Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies

Summary of Degree Requirements

University Requirements:

  • MATH 0701 (4 s.h.) and/or ENG 0701 (4 s.h.), if required by placement testing.
  • All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses as part of the major. The specific courses that will fulfill this requirement are ASST 2196 and ASST 4096.
  • Students must complete requirements of the General Education (GenEd) Program. See the General Education section of the Undergraduate Bulletin for more details.

College of Liberal Arts Requirements:

  • Completion of a minimum of 123 credits, including:
    • 90 credits in CLA/CST courses;
    • 45 credits of which must be at the upper level (numbered 2000-4999).
      • For Social Science majors, 6 upper level credits (numbered 2000-4999) must be taken in Humanities Subject Areas: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Greek (Ancient), Greek and Roman Classics, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Philosophy, Religion, Russian, and Spanish in the College of Liberal Arts, Art History in the Tyler School of Art and Architecture, or any department in the College of Science and Technology.
    • A minimum GPA of 2.0, cumulatively, in CLA/CST coursework, and in the major.
    • Only courses in which a student receives a grade of at least C- can satisfy GenEd, major, minor, or CLA Foreign Language and Global Studies requirements.
    • Professional Development Requirement
      • All students in the College of Liberal Arts are required to take a 1 credit seminar in professional development. CLA 1002 Professional Development for Liberal Arts Majors is the appropriate course option for this major. Other courses that fulfill this requirement may be found on the CLA College Requirements page. Only one course in this category may count towards graduation.
    • Foreign Language/Global Studies Requirements:
      • The language requirement of the Asian Studies major exceeds the minimum requirements of the College of Liberal Arts; no additional coursework is required.
      • Notes on Foreign Language Study
        • The third level of language is numbered 1003 in French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese and numbered 2001 in all other foreign language subjects.
        • Students are strongly encouraged to take the third level of a foreign language as it is the minimum required for election to the prestigious honor society Phi Beta Kappa. (Taking the course does not guarantee admission but not taking it guarantees exclusion.)
        • See the College of Liberal Arts Policies section of this Bulletin for more information on the Foreign Language Placement, Regression in Coursework, and guidelines for students' other experiences with language.

General Electives are typically one-third of a student's program of study and can be focused on a second major, a minor, or towards some other personal enrichment or professional goals. See an academic advisor for assistance in developing an academic plan for these courses.

Major Requirements (minimum 30 credits plus 12-14 credits of language study):

Foundation Courses
Select two of the following:6
Introduction to East Asia: China
Introduction to East Asia: China
Introduction to East Asia: Japan
Introduction to East Asia: Japan
Asian Literature Requirement
Select one of the following:3
Japanese Literature: From Classical to Contemporary
Japanese Literature: From Classical to Contemporary
Chinese Literature: From Classical to Contemporary
Chinese Literature: From Classical to Contemporary
Asian Religions Requirement
Select one of the following:3
Introduction to Buddhism
Introduction to Buddhism
Chinese Religions
Chinese Religions - Confucius to Mao
Japanese Religions
Japanese Religions
Asian Language Requirement
All students will take four semesters of an Asian Language (Chinese, Japanese, or Korean) 112-14
Required Writing Intensive Courses
ASST 2196Writing in the City3
ASST 4096Seminar in Asian Studies3
Asian Studies Electives
One course in Asian Studies 1000 level (or higher)3
Three courses in Asian Studies 2000-49999
Total Credit Hours42-44

Distinction in Major

Asian Studies majors may graduate with distinction in the major if they have a GPA of at least 3.5 in the major and a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. 

Suggested Academic Plan

Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies

Requirements for New Students starting in the 2022-2023 Academic Year

Year 1
FallCredit Hours
ENG 0802, 0812, or 0902Analytical Reading and Writing [GW]4
GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course [GQ]4
GenEd Breadth Course3
Select one of the following (first level):4
Chinese Elements I 
Japanese Elements I [LC] 
Korean Elements I 
 Term Credit Hours15
Spring
IH 0851 or 0951Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY]3
GenEd Breadth Course3
GenEd Breadth Course3
GenEd Breadth Course3
Select one of the following (second level):4
Chinese Elements II [LC] 
Japanese Elements II [LC] 
Korean Elements II 
 Term Credit Hours16
Year 2
Fall
IH 0852 or 0952Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ]3
GenEd Breadth Course3
GenEd Breadth Course3
CLA 1002Professional Development for Liberal Arts Majors1
ASST 2501 or HIST 2501Introduction to East Asia: China3
Select one of the following (third level):3
Chinese Intermediate I [LC] 
Intermediate Japanese I [LC] 
Korean Intermediate I [LC] 
 Term Credit Hours16
Spring
GenEd Breadth Course3-4
Asian Studies 1000-4999 Elective13
CLA/CST 2000+ Course3
ASST 2502 or HIST 2502Introduction to East Asia: Japan3
Select one of the following (fourth level):3
Chinese Intermediate II 
Intermediate Japanese II 
Korean Intermediate II 
 Term Credit Hours15
Year 3
Fall
CLA/CST 2000+ Humanties/CST Course3
CLA/CST 2000+ Course3
Select one of the following Asian Literature courses:3
Japanese Literature: From Classical to Contemporary 
Chinese Literature: From Classical to Contemporary 
CLA/CST 2000+ Course3
Asian Studies Elective 1000-49993
 Term Credit Hours15
Spring
CLA/CST 2000+ Humanities/CST Course3
Asian Studies 2000-4999 Elective3
CLA/CST 2000+ Course3
ASST 2196Writing in the City [WI]3
Select one of the following Asian Religions courses:3
Introduction to Buddhism 
Chinese Religions 
Japanese Religions 
 Term Credit Hours15
Year 4
Fall
Asian Studies 2000-4999 Elective3
CLA/CST 2000+ Course3
CLA/CST 2000+ Course3
CLA/CST 0800-4999 Elective2
0800-4999 Electives in Any School or College5
 Term Credit Hours16
Spring
Asian Studies 2000-4999 Elective3
ASST 4096Seminar in Asian Studies [WI]3
CLA/CST 2000+ Course3
CLA/CST 0800-4999 Elective3
One 0800-4999 Elective in Any School or College3
 Term Credit Hours15
 Total Credit Hours: 123