Undergraduate Catalog 2023-2024

Asian Religions and Cultures, Bachelor of Arts (615)


Program Coordinator

Robert L. Dietle, robert.dietle@wku.edu, (270) 745-5731

Asian Religions and Cultures

 

The Asian Religions and Cultures major at WKU is interdisciplinary, drawing on a wide range of fields including Religious Studies, History, Geography, Modern Languages, Political Science, Anthropology, Art, and others. The major facilitates the understanding of the continent and its peoples, including their languages, religions, and cultures. It provides students with an understanding of the Asian past and the knowledge to put current issues and problems into broader historical, religious, and cultural contexts. The flexible program pairs well with many majors to advance students' academic and professional goals. This program of study helps students to think critically and to write well. Students will develop global cultural competency and a range of skills that will prepare them for success in government, international business, and non-profits/NGOs.

Program Requirements (31 hours)

A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester hours. More information can be found at www.wku.edu/registrar/degree_certification.php.

Students who began WKU in the Fall 2014 and thereafter should review the Colonnade requirements located at: https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/colonnaderequirements.php.

Religion (9 Hours)
Select three of the following courses:9
World Religions
Buddhism
Hinduism
Islam
Confucianism
Daoism
Religions of Asia
Pilgrimage, Islam and Modernity
Islam, Sexuality, and Gender
Language (6 Hours)
Select one of the following one-year sequences:6
Elementary Arabic I
and Elementary Arabic II
Intermediate Arabic I
and Intermediate Arabic II
Advanced Arabic I
and Advanced Arabic II
Elementary Chinese I
and Elementary Chinese II
Intermediate Chinese I
and Intermediate Chinese II
Advanced Intermediate Chinese I
and Advanced Intermediate Chinese II
Intensive Elementary Chinese I
and Intensive Elementary Chinese II
Intensive Intermediate Chinese I
and Intensive Intermediate Chinese II
Intensive Advanced Chinese I
and Intensive Advanced Chinese II
Elementary Japanese I
and Elementary Japanese II
History and Politics (6 Hours)
Select two of the following courses:6
Introduction to Asian Civilization
Modern South Asia: from Empires to Nations
History of Yoga: Tradition, Literature, Practice
Gandhi: The Creation of a Global Legacy
Traditional East Asia
Modern East Asia
History of the Middle East
The Arab-Israeli Conflict: Local and Global Influences
Modern China
Modern Japan
International Relations of the Middle East
Politics of North Korea
Chinese Politics
Government and Politics of the Middle East
Government and Politics in East Asia
Electives (9 Hours)
Select three of the following courses not already counted toward the major from at least two different areas of study:9
The Archaeology of Ancient China
Elementary Arabic I
Elementary Arabic II
Intermediate Arabic I
Intermediate Arabic II
Advanced Arabic I
Advanced Arabic II
Topics in Asian Religions and Cultures
Study in Asian Religions and Cultures
Islamic Art and Architecture
Elementary Chinese I
Elementary Chinese II
Intermediate Chinese I
Intermediate Chinese II
Advanced Intermediate Chinese I
Advanced Intermediate Chinese II
Advanced Chinese I
Advanced Chinese II
Intensive Intermediate Chinese I
Intensive Intermediate Chinese II
Intensive Advanced Chinese I
Intensive Advanced Chinese II
Media Chinese
Chinese Culture
Chinese Tradition
Classical Chinese
Geography of East Asia
Introduction to Asian Civilization
Modern South Asia: from Empires to Nations
History of Yoga: Tradition, Literature, Practice
Gandhi: The Creation of a Global Legacy
Traditional East Asia
Modern East Asia
History of the Middle East
The Arab-Israeli Conflict: Local and Global Influences
Modern China
Modern Japan
Elementary Japanese I
Elementary Japanese II
Intermediate Japanese I
Intermediate Japanese II
International Relations of the Middle East
Politics of North Korea
Chinese Politics
Government and Politics of the Middle East
Government and Politics in East Asia
The New Testament
The Old Testament/ Hebrew Scriptures
World Religions
Buddhism
Hinduism
Islam
Confucianism
Daoism
Religions of Asia
Pilgrimage, Islam and Modernity
Islam, Sexuality, and Gender
Senior Project (1 Hour)
ARC 499Senior Seminar1
Total Hours31

Note: students must take courses from at least four different programs. At least 17 hours must be at the 300-level or above. A second major or minor is required.

Finish in Four Plan - Asian Religions and Cultures (615)

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
COMM 145 or ENG 1003COMM 145 or ENG 1003
HIST 101 or HIST 1023MATH 109 (or higher)3
Colonnade: Natural & Physical Science3Asian History or Politics Course3
Asian Language Course (101)3Asian Language Course (102)3
Colonnade: Social & Behavioral Sciences3Colonnade: Natural & Physical Science w/lab3
 15 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ARC Elective (or additional language work)3ARC Elective (or additional language work)3
ENG 2003Asian Religion Course3
RELS 1023Colonnade: Connections (Social & Cultural) 3
Asian Religion Course32nd Major/Minor Course3
Asian History OR Politics Course32nd Major/Minor Course3
 15 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Asian Religion Course3ARC Elective3
2nd Major/Minor Course32nd Major/Minor Course3
2nd Major/Minor Course3Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global)3
ENG 3003ARC 4991
General Elective3General Elective3
 General Elective2
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Colonnade: Connections (Systems)32nd Major/Minor Course3
2nd Major/Minor Course3General Elective3
2nd Major/Minor Course3General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
 15 15
Total Hours 120