The Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies

Total Course Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree: 120 units

See Bachelor's Degree Requirements in the University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 39 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.

A suggested Major Academic Plan (MAP) has been prepared to help students meet all graduation requirements within four years. You can view MAPs on the Degree MAPs page in the University Catalog or you can request a plan from your major advisor.

General Education Pathway Requirements: 48 units

See General Education in the University Catalog and the Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education Pathway Requirements and course offerings.

Diversity Course Requirements: 6 units

See Diversity Requirements in the University Catalog. Most courses taken to satisfy these requirements may also apply to General Education .

Upper-Division Writing Requirement:

Writing Across the Curriculum (Executive Memorandum 17-009) is a graduation requirement and may be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of four Writing (W) courses, two of which are designated by the major department. See Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning and Writing Requirements in the University Catalog for more details on the four courses.  The first of the major designated Writing (W) courses is listed below.

The second major-designated Writing course is the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GW) (Executive Order 665). Students must earn a C- or higher to receive GW credit. The GE Written Communication (A2) requirement must be completed before a student is permitted to register for a GW course.

Grading Requirement:

All courses taken to fulfill major course requirements must be taken for a letter grade except those courses specified by the department as Credit/No Credit grading only.

Study Abroad Students

Students studying in an accredited study abroad program in Asia are encouraged to consider undertaking a major or minor in Asian Studies. Study abroad students should consult with the Asian Studies Coordinator about the transferability of coursework before departing for Asia. It is often possible to complete 24-26 units of the major in a relevant study abroad program, or 15-17 units of the minor.

Course Requirements for the Major: 33 units

Completion of the following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, is required of all candidates for this degree.

3 courses required:

1 course selected from:

1 course selected from:

Note: RELS 110 may be selected below if not selected in the above selection,

2 courses selected from:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Sustainable	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
ECON 375	The Developing Countries		3.0	FA
Prerequisites: ECON 103. This course surveys theoretical approaches and policy options to the problems of development and underdevelopment in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Agricultural transformations, industrial development, balance of payments problems, the role of foreign aid, direct foreign investment, the economic role of international institutions such as the World Bank, and other related topics are included in this course. 3 hours lecture. (002673)
ECON 376	Economics of the Pacific Rim		3.0	SP
Prerequisites: ECON 101 or ECON 102 or faculty permission. A survey and analysis of economic development in the Pacific Rim and its linkages with politics, history, society, and foreign policy. Topics covered include trade, tariffs, subsidies, balance of payments, savings, investment, government deficits, environment, agricultural economics, and economic growth. 3 hours discussion. (002674)
HIST 373	East Asia Before 1800		3.0	FA	GC
Cultural, economic, and political evolution of eastern Asia from antiquity to 1800. Emphasis on common traditional heritage of China and Japan. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved Global Cultures course. (004560)
HIST 374	East Asia After 1800		3.0	SP	GC
Cultural, economic, and political evolution of eastern Asia from 1800 to the present. Emphasis on the transformation of the traditional heritage of China and Japan through revolution and modernization. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved Global Cultures course. (004561)
HIST 377	Gender in East Asian History		3.0	SP	GC
This course is also offered as ASST 377. Focus on the role gender plays in shaping and defining East Asian history, from 19th century to the present. Analysis of gender construction, sexuality, the family, and issues of universal human rights in context of China, South Korea, and Japan. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved Global Cultures course. (021173)
HIST 475	Modern China		3.0	FA	GC
This course explores tradition and new trends in 18th and 19th century China, the Western impact and the Chinese response, the nationalist and the communist movements, changes in values and the society after 1949, and the ongoing economic reforms. 3 hours seminar. This is an approved Global Cultures course. (004661)
HIST 476	Modern Japan		3.0	SP	GC
History of Japan from the end of exclusion (about 1853) to the present, with emphasis on the modernization of Japan and the road to Pearl Harbor. 3 hours seminar. This is an approved Global Cultures course. (004660)
JAPN 330W	Japanese Culture and Civilization (W)		3.0	INQ	GC  W
An introduction to Japanese history and geography, as well as Japanese art forms, literature, philosophy, education, economy, customs, language, and politics. Course also includes a comparison of Japanese and American organizational theories. 3 hours discussion. This is an approved Writing Course. This is an approved Global Cultures course. (000993)
JAPN 348	Japanese Lyric Poetry		3.0	INQ
Prerequisite: JAPN 202. This course examines the socio-historic context of Japanese rhythm and poetic features as well as the literary significance of lyrics. Students are encouraged to pursue perfect pronunciation and knowledge (meaning, history, composer, singer, lyricist, etc.) behind the lyrics. Students are required to memorize ten different lyric poems. 3 hours lecture. (020575)
JAPN 381	Japan in Film		3.0	INQ
This course is taught in English. It examines a variety of Japanese films involving the following cultural themes: roles of men and women, society, history, politics, education, theater, sports, music, industry, comedy, etc. In the process, the students examine and analyze the myths and realities of Japanese people as portrayed in the films. Discussions are designed to increase students' awareness of intercultural communication, to foster their preparedness for functioning in the complex order of Japanese society. All films have English subtitles. 3 hours lecture. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (020182)
POLS 444	Politics of Asia		3.0	INQ
This is a comparative politics course, introducing students to the Politics of Asia. The course covers seminal topics in comparative politics, such as regime type, democratization, models of development, political institutions, and political behavior, using selected Asian cases to illustrate the concepts. The course draws upon cases from across Asia, including the People's Republic of China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, India, and Pakistan. 3 hours lecture. (021812)
RELS 313	Buddhism		3.0	INQ	GC
A discussion of the roots and transformation of the Buddhist teachings in India, China, Japan, and Tibet. Special emphasis will be given to major trends and problems in contemporary Buddhism. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved Global Cultures course. (021199)

12 units selected from:

This requirement is normally satisfied with 12 units of language coursework beyond the first-semester level. However, students who demonstrate language proficiency in Chinese or Japanese (at a level equivalent to CHNS 202 or JAPN 202) may substitute units from courses listed above. Students who have earned 6-8 units in Asian languages not taught at CSU, Chico from another institution may satisfy this requirement with 8 units of Chinese or Japanese.

Electives Requirement:

To complete the total units required for the bachelor's degree, select additional elective courses from the total University offerings. You should consult with an advisor regarding the selection of courses which will provide breadth to your University experience and possibly apply to a supportive second major, a minor, or study abroad in Asia.

Advising Requirement:

Advising is mandatory for all majors in this degree program. Consult your undergraduate advisor for specific information.

Honors in the Major:

Honors in the Major is a program of independent work in your major. It requires 6 units of honors course work completed over two semesters.

The Honors in the Major program allows you to work closely with a faculty mentor in your area of interest on an original performance or research project. This year-long collaboration allows you to work in your field at a professional level and culminates in a public presentation of your work. Students sometimes take their projects beyond the University for submission in professional journals, presentation at conferences, or academic competition. Such experience is valuable for graduate school and professional life. Your honors work will be recognized at your graduation, on your permanent transcripts, and on your diploma. It is often accompanied by letters of commendation from your mentor in the department or the department chair.

Some common features of Honors in the Major program are:

1. You must take 6 units of Honors in the Major course work. All 6 units are honors classes (marked by a suffix of H), and at least 3 of these units are independent study (399H, 499H, 599H) as specified by your department. You must complete each class with a minimum grade of B.
2. You must have completed 9 units of upper-division course work or 21 overall units in your major before you can be admitted to Honors in the Major. Check the requirements for your major carefully, as there may be specific courses that must be included in these units.
3. Your cumulative GPA should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.
4. Your GPA in your major should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.
5. Most students apply for or are invited to participate in Honors in the Major during the second semester of their junior year. Then they complete the 6 units of course work over the two semesters of their senior year.
6. Your honors work culminates with a public presentation of your honors project.

While Honors in the Major is part of the Honors Program, each department administers its own program. Please contact your major department or major advisor to apply.

Honors in Asian Studies

To be eligible for Honors in Asian Studies, students must have completed all courses for the major with a GPA of 3.5. They must complete two years of a foreign language or have established competency in an Asian language. Upon recommendation by a faculty member and after an interview, the student will take 6 units of ASST 499H, Senior Honors Thesis, culminating in a public presentation of the project. In addition, an Asian experience of some sort (e.g., an international study program, language study in Asia, a summer project or internship, etc.) is strongly encouraged.