Bachelor of Arts, Major in Asian Studies
Description
The Bachelor of Arts, Major in Asian Studies degree will allow you to develop the competencies characteristic of a traditional BA program while preparing you to respond creatively to the challenges you will encounter in an increasingly interconnected world. In this four-year interdisciplinary program, you will not only acquire practical skills that you can employ in your multicultural communities locally, you will also develop the intellectual and cultural competencies required to operate successfully in a world where the nations of East and South Asia are increasingly influential.
As an Asian Studies student you will begin your first year of studies with courses that introduce you to Asian Studies as a discipline and to the countries and cultures of East and South Asia. These courses will begin to build the critical thinking, communication, and intercultural competencies that will allow you to succeed in more advanced courses. As you progress to more narrowly defined regional and thematic courses, you will examine in greater depth the societies, cultures, political systems, economies, and histories of the peoples and nations of South and East Asia, as well as their interactions with Canada and the rest of the world.
Faculty's website: kpu.ca/arts
Department's website: kpu.ca/arts/asian-studies
Admission Requirements
Students pursuing a major in Asian Studies must be admitted to the Faculty of Arts.
Declaration Requirements
Students intending to graduate with this Faculty of Arts Bachelor’s degree must declare the credential by the time they complete 60 credits of undergraduate coursework. At the time of declaration, the student must satisfy all of the following requirements:
- In good academic standing with the University
- Completion of a minimum of 18 credits of undergraduate coursework, including the following with a minimum grade of “C”:
- 3 credits of ENGL at the 1100 level or higher
- 6 credits at the 1100 level or higher in the Major area
Curricular Requirements
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree must complete all requirements in the Bachelor of Arts Framework in addition to their major or minor program requirements.
Asian Studies Major
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Level Requirement | ||
| Select 18 credits of lower-level ASIA courses, with at least 12 of these credits at the 2000 level | 18 | |
| Upper Level Requirement | ||
| Select 30 credits of upper-level ASIA courses, with at least 6 credits at the 4000 level, including the following capstone course: | 30 | |
| Asian Communities in Canada: Research Approaches | ||
| Language Requirement | ||
| Select at least 12 credits in a single approved Asian language: JAPN, MAND, or PUNJ | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 60 | |
Language Requirement
The Asian Studies language requirement satisfies the language requirement of the BA Framework.
Students who can demonstrate oral and written competency to a level equivalent to KPU Intermediate Level II language courses in an East or South Asian language offered at KPU (currently JAPN, MAND, and PUNJ) may request an assessment to have the Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies language requirement waived. Students requesting an assessment should visit the department website for details. Approved waivers will be formally noted on the student’s academic record and the credit requirement will be fulfilled with electives.
Additional Asian Studies Courses
Students may select from the following approved list of courses to satisfy the Lower Level or Upper Level requirements in lieu of ASIA courses:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 1100 Level | ||
| JAPN/LANC 1200 | Introduction to Contemporary Japanese Society and Culture | 3 |
| HIST 1150 | Beyond the Middle Kingdom: Introduction to East Asian History | 3 |
| HIST 1160 | A Passage to South Asia: Introduction to South Asian History | 3 |
| 2000 Level | ||
| GEOG 2185 | Geography of East Asia | 3 |
| GEOG 2190 | Geography of South Asia | 3 |
| HIST 2350 | Late Imperial China | 3 |
| HIST 2375 | Japan under the Shoguns, 1600 to 1868 | 3 |
| PHIL 2115 | Asian Philosophy | 3 |
| POLI 2140 | Comparative Politics of Asia | 3 |
| 3000 Level | ||
| ANTH 3330 | East Asian Archaeology | 3 |
| HIST 3350 | China in the Twentieth Century: Reforms and Revolutions | 3 |
| HIST 3360 | British India 1857 to 1947 | 3 |
| HIST 3361 | Indian Subcontinent since 1947 | 3 |
| HIST 3370 | History of Modern Japan | 3 |
| LANC 3150 | Developing Intercultural Competencies in the 21st Century | 3 |
| POLI 3146 | Government and Politics of India | 3 |
| 4000 Level | ||
| HIST 4450 | China and the West | 3 |
| HIST 4460 | Gandhi in History | 3 |
| HIST 4470 | Warriors of Japan: The Samurai | 3 |
| HIST 4480 | The Vietnam War in Historical Perspective | 3 |
| LANC 4320 | 3 | |
Credential Awarded
Upon successful completion of the major program students are eligible to receive a Bachelor of Arts. Transcripts will indicate a Major in Asian Studies.
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