Asian Studies
Request InformationDEGREE
Bachelor of Arts
CAREER IDEAS
Anthropologist, Anti-Terrorism Intelligence Agent, Archaeologist, Area & Cultural Studies Professor, Foreign Language Translator, Foreign Services Officer, Historian, Historical Archivist, Journalist, Market Research Analyst, Museum Curator, Non-Profit Director, Peace Corps Worker, Travel Agent, Travel Writer
The Asian Studies department now offers a major and minor in Asian, Middle Eastern, and North African Studies (AMENA).
The AMENA major brings together some of the world’s most interesting and diverse regions — East, South, Southeast, and Central Asia; The Middle East; North Africa; and the Indian Ocean. Together, these regions make up a vast segment of the non-Western world. The major approaches these regions through interconnections between places and peoples; the commonalities that bind them; and its complex diversities. AMENA provides students with the opportunity to complete an interdisciplinary major or minor, drawing on the expertise of faculty members across various departments. Students may choose from courses that include languages, Asia-specific content courses across the disciplines, and thematic courses that introduce students to non-Western discourses that are crucial to understanding the region.
The college has several direct exchange programs for students wishing to study in Asia. Please speak with the department chair and the study abroad office to learn more about these opportunities.
AMENA Major Requirements
- ASN 1xxx: Introduction to Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa
- ASN 2xxx: History of Communities and Exchanges in the Indian Ocean
- Seven additional courses from the list of AMENA electives, of which at least three must be taken at the 2000-level and above, and two at the 3000-level
- ASN 3xxx Senior Thesis: students must take this course in the fall of their senior year
AMENA Minor Requirements
- ASN 1xxx: Introduction to Asia, Middle East, and North Africa
- ASN 2xxx: History of Communities and Exchanges in the Indian Ocean
- Three additional courses from the list of AMENA electives, of which at least two must be taken at the 2000-level and above
Students must receive at least a C- in a course to get credit for the major or minor.
Note: The Chair may substitute required courses with other courses based on course offerings.
AMENA Elective Courses
Below is a list of AMENA elective courses for Fall 2018:
1. INS 1008 Introduction to Global Studies
2. ANTH 1050 Cultural Anthropology
3. ENG 1017 Introduction to Postcolonial Literature
4. HIS 1018 History of Modern Middle East and North Africa
5. WREL 1014.02 Intro to World Religions
6. ARB 1001 Introduction to Arabic I
7. JPN 1001 Introduction to Japanese I
8. FRN 1001 Introductory French I
9. ENG 2092 Postmodernism and Feminism
10. ASN/INS 2039 Global South Asia
11. ANTH 2031 Cultures of Southeast Asia
12. JPN 2001 Intermediate Japanese I
13. FRN 2001 Intermediate French I
14. ART 2003 Creative Process
15. ECO 3018 Economics of Developing Countries
16. POS 3118 Emerging Global Powers
17. WREL 3013 Seminar on Buddhism
18. ART 4002 Watercolor
Please note:
* Some of these courses do not provide liberal arts credits
** Students can take Chinese courses at Purchase College
Senior Honors Seminar/Departmental Honors
To receive departmental honors, the student must have maintained a 3.5 or better G.P.A. in major courses and produce a thesis with a minimum grade of B+.