Undergraduate students may elect an Asian, East Asian, or Southeast Asian emphasis to a bachelor’s degree program in many departmental majors–for example, History/Asian Studies, or Economic/East Asian Studies. The student must fulfill the requirements of the departmental major as well as college and university requirements.
Certificate benefits
A Certificate of Asian Studies can supplement a bachelor’s degree, demonstrating that you have knowledge of an Asian language as well as knowledge of Asian history, art, culture, or society. This Certificate can help prepare you for admission to graduate programs in Asian area studies or in an academic discipline with an Asian focus, or for professional programs in international law or business. Various recent Asian Studies graduates have gone on to enter medical school, law school, MBA programs, or Ph.D. programs. An earned Certificate will appear on transcripts as an “Asian Studies emphasis.”
Undergraduate requirements
The Asian Studies emphasis consists of a minimum of 20 semester hours of an Asian language –Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Laos, Hindi, Indonesian, Thai, or Vietnamese–plus 24 semester hours of Asian area courses.
The East Asian Studies emphasis consists of a minimum of 20 semester hours of one East Asian language–Chinese, Japanese, or Korean–plus 24 semester hours of Asian area courses.
The Southeast Asian Studies Language emphasis consists of at least 18 semester hours with at least two additional years of a Southeast Asian language –Indonesian, Lao, Thai, or Vietnamese. The Southeast Asian Studies Area Studies emphasis consists of at least 18 semester hours with at least one additional year of a Southeast Asian language –Indonesian, Lao, Thai, or Vietnamese.
The Certificate in Korean Studies aims to train and produce students who are linguistically able and culturally informed. The program consists of two major components. The first is to build students’ Korean language proficiency in the areas of speaking, listening, reading and writing. The second is to offer students a broad range of knowledge of the culture, literature, history, art and religions of Korea.
ASU students admitted to a degree program in any field of study would be eligible for the Korean studies certificate program. Other than the course work and examinations required in the major field of interest, students would be responsible for fulfilling the minimum requirements of 18 credit hours (at least 12 credit hours for core courses) in addition to the basic language requirement to earn the Korean studies certificate.
What are Asian-area courses?
The Center publishes a master list of approved Asian-area courses, along with a list of courses offered during the current semester. Students are encouraged to meet regularly with both their departmental advisor, and the Center for Asian Research advisor, to design a program in which Asian emphasis requirements are integrated into departmental, college, and university requirements. See our current list of courses.
How do I sign up for the certificate program?
First, set up an appointment, via phone or e-mail, with tJames Rush, James.Rush@asu.edu. When you come for your appointment, be sure to bring:
- a copy of your transcripts
- a completed sign-up form which can be downloaded below.
Forms
- Asian Studies Undergraduate Certificate Student Worksheet (East, South, and Southeast language Option
- Southeast Asian Studies Certificate Checklist
- Asian Studies Undergraduate Certificate Course List
Apply Now by clicking the former link and selecting the certificate program’s “apply now” link from the following list.