Broaden Your Worldview through Asian Studies
You're interested in—even fascinated by—the world’s largest, most populous, and most diverse continent. IUP’s BA in Asian Studies program can help you understand more about Asian cultures, environments, and peoples: crucial knowledge in an increasingly interconnected world.
You’ll gain linguistic and cultural skills that will set you apart for a career in business or politics, or for postgraduate programs.
What You’ll Learn
You'll follow an interdisciplinary approach to studying the languages, cultures, history, and peoples of the continent of Asia. Whether you choose to major in Asian studies or add the program as part of a double major or minor, you’ll gain knowledge about the past, insight into the present, and perspective on the future.
- Study Chinese, Japanese, or Korean languages.
- Immerse yourself in a study abroad trip.
- Pick the courses and concentrations that best match your interests and goals for the future.
Imagine Your Future
With your bachelor in Asian studies degree, you'll get global insight to take into any career field. IUP’s Asian studies majors have gone on to:
- Attend intensive language programs in the US.
- Pursue careers in business, higher education, government, and nongovernment organizations.
- Become language teachers in the US and abroad.
- Continue their studies and scholarship in academia.
Alumni have also won major domestic and international awards to fund their continuing education, including the
- Boren Awards
- Freeman-ASIA
- Fulbright
- Gilman Scholarships
- MEXT Japan
- Zhi-Xing Fellowships
Classes and Requirements
You'll take Introduction to Asian Studies and study an Asian language as part of your self-designed curriculum. Create your own independent research project or pursue the honors track. Both are great preparation for graduate school.
And you can study abroad as part of your education, immersing yourself in the languages and cultures of Asia.
If you’re enrolled in our pre-law track, you’ll select courses that help get you ready for law school and a career as a criminal lawyer or judge, including:
- Business
- Economics
- English
- History
- Philosophy
- Political science
Full Academic Catalog Listing
The course catalog is the official reference for all our degree and course offerings. Check it out for a full listing of the classes available and requirements for this degree.
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Asian Studies Minor
Add a minor in Asian studies to your degree and be more deeply prepared to enter a career or postgraduate program. You’ll expand your knowledge by completing a minimum of 18 credits in classes such as Introduction to Asian Studies (a required course).
From there, you can chart your own path of languages and other courses, mixing those exclusively and substantially focused on Asia.
Special topics and independent study courses may be applied with the approval of the Asian Studies Committee. If you take courses through an established study abroad center in an Asian country, you can also apply for credit toward a minor. Transfer credit requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Full Academic Catalog Listing
The course catalog is the official reference for all our degree and course offerings. Check it out for a full listing of the classes available and requirements for this degree.
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Middle Eastern Studies Certificate
Add depth to your liberal arts education and stand out to future employers—or add academic weight in your pursuit of an advanced degree—with a certificate.
Group Connections and Events
IUP’s bachelor in Asian studies program is connected to groups around Pennsylvania and beyond. You'll have opportunities to forge relationships with students and Asian studies scholars through a variety of experiences and events.
One example: Our programs hosted a 2020 Pittsburgh Asia Consortium Undergraduate Research Conference.
Get out There: Study Abroad Experiences
Immerse yourself in the diverse languages and cultures of Asia by studying abroad. Study abroad is an exciting, life-changing experience—you'll make new connections, sample new foods, and travel in new places.
- Most Asian studies majors study abroad for a semester, and some for an entire year.
- Some scholarship funds are available to support study abroad.
- IUP students have an excellent record of getting outside scholarships from agencies in the US and in Asia to study abroad.
Read more about study abroad options.
Take the Honors Program
If you’re seeking a deep education in Asian studies, look to the Asian Studies Honors program. This program enrolls some of the most capable students at IUP. You can apply for this track during your third semester.
Qualifications
- Asian studies majors with a minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA and a 3.5 GPA in Asian studies courses are eligible to apply for the honors program during their third semester.
- Complete at least 36 hours in Asian studies and two semesters of honors thesis research and writing.
- Honors theses are completed individually under the direction of an Asian studies professor who specializes in the student's area of interest. Theses are approved by a committee comprised of the director and two other readers.
Read the honors thesis guidelines.
When you graduate, you’ll receive an honors designation on your university transcript. If you’re seeking admission to graduate or professional schools, an honors program could help to set you apart.
Students interested in the Asian Studies Honors program should discuss this opportunity as early as possible with their advisor. You can also explore Asian studies as a student in the Cook Honors College at IUP.
- Read a guide for students and their supervising faculty on the Asian Studies Honors program.
- Download the application.
Full Academic Catalog Listing
The course catalog is the official reference for all our degree and course offerings. Check it out for a full listing of the classes available and requirements for this degree.
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