Dr. Ronnie Littlejohn, Director

Asian Studies
in Belmont's Undergraduate Curriculum

Belmont offers a major and minor in Asian Studies. 

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Vision of the Major and Minor:

To prepare students with a more detailed knowledge of issues in Asia in general and provide a basis for advanced study and/or career choices through methods drawn from a variety of disciplines, and habits of critical reflection and action.

Purpose:

Belmont’s Asian Studies program provides an opportunity for those students with special interests in Asia to prepare themselves for a wide range of careers and callings.  With many different courses and experiences available, students are able to focus on both the modern and traditional history and literature of Asian cultures and societies, contemporary Asian politics, economic links between the Asia and the rest of the world, and global philosophical, ethical and religious issues.  Graduates with the major or minor in Asian studies will be better prepared to pursue many diverse careers in an era of globalization, such as international business, government service, education, and research. 

Asian Studies Major and Minor General Requirements:

·         The Asian Studies program offers a major and a minor, both of which require a gateway seminar in Asia Area Studies (ASN 2000) and a senior capstone course (ASN 4500) as a part of its Core Emphasis.  Also as a part of the Core Emphasis of the Asian Studies program, students who choose the major must complete 6 semester hours in an Asian language at the 2000 level or above.  Students who choose the minor must choose an Asian language to fulfill their General Education Core requirements.

·         Majors and minors will choose courses from a wide range of area specific courses which have Asia as their driving focus and context.  Majors also choose one course from a list of “Infused” courses in which Asia is a significant part of the course of study, but not the exclusive focus.

·         Asian Studies majors are required to have an approved study abroad experience and it is recommended that minors do so.  There are many ways to satisfy the study abroad experience requirement, ranging from participation on one of Belmont’s travel study programs, to the University’s semester or year long exchanges, to an experience through another institution in the U.S. or Asia with prior approval of the Director of Asian Studies.  

Goals:

1. Students will gain increased knowledge about Asia in general and familiarity with the history, cultures, and languages of that area.

2. Students will learn how to study a region in an interdisciplinary manner, making use of the methodologies and perspectives of multiple fields.

3. Students will be prepared for careers and/or further study of Asia in fields such as international business, journalism, politics, the media professions, economics, history, modern languages, literature, law, philosophy, politics, religion, and sociology.

4. Students will learn to use their knowledge of Asian affairs to support their own critical reflections on current issues.

General Resources
Belmont Specific Resources
Study Abroad in Asia
China on the WWW
Japan on the WWW
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