Course Overview!

The Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies at Clark University offers a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the history, politics, economics, and cultures of East, Southeast, and South Asia. Students focus on one of three areas: China, Japan, or a combined East/Southeast/South Asia region. The program emphasizes language acquisition (Chinese or Japanese), immersive study abroad experiences (in China, Japan, or Vietnam), and integration of knowledge from social sciences, humanities, arts, and business. Students benefit from the affiliation with Clark's Center for Gender, Race, and Area Studies, fostering social justice perspectives. The program cultivates critical thinking, cultural understanding, and global awareness, preparing graduates for diverse careers and further study. The program encourages practical experience through internships and research opportunities, enhancing students' skills in cultural understanding, language proficiency, and research.

Course Structure

The Asian Studies major requires twelve courses. Students choose a specialization in China, Japan, or the combined region of East, South, and Southeast Asia and complete a minor or second major in a related field. Attaining linguistic proficiency in the chosen language(Chinese or Japanese) is vital, achieved via courses and at least one semester (ideally a full year) of study abroad at programs at Kansai Gaidai University (Japan), CET language programs (Beijing), CET internship programs (Shanghai), or CET (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam). The curriculum integrates coursework from various disciplines allowing the specialization to expand on an area of interest.