Asian Studies

The BA program in Asian Studies is an interdisciplinary program that offers three concentrations: Asia and Business, Asia and Globalization, and China and Japan. Students select elective courses from one of the three concentrations to complete their 39-unit major requirement. A “C” grade in all required and elective classes in the major is required for continuation of the program. 

Asian Studies requires 12 units or three semesters of an Asian language offered at CSULB (Chinese, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, or Vietnamese) or another language approved by the AAAS undergraduate advisor. Students with an Asian language competency may test out of the requirement. 

Students are strongly encouraged to study abroad in Asia for 1-2 terms in consultation with the department or program advisor. Visit the CSULB Office of Study Abroad for more information. 

The Master of Arts (MA) in Asian Studies provides a comparative understanding of the cultural, economic, and socio-political significance of Asia and the Asian-Pacific diaspora in the 21st century. It requires competency in one or more Asian languages. Graduates from the MA program in Asian Studies can expect to be much more competitive for positions in the Foreign Service, State Department, K-12 and community college education and administration, international finance and industry, non-governmental organizations, academic publishing, professional translation work, and Ph.D. programs in Chinese, Japanese, or Asian Studies. 

The Certificate in Asian Studies focuses on comparative Asian cultures and global issues. This interdisciplinary program complements all majors and is open to all undergraduate (except Asian Studies majors) and most post-baccalaureate program students. It consists of 15 units, of which 9 units must be at the upper division level. Contact the AAAS undergraduate advisor for more information.