The Asian area studies major program at UBC offers courses on the contemporary and historical cultures of South, Southeast and East Asia. This program focuses on promoting a comparative approach to Asian cultures, with less emphasis on advanced language study.
Program Outcomes
Students interested in a major in Asian area studies will gain the following:
- Become independent users in at least one Asian language: understand the main points on familiar matters encountered at work, school, leisure etc.; deal with most situations likely to arise when travelling in an area where the language is spoken; produce simple connected text on topics that are familiar or of personal interest; describe experiences and explain opinions
- Master techniques in textual analysis and enhance their first-language communication skills
- Become independent users in at least one Asian language: understand the main points on familiar matters encountered at work, school, leisure etc.; deal with most situations likely to arise when travelling in an area where the language is spoken; produce simple connected text on topics that are familiar or of personal interest; describe experiences and explain opinions
- Master techniques in textual analysis and enhance their first-language communication skills
- Understand that cultural context shapes and limits one’s knowledge when expressing thoughts and ideas
- Learn the significance of perspective and context in the presentation of knowledge
- Identify and question assumptions and logic that inform one’s positions
- Present conclusions on primary, scholarly and popular sources to develop evidence-based evaluations on related subject matter
- Develop and express original arguments through written and oral competencies
- Understand and articulate positions on nation-centred, orientalist and/or racist narratives of Asian culture and civilization
Curriculum
The major in Asian area studies requires 48 total credits of coursework, of which at least 30 must be upper-level credits. Students planning for their major must meet the following course-credit requirements: