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

Lower Level Requirement
Select 18 credits of lower-level ASIA courses, with at least 12 of these credits at the 2000 level18
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 PUNJ12
Total Credits60

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:

1100 Level
JAPN/LANC 1200Introduction to Contemporary Japanese Society and Culture3
HIST 1150Beyond the Middle Kingdom: Introduction to East Asian History3
HIST 1160A Passage to South Asia: Introduction to South Asian History3
2000 Level
GEOG 2185Geography of East Asia3
GEOG 2190Geography of South Asia3
HIST 2350Late Imperial China3
HIST 2375Japan under the Shoguns, 1600 to 18683
PHIL 2115Asian Philosophy3
POLI 2140Comparative Politics of Asia3
3000 Level
ANTH 3330East Asian Archaeology3
HIST 3350China in the Twentieth Century: Reforms and Revolutions3
HIST 3360British India 1857 to 19473
HIST 3361Indian Subcontinent since 19473
HIST 3370History of Modern Japan3
LANC 3150Developing Intercultural Competencies in the 21st Century3
POLI 3146Government and Politics of India3
4000 Level
HIST 4450China and the West3
HIST 4460Gandhi in History3
HIST 4470Warriors of Japan: The Samurai3
HIST 4480The Vietnam War in Historical Perspective3

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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