Asian Studies is an interdisciplinary major that draws upon dozens of designated courses across college departments. An Asian Studies major provides students with a broad understanding of Asia’s regional variations and global exchanges on cultural, political, and economic fronts.
Asian Studies majors choose from one of two tracks of study: East Asia (focusing primarily China and Japan) and South Asia (focusing primarily India and Pakistan) and are required to achieve basic competence in a target language such as Chinese, Japanese and Arabic or, in special cases, Hindi and Urdu.
Asian Studies majors are required to participate in an international experience that ideally includes approved study-abroad programs, cooperative education or internships in foreign countries, or employment in an international organization or in the international division of U.S. firms with foreign operations. In special cases, extended experiential learning projects with a segment of a Rochester-based Asian community may also meet this requirement. Students must have a 2.7 GPA and recommendation of the program director to qualify for the Asian Studies experiential learning component.
Majors in the East Asia track take a minimum of 6 credits and majors in the South Asia track take a minimum of 12 credits free electives chosen within East Asia, South Asia, or General Asian Studies track offerings.
NOTE: Total coursework must draw from at least 4 different disciplines as defined by course prefixes.