Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Asian Studies

General Requirements

Elliott School bachelor's degrees engage students with global issues through multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches. Students begin their studies in the first year with foundational courses in political science, economics, history, and anthropology or geography. They supplement these courses with others in the traditional liberal arts categories of writing, natural or physical science, mathematics or statistics, and the humanities/creative arts, plus two writing in the disciplines courses. Foreign language study also is emphasized early in each program to enable students to satisfy the third-year language proficiency requirement of the bachelor's degree in a timely manner. 

Introduction to the major

Prerequisite core (19 credits)
Required
The following courses must be taken in the first year. With the exception of IAFF 1001 (fall), ECON 1011 (fall) and ECON 1012 (spring), courses can be taken in fall or spring. IAFF 1001 is not required for internal or external transfer students.
IAFF 1001First-Year Experience
IAFF 1005Introduction to International Affairs
ECON 1011Principles of Economics I
ECON 1012Principles of Economics II
HIST 1011World History, 1500-Present
PSC 1001Introduction to Comparative Politics
One of the following (not required in the first year):
ANTH 1002Sociocultural Anthropology
GEOG 1001Introduction to Human Geography
With advisor approval, a student may select another introductory social science course if s/he can demonstrate why it is relevant to the student's academic pursuits. Examples of courses that might be accepted include ANTH 1004, GEOG 1003.

Supporting courses in the liberal arts

Writing (10 credits)
Writing requirements are established by the University Writing Program. Students must complete UW 1020 in their first year before enrolling in a Writing in the Discipline (WID) course for WID credit. The two required WID courses should be taken in the student's major, minor, or a related field, and must be completed in separate semesters to receive WID credit. WID courses are designated in this Bulletin with a "W" appended to the course number, e.g., HIST 2340W.
Required
UW 1020University Writing
Two WID courses (6 credits)
Mathematics or statistics (3 credits)
MATH courses numbered 1051 and above require a placement test. Credit for only one of the following MATH courses may be applied toward a degree: MATH 1221, MATH 1231, or MATH 1252. Credit for only one of the following STAT courses may be applied toward a degree: STAT 1051, STAT 1053, STAT 1111, or STAT 1127. STAT courses may not be double-counted between the Mathematics requirement and the Research Methods requirement (see “Major Requirements.”)
One of the following:
MATH 1007Mathematics and Politics
MATH 1008History of Mathematics
MATH 1009Mathematical Ideas I
MATH 1010Mathematical Ideas II
MATH 1051Finite Mathematics for the Social and Management Sciences
MATH 1221Calculus with Precalculus II
MATH 1231Single-Variable Calculus I
MATH 1232Single-Variable Calculus II
MATH 1252Calculus for the Social and Management Sciences
MATH 2233Multivariable Calculus
STAT 1051Introduction to Business and Economic Statistics
STAT 1053Introduction to Statistics in Social Science
STAT 1111Business and Economic Statistics I
STAT 1127Statistics for the Biological Sciences
STAT 2112Business and Economic Statistics II
STAT 2118Regression Analysis
Science (3 to 4 credits), lab required
One of the following:
ANTH 1001Biological Anthropology
ANTH 3412Hominin Evolution
ASTR 1001Stars, Planets, and Life in the Universe
ASTR 1002Origins of the Cosmos
BISC 1005The Biology of Nutrition and Health
BISC 1006The Ecology and Evolution of Organisms
BISC 1007Food, Nutrition, and Service
BISC 1008Understanding Organisms through Service Learning
BISC 1115
& BISC 1125		Introductory Biology: Cells and Molecules
and Introduction to Cells and Molecules Laboratory
BISC 1116
& BISC 1126		Introductory Biology: The Biology of Organisms
and Introduction to Organisms Laboratory
CHEM 1003Contemporary Science for Nonscience Majors
CHEM 1004Contemporary Science for Nonscience Majors
CHEM 1111General Chemistry I
CHEM 1112General Chemistry II
CHEM 2151Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 2152Organic Chemistry II
GEOG 1002Introduction to Physical Geography
GEOL 1001Physical Geology
GEOL 1002Historical Geology
GEOL 1005Environmental Geology
HONR 1033Honors Seminar: Scientific Reasoning and Discovery
HONR 1034Honors Seminar: Scientific Reasoning and Discovery
PHYS 1003Physics for Future Presidents
PHYS 1007Music and Physics
PHYS 1011General Physics I
PHYS 1012General Physics II
PHYS 1021University Physics I
PHYS 1022University Physics II
PHYS 1025University Physics I with Biological Applications
PHYS 1026University Physics II with Biological Applications
Humanities/creative arts (9 credits)*
This requirement can be satisfied by completing 9 credits in humanities courses, or 6 credits in humanities courses and 3 credits in creative arts courses.
Humanities—two or three of the following:
Any Art History (AH) course except AH 4199.
ARAB 3105Special Topics (Arabic Literature: Arabia to America)
ARAB 3105Special Topics (Readings: Contemporary Arabic Literature)
CAH 1090Art History I: Art Now, Contemporary Perspectives in the Visual Arts
Any non-language Classical Studies (CLAS) course.
Any Film Studies (FILM) course.
HEBR 3104WGender and Sexuality in Israel
HEBR 3301Modern Hebrew Fiction
HEBR 3301WModern Hebrew Fiction
IAFF 2190WSpecial Topics (Dissent: A Study in Memoirs)
MUS 1103Music in the Western World
MUS 1104Topics in Music
MUS 1105Introduction to Musical Thought and Practice
MUS 1107Music of the World
MUS 1108History of Jazz
MUS 2101Harmony
MUS 2105Introduction to Ethnomusicology
MUS 2106Music History III: Twentieth-Century Art Traditions
MUS 2122Music in the U.S.
MUS 2123Musical Cultures of Black Americans
MUS 2174Introduction to Jazz Harmony
MUS 2661Electronic and Computer Music I
MUS 2662Electronic and Computer Music II *
MUS 3126Music History I: Antiquity through Early Baroque
MUS 3127Music History II: The Tonal Era
MUS 3139Form and Analysis
MUS 3174Topics in Music Theory and Composition
MUS 3175Topics in Music History and Literature
Any Philosophy (PHIL) course except PHIL 2045 and PHIL 3121.
Any Religion (REL) course.
TRDA 1015Understanding the Dance
TRDA 1020Women and the Creative Process
TRDA 1025Understanding the Theatre
TRDA 2185Trends in Performance
TRDA 2191Dance History
TRDA 2240Play Analysis
TRDA 3245History of the Theatre I
TRDA 3246History of the Theatre II
Literature and film classes in the Departments of Classical and Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations; English; and Romance, German, Slavic Languages and Literatures also fulfill this requirement.
Creative Arts—a maximum of 3 credits from the following:
ENGL 1210Introduction to Creative Writing
ENGL 2460Fiction Writing
ENGL 2560Intermediate Fiction Writing
ENGL 3390Topics in Creative Writing
Any Fine Arts (FA) course.
Non-ensemble performance study (MUS) courses, including:
MUS 1101Elements of Music Theory
MUS 1102Comprehensive Musicianship I
MUS 1106Introduction to Musical Performance and Experience
MUS 2102Comprehensive Musicianship II
MUS 2134Composition
MUS 2173Comprehensive Musicianship for Jazz
MUS 4184Advanced Composition
Performance Study Courses (TRDA), including:
TRDA 1035Theatre Production
TRDA 1151Beginning/Intermediate Ballet
TRDA 1152Beginning Modern/Postmodern Dance
TRDA 1153Beginning/Intermediate Modern/Postmodern Dance
TRDA 1170
& TRDA 1171		Intermediate Modern/Postmodern Dance I
and Intermediate Modern/Postmodern Dance II
TRDA 1214Beginning Acting
TRDA 1330Basics of Production Design
TRDA 2160Intermediate Ballet
TRDA 2172Intermediate/Advanced Modern/Postmodern Dance I
TRDA 2173Intermediate/Advanced Modern/Postmodern Dance II
TRDA 2179Contact Improvisation
TRDA 2180Movement Improvisation/Performance
TRDA 2192Repertory/Performance
TRDA 2193
& TRDA 2194		Dance Styles I
and Dance Styles II
TRDA 2215Intermediate Acting
TRDA 2250Dramatic Writing
TRDA 2339Theatre Practicum
TRDA 3174Advanced Modern/Postmodern Dance I
TRDA 3175Advanced Modern/Postmodern Dance II
TRDA 3182
& TRDA 3183		Dance Composition I
and Dance Composition II
TRDA 3186Embodied Kinesis for Dance
TRDA 3222Topics in Advanced Acting
TRDA 3240Introduction to Dramaturgy
TRDA 3250Intermediate Dramatic Writing
TRDA 3331Introduction to Lighting
TRDA 3332Theatrical Makeup Design
TRDA 3333Stage Management
TRDA 3335Introduction to Scene Design
TRDA 3336Introduction to Costuming
TRDA 4184Choreography and Performance
TRDA 4275Directing for the Theatre
TRDA 4338Scene Painting
*Some MUS and TRDA courses may be repeated for credit. Consult course descriptions in this Bulletin for additional information. All courses must be taken for a letter grade to fulfill this requirement. Courses taken Pass/No Pass are not accepted.
**Note that MUS 2661 is a prerequisite to MUS 2662.

The following requirements must be fulfilled:

The general requirements stated under Elliott School of International Affairs, Undergraduate Degree Requirements.

A minimum grade of C-  must be earned in all major requirement courses, to include the last course used to prove third-year proficiency in a modern regional language .

Major Requirements

Foundation (3 credits)
Required:
IAFF 2091East Asia-Past and Present
Foreign language (credits vary)
Students must demonstrate third-year proficiency in a modern foreign languages (Chinese, Japanese, or Korean) by examination or coursework. Additional information regarding the Elliott School foreign language examinations is available from the academic advisor.
Chinese
One of the following options for beginning Chinese:
Option one
CHIN 1001
& CHIN 1002		Beginning Chinese I
and Beginning Chinese II
Option two
CHIN 1011Intensive Beginning Chinese
And the following courses:
CHIN 2003Intermediate Chinese I
CHIN 2004Intermediate Chinese II
CHIN 3105Intermediate Chinese III
CHIN 3106Intermediate Chinese IV
Japanese
One of the following options for beginning Japanese:
Option one
JAPN 1001
& JAPN 1002		Beginning Japanese I
and Beginning Japanese II
Option two
JAPN 1005Intensive Beginning Japanese
And the following courses:
JAPN 2003Intermediate Japanese I
JAPN 2004Intermediate Japanese II
JAPN 3105Intermediate Japanese III
JAPN 3106Intermediate Japanese IV
Korean
KOR 1001Beginning Korean I
KOR 1002Beginning Korean II
KOR 2003Intermediate Korean I
KOR 2004Intermediate Korean II
KOR 3105Intermediate Korean III
KOR 3106Intermediate Korean IV

Regional Foundations

One course (3 credits) from the following in any region other than Asia.

Africa
ANTH 3708Anthropology of Africa
ECON 2198Special Topics in Economics - Regional (Economics of Africa)
GEOG 3164The Geography of Africa
HIST 3501Topics: Africa (African History Since 1880)
HIST 3530Women in Africa
HIST 3540West Africa to Independence
IAFF 2093Africa: Problems and Prospects
IAFF 2190WSpecial Topics (North Africa and the World)
IAFF 2190WSpecial Topics (Rising Africa and the World)
IAFF 3189Special Topics in African Studies (Ethnic and Religious Conflict in Africa)
IAFF 3189Special Topics in African Studies (International Relations in Africa)
IAFF 3189Special Topics in African Studies (New African Security Frontier)
IAFF 3189Special Topics in African Studies (Religion in Africa)
IAFF 3189Special Topics in African Studies (Security Challenges in Africa)
IAFF 3189Special Topics in African Studies (Transnational Justice in Africa)
IAFF 3189Special Topics in African Studies (Women and Leadership in Africa)
IAFF 3190Special Topics in International Affairs (Africa: Declassified)
IAFF 3190Special Topics in International Affairs (China and Africa) *
PSC 2381Comparative Politics of Sub-Saharan Africa
PSC 2482African International Politics
PSC 3192WProseminar: Political Science (Comparative Politics of Africa) *
PSC 3192WProseminar: Political Science (Development Challenges in Africa) *
PSC 3192WProseminar: Political Science (Government and Politics of Africa) *
Asia (Students in the BA in Asian studies program must fulfill the Regional Foundations requirement using a course focused in a world region other than Asia.)
ANTH 3703Cultures of the Pacific
ANTH 3704Cultures of Southeast Asia
ANTH 3705Anthropology of East Asia
ANTH 3791Topics in Regional Anthropology (Anthropology of South Asia)
ECON 2198Special Topics in Economics - Regional (East Asian Economies)
GEOG 3165Geography of South Asia
HIST 3640History of Southeast Asia
HIST 3650Modern South Asia, 1750-Present
IAFF 2091East Asia-Past and Present
IAFF 3186Special Topics in Asian Studies (Development Issues in Southeast Asia)
IAFF 3186Special Topics in Asian Studies (East Asian Security)
IAFF 3186Special Topics in Asian Studies (History and Politics of South Asia)
IAFF 3186Special Topics in Asian Studies (Indo-Pacific Security Challenges)
IAFF 3186Special Topics in Asian Studies (International Relations of South Asia)
IAFF 3186Special Topics in Asian Studies (Memory and Reconciliation: Asia)
IAFF 3186Special Topics in Asian Studies (Politics and Conflict of South Asia)
IAFF 3190Special Topics in International Affairs (Human Rights and Democracy in Southeast Asia)
PSC 2369Comparative Politics of South Asia
PSC 2373Comparative Politics of Southeast Asia
PSC 2475International Relations of East Asia
PSC 3192WProseminar: Political Science (Politics and Protest in East Asia)
PSC 3192WProseminar: Political Science (Protest and Participation in East Asia)
Europe and Eurasia
ECON 2199Special Topics in Economics (Economics of the EU)
HIST 1121The War of Ideas in European and International History, 1750-Present
HIST 2125Twentieth-Century Europe
HIST 3126European Integration: A History
HIST 3178The Making of the Modern Balkans
IAFF 2092Russia and Eastern Europe: An Introduction
IAFF 2094Europe: International and Domestic Interactions
IAFF 3185Special Topics in European and Eurasian Studies (Nationalism in Russia and Eurasia)
IAFF 3185Special Topics in European and Eurasian Studies (The European Union)
IAFF 3185Special Topics in European and Eurasian Studies (The European Union and Russia)
IAFF 3190Special Topics in International Affairs (European Economies and Crisis of Integration)
IAFF 4191WResearch Seminar (Europe)
PSC 2330Comparative Politics of Western Europe
PSC 2331Comparative Politics of Central and Eastern Europe
PSC 2332European Integration
PSC 2994Special Topics in International Relations (International Politics of Central and Eastern Europe)
Latin America (Students in the BA in Latin American and hemispheric studies program must fulfill the Regional Foundations requirement using a course focused in a world region other than Latin America.)
ANTH 3702Anthropology of Latin America
ECON 2185Economic History and Problems of Latin America
GEOG 3161Geography of Latin America
HIST 3701Topics in Latin American History (Latin America and the World Since 1820)
HIST 3711History of Latin America II
IAFF 2090Latin America: Problems and Promise
IAFF 3187Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Central American and Caribbean Perspectives)
IAFF 3187Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Conflict and Contestation in Latin America)
IAFF 3187Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Economic and Social Development of Latin America)
IAFF 3187Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Political Economy of Latin America)
PSC 2383Comparative Politics of Latin America
PSC 2484International Relations of Latin America
Middle East (Students in the BA in Middle East studies program must fulfill the Regional Foundations requirement using a course focused in a world region other than the Middle East.)
ANTH 3707Anthropology of the Middle East
GEOG 3154Geography of the Middle East and North Africa
HIST 3801Topics in Middle Eastern History (Gender and the Middle East)
HIST 3811The Emergence of the Modern Middle East
IAFF 2040Basic Topics in International Affairs (Middle East: An International Affairs Survey)
IAFF 2190WSpecial Topics (Arab Politics)
IAFF 2190WSpecial Topics (Challenges and Change in the Middle East)
IAFF 2190WSpecial Topics (Politics and Culture in the Middle East)
IAFF 3188Special Topics in Middle East Studies (The Middle East Since WWII)
IAFF 3188Special Topics in Middle East Studies (Militaries and Politics in the Middle East)
IAFF 3188Special Topics in Middle East Studies (Political Islam)
IAFF 3188Special Topics in Middle East Studies (Security Issues in the Greater Middle East)
IAFF 3188Special Topics in Middle East Studies (U.S. Policy in the Gulf)
IAFF 4191Research Seminar (Political Islam)
PSC 2377Comparative Politics of the Middle East
PSC 2478International Relations of the Middle East
Research methods
One course (3 credits) pertaining to qualitative or quantitative social science research methods from the following:
ANTH 3531Methods in Sociocultural Anthropology
ECON 2123Introduction to Econometrics
GEOG 2104Introduction to Cartography and GIS
GEOG 2105Techniques of Spatial Analysis
IAFF 2040Basic Topics in International Affairs (International Affairs Research Methods)
IAFF 3190Special Topics in International Affairs (Qualitative Research Methods)
PSC 2101Scope and Methods of Political Science
PSC 2102Visualizing and Modeling Politics
PSYC 2101Research Methods in Psychology
PUBH 3131Epidemiology: Measuring Health and Disease
PUBH 3199Topics in Public Health (Qualitative Research Methods)
SOC 2101Social Research Methods
SOC 2111Field Research
STAT 1051Introduction to Business and Economic Statistics *
STAT 1053Introduction to Statistics in Social Science *
STAT 1111Business and Economic Statistics I *
STAT 2112Business and Economic Statistics II
*Credit for only one of the following courses may be applied toward a degree: STAT 1051, STAT 1053, STAT 1111, or STAT 1127.
STAT courses may not be double-counted between the Math requirement and the research methods requirement.
In the categories below, additional Asia-related courses may be approved by the Program Director.
Asian literature (3 credits)
One course from the following:
CHIN 3111Chinese Literature in Translation I
CHIN 3112Chinese Literature in Translation II
JAPN 3111Japanese Literature in Translation I
JAPN 3112Japanese Literature in Translation II
KOR 3111Korean Literature in Translation
KOR 3112Korean Literature in Translation
Multi-disciplinary core (18 credits)
The following lists are not exhaustive, and new courses may be added at any time.
History and Culture—Three courses (9 credits) from the following:
AH 2190East Asian Art
AH 2191South Asian Art
AH 2192Art of Southeast Asia
ANTH 3703Cultures of the Pacific
ANTH 3704Cultures of Southeast Asia
ANTH 3705Anthropology of East Asia
ANTH 3709Japanese Culture Through Film (same as JAPN 3162)
CHIN 3136WChinese Women in Myth, Literature, and Film (same as WGSS 3136 and WGSS 3136W)
CHIN 3162Chinese Culture Through Film
ENGL 3965Topics in Asian American Cultural Studies
FA 1075East Asian Calligraphy
HIST 2305WMajors’ Introductory Seminar: United States (The Cold War in Asia)
HIST 3001Special Topics (Modern Southeast Asian History)
HIST 3001Special Topics (The Cold War in Asia)
HIST 3001Special Topics (The Korean War)
HIST 3001Special Topics (Vietnam: Colonialism, War, Revolution)
HIST 3001Special Topics (World War II in Asia)
HIST 3001Special Topics (WWII in Asia: History and Legacy)
HIST 3001Special Topics (WWII in East Asia and the Pacific)
HIST 3035The United States and the Wars in Indochina, 1945–1975
HIST 3610China to 1800
HIST 3611History of Modern China
HIST 3614WWriting Modern Chinese History
HIST 3615History of Chinese Communism
HIST 3621History of Modern Japan
HIST 3640History of Southeast Asia
HIST 3650Modern South Asia, 1750-Present
IAFF 3186Special Topics in Asian Studies (Memory and Reconciliation Asia)
KOR 3162Korean Culture through Film
JAPN 3162Japanese Culture Through Film (same as ANTH 3709)
REL 1002Introduction to World Religions: East
REL 2401Islam
REL 2501Hinduism
REL 2562Mythologies of India
REL 2601Buddhism
REL 2811Confucian Literature in East Asia
REL 2814Religion and Philosophy in East Asia
REL 3405Shi'ite Islam
REL 3481Women in Islam
REL 3614Buddhist Philosophy
REL 3831WIntroduction to Daoism (same as EALL 3831)
REL 3832Myth, Ritual, and Popular Religion in China
REL 3989The Goddess in India and Beyond
REL 3990Selected Topics in Religion (Mahabharata and Pali Buddhism)
REL 3990Selected Topics in Religion (Shamanism in Theory)
WGSS 3136Chinese Women in Myth, Literature, and Film (same as CHIN 3136W)
or WGSS 3136W Chinese Women in Myth, Literature, and Film
Political Science and Geography—Two courses (6 credits) from the following:
GEOG 3165Geography of South Asia
IAFF 2190WSpecial Topics (U.S.-Asia: Critical Issues)
IAFF 3182Special Topics in Foreign Policy (China's Rise and Implications)
IAFF 3186Special Topics in Asian Studies (Indo-Pacific Security Challenges)
IAFF 3186Special Topics in Asian Studies (Politics and Conflict South Asia)
IAFF 3186Special Topics in Asian Studies (Taiwan: Current Challenges and Future Directions)
IAFF 3186Special Topics in Asian Studies (U.S.-China Relations)
IAFF 3190Special Topics in International Affairs (China and Africa)
PSC 2368Politics in the Two Koreas
PSC 2369Comparative Politics of South Asia
PSC 2370Comparative Politics of China and Northeast Asia
PSC 2371Politics and Foreign Policy of China
PSC 2373Comparative Politics of Southeast Asia
PSC 2374Politics and Foreign Policy of Japan
PSC 2475International Relations of East Asia
PSC 3192WProseminar: Political Science (Chinese Foreign Policy)
PSC 3192WProseminar: Political Science (Post-Conflict Vietnam)
Economics and Development—One course (3 credits) from the following:
ECON 2151Economic Development
or ECON 2151W Economic Development
ECON 2169Introduction to the Economy of China
ECON 2170Introduction to the Economy of Japan
ECON 2198Special Topics in Economics - Regional (East Asian Economies)
IAFF 3186Special Topics in Asian Studies (Development Issues in SE Asia)
Related coursework (9 credits)
Three courses related to Asia from any discipline, including International Affairs (IAFF), selected with the approval of the program director.
Study abroad
Students are encouraged to study in Asia through one of GW's formal partnerships with a regional university or an approved self-designed study abroad program.