The interdisciplinary major permits the student to explore several regions and cultures of Asia as well as the Asian experience in America. At the same time, it requires a focus on one region or culture of Asia
and a related Asian language. The major conveys skills and concepts needed for understanding the rich civilizations and vibrant nations of Asia and for relating professionally with people in and from Asian countries.
Asian Studies Minor
As a companion to a major in an academic or professional field, the interdisciplinary minor broadens and enriches the student's academic experience. It conveys skills and concepts needed for understanding the
rich civilizations and vibrant nations of Asia and for relating professionally with people in and from Asian countries. The minor is a valuable credential for graduate study and an international career.
Acceptance Criteria - B.A., Minor
A minimum grade of "C" in any two courses required for the major/minor.
Acceptance Information
Deadlines: Rolling
Advisement
New majors and minors should meet with the undergraduate advisor to plan their course of study and discuss study abroad, internship, and other opportunities. Majors and minors also should meet with the undergraduate
advisor at least once a semester to discuss their progress toward the degree .
Transfer Policy
With permission, transfer students may use up to five courses (up to a maximum of 15 credit hours) taken at other institutions in fulfillment of Asian Studies major requirements. Students must take at least three
approved upper-level (300/400-level) courses and complete the senior thesis requirement at UB.
Transfer students who wish to minor in Asian Studies must take at least one core course and two approved upper-level (300/400-level) courses at UB.
Students who wish to fulfill the language requirement with courses taken at another institution must demonstrate proficiency equivalent to two years of classroom language study at UB.
All courses counted toward the major or minor must be completed with a minimum grade of C -.
An elementary course in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hindi/Urdu, or another Asian language
Regularly Offered Courses Students can take courses offered by Asian Studies and Asia-related courses in other departments to fulfill major requirements. A complete list of courses that could fulfill major
requirements is published before registration opens in each semester.
In addition to the introductory courses, Asia-related courses that are regularly offered include: AS/
PHI 252 Eastern Philosophy AS 323 Gender in South Asian Lit. AS/
HIS 343 Indonesia: From Colonialism to Dictatorship AS 347 The Fantastical World of Japanese Anime AS/
HIS 369 Korean History to 1800 AS/
HIS 374 Christianity in East Asia AS 383 Travel Writing in Asia AS/
HIS 389 Pirates, Drifters, Fishers: Maritime Southeast Asia AS/
HIS 391 China and the World AS 392 Asian Religions AS 401 Buddhism AS/
COM 410 Communication in Asia and Pacific Rim Countries AS 446 Islam and Literature AS 496 Asian Studies Internship AS 498 Senior Research in Asian Studies APY 265 People of Southeast Asia APY 366 Peoples of Asia APY 421 Islam and the West CHI 280 Survey of Chinese Culture CHI 341 Literary Chinese I CHI 342 Literary Chinese II CHI 401 Readings on Chinese Culture and Customs CHI 402 Readings: Chinese Customs CHI 410 Intro to Chinese Linguistics COM 491 Chinese Cinema CPM 250 USA & The Muslim World CPM 390 Islamic Cultural History ENG 270 Asian American Lit. ENG 376 Islamic Epic HIS 331 Korean History to 1864 HIS 335 Culture, Memory and Uses of the Past HIS 368 Modern Japan Since 1600 HIS 375 The U.S. and East Asia HIS 403 Korea-Japan, 1895-1945 HIS 431 Myth and History HIS 482 Problems in Japanese History HIS 483 Folk Heroes & Historical Martyrs HIS 485 20th Cent. China Politics HIS 487 Self and Society in Chinese History JPN 211 Intro to Japanese Culture JPN 411 Intro to Japanese Linguistics KOR 211 Korean Language and Culture PHI 454 Chinese Philosophy PSY 437 Cross-Cultural Psych. SOC 380 Family in a Comparative Perspective
Asian American Studies
The Asian Studies Program, Department of Transnational Studies, and other departments offer courses exploring the history, literature, and social dynamics of people of Asian origin in North America.
Over twenty Asian specialists in a variety of humanities and social sciences fields, focusing on China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, and South Asia.
Please visit our program's website for additional information about our faculty.
Practical Experience and Special Academic Opportunities
Students can study abroad in Asia, undertaking language study and non-language classes. They can spend an academic year, semester, or summer at outstanding universities throughout Asia on programs offered by the University at Buffalo and other SUNY campuses.
Academic credit can be transferred to UB. For information, see Study Abroad Programs.
Asian Studies majors and minors can also earn credit for Asia-related internships, including internships offered in the Asian Studies Program office.
Extracurricular Activities
The Asian Studies Program sponsors an on-going series of presentations called Asia at Noon, hosts exhibitions and performing artists from Asia, and organizes special lectures and conferences. Weekly listserv announcements and timely Facebook posts keep
students apprised of these opportunities and others organized at UB and throughout the Buffalo area.