College of Arts, Languages & Letters
Moore 416
1890 East-West Road
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-6085
Fax: (808) 956-2682
Web: manoa.hawaii.edu/asianstudies/

Faculty

*C. Clayton, PhD (Chair)— anthropology, East Asia (China)
*P. Abinales, PhD—political science, Southeast Asia (Philippines)
*B. Andaya, PhD—history, Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia)
*L. Carlile, PhD—political science, East Asia (Japan)
*K. Govella, PhD—political science, East Asia (Japan)
*E. Harwit, PhD—political science, East Asia (China)
*Y. Park, PhD—anthropology, East Asia (Korea)
*A. Stirr, PhD—ethnomusicology, South Asia (Nepal)

Emeritus

B. Aquino, PhD—political science, Southeast Asia (Philippines)
R. Kwok, PhD—urban and regional planning, East-Asia (China)
M. Sharma, PhD—anthropology, South Asia (India)
E. Shultz, PhD—history, East Asia (Korea)
R. Trimillos, PhD—ethnomusicology, Southeast Asia (Philippines)

Cooperating Faculty

The academic programs of the Department of Asian Studies are enhanced by the participation and support of several dozen faculty in other departments and colleges who are affiliated with the seven Asia area centers in the School of Pacific and Asian Studies (SPAS): Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Okinawan, Philippine, South Asian, and Southeast Asian studies.

Degrees and Certificates Offered: BA (including minor) in Asian studies, MA in Asian studies, Master in Asian International Affairs, Graduate Certificates in Asian Studies, Chinese Studies, Japanese Studies, Korean Studies, Philippine Studies, South Asian Studies, Southeast Asian Studies

The Academic Program

Asian Studies is an academic field that places the region we call Asia at the center of interdisciplinary inquiry. It encompasses both historical and contemporary perspectives on the geography, history, politics, economics, legal systems, languages and literatures, religious and belief systems, and expressive cultures of Asia. At UH Mānoa, this means students can focus on one of six specific geocultural regions–China, Korea, Japan, the Philippines, South Asia, or Southeast Asia– or incorporate specific interests into a program of study that emphasizes the connections and interactions between these regions (Inter-Asia). The Asian Studies faculty have expertise in fields as diverse as history, anthropology, political science, ethnomusicology, and international relations. In addition to the faculty in Asian Studies, there are more than 200 Asia specialists on the faculties of departments and programs throughout the campus. Several hundred courses on Asia (or with substantive Asia content) are taught at UH Mānoa, a unique strength the Department of Asian Studies draws on in crafting its undergraduate and graduate degree requirements. The academic program in Asian Studies offers a robust framework within which students can design individual plans of study to suit their particular goals.

Advising

The undergraduate academic studies adviser advises all undergraduate majors. Graduate students are assigned a faculty adviser when entering the program.

Undergraduate Study

Bachelor’s Degree

The undergraduate program in Asian Studies is designed for students desiring a liberal arts education and a broad background in traditional and contemporary Asian cultures.

Students seeking a BA in Asian Studies must meet all the requirements for admission established by CALL.

Asian Studies is normally declared as a major at the end of the sophomore year or beginning of the junior year, though students may apply for admission to the program at any time. The formal declaration is made through the school’s Student Academic Services Office.

Program Requirements

  • Earn at least a 2.0 GPA (C average) for all UH Mānoa registered courses
  • Register for all required courses (core, major, minor, and certificates) for a letter grade
  • Earn a grade of C (not C-) or better in each course applied to the major, minor, and certificate requirements
  • Take 45 upper division credits

Major Requirements

  • Total of at least 30 credit hours of Asia-related coursework, including:
  • ASAN 201 and 202, 310 and 312, and 3 additional credit hours of ASAN courses at the 300 level or above
  • Two years of an Asian language (excluding conversation or aural comprehension courses), or demonstration of the equivalent level

Majors may also pursue an optional capstone project that incorporates an independent research project conducted under the supervision of an Asian Studies faculty member. Directed reading (ASAN 499) or field research (ASAN 393) courses of variable credit may be taken as part of the capstone process, comprising up to 6 of the 15 required credit hours of Asian Studies elective courses. The capstone project may involve a study abroad, international exchange, or other such experience in Asia. Please contact the Asian Studies undergraduate advisor for more details.

ASAN courses used to satisfy General Education Core requirements (including foreign language requirements) may not be used to satisfy major requirements, and vice versa. Language study beyond the required level may count toward the major and is encouraged for Asian Studies majors.

For more information, please see the Bachelor Degree Program Sheet at programsheets/.

Minor Requirements

There are no required courses for acceptance into the Asian Studies minor program. Attendance in ASAN 201-202 (Introduction to Asian Studies) is recommended.

Students must complete 15 credit hours, including:

  • ASAN 310 Studying Asia Culturally or 312 Contemporary Asia (3 credits)
  • ASAN courses numbered 300 and above (minimum 6 credits)
  • Asia-related courses in disciplines other than the major field numbered 300 and above (maximum 6 credits)

It is possible to focus on one particular country or region, such as China, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Southeast Asia, or South Asia.

The Asian Studies undergraduate advisor will assist in identifying appropriate Asia-related courses, in planning schedules, and in preparing minor forms. A list of approved Asian Studies electives in other departments can be found at manoa.hawaii.edu/asianstudies/academic-programs/courses-2/asian-studies-undergraduate-electives/.

BA/MAAS and BA/MAIA Pathway Programs

Effective Fall 2024, the Department of Asian Studies offers five-year BA/MAAS and BA/MAIA pathways that help students earn a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in just 5 years. Asian Studies BA students admitted into one of our pathway programs can double count 9 credits towards both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree, and may take three 600-level courses in their senior year. For more information about the ASAN five-year pathway programs, see the department’s BA/MAAS and BA/MAIA webpages or contact the Asian Studies Graduate Advisor.

Graduate Study

Master of Arts in Asian Studies (MAAS)

The MAAS is an interdisciplinary program designed for students who wish to deepen their understanding of a particular geographical and cultural region of Asia or the interactions between Asian regions. The MA in Asian Studies is offered as Plan A (thesis) or Plan B (non-thesis). Proficiency in an Asian language is required for completion of the degree.

A student’s academic program should concentrate on one of the following regions: China, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, South Asia, Southeast Asia, or Inter-Asia. Students without sufficient academic background in Asia-related course work (including the relevant language) may be required to take preparatory courses without credit toward the degree. Graduation from the MAAS program requires successful completion of course work or demonstrable proficiency in an Asian language at the third-year level. Students who are fluent in an Asian language may, with proof of proficiency, have the foreign language requirement waived if they plan to concentrate either on that region or on Inter-Asia. If they elect to focus on a different region, they must fulfill the language requirement as stated above. If the foreign language requirement is waived, students must still fulfill the total number of credits required for the degree.

Plan A (Thesis) Requirements

The MAAS Plan A degree in Asian Studies requires:

  1. A minimum of 30 credit hours. Of these, at least 12 must be earned in courses numbered 600 or higher (excluding 699 and 700), and at least 6 in ASAN 700 Thesis Research.
  2. Full-time study for a minimum of two academic semesters or equivalent.
  3. Proficiency in an Asian language relevant to the region of specialization, equivalent to completion of the third year of study (301-302). An entering student who has achieved this level and can demonstrate proficiency through examination may, in consultation with the area advisor, count up to 9 credits of advanced language study (at the 401 level or above) toward the 30 required credits for the degree.
  4. Two introductory graduate seminars (ASAN 600 C, I, J, K, P, S, or Z): one in the region of specialization, taken at the beginning of the student’s program, and another in a different region.
  5. A graduate research seminar in the student’s region of concentration (ASAN 750).
  6. A minimum of 6 additional credit hours of Asian Studies (ASAN) course work.
  7. A minimum of 15 credit hours of interdisciplinary study related to the candidate’s region of specialization. No more than 9 credit hours in one discipline will be counted. A maximum of 9 credits may be taken outside the region of focus, after consultation with the academic advisor.
  8. Satisfactory completion of a master’s thesis and an oral examination on the thesis given by the students’ three-member faculty committee.
  9. With advance approval, up to 6 credits of 699 (directed reading) courses may be applied toward the degree. 699 courses may only be used for electives, not as a substitute for required courses, and do not count toward minimum number of credits earned in courses numbered 600 and above.

Plan B (Non-thesis) Requirements

The MAAS Plan B degree in Asian Studies requires:

  1. A minimum of 30 credit hours. Of these, at least 18 must be earned in courses numbered 600 or higher (excluding 699).
  2. Full-time study for a minimum of two academic semesters or equivalent.
  3. Proficiency in an Asian language relevant to the region of specialization, equivalent to completion of the third year of study (301-302). An entering student who has achieved this level and can demonstrate proficiency through examination may, in consultation with the area advisor, count up to 9 credits of advanced language study (at the 401 level or above) toward the 30 required credits for the degree.
  4. Two introductory graduate seminars (ASAN 600 C, I, J, K, P, S, or Z): one in the region of specialization, taken at the beginning of the student’s program, and another in a different region.
  5. A graduate research seminar in the student’s region of specialization (ASAN 750).
  6. A minimum of 6 additional credit hours of Asian Studies (ASAN) course work.
  7. A minimum of 21 credit hours of interdisciplinary study related to the candidate’s region of specialization. No more than 9 credit hours in one discipline will be counted. A maximum of 9 credits may be taken outside the region of specialization, after consultation with the academic advisor
  8. One credit of ASAN 695 Plan B Culminating Experience, which shall include presentation of a portfolio consisting of two revised seminar papers or one expanded seminar paper, and satisfactory completion of an oral examination based on the papers by the student’s three-member faculty committee.
  9. With advance approval, up to 9 credits of 699 (directed reading) courses may be applied toward the MA. 699 courses may only be used for electives, not as a substitute for required courses, and do not count toward minimum number of credits earned in courses numbered 600 and above.

Master of Asian International Affairs (MAIA)

The Master of Asian International Affairs is designed for working professionals whose careers would be enhanced by a deeper understanding of contemporary Asia and the multifaceted (cultural, historical, social, and political) determinants and impacts of Asian nations’ engagement with their neighbors and the world.

Geared towards students with at least two years of professional experience, the program includes courses on area studies and applied theory, and culminates in a capstone experience in which students apply their knowledge either to a project in their own field or to a collaboration with professional partners working on real-world issues.

There is no Asian language proficiency requirement. Students will be assigned an academic advisor who can help them design a study plan that meets their individual needs.

Degree Requirements

  • Minimum of 30 credit hours. At least 18 must be earned in courses numbered 600+ (excluding 699 and 700), and not more than 14 credits may be taken online.
  • Two core thematic seminars, chosen from among four options (ASAN 626; 629; 687; and 689)
  • Two core area seminars, chosen from among three options (ASAN 630; 651; and 654)
  • The MAIA capstone course (ASAN 710).
  • 15 credit hours of elective courses in the Asian Studies Program or in other departments in UH Mānoa. All 15 credits of electives must be Asia-related, unless they provide important theoretical or methodological training, in which case the student may petition to include up to 6 credits of non-Asia-related courses
  • With advance approval from the graduate program, up to 6 credits of 699 (directed reading) may be applied toward the MAIA. 699 courses may only be used for electives, not as a substitute for required courses, and do not count toward minimum number of credits earned in courses numbered 600 and above.

Certificate Programs

Graduate Certificates

The Asian Studies Graduate Program offers Graduate Certificates in the following areas: Asian Studies, Chinese Studies, Japanese Studies, Korean Studies, Philippine Studies, South Asian Studies, and Southeast Asian Studies. The graduate certificate programs are open to all students of graduate standing who meet the admissions requirements. MAAS and MAIA students may also apply to the Graduate Certificate Program to enhance their understanding of an Asian region outside their area of focus.

Certificate Requirements

  1. At least 15 credits of course work at UH Mānoa about the region of the certificate program. Of these, at least 9 credits must be at the 600 level or above (excluding 700).
  2. ASAN 600 Approaches to Asian Studies.

Academic advising will be provided by Asian Studies faculty.