Asian Studies
College of Humanities
15
Average
Class Size
24
Declared
Majors
Bennion
Center
Hinckley
Institute
Learning Abroad
Courses
Getting Started
Making Progress
Begin courses in your regional focus:
- China: HIST 3510 - Modern China
- Japan: HIST 3530 - Modern Japan
- Korea: KOREA 3100 - Korean Culture through Film
- South/Southeast Asia: ARTH 3060 - Arts of Buddhism
- Asia Pacific: ANTH 3151 - Peoples of the Pacific
- Complete ASTP 3001 - Exploring Asia
- Continue language & conversation courses
- Earn credit through study abroad or global internships
Finishing Up
- Complete 5000+ level courses
- Finish language and conversation courses
- Complete an internship and/or research project
Community
Getting Started
- Apply for Humanities Scholars
- Attend a club meeting - Korean Club, Chinese Corner, Anime Club, VASA, AASA, PISA
- Follow UofU Asia Center on Facebook and @uofu.ias on Instagram for events
Making Progress
- Apply to live in the Humanities House
- Join a club and participate consistently
- Volunteer with the Bennion Center, Intercultural Engagement, English Skills, Learning Center, English Language Institute, or World Refugee Day
- Become a peer mentor or an ambassador for international students with the International Student and Scholar Services Office
Finishing Up
- Get involved with the Alumni Association
- Apply for leadership within ASUU or campus clubs
- Participate in the AASA High School Conference
Knowledge & Skills
Getting Started
- Meet with an advisor every semester
- Select complementary Gen Ed courses
- Attend a scholarship workshop
- Visit the Knowledge Commons in the Marriott Library
- Work on essays at the Writing Center
- Explore double majors and minors
Making Progress
- Try job shadowing and conduct informational interviews
- Apply for a local internship through the Humanities Internship Coordinator
- Take a research methods course related to your interests
- Attend Marriott Library workshops
- Attend an Office of Undergraduate Research Workshop and apply for research opportunities through UROP
- Create your graduation plan
- Declare a second major or minor if desired
Finishing Up
- Present research at a conference
- Seek mentoring opportunities with professionals
- Take a test prep course for your graduate school applications (GRE, GMAT, etc.) at Continuing Education and Community Engagement
Transformation
Getting Started
- Participate in a Bennion Center Saturday Service Project
- Utilize faculty office hours
- Attend a Learning Abroad 101 session
- Attend Hinckley Forums
Making Progress
- Go on an Alternative Break or study abroad
- Chat about goal-setting outside of the classroom with your advisor
- Apply for fellowships (Goff, Sorenson, Sustainability Scholars, etc.)
- Attend the Learning Abroad Returnee Student Panel
- Compete in HIP Talks at the Hinckley Institute
- Apply to be an Alternative Break Student Site Leader
- Identify a faculty mentor
- Take a Hinckley course - HNKLY 3910, HNKLY 4905, or HNKLY 4914
Finishing Up
- Apply for the Oxford Human Rights Consortium
- Apply for post-grad fellowships
- Complete a global internship
- Submit to the Hinckley Research Journal
Impact
Getting Started
- Live in the Bennion Service House
- Brainstorm a list of topics you care about
- Connect to campus events and use ArtsPass
- Attend MUSE Casual Fridays
Making Progress
- Identify a community or topic where you want to make an impact
- Seek out leadership opportunities through Student Leadership and Involvement
- Apply to be a MUSE Scholar
- Work with your faculty mentor on an impact project
- Connect with a MUSE professor
- Apply to the Bennion Scholars Program
Finishing Up
- Apply for a Presidential Internship
- Become a mentor for other students
- Complete the Bennion Scholars Capstone
Careers
Getting Started
- Activate your Handshake account
- Find different career paths at the Going Global Career Panel
- Visit the CPDC
- Explore careers through CPDC workshops, Meet and Eats, and Career Treks
Making Progress
- Apply for a job on campus
- Make internship connections with networkers at the Going Global Career Panel
- Attend the Career Fair
- Draft your resume and use walk-in hours at CPDC for feedback
- Speak with your advisor about alumni you can connect with
- Create a LinkedIn Profile and review alumni profiles
- Register for HUM 3960 - Humanities Career Compass
- Meet with a Career Coach
Finishing Up
- Join AlumniFire
- Network for career paths and future job opportunities at the Going Global Panel
- Attend the Career Conference
- Practice mock interviews
Start Your Career Journey
Find support at the Career and Professional Development Center (CPDC)
About the Major
Asian Studies at the University of Utah provides a deep understanding of the peoples, politics, and history of Asia. Through the rigorous study of languages, societies, and culture, you will form a basis for understanding global issues and their impact within a region of Asia (Asia Pacific, China, Japan, Korea, Russia, South Asia, or Southeast Asia).
In this major, you will develop descriptive, analytical, and methodological skills to understand your chosen region and culture of Asia. With coursework grounded in language, you will gain or expand on your proficiency in one of the Asian languages taught at the U (Cambodian, Chinese, Hindi-Urdu, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Samoan, or Vietnamese). You will also select a variety of Asia-focused classes from across campus. This interdisciplinary approach gives you the flexibility to tailor your education to suit your interests, passions, and future goals; you can pair Asian Studies with pre-health courses, a minor, a second major, and/or co-curricular activities.
Asian Studies is increasingly crucial to many fields including education, healthcare, non-profits, and business. You will be able to practice your critical language and cultural skills through first-hand experience by studying abroad, interning in a related field, developing a research project, and/or working directly with local communities. You will leave the U prepared to effectively interact with diverse populations; understand cultures, backgrounds, and languages; and provide valuable contributions to diverse communities.
In this major, you will develop descriptive, analytical, and methodological skills to understand your chosen region and culture of Asia. With coursework grounded in language, you will gain or expand on your proficiency in one of the Asian languages taught at the U (Cambodian, Chinese, Hindi-Urdu, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Samoan, or Vietnamese). You will also select a variety of Asia-focused classes from across campus. This interdisciplinary approach gives you the flexibility to tailor your education to suit your interests, passions, and future goals; you can pair Asian Studies with pre-health courses, a minor, a second major, and/or co-curricular activities.
Asian Studies is increasingly crucial to many fields including education, healthcare, non-profits, and business. You will be able to practice your critical language and cultural skills through first-hand experience by studying abroad, interning in a related field, developing a research project, and/or working directly with local communities. You will leave the U prepared to effectively interact with diverse populations; understand cultures, backgrounds, and languages; and provide valuable contributions to diverse communities.
Learning Outcomes
- Develop or expand proficiency in a foreign language(s) in order to navigate an Asian nation and communicate with its people.
- Build a base of Asia-oriented knowledge, skills, and global awareness that equips you for an international career.
- Demonstrate an understanding of history, cultures, and fundamental ideas and institutions of Asia.
- Analyze and communicate about contemporary issues of Asia and Asian Diasporas through a critical, interdisciplinary lens.
Plan & Prepare
At the U, we plan for our students to have an exceptional Educational Experience identified by four broad categories we call the Learning Framework: Community, Knowledge & Skills, Transformation, and Impact. This major map will help you envision, explore, design, and plan your personalized Exceptional Education Experience with the Learning Framework at the core. In addition to assisting you in planning your coursework and navigating the requirements of your major, this map will help you incorporate other kinds of experiences to expand your knowledge, support your development, and prepare you for the future you want.