Asian Studies

The interdisciplinary Asian Studies programs at the University of New Orleans are administered by the International Studies Program in the College of Liberal Arts. The programs offer a host of languages, literature, history, philosophy, art, and social science courses intended to acquaint students with current and historical knowledge of the Asian region, peoples, and cultures. The programs seek to give students a basic and general understanding of this part of the world.

Concentration / Minor
(Print version)

The BAIS Asian Studies Concentration

A concentration in Asian Studies offers BAIS students an interdisciplinary approach to the regions, cultures, and civilizations of Asia. Courses in the arts, the humanities (language, literature, history, philosophy), and the social sciences guide students to an understanding of the ancient and modern Asian world, with its long traditions and vast population. Upon completing course work in this concentration, students will have studied at least one Asian language and will be able to speak with confidence about the cultural, political, and economic importance of this area.

Combined with the Bachelor of Arts degree in international studies, Asian studies will prepare students for careers in foreign service, international trade and business, international education, and governmental and non-governmental agencies.

Languages

The BAIS requires 18 hours of course work (or equivalency exam) in a foreign language relevant to the student's chosen concentration. Languages available to students with an Asian Studies concentration include Chinese and Japanese in the Foreign Languages Department, and Vietnamese through the Critical Languages Program (CLP) in Metropolitan College's International Division. Introductory level courses in other Asian languages are also available in the CLP.

Course Distribution

The BAIS requires 24 hours of course work in the student's chosen concentration. 3 hours of that course work must include IS 4998 (International Studies Internship). 12 hours must be taken in courses that are 2000-level or above. In addition, the concentration of 24 hours plus the 7 hours of electives must include 15 hours of course work in the social sciences.

The Asian Studies Minor

In addition to the BAIS concentration, the College of Liberal Arts offers a minor that may be pursued by students in any degree program at UNO.

Minor Requirements:

1. Completion of the requirements for a degree in one of the academic colleges at UNO.
2. Completion of four semesters (a minimum of 12 credit hours or its equivalent) of Chinese, Japanese, or other relevant language.
3. Completion of History 2201 and 2202 (the survey of Asian civilizations).
4. Credit in courses on Asia (see below), for a total of twelve credit hours in addition to the language and history requirements. At least six of the twelve credit hours must be at the 3000 level or above and at least nine must be chosen from two or more disciplines other than history and language, with no more than 9 credit hours from any one discipline.
5. Courses on Asia in the major field that are counted as credit hours for that major may not also be counted toward this minor.
6. A minimum 2.0 grade point average must be attained in all courses in the minor program.

Suggested Courses for the minor:

Anthropology

• ANTH 3370 Peoples & Cultures of the Pacific
• ANTH 3737 Women: Cross-Cultural Perspectives
• ANTH 3090 Special Topics in Anthropology (when appropriate)

Curriculum & Instruction

• EDCI 4620 Multicultural Education
• EDCI 4660 Global Education
• EDCI 4991 Special Topics (when appropriate)
• English ENGL 2374 Asian Literature
• ENGL 2375 Asian American Literature
• ENGL 2398 Special Topics (when appropriate)

Geography

• GEOG 2441 Geography of Asia
• GEOG 4630 Geography of the Third-World City
• GEOG 1002 World Regional Geography: Asia and the Pacific

History

• HIST 2201 History of Pre-Modern East Asian Civilizations
• HIST 2202 History of Modern East Asian Civilizations
• HIST 3225 The War in Vietnam
• HIST 4201 History of Modern China
• HIST 4991 Special Topics: Classical and Medieval India
• HIST 4991 Special Topics: Recent Chinese History
• HIST 4301 The Ancient Near East
• HIST 4943 World History for Teachers

Philosophy

• PHIL 2701 Religions of the East
• PHIL 3095 Special Topics: Eastern Philosophies

Political Science

• POLI 4710 Politics of Developing Areas