Asian Studies

Department:  Asian Studies

 

The Asian Studies Department provides students with the opportunity to study East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. The department offers majors in Asian studies, Chinese, and Japanese as well as a concentration in Asian studies. The concentration in Asian studies combines well with majors in economics, environmental studies, history, religion, sociology/anthropology, art, political science, or other areas. St. Olaf offers many international programs in Asia. Incoming students with an interest in pursuing more in-depth study of China and Japan are encouraged to consider a Chinese or Japanese major. 

Students may not have both a major in Asian Studies and a concentration in Asian Studies, but must choose one or the other.

Overview of the Major

The Asian studies major allows students to gain competence in either Chinese or Japanese language and the understanding of Asian societies through a selection of courses in language, linguistics, literature, film, history, religion, art history, political science, sociology/anthropology, philosophy, and psychology as well as special interdisciplinary courses on Asia. Courses that count toward the major are listed under Asian Studies, Chinese, Japanese, and other departments (listed on the courses tab of this catalog section). Many Asian studies courses also fulfill one or more OLE Core curriculum requirements. Asian studies majors are encouraged to use their language skills to experience an Asian culture firsthand through study in Asia. Level I courses provide introductions to the languages and the fields of Asian studies. Level II courses provide students a breadth of knowledge about Asia or intermediate study of language. Level III courses offer students the opportunity to do advanced study on a topic about Asia.

Please see the Chinese major or Japanese major pages for requirements specific to those majors.  

Distinction

See Academic Honors

Distinction is a formal academic honor that the Asian Studies Department may vote to bestow upon senior majors who have demonstrated high academic achievement and an ability to independently produce a work of the highest standard. The Asian Studies Department invites senior majors who seek a significant and satisfying experience as a capstone of their work in Asian studies to apply for distinction. See the Asian Studies Department website for full details.

Intended Learning Outcomes for the Concentration

Special Programs

Students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the many opportunities to study in Asia through St. Olaf programs. Courses taken abroad may be certified by the chair of the Asian Studies Department as fulfilling the appropriate course requirements. Language study is offered through the Term in China (Shanghai); Term in Taiwan; Japan Study, Waseda University (Tokyo); IES Abroad Tokyo; CET Osaka; and Nagoya University NUPACE, and January term programs. There are also programs in Asia that do not require previous language study: Global Semester; Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea; Term in Taiwan; and January term programs. See The Smith Center for Global Engagement for more information.

Asian studies courses taken on St. Olaf study abroad and away programs can often be counted toward a major in Asian studies, Chinese, or Japanese as well as the concentration in Asian studies. Students who wish to count study abroad and away courses toward a major or concentration should seek approval from the chair of the Asian Studies Department before beginning their programs. Some restrictions apply.

Recommendations for Graduate Study

Students planning to pursue graduate work in an area of Asian studies are strongly advised to develop competence in one of the disciplines (such as history, literature, economics, sociology/anthropology, religion, art and art history, or political science) by taking additional courses that teach the methods of the discipline.