Asian Studies

Program Degrees

Undergraduate Studies

The Asian Studies Program offers an interdisciplinary major in East Asian Studies and, with outside language study, a special interdisciplinary major in Southeast Asian Studies. Students may enhance majors in other departments with a minor in East Asian Studies or Southeast Asian Studies.

Students who major in Asian Studies often complement their course work with a year or more of residence in Asia. Many students double major to combine a profession with their area of expertise. Job possibilities are increasing in such fields as business, journalism, government and education. Many students go on to do graduate studies.

The curriculum includes courses in anthropology; art history; Chinese language and literature; dance; geography; history; international studies; Japanese language and literature; linguistics; political science; and religious studies. The program is administered by the Asian studies committee, which is composed of faculty members with Asian specializations.

Students who complete 3 years equivalent of Southeast or South Asian language study abroad or at other institutions may, with the support of an Asian Studies faculty advisor, construct a special major in Southeast and/or South Asian Studies.

Asian Studies Major
Asian Studies Minor

For further information about specific degrees related to Asia at the University of Oregon, please contact one of the following departments:

East Asian Languages and Literatures
International Studies Program
Charles H. Lundquist College of Business - Certificate in Global Management

Graduate Studies

The university offers an interdisciplinary program in East Asian Studies leading to the master of arts (M.A.) degree. Students who complete three years equivalent of Southeast and/or South Asia language study aboard or in other institutions may, with the support of an Asian Studies faculty advisor, construct a special concentration in Southeast and/or South Asian Studies. The curriculum includes courses in anthropology, art history, Chinese language and literature, geography, history, international studies, Japanese language and literature, linguistics, political science, and religious studies. The program is administered by the Asian Studies Committee, which is composed of faculty members with Asian specializations. The M.S. degree program is inactive.

A bachelor's degree is required for admission, and it is expected that applicants have some undergraduate preparation in courses relating to Asia. Students lacking adequate Asian language or disciplinary training must take appropriate preparatory courses, for which no graduate credits is earned.

Prior to registration, the Asian Studies Committee assigns each student an advisor, who helps the student develop an individual program. At the end of the first year, the student should request that an Asian Studies graduate committee be formed to provide guidance throughout the second year of study and thesis preparation. Graduate students should meet with their advisers at least once a term.

Application for Admission

An applicant for admission to the master's program must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year university. Required materials for admission and financial aid are:

  1. University of Oregon application form:
    Online Application for Graduate Admission
    http://gradweb.uoregon.edu/online_app/application/guidelines.htm
    PDF version of Online Application for Graduate Admission
    http://gradschool.uoregon.edu/forms/gs_966.pdf
    To Download the Acrobat Reader
    http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
  2. Transcripts of all college or university course work, including the final transcripts for any degree received
  3. Three letters of recommendation
    http://gradschool.uoregon.edu/academic_forms.html and click on Report on Graduate Applicant
  4. Statement of objectives
  5. A writing sample
  6. Test score for Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) or Test of English as a Foreign Language. International applicants must submit a score of at least 575 (paper-based test) or 233 (computer-based test) from the TOEFL, if they have not received a bachelor's degree from a college or or university in an English-speaking country.
  7. Supplementary Application and Financial Statement for International Students must be submitted by international students
    PDF version of International Student Financial Statement
    http://gradweb.uoregon.edu/online_app/application/FinancialStatement.pdf
  8. Application for Graduate Award, if applying for a graduate teaching fellowship (GTF)
    http://gradschool.uoregon.edu/gtf_forms.html
    a. GTF in Chinese. All applicants must submit a cassette tape of spoken Chinese
    b. GTF in Japanese. Nonnative speakers must submit a cassette tape of spoken of Japanese
    Applicants may read a story or essay on any subject for the tape submission

The application deadline is December 15 for admission the following fall term.

Where to send the application materials mentioned above:

Please submit the following items to:

Office of Admissions
1217 University of Oregon
Eugene OR 97403-1217

  1. If NOT applying online, please send page 1 and 2 of the application with the check or money order for the $50 (USD) nonrefundable application fee, made payable to the University of Oregon.
  2. International students must submit the Supplementary Application and Financial statement form.
  3. An official and final transcript from each academic institution from which you received a degree. International students must submit the final transcripts in both the original language and an official English translation.

Please submit the following items to:

Asian Studies Program
5206 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97401-5206

  1. If NOT applying online, a copy of page 1 of the application.
  2. Official transcripts of all previous college work, both undergraduate and graduate
  3. All other application materials.

Second Master's Degree

Students enrolled in graduate programs of other departments may earn a second master's degree in Asian Studies.

Besides satisfying the degree requirements set by their departments, such students must (1)complete 32 graduate credits in approved Asia-related courses and (2) demonstrate the language competence required for the M.A. degree in Asian Studies. A required thesis applies the methodology of the student's discipline to an Asian subject.

The requirements for both the Asian Studies and the departmental degree programs must be completed at the same time. A student completing this option is granted two mater's degrees one in Asian Studies and another in the departmental discipline.

East Asian Courses
Southeast Asian Courses

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Copyright 2007 University of Oregon Asian Studies Program