Asian Studies Major
Major Requirements
The Asian Studies major comprises two tracks and 12 distinct courses. Students declare and complete either the Chinese track or the Japanese track.
Chinese Track:
History
Complete the following course:
language
Complete four courses from the Chinese language sequence:
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| CHI 101 | Beginning Chinese I |
| CHI 102 | Beginning Chinese II |
| CHI 201 | Intermediate Chinese I |
| CHI 202 | Intermediate Chinese II |
| CHI 301 | Upper-Level Modern Chinese I |
| CHI 302 | Upper-Level Modern Chinese II |
| CHI 401 | Advanced Chinese |
| CHI 415 | Readings in Classical Chinese |
| CHI 450 | Special Topics in Advanced Chinese |
CHI 450 is a topics course and may be repeated to reach the four-course requirement.
Breadth electives
Complete at least two courses from the following:
- Any Japanese courses (JPN)
- Any courses designated with the (ASIA: Breadth) attribute
- Any courses designated with the (JPN: Cultural) attribute
cultural electives
Complete at least three courses from the following:
- Any Asian Studies (ASIA), Chinese (CHI), and Japanese (JPN) courses
- Any First-Year Seminars (FYS) designated with the (CHI: Cultural) attribute
Students may apply up to two courses from the Chinese language sequence above to the Cultural Electives requirement if those courses are not being used to complete the Language requirement.
advanced seminar
Complete the following course:
- ASIA 320 Advanced Seminar: Current Research on Asia
Senior thesis:
Complete at least one course from the following:
Japanese Track:
History
Complete the following course:
Language
Complete four courses from the Japanese language sequence:
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| JPN 101 | Beginning Japanese I |
| JPN 102 | Beginning Japanese II |
| JPN 201 | Intermediate Japanese I |
| JPN 202 | Intermediate Japanese II |
| JPN 305 | Upper Intermediate Japanese |
| JPN 350 | Topics in Advanced Japanese |
JPN 350 is a topics course and may be repeated to reach the four-course requirement.
breadth electives
Complete at least two courses from the following:
- Any Chinese courses (CHI)
- Any courses designated with the (ASIA: Breadth) attribute
- Any courses designated with the (CHI: Cultural) attribute
cultural electives
Complete at least three courses from the following:
- Any Asian Studies (ASIA), Chinese (CHI), and Japanese (JPN) courses
- Any First-Year Seminar designated with the (JPN: Cultural) attribute
Students may apply up to two courses from the Japanese language sequence above to the Cultural Electives requirement if those courses are not being used to complete the Language requirement.
Advanced Seminar
Complete the following course:
- ASIA 320 Advanced Seminar: Current Research on Asia
Senior Thesis
Complete at least one course from the following:
Courses Taken Outside of Bates
Asian Studies majors are encouraged to spend at least one semester at an approved program in mainland China, Taiwan, or Japan, and may potentially pursue a focus in Korean language and culture through approved off-campus programs.
Students may petition the Asian Studies program to have relevant courses taken in their study-abroad program (including the Bates Fall Semester Abroad) applied toward the fulfillment of the major requirements, except for the thesis sequence. Students may receive credit for CHI 102 Beginning Chinese II or JPN 102 Beginning Japanese II with a score of four on the corresponding language's AP examination, or credit for CHI 201 Intermediate Chinese I or JPN 201 Intermediate Japanese I with a score of five.
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail grading may not be elected for courses applied toward the major in Asian Studies.
Restricted Declarations Policy
Students who have declared the Asian Studies major may not declare the following:
- Asian Studies minor
- Asian Art and Literature (C033) GEC
- Japanese Society and Culture (C046) GEC
- Asian Modernity (C053) GEC
Students who have declared the Asian Studies major and Japanese track may not declare the following:
- Japanese major
- Japanese Language (C043) GEC
Students who have declared the Asian Studies major and Chinese track may not declare the following:
- Chinese major
- Chinese Society and Culture (C047) GEC
Other Considerations
Up to two Short Term courses may count toward the major.
One [W2] course in Asian Studies is highly recommended.
Minors in Chinese or Japanese may count no more than one course toward both their major in Asian Studies and their minor in Chinese or Japanese. Japanese Majors may not declare Asian Studies Major: Japanese Track. Chinese Majors may not declare Asian Studies Major: Chinese Track. Japanese Majors may declare Asian Studies Major: Chinese Track, but no more than two courses may count toward both their majors. Chinese Majors may declare Asian Studies Major: Japanese Track, but no more than two courses may count toward both their majors.