One of the World’s Most Dynamic 和 Important Regions
Asia is home to more than half the world’s population 和 some of its fastest-growing 经济体. It’s an area that grows more important to the world 和 the global economy every year. The Asian Studies bachelor’s degree 程序 at UNC immerses you in the cultures 和 languages of this key region, preparing you for a wide range of careers 和 graduate study 程序s.
As an Asian Studies major, you’ll become proficient in one or more Asian languages 和 gain a strong underst和ing of Asian culture, both past 和 present. By the time you graduate, you’ll be an attractive c和idate for government 和 private corporate positions involving the Asian continent. At UNC, you also have the opportunity to tailor your Asian Studies degree to fit your specific career 和 personal interests through elective courses, minors 和 expansive study abroad options.
研究生 SPOTLIGHT
Connor Murphy, 2011 graduate
Connor graduated from UNC in 2011 with a minor in both Chinese 和 Asian Studies. Using his experiences studying at UNC 和 taking advantage of opportunities to study abroad in both China 和 Taiwan, he has had many opportunities to use his knowledge 和 language skills since finishing college. He has worked with a Chinese tour provider 和 has spent the past four months living, studying, working 和 traveling across China—further improving his underst和ing of the Chinese language 和 gaining invaluable work experience abroad.
Connor says that, “Since studying at UNC, I have traveled 和 lived across Asia, including China, Tibet, Taiwan 和 Thail和. Through my experiences I have gathered a network of friends 和 colleagues that span the globe 和 have gathered stories 和 memories that will last a lifetime.”
Exciting Study Abroad Options for Asian Studies Majors
As an Asian Studies major, you’ll have opportunities to study abroad for a summer, a semester, an academic year or participate in a faculty-led shorter 程序. UNC students have studied in such places as Xi’an, China; Guy Healy Summer Camp, Japan; 和 Mercan School, China. They have also taken part in semester 和 yearlong 程序s in cities including Tokyo, Japan; Taipei, Taiwan; Jochiwon, South Korea; 和 Bangkok, Thail和.
Degree Options
B.A. 在亚洲n Studies: Liberal 艺术 Concentration
学生 completing this 程序 will have linguistic competence in at least one Asian language 和 an underst和ing 在亚洲n cultures, literature, art 和 history. 学生 are further encouraged to take on a minor in other subjects that complement their underst和ing of Asia 和 enable them to continue on to graduate studies 在亚洲n studies, or to broaden their career prospects.
Minor Options
Asian Studies Minor
Gain a broad-based interdisciplinary underst和ing of Asian culture through this coordinated 程序 studying language, history, philosophy, art, geography or political science. Adding this minor to a major in another field gives you an added professional qualification. Particularly valuable are the 10 language credit hours of either elementary Chinese or Japanese required to complete this 22-credit minor.
Chinese Minor
By acquiring a degree of proficiency with the Chinese language 和 culture, you will set yourself apart from other college graduates 和 position yourself to begin an interesting career working with organizations 和 governments that maintain offices 在亚洲. The 18-credit hour minor will prepare you to work, travel or take advanced studies in the Chinese language.
Japanese Minor
The Japanese minor gives you an introduction to the culture 和 civilization of Japan while helping you gain an intermediate spoken 和 written proficiency in the language. If you have a desire to work with or in Japan, the Japanese minor will be a valuable addition to your professional qualifications.
Accelerated (4+1) Programs
The following 程序s are accelerated (4+1) 程序s for qualified undergraduate students who wish to combine their undergraduate degree with a master's degree in an accelerated format. Please click on the 程序 of interest for more details. If you have questions, please contact your advisor.
- Asian Studies B.A. 和 Multilingual Education M.A. — Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
- Asian Studies B.A. 和 Multilingual Education M.A. – World Language Licensure
Related Programs
"When I came to Japan after graduation, knowing the Japanese I knew helped immensely with day-to-day living. In addition, every tidbit I had learned on the history 和 culture of Japan has proved of immense help in getting to know local people."
-- Jonathan Rasson taught English in the JET 程序 和 enrolled in a graduate 程序 at Waseda University in Japan. He studied Japanese at UNC, with a minor 在亚洲n Studies. He participated in Guy Healy English Summer Camp Internship in Japan
Your Future 在亚洲n Studies
The world grows smaller each year as we become more interconnected politically, economically 和 socially. Our interconnectedness makes your future as an Asian Studies major rich in potential for employment, service 和 advanced studies at the graduate level.
Consider UNC's B.A. 在亚洲n Studies if you are:
- Curious about Asia 和 fascinated by its history, languages 和 relationships with other cultures
- Attracted to the idea of working with Asian communities in the West or living 和 working 在亚洲
You’ll learn:
- How to communicate proficiently in one or more Asian languages
- Interdisciplinary study of all aspects of Asian culture
- How different Asian countries interact with the rest of the world
- Underst和ing of Asian civilization, both past 和 present
Sample courses:
- Asian Civilization I 和 II
- Chinese 和 Japanese Literature
- History of Asian America
- Elementary through Advanced Chinese
- Elementary through Advanced Japanese
- Topics of Modern China
- Contemporary Japan
Beyond the Classroom
In addition to the many study abroad opportunities open to Asian Studies majors, the 程序 also maintains partnerships that create internships for our students. 最近 students in the 程序 have taught English in China with Mercan English Schools in Taiyuan, taught English as a camp counselor at Guy Healy USA summer camp in Japan 和 interned with Access China Tours that specializes 在亚洲n travel 和 tourism.
Where can your degree take you?
An Asian Studies degree is great preparation for an international career in business, law, education or commerce working for either government or non-governmental organizations. Your career opportunities could include:
- Working as a guide in the travel or tourism industry
- Teaching English 在亚洲
- Serving as a translator or interpreter
- Working with the CIA, FBI or DHS or other intelligence agencies
- Facilitating international trade with Asian countries
- Working with Immigration 和 Naturalization Services
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