Asian Studies

The Asian Studies Program’s interdisciplinary program leads to a bachelor of arts (BA) degree in Asian studies with an emphasis on East Asia.

Students who complete three years or equivalent of Southeast or South Asian language study abroad or at another institution may, with support of an Asian studies faculty advisor, construct a major emphasis in Southeast Asian studies.

Students may enhance majors in other departments with a minor in East Asian studies, South Asian studies, or Southeast Asian studies.

Students who major in Asian studies often complement their course work with a year or more of residence in Asia or a double major to combine a profession with their area of expertise. Job possibilities are increasing in such fields as business, journalism, government, and education. Many students go on to graduate studies.

The curriculum includes courses in anthropology, art history, Chinese language and literature, dance, ethnic studies, film, geography, history, international studies, Japanese language and literature, linguistics, political science, and religious studies. The program is administered by the Asian studies committee, which is composed of faculty members with Asian specializations.

Declaring a Major

To be accepted into the Asian studies major, a student must request acceptance as a major in the Asian studies office before attaining senior status. Depending on interests and career objectives, students are encouraged to discuss with their advisors or the program director the advisability of pursuing a second major in a supporting discipline or preprofessional program.

Major Requirements

The major in Asian studies offers a traditional area-studies focus or a thematic focus. Both provide (1) three years of strong training in at least one Asian language, (2) knowledge of the histories and cultures of the societies in which that language is used, (3) a sense of how academic disciplines contribute to interdisciplinary study, and (4) a knowledge of transnational Asia beyond the primary language and civilization focus listed in (1) and (2) above. The requirements for the major are derived from these objectives.

Students must complete 40–48 credits as specified below. As many as 8 of these credits may be taken pass/no pass. All other courses used to satisfy major requirements must be taken for letter grades and passed with grades of C– or better. Students should consult their advisors in planning programs of study.

Area Studies Track

1. History (12 credits). Three upper-division history courses (300 or 400 level) in the chosen civilization or region
2. Electives (16 credits). Four courses chosen in consultation with an advisor
3. Discipline (12 credits). Three courses in one discipline other than history or language
4. Regional Breadth (8 credits). From the courses chosen in categories 2 and 3 above, at least two must be in areas outside the student’s primary focus. For example, if the primary focus is Japan, the 8 credits must deal with China, Korea, Southeast Asia, South Asia, or Pacific islands
5. Seminar (4 credits). What Is Asia: Theoretical Debates (ASIA 350)

Thematic Track

This track enables students to design a thematic focus for their studies. Due to the individual nature of these tracks, students must develop a detailed study plan with the program director; students are strongly encouraged to meet regularly with an advisor. Examples of thematic tracks include but are not limited to the following:

• film studies
• visual cultures
• Asian literatures
• religion and culture
• gender and sexuality
• Asian history
• Asian politics
• political economy
• food studies
• Asian business

Requirements

1. Seminar (4 credits). What Is Asia: Theoretical Debates (ASIA 350)
2. Regional Focus (12 credits). Literature, history, art history (as appropriate)
3. Discipline-Theory (8 credits). Two courses that provide a theoretical approach to the theme. There is no requirement of Asian content (for example, a film major might take a course on melodrama; an environmental studies major might study development theory)
4. Thematic Focus (16 credits). Four courses with Asian content in the thematic field (for example, Buddhist art and religion)
5. Regional Breadth (8 credits). Two courses must be in regional areas outside a student’s primary focus. What Is Asia: Theoretical Debates (ASIA 350) counts as one of these

Language Requirement. Students who major in Asian studies must complete two years of an Asian language: Chinese and Japanese are taught through the fifth year in the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures. Languages must be taken for letter grades and passed with grades of C– or better. Under special circumstances, students may demonstrate an equivalent competence by examination or by work in advanced language courses.

Minor Requirements

Students should consult with the program director to determine whether a course has a full or partial focus on East Asia or Southeast Asia. A list of preapproved courses for either minor is available in the Asian studies office. Students should acquaint themselves with the selection of experimental courses offered each term and may pursue directed readings with East Asian or Southeast Asian specialists. First- and second-year language courses cannot be used to satisfy requirements for the minor.

East Asian Studies

Students who want a minor in East Asian studies must complete 24 credits distributed as follows:

1. 20 credits in courses that focus entirely on East Asia, drawn from at least two departments
2. 4 credits of What Is Asia: Theoretical Debates (ASIA 350)
3. Two years of study in a relevent Asian language or its equivalent level of proficiency

At least 12 of the 24 credits must by upper division.

South Asian Studies

Students who want a minor in South Asian studies must complete 24 credits in consultation with one of the South Asia faculty members, distributed as follows:

1. 4 credits in courses on the history of South Asia
2. 4 additional credits of South Asian history, religion, or philosophy
3. 4 credits in courses on contemporary South Asian issues
4. 4 credits in courses on South Asian media or culture
5. 8 additional credits (full or partial South Asia focus)

At least 12 of the 24 credits must be upper division.

In addition, students must either demonstrate first-year proficiency in any South Asian vernacular language or complete a ten-week term of study or internship in South Asia, under the supervision of a member of the UO South Asia faculty.

Southeast Asian Studies

Students who want a minor in Southeast Asian studies must complete 24 credits distributed as follows:

1. 20 credits in courses that focus entirely on Southeast Asia. At least 12 credits must be upper division
2. 4 credits in courses that have a partial focus on Southeast Asia

The university offers an interdisciplinary program in Asian studies with an emphasis on East Asia leading to the master of arts (MA) degree. Students who complete three years or equivalent of Southeast or South Asian language study abroad or at another institution may, with support of an Asian studies faculty advisor, construct an emphasis in Southeast Asian and/or South Asian studies. The MS degree program is inactive.

The curriculum includes courses in anthropology, art history, Chinese language and literature, geography, history, international studies, Japanese language and literature, linguistics, political science, and religious studies. The program is administered by the Asian studies committee, which is composed of faculty members with Asian specializations.

Prior to registration, the Asian studies committee assigns each student an advisor, who helps the student develop an individualized program. At the end of the first year, the student should request that an Asian studies graduate committee be formed to provide guidance through the second year of study and thesis preparation. Graduate students should meet with their advisors at least once a term.

Application for Admission

An applicant for admission to the master’s program must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year university. It is expected that applicants have a minimum of three years of language study and some undergraduate preparation in courses relating to Asia. Students lacking adequate Asian language or disciplinary training must take appropriate preparatory courses, for which no graduate credit is earned.

Required materials for admission and financial aid are as follows:

1. University of Oregon application form and application fee
2. Transcripts of all college or university course work, including the final transcripts for any degree received
3. Three letters of recommendation
4. Statement of objectives
5. Writing sample
6. Test score for Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) or Test of English as a Foreign Language. International applicants must submit a score of at least 575 (paper-based test) or 233 (computer-based test) from the TOEFL if they have not received a bachelor’s degree from a college or university in an English-speaking country
7. Supplementary Application and Financial Statement for International Students must be submitted by international students
8. Application for Graduate Award, if applying for a graduate teaching fellowship (GTF)

The application deadline is December 15 for admission the following fall term. Application information and materials are available from the Asian studies office.

Second Master’s Degree

Students enrolled in graduate programs offered by other departments may earn a second master’s degree in Asian studies.

Besides satisfying the degree requirements set by their departments, such students must (1) complete 32 graduate credits in approved Asia-related courses, (2) take Perspectives on Asian Studies (ASIA 611) and Issues in Asian Studies (ASIA 612), and (3) demonstrate the language competence required for the MA degree in Asian studies. A required thesis applies the methodology of the student’s discipline to an Asian subject.

The requirements for both the Asian studies and the departmental degree programs must be completed at the same time. A student completing this option is granted two master’s degrees, one in Asian studies and another in the departmental discipline.

Master’s Degree Requirements

Students pursuing an MA in Asian studies must complete 48 credits of graduate study, including at least 44 in Asia-related courses. Graduate credit for language study may only be earned for work beyond the third-year level.

Area Studies Track

1. Of the 44 credits, at least 12 must be earned in seminars or colloquia, including Perspectives on Asian Studies (ASIA 611) and Issues in Asian Studies (ASIA 612), which should be taken during the first year of study

2. To ensure interdisciplinary breadth, students must complete at least two courses in each of the following areas:

a. Humanities—courses in architecture, art history, literature, music, religious studies

b. Social science—courses in anthropology, economics, geography, international studies, political science

c. History

3. To ensure a cross-regional awareness, at least 8 credits of the 44 must be in courses about a culture or civilization other than the student’s primary language and civilization focus

4. At least 9 of the 44 credits are earned in Thesis (ASIA 503). In unusual circumstances, students may petition the program committee to waive the thesis requirement for the degree. If the waiver is granted, the student is expected to complete 56 graduate course credits (of which at least 44 are Asia related), submit two substantial research papers on Asian topics developed in seminars or colloquia, and pass an examination addressing general Asian studies topics. The thesis and research papers are to include a minimum of two non-English sources appropriate to the region to demonstrate language proficiency

Disciplinary Track

1. Of the 44 credits, at least 16 must be earned within the primary region of focus, drawn from two or more departments
2. A minimum of 12 credits must be earned within the primary discipline. At least one of the courses must be a theory or methods course chosen in consultation with an advisor or the program director
3. 8 credits in a region other than the primary focus. Perspectives on Asian Studies (ASIA 611) and Issues in Asian Studies (ASIA 612) may be counted toward this cross-regional focus
4. At least 9 of the 44 credits are earned in Thesis (ASIA 503)

Academic courses are to be mutually agreed upon by an academic advisor and the program director. A list of Asia-related courses approved for inclusion in the Asian studies graduate curriculum is available from the program coordinator.

Students should also review the Graduate School’s regulations for information on the university’s general master of arts degree requirements.

199 Special Studies: [Topic] (1–5R) Prereq: freshman or new student. R when topic changes.

350 What Is Asia: Theoretical Debates (4) Introduction to current theoretical debates about Asia, modernization, and area studies. Buck.

399 Special Studies: [Topic] (1–5R)

401 Research: [Topic] (1–16R)

403 Thesis (1–12R) Prereq: program honor’s student, instructor consent. Majors only.

405 Reading and Conference: [Topic] (1–16R)

407/507 Seminar: [Topic] (1–5R)

409 Practicum: [Topic] (1–16R) Closely supervised participation in the activities of public or private organizations, institutes, and community service agencies.

410/510 Experimental Course: [Topic] (1–5R)

503 Thesis (1–9R)

601 Research: [Topic] (1–16R)

605 Reading and Conference: [Topic] (1–16R)

607 Seminar: [Topic] (1–5R)

609 Practicum: [Topic] (1–16R) See description for ASIA 409.

611 Perspectives on Asian Studies: [Topic] (1) Explores the diverse perspectives that define Asian studies. Samples conflicts, controversies, and areas of consensus that characterize the field.

612 Issues in Asian Studies: [Topic] (3R) Selected Asian studies issues. R once when topic changes for maximum of 6 credits.