Asian Studies

The Asian Studies Program’s interdisciplinary program leads to a bachelor of arts (BA) degree in Asian studies.

Students who complete three years or equivalent of Southeast or South Asian language study abroad or at another institution may, with support of an Asian studies faculty advisor, construct a major emphasis in Southeast Asian studies.

Students may enhance majors in other departments with a minor in East Asian studies, South Asian studies, or Southeast Asian studies.

Students who major in Asian studies often complement their course work with a year or more of residence in Asia or a double major to combine a profession with their area of expertise. Job possibilities are increasing in such fields as business, journalism, government, and education. Many students go on to graduate studies.

The curriculum includes courses in anthropology, art history, Chinese language and literature, dance, ethnic studies, film, geography, history, international studies, Japanese language and literature, linguistics, political science, and religious studies. The program is administered by the Asian studies committee, which is composed of faculty members with Asian specializations.

Declaring a Major

To be accepted into the Asian studies major, a student must request acceptance as a major in the Asian studies office before attaining senior status. Depending on interests and career objectives, students are encouraged to discuss with their advisors or the program director the advisability of pursuing a second major in a supporting discipline or preprofessional program.

Major Requirements

The major in Asian studies offers

• strong training in at least one Asian language
• knowledge of the histories and cultures of the societies in which that language is used
• a sense of how academic disciplines contribute to interdisciplinary study
• a knowledge of transnational Asia beyond the primary language and civilization focus listed above

Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements

Students must complete 48 credits as specified below. As many as 8 of these credits may be taken pass/no pass; 44 of the 52 credits must be chosen at the 300 level or above. All other courses used to satisfy major requirements must be taken for letter grades and passed with grades of C– or better. To ensure interdisciplinary breadth, students must complete at least two Asia-focused courses in history, other social sciences, and the humanities. Students should consult their advisors in planning programs of study.

Minor Requirements

Students should consult with the program director to determine whether a course has a full or partial focus on East Asia, South Asia, or Southeast Asia. A list of preapproved courses for either minor is available in the Asian studies office. Students should acquaint themselves with the selection of experimental courses offered each term and may pursue directed readings with East Asian, South Asian, or Southeast Asian specialists. First- and second-year language courses cannot be used to satisfy requirements for the minor.

Minor in East Asian Studies

At least 12 of the 24 credits must be upper division.

Minor in South Asian Studies

At least 12 of the 24 credits must be upper division. Students must consult with one of the South Asia faculty members when determining courses to take.

In addition, students must either demonstrate first-year proficiency in any South Asian vernacular language or complete a ten-week term of study or internship in South Asia, under the supervision of a member of the UO South Asia faculty.

Minor in Southeast Asian Studies

The university offers an interdisciplinary program in Asian studies with an emphasis on East Asia leading to the master of arts (MA) degree. Students who complete three years or equivalent of Southeast or South Asian language study—abroad or at another institution—may, with the support of an Asian studies faculty advisor, construct an emphasis in Southeast Asian studies, South Asian studies, or both. The MS degree program is inactive.

The curriculum includes courses in anthropology, art history, Chinese language and literature, geography, history, international studies, Japanese language and literature, linguistics, political science, and religious studies. The program is administered by the Asian studies committee, which is composed of faculty members with Asian specializations.

Prior to registration, the Asian studies committee assigns each student an advisor, who helps the student develop an individualized program. At the end of the first year, the student should request that an Asian studies graduate committee be formed to provide guidance through the second year of study and thesis preparation. Graduate students should meet with their advisors at least once a term.

Application for Admission

An applicant for admission to the master’s program must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year university. It is expected that applicants have a minimum of three years of language study and some undergraduate preparation in courses relating to Asia. Students lacking adequate Asian language or disciplinary training must take appropriate preparatory courses, for which no graduate credit is earned.

Required materials for admission and financial aid are as follows:

1. University of Oregon application form and application fee
2. Transcripts of all college or university course work, including the final transcripts for any degree received
3. Three letters of recommendation
4. Statement of objectives
5. Writing sample
6. Test score for Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) or Test of English as a Foreign Language. International applicants must submit a score of at least 575 (paper-based test) or 88 (Internet-based test) from the TOEFL if they have not received a bachelor’s degree from a college or university in an English-speaking country
7. Supplementary Application and Financial Statement for International Students must be submitted to the UO Office of Admissions by international students
8. Application for Graduate Award, if applying for a graduate teaching fellowship (GTF)

The application deadline is December 15 for admission the following fall term. Application information and materials are available online and from the Asian studies office.

Master’s Degree Requirements

Students pursuing an MA in Asian studies must complete 48 credits of graduate study, including at least 44 in Asia-related courses. Graduate credit for language study may only be earned for work beyond the third-year level.

600-Level Courses. The Graduate School requires that at least 9 credits in courses numbered 600–699 must be taken in residence. 

Graded Courses. 24 of the total credits required must be earned at the University of Oregon for a letter grade. A minimum of 36 credits of course work and a minimum of 9 credits of Thesis (ASIA 503) is required. Credit for the thesis is given pass/no pass. In the final term, master's students must register for at least 3 credits, at least 1 of which must be in Thesis (ASIA 503).

Continuous Enrollment and On-Leave Status. Master's students are expected to maintain continuous enrollment for a minimum of 3 credits each term until all degree requirements have been completed, unless on-leave status has been approved. 

Minimum GPA. Graduate students must maintain at least a 3.00 grade point average (GPA) in all graduate courses taken with a graded option.

Time Limit. All requirements for the master's degree must be completed within a seven-year time period.

Master of Arts: Area Studies Track

In unusual circumstances, students may petition the program committee to waive the thesis requirement for the degree. If the waiver is granted, the student is expected to complete 56 graduate credits (of which at least 44 are Asia-related), submit two substantial research papers on Asian topics developed in seminars or colloquia, and pass an examination addressing general Asian studies topics. The thesis and research papers are to include a minimum of two non-English sources appropriate to the region to demonstrate language proficiency.

Master of Arts: Disciplinary Track

Academic courses are to be mutually agreed upon by an academic advisor and the program director. A list of Asia-related courses approved for inclusion in the Asian studies graduate curriculum is available from the program coordinator.

Students should also review the Graduate School’s regulations for information on the university’s general master of arts degree requirements.

Second Master’s Degree

Students enrolled in graduate programs offered by other departments may earn a second master’s degree in Asian studies. Besides satisfying the degree requirements set by the other departments, such students must complete the following:

The requirements for both the Asian studies and the departmental degree programs must be completed at the same time. A student completing this option is granted two master’s degrees, one in Asian studies and another in the departmental discipline.