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Concentration
The Asian Studies major offers students an opportunity to pursue interests in the traditional and modern civilizations of Asia. The particular courses to be counted toward the major requirements will depend on the individual student’s chosen sub-concentration: Chinese Studies, Japanese Studies, Korean Studies, South Asian Studies, and Southeast Asian Studies. Students also have the option of choosing a field of study to complement their sub-concentration. The most common fields of study include History/Civilization, Literature, Religion, Linguistics, Cultural Studies, and Film.
The Asian Studies Program
THE ASIAN STUDIES PROGRAM (30-credits) All courses used towards the program must be at the 200-level or above, with at least 15-credits at the 300-level or above. Students must take a minimum of 15-credits at UM-Ann Arbor or at an overseas program associated with the University. All courses must be approved by an ALC academic advisor.
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT Fourth term or second-year proficiency in an Asian language appropriate to the sub-concentration. Majors are encouraged to continue their language study beyond this requirement.
SUB-CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENT (15-credits) Courses focused on the culture or language of the sub-concentration. Courses in this requirement can also complement a field of study, if one is chosen. Up to 10-credits from language courses at the 300-level or above may be used. Classical languages may also be used to fulfill this requirement.
BREADTH REQUIREMENT (9-credits) includes 1) ASIAN 381: Junior/Senior Colloquium for Concentrators offered every Fall and Winter semester, and 2) At least 6-credits from either or both of the following: (a) courses focused on a sub-concentration outside of the student's own, or (b) trans-regional Asian studies courses focused on more than one sub-concentration (which can include the student's sub-concentration).
COGNATE REQUIREMENT (6-credits) courses elected outside of those taught by ALC from either or both of the following: 1) theory or methodology courses in the student's chosen field that focus on a discipline rather than on Asia (e.g. a student with a Linguistics field of student could take LING 374: Language and Culture offered by Linguistics), or 2) courses in the student's sub-concentration offered by a different department and not listed under ASIAN (e.g. a Japanese Studies concentrator could take HISTORY 451: Japan's Modern Transformations offered by the Department of History).
