Asian Studies
The mission of our program is to engage students through a breadth of interdisciplinary courses in Asian cultures, histories, languages, religions, and politics, which allows students to explore Asia from a variety of transnational perspectives. Our program, composed of award-winning faculty across TCU, promotes the diversities of the Asia Pacific and encompasses Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Studies.
Why Minor in Asian Studies?
Minoring in Asian studies immerses students in the languages, cultures, histories, religions, and philosophies of the peoples of South and East Asia, as well as those residing in Oceania. Graduates who minored in Asian Studies include those working in United States military intelligence, secondary education in Japan, and the corporate sector in the Asia Pacific. Many of our graduates also become multilingual in Chinese and Japanese. Popular classes our students take include Buddhism, Asian Economics, Politics of Japan, and Chinese Calligraphy.
The skills and information learned in these courses are important, given the globalization of societies and the importance of dismantling preconceived notions of Asia. Therefore, our program’s goal is to help students truly live the TCU mission statement to “think and act as ethical leaders and responsible citizens in the global community" through a highly interdisciplinary course plan.
See the course catalog for a complete list of course offerings and descriptions.
Course Catalog Faculty & Staff
Academics
In our program, students have the freedom to design their own course of study, choosing courses in Anthropology, Asian Studies, Business, Chinese, Economics, English, History, Japanese, Political Science, Religion, among others. Each of our courses is designed to help students develop their aptitude in critical inquiry, refine their written and presentational skills, and engage in dynamic discussions on topics pertinent to Asia in today’s world. As Asia becomes an increasingly important region of the world to study, students who minor in Asian Studies find themselves poised for success in business, law, education, government, and international service work.
Requirements
Students are required to take 18 hours, selected from at least three departments, from a variety of courses focusing on the history and thought of the peoples in Asia. Up to six hours of a single foreign language (Japanese or Chinese) at any level may be applied to minor requirements. No more than nine hours may be taken in any one program, and at least nine hours must be taken at the 30000 level or above.
For more information, contact the Director of Asian Studies, Dr. Benjamin Hiramatsu Ireland, in the Department of Modern Language Studies.
What Our Students Say
“Whether a student is preparing for a career in business, engineering, military or politics, no liberal arts education should be considered complete anymore without a practical understanding of Asian nations and their cultures. China, Japan, South Korea and India are all in the top 10 countries for America’s foreign trade. Each of these countries pose strategic significance to a multitude of American interests; and to be prepared for any career with global reach requires a student be familiar with their customs, systems of government, and current affairs.
Not a year went by in my career as an Air Force intelligence officer that I didn’t rely on the knowledge I gained as an Asian studies minor, and I wasn’t even stationed in the Pacific theater!”
“I think an Asian studies minor is important to have because of the heavy involvement that the United States has with countries in Asia. Particularly in political and economic relations. It’s also good to further expand one’s outlook on the world.”
“TCU prides itself on developing ethical leaders and responsible citizens in the global community, and there is arguably no greater area of strategic importance than Asia. By any measure (from politics and business to music and architecture), the region is already a global force. But the first thing any student of Asian Studies will learn about is Asia’s incredibly rich diversity. Asia is important, but it’s also enormously complex with real depth that requires much more than a superficial knowledge base.
The Asian studies minor at TCU offers students a deep and practical understanding of this increasingly important region of the world. It provides a vital tool that students will carry with them after graduation, regardless of the industry they ultimately pursue.”
“I found Asia’s history and development so interesting, because it differs greatly from the West’s. Despite their great differences, the East and West are increasingly becoming intertwined due to globalization, and the interplay that unfolds is fascinating and complex. Regardless of your career, there is no greater skill to acquire than to read, write and think critically. Asian studies at TCU helped me develop and hone these skills through its diverse and challenging curriculum.