Undergraduate Catalog 2024-2025

Asian Studies, Minor (317)


Program Coordinator

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

Program Requirements (21 hours)

The minor in Asian studies requires 21 semester hours. Students must pursue one of two tracks — either the track in Asian Religions and Cultures or the South and East Asian track.  

Asian Religions and Cultures Track

Religion
Select three of the following:9
World Religions
Buddhism
Hinduism
Islam
Confucianism
Daoism
Religions of Asia
Pilgrimage, Islam and Modernity
Islam, Sexuality, and Gender
History and Politics
Select two of the following: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
Select two of the following courses not already counted toward the minor:6
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
Intensive Elementary Chinese I
Intensive Elementary 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
Total Hours21

Students must take courses from at least three different programs. At least 12 credit hours must be at the 300-level or above.  

East and South Asian Track 

Culture and History
Select four of the following:12
The Archaeology of Ancient China
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
Modern China
Modern Japan
World Religions
Buddhism
Hinduism
Islam
Confucianism
Daoism
Religions of Asia
Pilgrimage, Islam and Modernity
Islam, Sexuality, and Gender
Electives
Select three of the following:9
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
Elementary Chinese I
Elementary Chinese II
Intermediate Chinese I
Intermediate Chinese II
Advanced Intermediate Chinese I
Advanced Intermediate Chinese II
Intensive Elementary Chinese I
Intensive Elementary 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
Elementary Japanese I
Elementary Japanese II
Intermediate Japanese I
Intermediate Japanese II
Politics of North Korea
Chinese Politics
Government and Politics in East Asia
Total Hours21

Students must take courses from at least four different programs, and at least 12 hours must be at the 300-level or above.