A major in Asian Studies graduates with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of Social Sciences and Humanities at Northeastern University. The course load for the major is fourteen courses. In addition to those fourteen courses, Asian Studies majors are expected to spend some time in Asia in an academic setting, although this requirement does not have to be credit-bearing.
For a listing of the most current major requirements visit the Registrar’s website here.
Required Courses
East Asian Studies (ASNS 1150): This introductory course focuses on East Asia as a region and focuses on the transformations that have occurred there in the past two thousand years. This course currently takes place every semester, and is cross-listed with History.
The Origins of Today (HIST 1215): This introductory course emphasizes large-scale patterns, long-term changes, and interconnections of world history. It is included in the major to emphasize Asia’s place within the world.
Electives:
One course on Asia in Global Context. See list of applicable courses at the course catalog linked here
Six electives, including three courses chosen from one of the following focus areas. See list of applicable courses at the course catalog linked here which include but are not limited to the following subjects:
History
Society and Politics
Language, Literature and Cultures
Philosophy and Religion
Culture
Credits from Dialogue of Civilizations programs in Asia will be honored as electives. If you are interested in substituting a course outside of this list, please do not hesitate to reach out to your advisor for the possibilities.
Language:
Two years (four courses) of an Asian language. Currently Northeastern University offers Japanese and Mandarin Chinese.
Course numbers are CHNS or JPNS 1101 and 1102 (elementary), 2101 and 2102 (intermediate), and 3101 and 3102 (advanced). Courses taken abroad may be given different numbers but will still count towards the requirement.
Time Abroad:
This can be credit bearing — a traditional semester abroad, Dialogue of Civilizations or an experiential education project — or an international co-op or internship, or other advisor approved activity.
Finally, in order to bring together this academic experience, students of junior or senior standing are required to complete an upper level capstone course from the following list:
Asian Studies Capstone Directed Study (ASNS 4900)
Issues in Modern and Contemporary Asia (ASNS 4910)
Asian Studies Capstone Seminar (ASNS 4920)
Capstone courses are not offered every semester due to the low number of majors, so if it is needed for a student, it must be requested. Please reach out to csgs@northeastern.edu if you are interested in requesting a capstone.
