Degree Requirements for BA in Asian Studies

The undergraduate Asian Studies major consists of thirty hours or more of course work.  There are three basic requirements:

(1) One foundational course: either ASIA 211/HART 211/HIST 206, "Introduction to Asian Civilizations" or ASIA 212, "Perspectives on Modern Asia."

(2) Nine (9) additional courses drawn from at least three of the departments offering courses with predominantly Asian content.  In the case of cross-listed courses, any one of the departments or programs appearing in the cross-listing can be used to satisfy this particular requirement.

Note:  Of the ten courses required for the Asian Studies major (that is ASIA 211/HART 211/HIST 206 or ASIA 212, plus the nine additional courses mentioned above):

(A) Four (4)--but no more than four--of the ten can be Asian language courses (for details on the Asian Studies language requirement, see #3 below.)

(B) Four (4) of the ten must be at the 300-level or above.

(3) Asian Studies majors must have the equivalent of at least two (2) years of coursework in a single Asian language (this may include an Asian language other than those offered by Rice).  As indicated above, up to four Asian language courses can be used to satisfy the ten-course Asian Studies major requirement.  Students who have placed into the third year (300-level) or higher of an Asian language will have satisfied our proficiency requirement for the major.  If such students continue with the same language (or decide to take another Asian language), they, too, can count up to four of these Asian language courses toward the ten-course Asian Studies major requirement.