Program and Courses

Asian Studies - Programs

Regulations for Majors

(Honours and minors discussed below, as are possible degree maps for majors and minors)

To major in Asian Studies, students must complete forty-two (42) credit hours within the following constraints:

• twelve (12) consecutive Asian language credits (Introductory and Intermediate);
• six (6) credit hours in the following: ASNT 1105, ASNT 1106, ASNT 1107, ASNT 1109, ASNT 2210, HIST 1222, RELS 1220, RELS 1221;
• ASNT 3300 and ASNT 4400;
• eighteen (18) additional core credit hours from at least two different disciplines other than languages from the list of core courses available here;
• twenty-four (24) credit hours in Asian Studies core courses at the 2000 level or above.

Basic Arts Requirements:  Students may find it useful to note that a variety of courses available for credit towards degrees in Asian Studies also fulfill the Basic Arts Requirements at Saint Mary's.  For a list of these courses click here.

Study Abroad:  Students may begin language study at any year of their university program, but since students typically need to be on campus in their final year in order to finish degree requirements many students opt to go overseas during their third year of university.  To take full advantage of overseas opportunities the Program recommends that students complete two years of language training before going overseas, which means that students are best served by beginning language training in their first year of university.  Students may, however, apply for overseas exchange programs after only one year of language study.  For more on study abroad opportunities at Saint Mary's University, click here.

One possible timeline for an ASNT major:

First Year

• Take relevant introductory courses in ANTH, ASNT, GEOG, HIST, RELS
• Introductory Chinese or Japanese language (CHNS 1101 and 1102, JPNS 1100)
• Meet with the ASNT Coordinator to discuss course options and their future availability
• Join interesting student clubs involving Asia
• Find a language partner at the TESL Centre

Second Year

• Intermediate Chinese or Japanese language (CHNS 2200, JPNS 2200)
• Relevant second- or even third-year courses in ANTH, ASNT, HIST, RELS
• Prepare for study abroad (investigate options, complete letters of permission)
• Consider adding a relevant minor degree, a second major, or the honours program
• Continue or begin participation in student clubs
• Continue to meet with or find a language partner at the TESL Centre

Third Year

• Study abroad (for the year or part of the year)
• Take advanced language courses (overseas or at SMU)
• Relevant third-year courses available (overseas or at SMU)

Fourth Year

• Third- and fourth-year courses and seminars, or consider the honours prorgam
• ASNT 3300 and ASNT 4400
• Meet with ASNT Coordinator to insure all program requirements are met
• Prepare for graduation and the world beyond—talk with your advisors

Of course, not all student careers will follow this route—this is simply one possible progression through the degree requirements.  However, the ASNT Program does advise students to take two years of language training before heading overseas, and expects students to be on campus in their final year of study.

• Asian Studies Success Map

---

Regulations for Honours

Admission to and continuance in the honors program in Asian Studies follows the general regulations of the Faculty of Arts.

To obtain an honors or double honors program in Asian Studies, students must complete at least sixty (60) credit hours and satisfy the following requirements:

• all of the requirements of the major listed above;
• six (6) additional Asian language credit hours;
• six (6) additional credit hours at the 2000 level or above in Anthropology, Asian Studies, History, or Religious Studies in courses listed as Asian Studies core courses or recognized by the Coordinator as relevant for Asian Studies;
• an honors thesis (ASNT 4500) prepared during the final year of study in the program. The topic must be approved by the Asian Studies Committee and the thesis will be supervised and graded by three faculty members chosen by the Asian Studies Committee; and
• annual approval of their program of study by the Coordinator of the Asian Studies Committee.

---

Regulations for Minors

Minor in Asian Studies

Students majoring in another academic discipline may obtain a minor in Asian Studies by completing the equivalent of twenty-four (24) credit hours approved for the program:

(a) ARBC 1100; CHNS 1101 and 1102; or JPNS 1100;
(b) ASNT 3300 and ASNT 4400; and
(c) twelve (12) credit hours from the Asian Studies Core Courses (here), at least six credits at the 2000 level or above.

Minor in Chinese Studies (CHST)

Students in the undergraduate Arts program who are not Asian Studies majors can complete a minor in Chinese Studies by completing the following courses: CHNS 1101 and 1102; ASNT 3300, and 4400; and twelve (12) other credit hours on China in at least two different disciplines taken from the following list:

ANTH 2326; ASNT 1105; ASNT 2305; ASNT 3310; CHNS 2200; CHNS 3300; CHNS 3301; HIST 1222; HIST 2381;  HIST 2382; HIST 2383; HIST 3371; HIST 3416; HIST 4572; RELS 2327; RELS 3359; RELS 3360.

The Coordinator may be able to recognize other courses available on campus and transfer credits from other academic institutions.

Minor in Japanese Studies (JPST)

Students in the undergraduate Arts program who are not Asian Studies majors can complete a minor in Japanese Studies by completing the following courses: JPNS 1100; ASNT 3300 and 4400 and twelve (12) other credit hours on Japan in at least two different disciplines taken from the following list:

ANTH 2326; ANTH 2327; ASNT 1106; ASNT 2303; ASNT 3302; ASNT 4410; GEOG 3360; HIST 1222; HIST 2354; HIST 2355; HIST 2356; HIST 4573; JPNS 2200; JPNS 3300; JPNS 3301; RELS 2327; RELS 2340.

The Coordinator may be able to recognize other courses available on campus and transfer credits from other academic institutions.

Minors in Asian Studies, Chinese Studies (CHST), and Japanese Studies (JPST) are relatively simple for students to add—all that is needed is six credit hours per year in a four-year program.  For example, here is one possible timeline for students in Global Business Management considering a minor in ASNT, CHST, or JPST:

First Year

• Required courses in CISY,  ECON, ENGL, MGMT, MGSC
• Introductory Chinese or Japanese language (CHNS 1100, JPNS 1100)

Second Year

• Required courses in ACCT,  CMLW, COMM, MGMT, MSGC, MKTG 
• Intermediate Chinese or Japanese language (CHNS 2200, JPNS 2200) (deferring ECON elective to third year)

Third Year

• Required courses in ACCT, FINA, MGMT, MKTG
• Six credits from ASNT "core courses" (ANTH, ASNT, CHNS, GEOG, HIST, JPNS or RELS) for the ASNT minor, or six credits appropriate to minors in CHST or JPST—these credits will also be applicable to the Geographic, Cognate, or Free Electives required for the GBM major

Fourth Year

• Required courses in FINA, MGMT
• ASNT 3300, ASNT 4400

The ASNT minor requires six of the twelve credits of electives be at the 2000 level or above, a requirement fulfilled by second-year Chinese or Japanese language.

---

Regulations for Concentrations

To obtain concentrations in Asian Studies, Chinese Studies, or Japanese Studies in partial fulfillment of the B.A. General Degree (i.e., one with Double Arts Concentrations and a minimum of ninety (90) credit hours), a minimum of twenty-four (24) credit hours in one of these three subject areas is required; also a minimum cumulative quality point average of 2.00. Further details are available from the Coordinator.