The Asian Studies major and minor programs for undergraduates focus on East Asia and South Asia, with attention to Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Rim. It provides students with a broad interdisciplinary and comparative perspective to deepen understanding of how Asian people, nations, states, regions, and diasporas have developed, functioned, and interacted.
Majoring In Asian Studies
The major in Asian Studies requires a total of 11 core and principal courses (four-credit courses) and fifth-semester proficiency in an Asian language (Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, or Urdu).
Requirements
The 11 core and principal courses comprise three core courses, three principal courses in the social sciences, three principal courses in the humanities, and two additional principal courses as electives. These 11 courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher; seven of the 11 courses must be 300 level courses or higher; and, at least six courses must be taken on BU’s main campus in Boston or through the BU Study Abroad program.
A maximum of five core and/or principal courses taken at other universities and accepted for BU credit may be counted toward the major, with prior approval by the Associate Dean for Studies. For more information, click here.
For the Asian Studies course list, please refer to our Undergraduate Academic Advising page under Current Course Schedules.
Minoring in Asian Studies
The minor in Asian Studies requires a total of six 4-credit courses. Two of the six 4-credit courses must be taken in the humanities; another two 4-credit courses must be taken in the social sciences, one of which must be in the history department. These courses must all be completed with a grade of C or higher; at least four courses must be at the 300 level or higher. All courses must be taken on BU’s Charles River Campus or though BU Study Abroad; up to three courses taken at other universities and accepted for BU credit may be counted toward the minor with prior approval by the Pardee School Associate Dean for Studies. Students must also possess knowledge of written and spoken Chinese, Hindi-Urdu, Japanese, Korean, or Vietnamese (or, where appropriate, another Asian language) through the 212 level or its equivalent, as demonstrated through testing.
Honors in Asian Studies
Honors in Asian Studies may be earned by completing two semesters of independent senior honors work (CAS IR 401/402) and presenting an original research paper (thesis) in written and oral form to a committee of faculty readers. The committee will consider both the thesis and the result of the oral examination to determine whether the student will receive honors in the major. A grade of B+ or better in each semester of IR 401/402 is also required for the award of honors. For more information, please refer to the Asian Studies Bulletin.