Asian Studies

Learn about Asian cultures and nations.

Asian Studies Minor

Journey across the globe — without leaving campus — as an Asian studies minor by exploring rich cultures with a future as bright as yours.

What Can an Asian Studies Minor Do for You?

Learn about the Asian cultures and nations that are becoming increasingly pivotal world players, making up about half the world’s population and civilization.

Inside Asian Studies

You’ll get a look at Asian literature, culture, philosophy, religion, media, history, business and language — a nice complement to the study of business, law, journalism, government, education, social work, art and music.

Immerse yourself in Asian culture during one of our many study abroad programs in Asia, including the Philippines, Macau, China, Japan and Nepal. Study trips range from an entire semester abroad to a few weeks.

You’ll also have a chance to interact with students from Japan and China who study on campus each semester through exchange programs.

Unlock Global Opportunities

Discover how Susquehanna’s Asian Studies minor can open doors to prestigious scholarships and immersive language programs, setting you on a path to international success.

Learn more

A group of people stands in conversation near a traditional temple with ornate architecture and incense burning. The scene, reminiscent of an Asian Studies discussion, appears lively and engaged against the backdrop of the cultural landmark.

Explore Your Studies

Program Resources

When you enroll at Susquehanna, you’ll be paired with an advisor and application tool to guide you in your course planning and scheduling. The following is an excerpt from the complete course catalog. Enrolled students follow the requirements of the course catalog for the academic year in which they declare each major and/or minor and consult with their advisor(s).

Learning Goals

To initiate an in-depth study of Asia, including its cultures, literatures, history, religion, philosophy, businesses, media practices, arts and languages.
To compare various Asian cultures with each other to achieve a greater understanding of the continuities and discontinuities between them.
To arrive at some understanding of the continuities and discontinuities between Asian communities in Asia and their diasporic communities, particularly in the United States.

Double-Counting Restriction for Interdisciplinary Minors

Only 4 semester hours of this minor may be double-counted toward the student’s major.

Requirements for Asian Studies Minor

The Asian studies minor requires 20 semester hours, with grades of C- or better, including four elective courses (with at least three to be chosen from courses exclusively on Asia) and a required final course. Study abroad is highly recommended but not required.

Electives

Students take a total of 16 elective semester hours. Not more than eight semester hours may be taken at the 100 level, and at least four semester hours must be taken at the 300 level. No more than four semester hours of language at the 100-level may be counted toward an elective.

At least 12 semester hours must be taken from the following courses exclusively on Asia:

CHNS-101 Beginning Chinese I

CHNS-102 Beginning Chinese II

CHNS-201 Intermediate Chinese

Beginning Japanese I-II (transferred from another institution)

HIST-151 Traditional East Asia

HIST-152 Modern East Asia

HIST-252 History of China

CHNS-202 Intermediate Chinese

ENGL-390 when taught as Asian Literatures and Cultures

ENGL-205 Literature Studies, with Indian Literature and Film as the topic

ENGL-205 Literature Studies, with Asian Literature as the topic

ENGL-365 Studies in Literature and Gender, with Asian Women’s Literature as the topic

POLI-300 Seminar, with Rise of China as the topic

RELI-117 Introduction to Asian Religions

RELI-208 Buddhism

RELI-316 Daoism, Zen and Authenticity

RELI-318 Confucian Ethics

4 semester hours may be taken in the following comparative courses:

ENGL-205 Literature Studies, with Asian-American Literature as the topic

RELI-105 World Religions

RELI-305 Topics in Religion, with Asian Religions as the topic

RELI-315 Being Awesome at Life

Minors are strongly encouraged to fulfill the university’s Central Curriculum language requirement with an Asian language and to continue the language study beyond the first year. Features of Chinese and Japanese culture are closely associated with the uniqueness of the language. (For example, the evolution of Chinese characters is directly connected to the evolution of Chinese culture.) Chinese is currently offered at Susquehanna at both the 100 and 200 levels. Students who wish to take another Asian language not offered at Susquehanna may satisfy this requirement by taking language classes through off-campus programs or summer language study programs that have been approved for Susquehanna credit.

Required Final Course

Students pursuing a minor are required to take an upper-level four-semester-hour final course that offers an exploration of broad comparative issues that relate to Asia as a whole. Courses such as RELI- 208, ENGL-205, ENGL-365, ENGL-390 or other courses approved by the program coordinator will satisfy this requirement.

Language Fellows

As part of the Fulbright Foreign Student Program, the Fulbright FLTA Program is designed to develop Americans’ knowledge of foreign cultures and languages by supporting teaching assistantships in more than 35 languages at hundreds of U.S. higher education institutions.

The FLTA program offers educators from more than 55 countries the opportunity to develop their professional skills and gain first-hand knowledge of the United States, its culture and its people.

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