Academic Programs Catalog

College of Social Science

Undergraduate Programs

Minor in Asian Studies

The Minor in Asian Studies, which is administered by the College of Social Science, is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor's degree programs at Michigan State University.  Although the minor complements a number of major fields, students who plan graduate study related to Asia or who wish to pursue careers in government or with corporations in Asia may find the minor particularly appealing.  With the approval of the department and college that administer the student's degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the requirements for the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor's degree. Courses taken in a Michigan State University Study Abroad program in Asia may be counted toward the minor with the permission of the Director of the Asian Studies Center and the student's advisor.

The Minor in Asian Studies provides an opportunity for students to create a multidisciplinary specialty with Asia as the  focus.  The student's program of study for the minor must be approved in advance and in writing by the advisor for Asian Studies in Social Science.

Requirements for the Minor in Asian Studies

                     
The student must complete a minimum of 16 credits:    
1.   The following core course (4 credits):      
    HST 160 Introduction to Asian History and Culture 4  
2.   One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):    
    ANP 414 Anthropology of South Asia 3  
    ANP 415 China: Culture and Society 3  
    ANP 419 Anthropology of the Middle East 3  
    EC 406 Economic Analysis of Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (W) 3  
    EC 413 Economic Analysis of Asia (W) 3  
    GEO 339 Geography of the Middle East and North Africa 3  
    GEO 340 Geography of Eurasia   3  
    HST 209 Traditional East Asia   4  
    HST 210 Modern East Asia     4  
    HST 343 Russia from Peter the Great to Lenin 3  
    HST 344 Russia in Twentieth Century 3  
    HST 365 The Vietnam War     3  
    HST 366 Southeast Asia in the Age of Empire 3  
    HST 367 Imperial China     3  
    HST 368 China since 1900     3  
    HST 369 Japan to 1800       3  
    HST 370 Japan since 1800     3  
    HST 372 The Middle East: Islam and Empires 3  
    HST 373 The Modern Middle East: From Empires to Nation States 3  
    HST 451 Special Topics in Asian History 3  
    HST 485 Seminar in Asian History (W) 3  
    ISS 330B Asia: Social Science Perspectives (I) 4  
    MC 441 Islam and World Politics 4  
    PLS 354 Politics of Asia     3  
    PLS 358 Politics of the U.S.S.R. and Its Successor States 3  
    The following courses may not fulfill requirement 3. below if used to fulfill this requirement: MC 441 and PLS 358.
3.   Complete at least 6 credits from the following courses (6 credits):    
    ASN 291 Special Topics in Asian Languages 1-4  
    ASN 401 East Asian Cultures (W) 3  
    HA 260 Asian Art       3  
    HA 261 Modern Asian Art     3  
    HA 462 The Arts of China     4  
    HA 463 Japanese Art       4  
    IAH 204 Asia and the World (I)   4  
    IAH 211B Area Studies and Multicultural Civilizations: Asia (I) 4  
    LL 250B Topics in National Cinemas: East Asian Cinema 3  
    MC 323 Japanese Foreign Policy 4  
    MC 324D Regional Politics, Cooperation, and Conflict in Asia 4  
    MC 328 Russian Foreign Policy   4  
    MC 441 Islam and World Politics 4  
    MUS 425 Music of South Asia and Its Diaspora 2  
    MUS 429 Music of East Asia     2  
    PLS 358 Politics of the U.S.S.R. and Its Successor States 3  
    REL 325 East Asian Buddhism   3  
    REL 330 Islam         3  
    REL 335 East Asian Religions   3  
    REL 340 Hinduism       3  
    REL 345 Religions of South Asia 3  
    REL 350 Buddhism in South Asia 3  
    REL 355 Southeast Asian Religions 3  
    REL 430 The Qur’an and Its Interpreters (W) 3  
    REL 432 Modern Muslim Thought (W) 3  
    The following courses may not fulfill requirement 2. above if used to fulfill this requirement: MC 441 and PLS 358. Students may not use both IAH 204 and IAH 211B to fulfill this requirement.    
4.   The following course (3 credits):        
    GEO 337 Geography of Asia-Pacific 3  
With the advance approval of the Asian Studies advisor in the College of Social Science, other courses and options such as study abroad, study away, and independent study may be used to fulfill minor requirements. Student are encourage to take courses in Asian languages to enhance their understanding of Asia.