Asian Studies

Overview

Asian studies programs teach people about the history, economy, and cultures of Asia.

Asian studies programs include topics such as:

Art
Politics
Customs and culture
Economics
Specific country or region studies
Religion
Literature and folklore
Reading, writing, and speaking a language, including Chinese, Japanese, Hindi, or Korean

Concentrations

In Asian studies programs, students may be able to specialize in:

Ural-Altaic and Central Asian studies
East Asian studies

Schools

Community colleges and other two-year schools offer associate degree programs in Asian studies. An associate degree usually takes two years to complete.

Many colleges and universities offer bachelor's degrees in Asian studies. A bachelor's degree usually takes about four years of full-time study. Many colleges and universities offer interdisciplinary bachelor's degrees in Asian studies. Interdisciplinary programs combine courses from several college departments. In Asian studies it may be history, liberal arts, international relations, and humanities.

Several universities offer graduate degrees in Asian studies. A master's degree typically requires two years of study beyond a bachelor's degree. Doctoral (PhD) degree programs usually require two or more years of study beyond the master's degree.

See schools that offer this program.

Related Educational Programs

Related Careers

Careers to Consider

Program Admission

You can prepare for this program by taking courses in high school that prepare you for college. This typically includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and two years of science. Some colleges also require two years of a second language.

Below is a list of high school courses that will help prepare you for this program of study:

Comparative Government
Contemporary World Issues
Economics
Humanities
International Relations
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
Political Science
Second Language
World Area Studies
World Geography
World History

Graduate Admissions

Admission to graduate programs is competitive. You need a bachelor's degree, good grades, and good test scores. Most programs also require that you speak, read, write, and understand at least one Asian language at an advanced level.

Additional requirements at some schools include:

Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General
Letters of recommendation
Personal statement
Academic writing sample

Typical Course Work

Program Courses

This program typically includes courses in the following subjects:

Anthropology
Culture and Ethnic Relationships
Demography
Economics
Geography
History
Language
Literature, Folklore, and Film
Political Systems
Religion and Philosophy
Sociology
Women in Asia

Graduate Program Courses

Graduate programs in Asian studies typically require:

Required courses
Thesis (master's degree)
Preliminary exams (doctoral degree only)
Dissertation and dissertation defense (doctoral degree)

Things to Know

You may be required or encouraged to spend some time living, working, or studying in Asia. This gives you an immersion experience and the chance to practice your language skills with native speakers.

Some programs only focus on select Asian countries and languages.