A major in Asian Studies is a rewarding one, for the growing global importance of Asia means increasing career opportunities in law, business, government, journalism, arts and education for students who choose Asian Studies.

Asian Studies encompasses the geographical areas of East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia and offers courses in most of the disciplines of the social sciences and the humanities. Asian Studies courses through the 4400-level are taught in English and are open to all students in the university. Some of these courses may be counted toward majors in other departments.

Over a dozen Asian languages are taught at Cornell,with the FALCON (Full-Year Asian Language CONcentration) program providing intensive language work in Chinese and Japanese for students who wish to attain fluency quickly. (See FALCON homepage)

To become an Asian Studies major, a student must first successfully complete with a minimum grade of B at least two Asia content courses (excluding writing seminars), one of which may be a language course. Applications to major in Asian Studies must be approved by the director of undergraduate studies.

Completion of the major requires completion of two courses of an Asian language or the demonstration of equivalent proficiency. To demonstrate equivalent proficiency, a student with prior background in the language should attempt to test into a desired language course at the 2200 level or beyond. Completing 2 courses at the 2200-level, or the second semester of such a sequence (while testing out of the first semester), or testing into a language course beyond the 2200-level, serves to demonstrate proficiency. Once proficiency has been demonstrated, students may count up to 6 units of further language study among the 30 Asian Studies units required of departmental majors. These 30 units must be taken from courses numbered 2200 and above and including at least one from two of the Asian Studies categories of "Literature and Linguistics"(LL), "Religion"(RL), and "Society and Culture"(SC); at least one course at the 3300 level; and at least one course at the 4400 level or above. A minimum grade of B must be received in all of these courses. Courses taken for major credit must be taken for a grade rather than as S/U. Certain courses about Asia offered in other Departments at the 1100 may, at the discretion of the advisor and DUS, be counted toward our major as if they were 2200 level courses, e.g., ASIAN/HIST 1191, 1192.

The majors can choose an additional major (double major)in another discipline. Courses taken to complete a double major also fulfill the normal requirement for elective units. Because the field is so vast, each major works closely with a faculty advisor to design an academic program which meets individual interests, abilities, and career goals. Students in their senior year are encouraged to take at least one course at the 4400-level or above, depending on their interests and proficiency.

In addition to course work, there are many extracurricular activities related to Asia. These include an annual Japanese film series, a Gamelan group, clubs in most of the martial arts of Asia, student societies for most of the Asian nations, visiting lecturers and performing groups, and arts exhibitions. There are numerous Asians studying and teaching on the Cornell campus, and the visits of Asian scholars, diplomats, journalists and performers provide students with additional opportunities to meet people from the cultures they are studying. We encourage majors to become familiar with the activities of the East, South, and Southeast Asia Programs on campus.

Signing into the major