Asian Studies Concentration

Ann A. Pang-White, Ph.D., Director

With the role of Asia on the world stage becoming increasingly prominent, a better understanding of Asian cultures is an indispensable element for world citizenship and leaders of tomorrow. Any student with an interest in entering governmental services, law, business, education, journalism, medicine, human resources, and counseling, etc., will open up new opportunities by adding Asian Studies Concentration to their traditional career tracks.

Asian Studies at the University of Scranton is an interdisciplinary program that aims to provide students with the vital understanding of this culturally diverse and vibrant region of the world that includes China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, India, the Philippines, etc. The program seeks to engage students in the study of Asia through courses drawn from multiple departments across the University. The concentration is open to all majors. Cross-listed Asian Studies courses may also fulfill major, minor, cognate, and general education requirements. Concentration requirements are as follows:

24 credits of course work.
9 credits in the area of core emphasis which includes language study and a foundation course. Another 9 credits in Area Studies and 6 credits in infused courses. Students who take more than 9 credit courses in the Area Studies may reduce their 6 credits of infused-courses load as long as they meet other program requirements.
One- year (2 courses, 6 credits) language study at appropriate level in one Asian language. Placement in a previously studied language will be determined by placement testing at the University’s Language Learning Center. To maintain a balance of subjects studied and to facilitate a broader understanding of the region, ordinarily no more than12 credits from Asian language studies can count toward the 24 credits program requirement unless special circumstance occurs. When this happens, the student must consult with the program director for approval.
Students who study abroad or take courses at another higher education institutions with an emphasis in Asian Studies may petition to substitute courses and are required to speak to the director of the program prior to completing the credits they wish to substitute.
At least 12 of the 24 credits must be taken at the University of Scranton.
Prerequisite requirements for some courses if applicable, students should consult the University catalogue for these requirements.

Core Emphasis:

Choose 3 Courses		Total Hours (9)
One-Year Asian Language Study (2 courses)	Hours (6)
CNS 101 - (CF) Beginning Chinese	3
CNS 102 - (CF) Beginning Chinese	3
CNS 211 - (CF) Intermediate Chinese	3
CNS 212 - (CF) Intermediate Chinese	3
JPN 101 - (CF) Beginning Japanese	3
JPN 102 - (CF) Beginning Japanese	3
JPN 211 - (C,F,D) Intermediate Japanese	3
JPN 212 - (C,F,D) Intermediate Japanese , _{or other Asian Languages as approved}	3

*Foundation Course (1 course)**	Hours (3)
HIST 242 - (CH,D) Modern East Asia or PS 221 - Politics of Southeast Asia	3 or 3
_{*Students who take both HIST 242 and PS 221 may reduce their area studies course load to 6 credits}

Area Studies:

Choose 3 courses⁺	Hours	Total Hours (9)
ARTH 108 - Asian Art and Cultures	3
BIOL 295 (E,D) Philippines Organisms and Ecosystems *	3
CNS 211 - (CF) Intermediate Chinese _{(eligible for Area Studies only for students entering at CNS 100 level)}	3
CNS 212 - (CF) Intermediate Chinese _{(eligible for Area Studies only for students entering at CNS 100 level)}	3
CNS 311 - (CF,D) Advanced Chinese	3
CNS 312 - (CF,D) Advanced Chinese	3
HIST 243 - Modern Central Asia	3
HIST 245 - (EPW,CH,D) History of Modern China	3
HIST 279 - China in the 20th Century & Beyond	3
HIST 379 - (CH,D) The United States and China: From the Eighteenth Century to the Present	3
IB 476 - U.S.-East Asia Trade and Investment	3
IB 478 - Business in China	3
JPN 211 - (C,F,D) Intermediate Japanese _{(eligible for Area Studies only for students entering JPN 100 level)}
JPN 212 - (C,F,D) Intermediate Japanese _{(eligible for Area Studies only for students entering at JPN 100 level)}	3
PHIL 225 - (P,D) Asian Philosophy	3
PHIL 226 - (P,D) Chinese Philosophy	3
PHIL 295 - (P,D) Chinese Philosophy and Culture in Contemporary Taiwan	3
PHIL 384 Confucianism and the Modern World	3
PHIL 419 - (P,D) Philosophy East and West	3
PS 328 - (D) Modern China	3
PS 332 - (D) Modern Japan	3

Infused Course:

Choose 2 courses⁺	Hours	Total Hours (6)
ARTH 313 - (D,W) Art of Islam	3
COMM 228 - (D) Intercultural Communication	3
ECO/IB 351 - (D) Environment of International Business	3
ECO/IB 375 - International Economics	3
ECO 465 - Development Economics	3
ENLT 348 - (CL,D,W) Colonial and Postcolonial Fiction	3
HIST 130 - (CH,D) World History I	3
HIST 131 - (CH,D) World History II	3
HIST 227 - (D) The Civilization of Islam	3
HRS 331 - Globalization and Human Resource Management	3
MKT/IB 475 - (D) International Marketing	3
PS 313 - (D) Classical Political Ideas	3
T/RS 219 - (P,D) The Religions of the World	3
Total 24++

+Students who take more Area Studies courses may reduce their course load in Infused Courses.
++ A major in Asian Studies is possible by taking 4 more courses (including a capstone project) and by declaring an individualized major no later than the second semester of the sophomore year or four full semesters before graduation. Consult “Individualized Major ” section under College of Arts and Sciences in the undergraduate catalog for more information.

Available Exchange Programs and Study Abroad Programs:

The Beijing Center for Chinese Studies, China
University of Hyderabad, India
Khon Kaen University, Thailand
Fu Jen Catholic University, Taiwan
National Chengchi University, Taiwan
National Taiwan University, Taiwan
Ho Chi Minh International University, Vietnam
National University of Singapore, Singapore
Ateneo de Manila, the Philippines
Sogang University, South Korea
Yonsei University, South Korea
Ehwa Woman’s University, South Korea
Sophia University, Japan
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Kazakhstan