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 Major Academic Plans page or you can request a plan from your major advisor.

Courses in this program may complete more than one graduation requirement.

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.

SUBJ NUM	Title	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
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)
RELS 300W	Religions of East Asia (W)	3.0	FA	W
This discussion-centered, project-directed course is a complement to RELS 200 (Religion in South Asia). It introduces elementary concepts of comparative religion and the basics of East Asian history. Afterward, it provides basic knowledge of major traditions and important 3 hours discussion. This is an approved Writing Course. (021568)

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:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
ASST 110W	Introduction to Asian Studies (W)	3.0	FS	GE GC W
This course is also offered as AAST 110W. This interdisciplinary course offers students an introduction to some of the many issues facing Asian nations today, grounded in an understanding of the historical, cultural, religious, and philosophical influences that underlie these challenges. The course examines the role of individuals in creating societal change in Asia through such things as political advocacy, cultural innovation, technological invention, the generation of literature, economic decision-making, military force, corruption, and other methods of influence. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved Writing Course. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved Global Cultures course. (021511)
ASST 490W	Capstone Course (W)	3.0	SP	GW W
Prerequisites: GE Written Communication (A2) requirement, ASST 110W, RELS 300W. This variable-content capstone seminar is devoted to the critical reading, evaluation, and discussion of major recent scholarship on Asia. Works are selected from a variety of disciplinary perspectives with an effort to cover several Asian areas (Japan, China, Southeast Asia, South Asia) and to deal with critical issues of the day. Students will lead discussions, evaluate arguments, and write critical essays at a level appropriate to graduating seniors with a major in Asian Studies. Required seminar for majors. 3 hours seminar. This is an approved Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement course; a grade of C- or higher certifies writing proficiency for majors. This is an approved Writing Course. (000999)
RELS 300W	Religions of East Asia (W)	3.0	FA	W
This discussion-centered, project-directed course is a complement to RELS 200 (Religion in South Asia). It introduces elementary concepts of comparative religion and the basics of East Asian history. Afterward, it provides basic knowledge of major traditions and important 3 hours discussion. This is an approved Writing Course. (021568)

1 course selected from:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
INST 110W	Introduction to International Engagement (W)	3.0	FS	GE W
The nature of study, work, volunteering, and travel abroad. Emphasis on an exploration of the self as an integrated physiological, social, and psychological being while living abroad. Students learn to differentiate between personal, cultural, and universal patterns in order to develop greater understanding of themselves and people of other cultures. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved Writing Course. This is an approved General Education course. (021238)
RELS 110	Introduction to Spiritual Traditions of Asia	3.0	FS	GE GC
This course covers key health and wellness practices in Asian religions including medical traditions, breathing techniques, mental wellness, meditation, diet, exercise, sexual practices, yoga, Qigong, Tai Chi, and Martial Arts. It seeks to place these practices and forms of knowledge in their historical and cultural context and to examine them in light of modern scientific advances in our knowledge of mental and physical health. Through providing context for these traditions of health and wellness, the course also provides an introduction to the religions of Asia such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Daoism. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved Global Cultures course. (008128)

1 course selected from:

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

SUBJ NUM	Title	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
ARTH 140	Asian Art Survey	3.0	FS	GC
Survey of the major visual arts of Asia from prehistory to the present, with an emphasis on Buddhist, Hindu, Taoist, and Shinto arts. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved Global Cultures course. (000707)
ASST 200	Cultures of Asia	3.0	SP	GE GC
This course is also offered as ANTH 200. An introduction to the people and cultures of Asia, emphasizing India, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. The course employs a multimediated approach to learning. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved Global Cultures course. (000523)
HUMN 224W	Asian Film and Literature (W)	3.0	FS	GE GC W
An introduction to Indian, Chinese, and Japanese film and literature beginning with Hindu epic. Special attention is given to gender relations between men and women. 3 hours discussion. This is an approved Writing Course. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved Global Cultures course. (020684)
RELS 110	Introduction to Spiritual Traditions of Asia	3.0	FS	GE GC
This course covers key health and wellness practices in Asian religions including medical traditions, breathing techniques, mental wellness, meditation, diet, exercise, sexual practices, yoga, Qigong, Tai Chi, and Martial Arts. It seeks to place these practices and forms of knowledge in their historical and cultural context and to examine them in light of modern scientific advances in our knowledge of mental and physical health. Through providing context for these traditions of health and wellness, the course also provides an introduction to the religions of Asia such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Daoism. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved Global Cultures course. (008128)
RELS 310	Religions of South Asia	3.0	FS
This course provides an introduction to the religions of South Asia from the earliest times until the present, and provides basic sociological, psychological, philosophical, and anthropological perspectives from which to study them. The main religions explored are Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism with some discussion of Islam in the Indian region as well. All of these religions have deeply influenced Indian society and students are exposed to the literature, art, ideas, and practices of these faiths. 3 hours seminar. (022180)

2 courses selected from:

SUBJ NUM	Title	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)
HIST 373	Premodern East Asia	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	Modern East Asia	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 474	Modern Korea	3.0	F2
This course is also offered as ASST 474. This course examines Korean history from the opening of Korea in 1876 to the present. Main topics include the decline of the chosen dynasty, the rise of nationalism, the colonial experience (1910-1945), the liberation and division (1945-1948), the Korean War (1950-1953), and industrialization and democratization in the postwar era. Particular attention is devoted to how these events have shaped the historical trajectory of modern Korea as well as the everyday lives of people. 3 hours seminar. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 9.0 units. (021782)
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)
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)

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.

SUBJ NUM	Title	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
CHNS 102A	Beginning Chinese II	4.0	FS	GE
Prerequisite: CHNS 101A. Continuation of CHNS 101A. Emphasis is on the fundamental skills of understanding, speaking, reading, and writing Chinese. 3 hours discussion, 2 hours activity. This is an approved General Education course. (020753)
CHNS 201	Intermediate Chinese I	4.0	FS	GE
Prerequisite: CHNS 102A. Students review and expand language skills and cultural concepts introduced in CHNS 101A and CHNS 102A. This course includes composition and reading. 3 hours discussion, 2 hours activity. This is an approved General Education course. (020754)
CHNS 202	Intermediate Chinese II	4.0	FS	GE
Prerequisite: CHNS 201. Students review and expand language skills and cultural concepts introduced in CHNS 101A, CHNS 102A, and CHNS 201. This course includes composition and reading. 3 hours discussion, 2 hours activity. This is an approved General Education course. (020755)
JAPN 102	Second-Semester Japanese	4.0	FS	GE
Prerequisite: JAPN 101 or faculty permission. Continuation of JAPN 101. Special attention to different verb forms and essential auxiliary expressions. Appropriate language use in a variety of social settings. Acquisition of 110 Kanji characters (ideographic symbols). 3 hours discussion, 2 hours activity. This is an approved General Education course. (005335)
JAPN 201	Third-Semester Japanese	4.0	FS	GE
Prerequisite: JAPN 102 or faculty permission. Review of major grammatical structures and further development of the student's cultural awareness and proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing Japanese. Special attention to logical discourse development. Acquisition of 200 Kanji characters (ideographic symbols). 3 hours discussion, 2 hours activity. This is an approved General Education course. (005336)
JAPN 202	Fourth-Semester Japanese	4.0	FS	GE
Prerequisite: JAPN 201 or faculty permission. Continuation of review of major grammatical structures and further development of the student's cultural awareness and proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing Japanese. Special attention to refining and expanding discourse. Acquisition of 300 Kanji characters (ideographic symbols). 3 hours discussion, 2 hours activity. This is an approved General Education course. (005337)

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:

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.
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.
Your cumulative GPA should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.
Your GPA in your major should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.
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.
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.