An Chung Cheng -- Program Advisor

This program is designed to provide the student with a comprehensive and systematic training in Asian affairs for a liberal education and career preparation. Emphasis is placed on political science, economics, history, geography, Asian languages, etc. In addition to academic courses, activities in the Institute for Asian Studies conducted through the Center for International Studies and Programs include lectures, seminars, and study abroad programs in Asia as well as selected exchanges in the region.

In addition to the general education requirements of the University of Toledo and the College of Arts and Letters, students will take 30 hours in Asian Studies selected from (but not limited to) the list of courses below. Students must select courses from a minimum of three different departments; no more than 15 hours of course work from one department will count toward the Asian Studies major.

With the approval of the adviser, a maximum of six elective hours may be chosen from independent study courses offered by various departments (other than ASST 4910 and ASST 4920). This general distributive pattern is designed to encourage the student to examine the various aspects of Asian Studies. Asian Studies majors are encouraged to take Japanese, (or Chinese or other Asian languages, if offered) for their foreign language requirement.

In addition to the 30 hours in the major, students are required to take 18 hours in related courses in humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, business, law and other areas chosen in consultation with the adviser. Under special circumstances, certain courses in other colleges may be used to satisfy the related requirement.

Below is a sample plan of study. Consult your degree audit for your program requirements.

• PLO 1: Communication objectives: Students can interpret oral and written texts, present information, and participate in spontaneous spoken and writing exchanges on relevant topics in one of the major languages in Asia, including Chinese, Japanese. In their own and Asian cultures, students can compare and explain some diversity among products and practices and how it relates to perspectives.
• PLO 2: Content objectives: Students can demonstrate their knowledge of the history, culture, economies, societies, and political systems of Asia and main Asian countries. Students can investigate underlying assumptions, describe inequalities and power dynamics, and critically assess how power dynamics affect the voice, influence, access to resources, decision-making, and governance.
• PLO 3: Global community objectives: Students can investigate, explain, and reflect on culture exchanges between selected Asian countries and the U.S. Students can initiate investigations of Asia by framing questions, analyzing and synthesizing relevant evidence, and drawing reasonable conclusions about Asian and global issues.