Asian Studies Major

The Asian Studies major allows students a unique opportunity to pursue fluency and expertise in the languages and cultures of Asia. Asian Studies majors are encouraged to choose a primary language + culture track--a "submajor"--in which to specialize. The department currently offers the following submajors: Chinese Studies, Japanese Studies, Korean Studies, South Asian Studies, and Southeast Asian Studies.

Although students often have a particular submajor focus, the department also offers many pan-Asia and border-crossing courses and encourages students to think broadly and creatively about the study of Asia. We want you to graduate with not only linguistic and cultural fluency, but also the skills to articulate the importance of your area of study as a part of Asia and the world beyond.

Asian Studies Major Worksheet

Approved Courses for the Asian Studies Submajor Requirement

The Asian Studies Major Requirements

Minimum Credits: 34

Language Requirement: All majors must have fourth-term proficiency in an Asian language taught within the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures. Majors are strongly encouraged to continue their language training beyond the second-year requirement. The Asian language used to meet this requirement will define the student's regional specialization.

These credits do not count towards the credits needed for the major.

Required Courses

All courses used toward the major, except those courses used to acquire a second Asian language, must be at the 200-level or above.

Students must take:

ASIAN 235: Introduction to Asian Studies
ASIAN 381: Junior/Senior Seminar for Majors
Eight or more elective courses
- At least four elective courses in ASIAN or ASIANLAN must be at the 300-level or above (excluding ASIAN 381), one of which must be an ASIAN course at the 400-level or above.

Students must earn a C- or above for a course to be counted towards the major.

Sub-major Requirement

In consultation with a department advisor, majors must take at least 4 300-level or above elective ASIAN or ASIANLAN courses (excluding ASIAN 381) focused on or related to the sub-major.

Optional Cognate

Students have the option of electing one course (up to four credits) from outside of the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures.

Honors Thesis (ASIAN 495)
Students interested in writing an Honors thesis can learn more here.

At least 5 courses must be elected on the Ann Arbor campus, or an Ann Arbor campus extension that is taught by Ann Arbor faculty. This includes Camp Davis, Biological Station, MIchigan-in-Washington, but NOT STDABRD.

The plan for the major is designed in consultation with and approved by a department advisor.

Asian Studies FAQs

When should I declare an Asian Studies major?

Students are encouraged to come in for advising appointments as soon as they know that they wish to pursue an Asian Studies major and can declare at any time.

Can I declare more than one sub-major?

No, students can only declare one sub-major. Students are able to use courses from outside of the declared sub-major towards the major including coursework in a second or third Asian language.

Can I get a major and a minor within ALC?

Yes. Know that the focus of the major and the minor cannot be the same and the course work should not overlap. For instance, a student pursuing a Chinese Studies submajor should not get a Chinese language minor.

The major says, “All courses must be approved by an ALC academic advisor.” Is that true?

Yes. Due to the flexible nature of the major, no courses beyond ASIAN 235 and ASIAN 381 are automatically approved to meet the requirements. Which courses to take is a conversation that must happen each semester with an ALC advisor—either through a one-on-one advising session or in an email to alc-advising@umich.edu. During these appointments, the courses are then added to your progress towards degree (PTD) worksheet that is stored on your advising file. After the course is taken, your Wolverine Access audit is then updated accordingly. If you do not get approval from an advisor, there is no guarantee that the courses you take can be used towards the major requirements.

Can I use study abroad credit towards my major?

Yes, however, at least 15 credits must be in residence at the University of Michigan (including CGIS Study Abroad credits).

Please see the study abroad web page on our site for more information.

Can I count language credits towards the Sub-major requirement?

Yes. Language credits can be counted towards the major for any requirement except for the 400-level coursework requirement.

Do I have to take ASIAN 381: Junior/Senior Research Seminar for Majors?

Yes. The Department does not grant exceptions to this course. If you have concerns about your ability to take ASIAN 381 before you graduate, please speak to an advisor.

What do I do with an Asian Studies degree?!

The possibilities are too numerous to count! UM Asian Studies graduates have a higher placement rate upon graduation than the College of LSA average. For starters, you can check out our alumni profiles to see what some of our recent graduates are up to. The Using Your Degree page also contains information about job placement. We realize that it can be difficult, though, to narrow your options down. For this reason, ALC pairs with the UM Career Center regularly to offer workshops and one-on-one advising for students. In these sessions, your personal interests and capabilities are explored to help pinpoint a possible field for you. Students are also encouraged to seek out faculty in their sub-major field/region to discuss options after graduation. ALC advisors will regularly host a workshop during the academic year to discuss graduate schools in Asian Studies, if that is one of your considerations. Lastly, the Career Center’s Asian Languages and Cultures Career Guide is a great start to see where Asian Studies graduates go after graduation.

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Asian Studies Major

The Asian Studies Major Requirements

Asian Studies FAQs