The continent of Asia is home to some of the most ancient and formative civilizations in history. All of the world’s largest religious traditions have their origins on the continent, and Asian peoples have shaped and reshaped how humanity understands the world and itself for centuries. The Asian Religions and Cultures major facilitates the understanding of the continent and its peoples, allowing students to understand not only the Asian past but to put current issues and problems into a broader historical, religious, and cultural context.
Visit the Asian Studies website for all the information about programming related to Asia.
Asian Religions and Cultures Major
The major in Asian Religions and Cultures (reference number 615) requires 33 credit hours. Students must take courses in Religion (9 credit hours), Language (6 credit hours), History and Politics (6 credit hours), Electives (9 credit hours), and complete the Senior Project (3 credit hours). Students must take courses from at least four different departments. At least 17 hours must be at the 300-level or above. A minor or second major is required.
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Requirements |
Courses |
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I. Religion courses (Three courses; 9 credit hour) |
RELS 103: Religions of Asia RELS 302: Buddhism RELS 303: Hinduism RELS 306: Islam RELS 308: East Asian Religious Traditions RELS 317: Confucianism RELS 318: Daoism RELS 320: Religions of the Middle East |
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II. Language (One sequence; 6 credit hours) |
ARBC 101/102: Arabic CHIN 101/102: Elementary Chinese JAPN 101/102: Elementary Japanese RELS 390/391: Pali |
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III. History and Politics (Two courses; 6 credit hours) |
History 110: Introduction to Asian Civilization History 370: Modern South Asia History 460: Traditional East Asia History 461: Modern East Asia History 462: History of the Middle East History 471: Modern China History 472: Modern Japan Political Science 365: Government and Politics of the Middle East Political Science 366: Government and Politics in East Asia |
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IV. Electives (Three courses from list or from categories I-III; 9 credit hours) |
ARC 401: Topics in Asian Religions and Cultures ARC 498: Independent Study in Asian Religions and Cultures Anthropology/Folk Studies 341: Peoples and Cultures of Asia Art 407: Islamic Art and Architecture English 368: Japanese Film in Translation Geography 465: Geography of Asia Geography 467: Geography of the Middle East PERF 105: Taiji (1 hour; may be take up to three times for credit) RELS 100: New Testament RELS 101: Old Testament/Hebrew Scriptures RELS 311: The Qur’an SOC 353: Sociology of Modern Japan |
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V. Senior Project (3 credit hours) |
ARC 499: Senior Seminar |
Asian Studies Minor (Reference #317)
Asian Religions and Cultures Track:
Students must take courses in Religion (9 credit hours), History and Politics (6 credit hours), and Electives (6 credit hours). Students must take courses from at least three different departments. At least 12 credit hours must be at the 300-level or above.
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Requirement |
Courses |
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I. Religion courses (Three courses; 9 credit hours) |
RELS 103: Religions of Asia RELS 302: Buddhism RELS 303: Hinduism RELS 306: Islam RELS 308: East Asian Religious Traditions RELS 317: Confucianism RELS 318: Daoism RELS 320: Religions of the Middle East |
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II. History and Politics (Two courses; 6 credit hours) |
HIST 110: Introduction to Asian Civilization HIST 370: Modern South Asia HIST 460: Traditional East Asia HIST 461: Modern East Asia HIST 462: History of the Middle East HIST 471: Modern China HIST 472: Modern Japan PS 365: Government and Politics of the Middle East PS 366: Government and Politics in East Asia |
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III. Electives (Two courses from list or from courses in categories I-II; 6 credit hours) |
ANTH/FLK 341: Peoples and Cultures of Asia ARBC 101/102: Arabic ARC 401: Topics in Asian Religions and Cultures ARC 498: Independent Study in Asian Religions and Cultures ART 407: Islamic Art and Architecture CHIN 101/102: Elementary Chinese ENG 368: Japanese Film in Translation GEOG 465: Geography of Asia GEOG 467: Geography of the Middle East JAPN 101/102: Elementary Japanese PERF 105: Taiji (1 hour; may be taken up to three times for credit) RELS 100: New Testament RELS 101: Old Testament/Hebrew Scriptures RELS 311: The Qur’an RELS 390/391: Pali SOC 353: Sociology of Modern Japan |
East and South Asian Track
Students must take courses from at least four different departments. At least 12 credit hours must be at the 300-level or above.
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Requirement |
Courses |
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I. Culture and History (Four courses from at least three different departments; 12 credit hours) |
ANTH/FLK 341: Peoples and Cultures of Asia ENG 368: Japanese Film in Translation HIST 110: Introduction to Asian Civilization HIST 370: Modern South Asia HIST 460: Traditional East Asia HIST 461: Modern East Asia HIST 471: Modern China HIST 472: Modern Japan PERF 105: Taiji (1 hour; may be taken up to three times for credit) RELS 103: Religions of Asia RELS 302: Buddhism RELS 303: Hinduism RELS 306: Islam RELS 308: East Asian Religious Traditions RELS 311: The Qur’an RELS 317: Confucianism RELS 318: Daoism |
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II. Electives (Three additional courses from list or from courses in category I; 9 credit hours) |
ARBC 101/102: Arabic ARC 401: Topics in Asian Religions and Cultures ARC 498: Independent Study in Asian Religions and Cultures CHIN 101/102: Elementary Chinese GEOG 465: Geography of Asia JAPN 101/102: Elementary Japanese PS 366: Government and Politics in East Asia RELS 390/391: Pali SOC 353: Sociology of Modern Japan |
