophy

3

WLC 296Study Abroad Experience

1-3

WLC 395Special Topics

1-4

ANT 408, HIST 395, PHIL 300, and PSCI 319 have prerequisites outside of the major requirements.

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.

Accelerated Asian Studies BA to Multilingual Education, World Languages with Licensure MA

Motivated students may seek to complete the requirements for the B.A. Asian Studies and M.A. Multilingual Education, World Language Licensure in five years. To obtain both degrees, students must complete all the requirements for the B.A. in Asian Studies, with a Liberal Arts Concentration, described in the Undergraduate Catalog (120 for Liberal Arts) and all of the requirements for the M.A. World Languages described in the Graduate Catalog (33 credit hours). However, the accelerated B.A./M.A. program involves shared credit hours distributed between the Bachelor's and Master's programs, so the total number of credit hours to complete the accelerated Master’s program is 144 for students.

Completing the requirements for both degrees is made possible by taking double-counted B.A./M.A. credits (ECLD 592, ECLD 523, and ECLD 594) during the Junior and Senior years (paid for at the undergraduate tuition rate) and graduate-level credits (online – graduate-level tuition rate) in the summer following the Senior year and completion of the undergraduate program. While this is the most efficient route, students may also elect to complete the program at a slower pace. Students remain eligible for financial aid as an undergraduate; any Graduate School aid is not available until students are admitted as a Graduate student after earning the BA.

To be fully admitted to the MAT program, students must graduate with a cumulative GPA at 3.00 and above for the BA. Students then take the remaining 7 graduate courses: ECLD 541, ECLD 501, ECLD 605, EDF 500, EDSE 510, SRM 600, and EDFE 555 (6 credits) to complete the MAT program.

(See Proposed Plan of Study- below)

  • Program Requirements (for new programs provide full detail of any program requirements. If update, just provide the updates needed)

BA Asian Studies Majors in Accelerated MAT ML WL Program take 9 out of the 28 University-Wide Credits for the BA at the 500 levels in junior and senior years.

Students take the following as undergraduates as electives from the University-Wide credits:

University-Wide Credits – 28 credits

Complete additional credits, including ECLD 592, ECLD 523, ECLD 594 only for accelerated, to achieve the minimum credits needed for any degree at UNC; for this program, that will typically be 28 credits.

MA in Multilingual Education with World Language Licensure

EDF 592, ECLD 594, EDF 523 are courses in MA World Languages that would be taken at the Undergraduate level in the MA Accelerated Program.

Required Courses — 33 Credits

ECLD 501World Language Practicum

3

ECLD 523Academic Language/Literacy Development for Diverse Learners in School Settings

3

ECLD 541Methods of Language Teaching in Multilingual Settings

3

ECLD 592Second Language Acquisition Theory

3

ECLD 594Foundations of Language and Linguistics for ESL/Bilingual Educators

3

ECLD 605Seminar in Multilingual Teaching and Learning

3

EDF 500Conceptions of Schooling

3

EDFE 555Supervised Student Teaching

1-9

EDSE 510Foundations of Special Education

3

SRM 600Introduction to Graduate Research

3

Comprehensive Exam

Candidates must successfully pass a comprehensive exam at the end of the master's degree program.

  • Four CLDB courses are embedded in the MAT ME WL Program: ECLD 523, 592, 594, 541.
  • Only four more courses are needed (ECLD 602, 504, 611, 612) for CLDB endorsement.

Students Complete the remaining 7 courses from one of the following plans:

Completion plan for Asian Studies Accelerated:

ECLD 541, EDFE 501, SRM 600, ECLD 605, EDSE 679/510, EDF 500, EDFE 555 (6)

Option 1:

Fall

Spring

Summer

Fall

ECLD 541

EDSE 679/510

EDF 500

EDFE 555 (6)

SRM 600

EDFE 501 (3)

 

ECLD 605

Option 2:

Spring

Summer

Fall

Spring

EDSE 679/510

EDF 500

ECLD 541

EDFE 555 (6)

SRM 600

 

EDFE 501

ECLD 605

Option 3:

Spring

Summer

Fall

Spring

EDF 500

ECLD 541

EDFE 555 (6)

EDSE 510         

SRM 600

EDFE 501

ECLD 605


Timeline Narrative

Spring Semester, 2nd Year

Meet with faculty advisor or Director of Graduate Studies and apply for the program

Fall Semester, 3rd Year

ECLD 592 Second Language Acquisition Theory

Spring Semester, 3rd Year

Study Abroad

Fall Semester, 4th Year

ECLD 594 Foundations of Language and Linguistics for ESL/Bilingual Educators

Spring Semester, 4th Year

Complete BA in Asian Studies

ECLD 523 Academic Language/Literacy Development for Diverse Learners in School Settings

Summer after Senior year

EDF 500 Conceptions of Schooling

SRM 600 Introduction to Graduate Research

Fall Semester, fifth year

ECLD 541 Methods of Language Teaching in Multilingual Settings

EDFE 501 Practicum

Spring Semester, fifth year

EDFE 555 (Student Teaching 6 credits)

Summer, fifth year

ECLD 605 Seminar in Multilingual Teaching and Learning

EDSE 510 Foundations of Special Education

Note: students can also apply in Fall for a spring start, and will take the third graduate course in the spring of 4th Year.

BA in Asian Studies and MAT ML WL Accelerated 5-year plan with Option 3

Fall

Spring

Summer

BA-1

CHIN/JAPN 101

HIST 112 (LAC4)

AS Elective

+LAC 1a

(14 credits)

CHIN/JAPN 102

CHIN/JAPN/ASIA 116 (LAC7,LAC5c)

HIST 113

+ LAC 6

+LAC LB

(15 credits)

BA-2

CHIN/JAPN201 (LAC3d)

HIST 310/311/306/307

AS Elective

+LAC 1b

+LAC 2

(15 credits)

CHIN/JAPN 202 (LAC3d)

CHIN/ASIA 216 (LAC3B, LAC7)

HIST 310/311/306/307

+LAC5

+LAC8

(15 credits)

BA-3

CHIN/JAPN 300+/400+

CHIN/ASIA 216

AS Elective

+LAC5

EDF 592

(15 credits)

Study Abroad

CHIN/JAPN 300+/400+

CHIN/JAPN 300+/400+

+10 elective

(16 credits)

Study Abroad

BA4-MA1

ASIA 475

CHIN/JAPN 450

ECLD 594

+6 elective

(15 credits)

CHIN/JAPN 407

+9 elective

EDF 523

(15 credits) = 120 UG

EDF 500

EDSE 510

(6 credits)

MA1

ECLD/WLC 541

EDFE 501

(6 credits)

EDFE 555

(6 credits)

ECLD 605

EDSE 510

(6 credits)

Accelerated Asian Studies BA to Multilingual Education, TESOL MA

Motivated students may seek to complete the requirements for the B.A. Asian Studies and M.A. Multilingual Education, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) in five years. To obtain both degrees, students must complete all the requirements for the B.A. in Asian Studies, with a Liberal Arts Concentration, described in the Undergraduate Catalog (120 for Liberal Arts) and all of the requirements for the M.A. Multilingual Education, TESOL described in the Graduate Catalog (30 credit hours). However, the accelerated B.A./M.A. program involves shared credit hours shared between the Bachelor's and Master's programs, so the total number of credit hours to complete the accelerated Master’s program is 141 for students.

Completing the requirements for both degrees is made possible by taking double-counted B.A./M.A. credits (ECLD 592, ECLD 523, and ECLD 594) during the Junior and Senior years (paid for at the undergraduate tuition rate) and graduate-level credits (online – graduate-level tuition rate) in the summer following the Senior year and completion of the undergraduate program. While this is the most efficient route, students may also elect to complete the program at a slower pace. Students remain eligible for financial aid as an undergraduate; any Graduate School aid is not available until students are admitted as a Graduate student.

To be fully admitted to the MAT program, students must graduate with a cumulative GPA at 3.00 and above for the BA. Students then take the remaining 7 graduate courses: ECLD 504, ECLD 510, ECLD 601, ECLD 510, ECLD 605, ET 640, and SRM 600 to complete the MAT program.

(See Proposed Plan of Study- and Timeline Narrative below)

  • Program Requirements (for new programs provide full detail of any program requirements. If update, just provide the updates needed)

BA Asian Studies Majors in Accelerated MA TESOL Accelerated Program take 9 out of the 28 University-Wide Credits for the BA at the 500 levels in junior and senior years.

Students take the following as undergraduates as electives:

Multilingual Education M.A. – Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

Degree Requirements — 24 Credits

ECLD 504Field Experience in Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Education

3

ECLD 510Practices in ESL/EFL Instruction and Assessment

3

ECLD 590Communication and Technologies for Multilingual Education

3

or

ET 525Learners and Curriculum in the Digital Age

3

or

ET 640Applications of Multiliteracies

3

ECLD 592Second Language Acquisition Theory

3

ECLD 594Foundations of Language and Linguistics for ESL/Bilingual Educators

3

ECLD 601Language, Linguistics, and Education

3

ECLD 605Seminar in Multilingual Teaching and Learning

3

SRM 600Introduction to Graduate Research

3

Elective Credits — 6 credits
Choose Two
ECLD 523Academic Language/Literacy Development for Diverse Learners in School Settings

3

ECLD 593Language, School and Society

3

ECLD 596Effective Instruction in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education

3

ECLD 602Teaching Culturally Linguistically Diverse and Bilingual Learners

3

EDSE 679Interventions for Students with Cultural and Linguistic Differences

3

Comprehensive Exam

Candidates must successfully pass a comprehensive exam at the end of the master's degree program.

Students complete the 7 courses from one of the following plans:

Completion plan for Asian Studies 4+1

ET 525, ECLD 593, SRM 600, ECLD 504, ECLD 601, ECLD 605, ECLD 510

Option 1

Fall

Spring

Summer

Fall

ET 525 /640

ECLD 504

ECLD 593

ECLD 605

SRM 600

ECLD 510

ECLD 601

Option 2

Spring

Summer

Fall

Spring

ECLD 504

SRM 600

ECLD 602

ECLD 605

ECLD 510

ECLD 601

ET 525/640

Option 3

Summer

Fall

Spring

Summer

ECLD 601

ECLD 602

ECLD 510

ECLD 605

ET 525/640

SRM 600

ECLD 504

Timeline Narrative

Spring Semester, 2nd Year

Meet with faculty advisor or Director of Graduate Studies and apply for the program

Fall Semester, 3rd Year

ECLD 592 Second Language Acquisition Theory

Spring Semester, 3rd Year

Study Abroad

Fall Semester, 4th Year

ECLD 594 Foundations of Language and Linguistics for ESL/Bilingual Educators

Spring Semester, 4th Year

Complete BA in Asian Studies

ECLD 523 Academic Language/Literacy Development for Diverse Learners in School Settings

Summer after Senior year

ECLD 601 Language, Linguistics, and Education

SRM 600 Introduction to Graduate Research

Fall Semester, fifth year

ECLD 602 Teaching Culturally Linguistically Diverse and Bilingual Learners

ET 640 Applications of Multiliteracies

Spring Semester, fifth year

ECLD 510 Practices in ESL/EFL Instruction and Assessment

ECLD 504 Field Experience in Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Education

Summer, fifth year

ECLD 605 Seminar in Multilingual Teaching and Learning

Note: students can also apply in Fall for a spring start, and will take the third graduate course in the spring of 4th Year.

BA in Asian Studies and MA TESOL 4+1 5-year plan with Option 3

Fall

Spring

Summer

BA-1

CHIN/JAPN 101

HIST 112 (LAC4)

AS Elective

+LAC 1a

(14 credits)

CHIN/JAPN 102

CHIN/JAPN/ASIA 116 (LAC7,LAC5c)

HIST 113

+ LAC 6

+LAC LB

(15 credits)

BA-2

CHIN/JAPN201 (LAC3d)

HIST 310/311/306/307

AS Elective

+LAC 1b

+LAC 2

(15 credits)

CHIN/JAPN 202 (LAC3d)

CHIN/ASIA 216 (LAC3B, LAC7)

HIST 310/311/306/307

+LAC5

+LAC8

(15 credits)

BA-3

CHIN/JAPN 300+/400+

CHIN/ASIA 216

AS Elective

+LAC5

EDF 592

(15 credits)

Study Abroad

CHIN/JAPN 300+/400+

CHIN/JAPN 300+/400+

+10 elective

(16 credits)

Study Abroad

BA4-MA1

ASIA 475

CHIN/JAPN 450

ECLD 594

+6 elective

(15 credits)

CHIN/JAPN 407

EDF 523

+9 elective

(15 credits) = 120 total UG

SRM 600

ECLD 601

(6 credits)

MA1

ECLD 602

ET 525/640

(6 credits)

EDFE 510

ECLS 504

(6 credits)

ECLD 605

(3 credits)

=141 total UG+G credits

Four Year Plan

This four year plan is a recommended schedule to complete this bachelor's degree in 4 years. Courses are subject to availability. Students must consult with their major advisor to receive information on any additional graduation requirements and course sequence guidance.

Year 1 – 32 credits

Fall Semester

CHIN 101Elementary Chinese I

3

or

JAPN 101Elementary Japanese I

3

ENG 122College CompositionLAW1

3

HIST 112Asian Civilization I: From Prehistory to 1500LAH1LAIS

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

4

Total Credit Hours:15

Spring Semester

CHIN 102Elementary Chinese II

3

or

JAPN 102Elementary Japanese II

3

ENG 123Writing and Research MethodsLAW2

3

HIST 113Asian Civilizations II: From 1500 to the PresentLAH1LAIS

3

Major Elective

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Total Credit Hours:17

Year 2 – 34 credits

Fall Semester

CHIN 101Elementary Chinese I

3

or

JAPN 101Elementary Japanese I

3

CHIN 201Intermediate Chinese ILAA4LAIS

3

or

JAPN 201Intermediate Japanese ILAA4LAIS

3

Asian History Elective

3

Asian Literature Elective

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Total Credit Hours:17

Spring Semester

CHIN 102Elementary Chinese II

3

or

JAPN 102Elementary Japanese II

3

CHIN 202Intermediate Chinese IILAA4LAIS

3

or

JAPN 202Intermediate Japanese IILAA4LAIS

3

Asian History Elective

3

Asian Literature Elective

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Total Credit Hours:17

Year 3 – 27 credits

Fall Semester

Study Abroad Recommended

WLC 296Study Abroad Experience

1-3

or

Major Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:12

Spring Semester

Study Abroad Recommended

WLC 296Study Abroad Experience

1-3

or

Major Elective

3

Asian Language Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Pass PRAXIS Test

Total Credit Hours:15

Year 4 – 27 credits

Fall Semester

ASIA 475Research Seminar

3

Asian Language Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:12

Spring Semester

Asian Language Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Advising Notes –

  • Study abroad and internships abroad for summer, semester, or academic year are not required but are highly recommended. If student opts not to do study abroad, elective and language credits can be completed on UNC campus as well. Study and work abroad helps to deepen the Asian Studies learning experience overall, and improves résumé.

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