​Declaration in or after Fall 2019

Last update: October 2024

Major Overview

Asian Studies draws on the resources of many departments to provide a comprehensive program of study on Asia (especially East Asia). Majors may concentrate on a geographic area, field, or theme(s). By combining language with the study of politics, history, society, art, religion and philosophy, and literature, each student can construct a major tailored to individual interests.

Temple's campus in Japan provides students an experience in the region while taking their coursework. It is possible for students to arrange internships for credit by making contact with an organization willing to accept them and working with a faculty supervisor. The Office of Career Development offers assistance in identifying internship opportunities.

The curriculum gives students a foundation for living or working in Asia, or continuing their studies through developing a knowledge base, cross-cultural sensitivity, analytical thinking, and communication and writing skills in English and an Asian language. After graduation, students find employment in media, government, financial services, trading companies, nonprofit organizations, or educational institutions. Some enter graduate programs in law, business, or academic fields, including Asian Studies.

The Asian Studies program will assist students in:

• explaining and discussing orally and in writing at least one Asian religious tradition of importance to two or more Asian countries within a historically, culturally, and socially informed framework.
• reading, interpreting, and discussing orally and in writing literary works from at least one tradition within their social, cultural, and historical contexts.
• conducting research on a range of social and/or political and/or cultural topics relevant to at least one Asian region in ways that meet the disciplinary standards for scholarship in Asian Studies within paradigms informed by the social sciences and/or the humanities.
• developing and arguing for a thesis in ways that meet the disciplinary standards for scholarship in Asian Studies within paradigms informed by the social sciences and/or the humanities. 
• presenting research findings orally and in writing in ways that meet the disciplinary standards for scholarship in Asian Studies within paradigms informed by the social sciences and/or the humanities. 
• interpreting, explaining, and discussing orally and in writing significant facts, trends, and themes relevant to one or more Asian region and at least two of that region's constituent countries within a historically, culturally, and socially informed framework that includes an understanding of relevant political systems. 
• demonstrating competence in accessing and evaluating alternative sources of information. 
• understanding Asia’s political, religious, cultural, ethnic, economic, geographic, strategic and historical landscapes. 
• appreciating the commonalities, differences, continuities and transformations in comparative perspective.  
• understanding the range of theoretical frameworks informing the study and practice in various disciplines ranging from anthropology and history to religion, arts and language. 

Major Requirements

Arrow-Large Minimum 30 credits plus 12-14 credits of language study 

Arrow-Large Students must successfully complete the following courses with a grade of C- or higher

Foundation Courses

Asian Literature 

Asian Religions Requirement

Asian Language Requirement

Required Writing Intensive Courses

Asian Studies Electives

*Asian Language Requirement : The language requirement may be satisfied by coursework (not proficiency) in an Asian language. Heritage speakers will satisfy the four-course requirement by taking advanced courses in their language or by taking a different Asian language.

Students may not combine the major in Asian Studies with any of the following curricula: minor in Chinese, minor in Japanese, and may not double-major with Global Studies Global Cultures track. Students may double-major in Asian Studies and either the Economic Development or the Security tracks in the Global Studies major.

Distinction in Major

Asian Studies majors may graduate with distinction in the major if they have a GPA of at least 3.5 in the major and a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.

Minor Requirements

Arrow-Large 24-26 credits required

Arrow-Large Students must successfully complete the following courses with a grade of C- or higher

Foundation Courses

Asian Literature Requirement

Asian Religions Requirement

Language

Asian Studies Electives