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Studies & Degrees in Asian Studies

Asian studies is an area studies subject. Students learn about the societies of Asia through their languages, history, religions, literature, politics and economies, instead of through one discipline. Most programmes divide the continent into regions: East Asia (China, Japan, Korea), South Asia and Southeast Asia. Some universities join it with the Middle East. The Department of Asian & Middle Eastern Studies at Duke University, for example, covers East Asian, South Asian and Middle Eastern cultures.

Language is the core of the subject. The Department of Asian Studies at The University of Texas at Austin stresses the integration of language with the study of history and culture, and encourages its students to study a language intensively and to study abroad. It teaches Bengali, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Malayalam, Sanskrit, Tamil and Urdu.

What students learn

A typical degree has three parts: several years of one Asian language, introductory courses on the civilisations and modern history of the region, and electives on topics such as politics, religion, literature, film, gender or economic development. At the University of Washington, the Asian Studies major asks for two Asian civilisation courses, 30 credits of Asia electives and a research paper written with a professor, and it totals 50 credits without the language courses. Students also need proficiency in an Asian language through the second year of college-level study. They can choose a concentration in China, Japan, Korea, South Asia or Southeast Asia, or a general concentration across regions.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degree in the United States. Asian studies is a major within a Bachelor of Arts. The University of Texas at Austin offers two majors: Asian Studies, with specialisations in East Asia and South Asia, and Asian Cultures and Languages, with specialisations in Chinese, Hindi/Urdu, Japanese, Korean, Malayalam, Sanskrit and Tamil. At Duke University the major consists of 10 courses and a senior portfolio.
  • Bachelor's degree in Spain. The Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM) offers the Grado en Estudios de Asia y África: Árabe, Chino y Japonés. It takes 4 years, has 240 ECTS credits and is taught in Spanish. Students follow one of three itineraries, reaching level A2-B1 in Chinese or Japanese or B2 in Arabic, and add basic training in a second language. The UAM offers 25 places for Arabic, 35 for Chinese and 35 for Japanese.
  • Master's degree. At The University of Texas at Austin, the M.A. programmes in Asian Studies aim at careers in business, law, non-profit or government work, while the M.A. and Ph.D. in Asian Cultures and Languages are designed for research and university teaching. The University of Washington has M.A. programmes in East Asia Studies, South Asian Studies and Southeast Asian Studies. In Spain, official master's degrees have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. The UAM lists a one-year Máster Universitario en Estudios de Asia Oriental, taught in Spanish.
  • Doctorate. The Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies of Kyoto University offers a 5-year doctoral course based on fieldwork, which is not divided into a master's and a doctoral stage. Its application guidelines are written in Japanese.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists 59 active schools for Asian studies. The United States has 42, Spain and Denmark three each, and Canada, Australia and Japan two each. The Netherlands, Sweden, Ireland, Ecuador and the United Kingdom have one each. The list includes The University of Texas at Austin, the University of Michigan, the University of Washington, Duke University, Northwestern University, Dartmouth College, Vanderbilt University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Kyoto University and the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.

Programmes in the United States are taught in English, and the UAM degree in Spanish. In every case a large part of the workload is the Asian language itself, so check which languages a department teaches before applying. Many departments expect or encourage a period of study in Asia.

Careers

Asian studies is not tied to one profession. The University of Texas at Austin says the major qualifies students for international positions, including journalism, the travel industry and non-profit organisations, and that many students use it as preparation for law school. The UAM names public and private bodies linked to international cooperation, trade, tourism, diplomacy and social services, as well as translation, language mediation, teaching and foreign trade. Language level matters to employers, so the language reached at graduation is worth comparing between programmes.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to learn an Asian language?

Yes, in most degrees. The University of Washington requires proficiency through the second year of college-level study, and the UAM degree takes students to level A2-B1 in Chinese or Japanese or B2 in Arabic.

Can I study Asian studies in Spanish?

Yes. The Grado en Estudios de Asia y África of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid is taught in Spanish, takes 4 years and has 240 ECTS credits.

What is the difference between Asian Studies and Asian Cultures and Languages?

At The University of Texas at Austin, the Asian Studies major specialises by region (East Asia or South Asia), while the Asian Cultures and Languages major specialises in one language, such as Chinese, Japanese or Korean.

How long does a degree in Asian studies take?

The UAM bachelor's degree takes 4 years, and its master's degree in East Asian studies takes one year. The doctoral course at Kyoto University's Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies requires 5 years of study.