DEGREE
Bachelor of Arts
CAREER IDEAS
Anthropologist, Anti-Terrorism Intelligence Agent, Archaeologist, Foreign Language Translator, Foreign Services Officer, Historical Archivist, Museum Curator, Peace Corps Worker, Travel Agent, Travel Writer
Asia is home to half the world’s population and two of its three largest economies. As a student in Asian studies, you’ll become familiar with traditional and modern aspects of different Asian cultures, especially those of China and Japan. You’ll have the opportunity to build fluency in Chinese or Japanese while balancing your education with a host of courses offered both through the Department of Asian Studies and other departments at Manhattanville. Hands-on learning is a critical part of the program: You’ll not only take field trips to museums in New York City, but will have a chance to study abroad in Japan or China. Often, these international journeys don’t turn out to be once-in-a-lifetime opportunities – because many of our students return after graduation. These kinds of firsthand experiences give you the background to pursue a wide range of careers. International organizations favor Asian studies graduates because of their ability to understand intercultural perspectives.
The Asian Studies Department offers a range of courses on the cultures of China and Japan, as well as on Southeast Asia. Many other courses are offered outside of the department; this interdisciplinary program pulls in Asian-themed courses from areas including art history, political science, religion, and sociology. Field trips to New York City, especially its museums, are a vital part of the program, and participation in internships and study abroad programs is encouraged.
You’ll also get a solid introduction to the language of China and Japan, as majors are required to study a language for four semesters. Japanese language classes are offered by the newly established World Languages and Literature Department at Manhattanville, and Chinese classes are taught at nearby Purchase College.
(If you’re interested in taking Japanese, the World Languages and Literature Department reserves the right to place you in a language course commensurate with your ability. Language courses are designed for the non-native speaker; if you have a background in Asian languages, we’ll ask you to undergo staff evaluation before to enrolling in a language course.)
Requirements
Current information about degree program requirements can be found in the official College Catalogs.