Asian Studies Program

The study of Asia continues to be relevant in the global age. Its influences on the Western world can be seen in economics, politics, music, the arts, entertainment, and religion. The Asian Studies major at CU Boulder encompasses a diverse interdisciplinary study of Asia.

The Asian Studies major gives students an opportunity to discover Asia through a wide variety of courses that reflect the astonishing diversity of the region. Many students choose Asian Studies as a second major to complement the study of such subjects as business and geography. As part of your Asian Studies major requirements, you will receive a thorough grounding in the history of Asia and you will study an Asian language — Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hindi, Vietnamese, or Sanskrit. All majors will complete their Asian Studies major with the Senior Seminar in Asian Studies, an exploration of broad comparative issues that relate to the region of Asia as a whole.

Upon completion of this course of study, you will have a highly individualized and yet broad familiarity with the region that will allow you to better understand its history and culture as well as its current dynamics.

Career Possibilities

A degree in Asian Studies provides a broad base of knowledge that can be applied to any number of possible fields, including business, commerce, journalism, politics, publishing, the social sciences, and teaching at all levels. Some students go on to do postgraduate work in business, law, and Asian Studies. As a second major, Asian Studies can open up new job possibilities at home and abroad for prospective engineers, health professionals, teachers, and writers of all types.

Many employers in this increasingly globalized world seek job applicants with an international perspective. As an Asian Studies major, you will gain unique insight into an important player on the global stage – in politics, business, and the arts. Your specialized knowledge of Asia will give you an edge in the job market. In addition, an area specialty is an excellent way to lay the groundwork for life-long study of a region, whether as a career or a hobby.

Career Services offers a number of programs and services designed to help you plan your career, including workshops, internships, and placement services after graduation. For an appointment with a career counselor or for more information, call (303) 492-6541, or stop by Willard Administrative Center 34.

The University of Colorado at Boulder catalog provides detailed information on courses offered within the College of Arts & Sciences.

For more detailed descriptions of courses offered in EALC, see the department's list of Undergraduate Courses.

Facilities, Programs, and Opportunities

Asian Studies majors have access to a wide spectrum of facilities and programs across campus and around the world. The Center for Asian Studies (CAS) organizes events on campus and provides several scholarship opportunities for undergraduates studying Asia, including tuition scholarships and summer study abroad scholarships. The Teaching East Asia Program (TEA), based at CU Boulder, sponsors innovative workshops for teachers of East Asia. Asian Studies students have access to state-of-the-art language instruction technology at the Anderson Language Technology Center (ALTEC) and access to the East Asian Library, located in Norlin Library, the largest collection of East Asian materials in the Rocky Mountain region. And there are around 60 faculty members on the CU Boulder campus who either specialize in or have research interests in Asia.

One of the most enriching experiences available to any student is studying abroad. The University offers more than 100 programs throughout the world, including 18 in various locations throughout China, India, Japan, Mongolia, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam. All Asian Studies students are strongly encouraged to study abroad; living a language and culture is the best way to learn about them. You can earn credit that counts as if you had taken courses on the Boulder campus, in some cases fulfilling major and core curriculum requirements. You may spend a few weeks to a full academic year abroad, depending on the program you select.

Prior language study or other prerequisites are necessary for some programs, so early planning for study abroad is essential. Further information about study abroad is available from the Office of International Education (OIE), (303) 492-7741.

Minimum Academic Preparation Standards (MAPS)

If you graduated from high school in 1988 or later, you are required to meet certain minimum academic preparation standards (MAPS). If you are admitted to CU Boulder with MAPS deficiencies, you are required to complete at least one MAPS course each term.

The College of Arts and Sciences has adopted the entrance standards listed below. One unit equals one year of high school study or one semester of college coursework.

English - 4 units (including 2 in composition)
Mathematics - 3 units (including 2 in algebra and 1 in geometry)
Natural science - 3 units (including 2 in laboratory science, one of which must be in chemistry or physics)
Social science - 3 units (including one of U.S. or world history and one of geography. If you have U.S. history, you may use 1/2 year of world history and 1/2 year of geography in place of one year of geography.)
Foreign language - 3 units (all must be in the same language and the last year must be level III.)

Core Curriculum Requirements

In addition to the requirements you must fulfill for your major, the College of Arts and Sciences requires you to complete approximately 46 semester hours of credit in the core curriculum. Credits in the major may also apply toward these core hours. The core curriculum is designed to provide you with a broad education. Courses in the core are distributed through four skills acquisition areas and seven content areas of study. For details, see the Arts & Sciences Core Curriculum website.

EALC offers 21 courses in 7 core areas which can be used to fulfill core curriculum and major requirements simultaneously.

Major Requirements

In addition to the college core curriculum, as an Asian Studies major you must complete the following requirements:

Course requirements for the Asian Studies major

Note: These requirements apply to degree programs undertaken beginning Spring Semester 2002. If you began your studies prior to that date and have questions on degree requirements, please contact the undergraduate advisor.

Minor Requirements

An Asian Studies minor is currently not offered.

Undergraduate advisor
Professor Tim Oakes
UCB 260
Boulder CO 80309-0260
(303) 492-3252
TOakes@colorado.edu

Admissions
Office of Admissions
University of Colorado at Boulder
Regent Administrative Center 125
552 UCB
Boulder, CO 80309-0552
Tel.: (303) 492-6301. Fax: (303) 735-2501