Asian Studies
Curriculum
The Asian Studies major builds on the Common Curriculum’s emphasis on critical thinking, academic writing, and close reading. As a gateway to the major, students begin with the Introduction to Asian Studies course, which provides foundational perspectives on Asian societies, histories, and cultures. They then advance through the Asian Studies Literature–History–Philosophy (AS LHP) series, developing interdisciplinary approaches to understanding Asia across time and regions. Building on this foundation, students complete a range of major electives that allow them to explore specialized themes and areas of interest in greater depth. To further enhance their academic and cultural understanding, students are encouraged to study abroad for at least one semester after completing foundational coursework, gaining first-hand experience and regional expertise that complement their studies at UIC.
Major / Minor Requirements
- Major: 42 credit-hours must be fulfilled from Asian Studies major courses. The following courses are mandatory: INTRODUCTION TO ASIAN STUDIES (3 credits) and AS LHP Series (12 credits). Asian Studies majors must also take 2 semesters of one foreign language courses. Only UIC language courses can fulfill the language requirement.
- Double Major: 36 credit-hours are required. Double majors must complete the required courses of Asian Studies major.
- Minor: 21 credit-hours are required. INTRODUCTION TO ASIAN STUDIES (3 credits) and AS LHP Series (12 credits) are required for Asian Studies minors. Those who wish to minor in Asian Studies need to take 2 semesters of one foreign language courses.
- If an AS student takes more language classes than the language requirement, up to 4 courses (12 credits) of the additional classes will be counted as Major Elective (ME).
* If a course is listed under multiple majors, the course will be counted towards fulfilling only one of the majors. Therefore, students should choose which major the course will be counted towards.
Curriculum Chart
Classification · MR Major Requisite · ME Major Elective · CR Credits · LEC (LAB) weekly lecture hours (laboratory hours)
| CLS | COURSE CODE | COURSE TITLE | CR | LEC (LAB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MR | ASP1011 | INTRODUCTION TO ASIAN STUDIES | 3 | 3(0) |
| AS LHP | ASP2001 | AS LHP: TOPICS IN ASIAN ECONOMIC HISTORY | 3 | 3(0) |
| AS LHP | ASP2002 | AS LHP: VIOLENCE AND SOCIETY IN MODERN SOUTH ASIA | 3 | 3(0) |
| AS LHP | ASP2004 | AS LHP: READING COLONIAL JAPAN | 3 | 3(0) |
| AS LHP | ASP2006 | AS LHP: SELECTED TOPICS IN CHINESE THOUGHT | 3 | 3(0) |
| AS LHP | ASP2007 | AS LHP: KOREN WAR | 3 | 3(0) |
| AS LHP | ASP2008 | AS LHP: HISTORY OF MODERN KOREA | 3 | 3(0) |
| AS LHP | ASP2011 | AS LHP: SELECTED TOPICS IN CHINESE THOUGHT (2) | 3 | 3(0) |
| AS LHP | ASP2012 | AS LHP: POSTWAR KOREAN LITERATURE: PARTITION, TRAUMA, AND REMEMBRANCE | 3 | 3(0) |
| AS LHP | ASP2013 | AS LHP: HUMAN RIGHTS IN DIVIDED KOREA | 3 | 3(0) |
| AS LHP | ASP2014 | AS LHP: COLD WAR IN EAST ASIA | 3 | 3(0) |
| AS LHP | ASP2015 | AS LHP: POSTWAR JAPAN: WAR, MEMORY AND POP CULTURE | 3 | 3(0) |
| AS LHP | ASP2016 | AS LHP: MODERN CHINA | 3 | 3(0) |
| AS LHP | ASP2019 | AS LHP: SOCIAL MOVEMENTS IN MODERN JAPAN, 1868-1960 | 3 | 3(0) |
| AS LHP | ASP2020 | AS LHP: GENDER IN MODERN JAPANESE HISTORY | 3 | 3(0) |
| AS LHP | ASP2021 | AS LHP: JAPANESE POPULAR CULTURE FROM THE 18TH CENTURY TO THE PRESENT | 3 | 3(0) |
| AS LHP | ASP2022 | AS LHP: CHINESE CINEMAS; NATIONAL AND TRANSNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES | 3 | 3(0) |
| AS LHP | ASP2024 | AS LHP: MODERNITY AND CHINESE LITERATURE | 3 | 3(0) |
| AS LHP | ASP2025 | AS LHP: POSTWAR JAPAN: POLITICS AND CULTURE | 3 | 3(0) |
| AS LHP | ASP2026 | AS LHP: ETHNICITY AND NATIONALISM IN SOUTH ASIA, 1830-1980 | 3 | 3(0) |
| AS LHP | ASP2027 | AS LHP: CULTURES OF GLOBALIZATION | 3 | 3(0) |
| AS LHP | ASP2028 | AS LHP: TRANSNATIONAL FEMINISM IN ASIA | 3 | 3(0) |
| AS LHP | ASP2034 | AS LHP: MODERN JAPANESE LITERATURE | 3 | 3(0) |
| AS LHP | ASP2036 | AS LHP: MEMORY AND MEMORIALIZATION IN ASIA AND BEYOND | 3 | 3(0) |
| AS LHP | ASP2037 | AS LHP: THE KOREAN WAVE | 3 | 3(0) |
| AS LHP | ASP2038 | AS LHP: TOPICS IN CHINESE HISTORY | 3 | 3(0) |
| AS LHP | ASP2039 | ASP LHP: WARS IN EAST ASIA 1839-PRESENT | 3 | 3(0) |
| AS LHP | ASP2100 | AS LHP: STRANGER THINGS IN THE CHINESE LITERARY TRADITION | 3 | 3(0) |
| AS LHP | ASP2101 | AS LHP: THE TRADITIONAL CHINESE NOVEL: THEN AND NOW | 3 | 3(0) |
| AS LHP | ASP2102 | AS LHP: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND POPULAR CULTURE | 3 | 3(0) |
| AS LHP | ASP2103 | AS LHP: GAMES AND ANIMATION | 3 | 3(0) |
| AS LHP | ASP3003 | POWER AND MARGINALITY IN POST-SOCIALIST CHINA | 3 | 3(0) |
| AS LHP | ASP3004 | TRANSNATIONAL EAST ASIAN CINEMAS | 3 | 3(0) |
| AS LHP | ASP3005 | HISTORY OF KOREAN PAINTING | 3 | 3(0) |
| AS LHP | ASP3007 | AS LHP: CAPITALISM AND ITS CRITICS; KOREA 1920-PRESENT | 3 | 3(0) |
| AS LHP | ASP3008 | AS LHP: SPACE AND MOBILITY IN EARLY MODERN JAPAN 1603-1868 | 3 | 3(0) |
| AS LHP | ASP3009 | AS LHP: SOVEREIGNTY AND NATIONALISM IN KOREA, 1894-1948 | 3 | 3(0) |
| ME | ASP2010 | KOREAN SOCIETY AND CULTURAL REPRESENTATION | 3 | 3(0) |
| ME | ASP2023 | UNDERSTANDING KOREAN ART AND AESTHETICS | 3 | 3(0) |
| ME | ASP2030 | MODERN KOREAN FICTION AND FILM | 3 | 3(0) |
| ME | ASP2033 | NORTH KOREA: HISTORY, CULTURE, POLITICS | 3 | 3(0) |
| ME | ASP3006 | WOMEN IN KOREAN ART: GENDER, IDENTITY AND REPRESENTATION | 3 | 3(0) |
| ME | ASP3011 | CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN CHINESE ECONOMY | 3 | 3(0) |
| ME | ASP3015 | MEDIA ART PRODUCTION | 3 | 3(0) |
| ME | ASP3018 | HISTORIOGRAPHY ON KOREA | 3 | 3(0) |
| ME | ASP3019 | JAPANESE FICTION AND FILM: GENDER, CLASS, AND ETHNICITY | 3 | 3(0) |
| ME | ASP3024 | ETHNICITY AND CULTURE IN ASIA | 3 | 3(0) |
| ME | ASP3026 | RELIGIOUS PRACTICE IN KOREAN HISTORY | 3 | 3(0) |
| ME | ASP3029 | GENDER AND KOREAN SOCIETY | 3 | 3(0) |
| ME | ASP3030 | FOOD AND CULTURE IN ASIA | 3 | 3(0) |
| ME | ASP3031 | DEMOCRACY IN SOUTH KOREA | 3 | 3(0) |
| ME | ASP3033 | DIPLOMATIC PRACTICE IN THE KOREAN PENINSULA | 3 | 3(0) |
| ME | ASP3034 | OUTLAWS | 3 | 3(0) |
| ME | ASP3035 | THE DIARY IN KOREAN AND WORLD HISTORY | 3 | 3(0) |
| ME | ASP3036 | SCIENCE OF SYMBIOSIS AND MULTISPECIES CULTURES | 3 | 3(0) |
| ME | POL3153 | UNDERSTANDING CHINESE POLITICS | 3 | 3(0) |
| ME | SOC3402 | COMPARATIVE EAST ASIAN STUDIES | 3 | 3(0) |
| ME | CLC3708 | MANGA: THE ILLUMINATED TEXT | 3 | 3(0) |
| ME | CLC4719 | TRADITION AND POPULAR CULTURE IN ASIAN THEATER | 3 | 3(0) |
| ME | ASP4001 | CONTEMPORARY SOUTHEAST ASIA | 3 | 3(0) |
| ME | ASP4002 | VISUAL ANTHROPOLOGY AND EAST ASIA: METHODOLOGY AND PRACTICE FOR DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION | 3 | 3(0) |
| ME | ASP4003 | CRITICAL ISSUES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA | 3 | 3(0) |
| ME | ASP4004 | ART AND THE CITY | 3 | 3(0) |
| ME | POL4135 | GLOBAL CHINA AND WORLD POLITICS | 3 | 3(0) |
| ME | SOC4305 | OTHER MODERNITIES IN EAST ASIA | 3 | 3(0) |