Academics at MBC
Major/Minor Course Requirements
Requirements for the Major in Asian Studies
Students are strongly
encouraged to study in an Asian country, earning academic credit for at least
three hours, either by enrolling in a recognized college in Asia for at least
one semester, doing an externship in Asia or with an Asian company in the United
States, or participating in a study tour of Asia (JPNS 250, Introduction to
Asia). 41 semester hours of course work distributed as follows:
Language Requirement (14 semester hours)
At least one year of study of Japanese or another Asian language at the intermediate
level or above depending on level of initial placement; or knowledge of a major
Asian language at the intermediate college level.
Core Courses (6 semester hours)
AS l06 and AS/REL 212
Elective courses in Asian Studies
Courses selected from the following (12 semester hours or 18 semester hours
if the language requirement was passed by meeting the language knowledge requirement
above):
REL/AS 213, ENG/AS 239, AS 244, AS 246, AS 247, AS 248, AS 250, AS 251, AS
253, AS 256, AS/INT/BUAD 258, AS/SOC 270, AS/REL 275, AS 277; JPNS 250. Students
may substitute a maximum of three credits of Asian Studies electives by taking
one of the following: BUAD 305; ECON 253 or ECON 254; INT 240; POLS 215.
Required Support Courses (6 semester hours)
Two courses in Anthropology, including ANTH 120 (Cultural Anthropology) and
ANTH 220 (Language and Culture)
Senior Requirement (3 semester hours)
AS 400
NOTE: Students may earn up to three semester hours of electives credit by completing an internship in Japan, elsewhere in Asia, or with an Asian-related company or organization in the United States. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in MBC’s program at Doshisha Women’s College or Tokyo Jogakkan in Japan and/or to spend one or more semesters at a recognized institution in Asia. Language and/or Asian Studies courses taken at these institutions may be applied toward the major. A student may substitute another major Asian language for Japanese by demonstrating competence in that language. However, a person who is a native speaker of an Asian language or who has achieved at least an intermediate level knowledge of an Asian language and who elects not to take at least six hours of an Asian language at Mary Baldwin College or elsewhere must take up to 18 hours of electives.
Requirements for the Minor in Asian Studies
21 hours including AS 106 (Asian Civilizations) or AS/REL 212 (Asian Religions) and a total of 18 hours of Asian studies courses listed below. Study of an Asian language is highly recommended. Students may substitute one of the following three activities for 6 of the 18 elective hours: an internship in Japan or elsewhere in Asia; an internship with an Asian company/organization in the United States; or participation in JPNS 250 (Introduction to Asia), which consists of a May Term study trip to Asia. Students may substitute another major Asian language for Japanese by demonstrating competence in that language. A native speaker of any major Asian language must take a minimum of six electives in Asian studies in addition to AS 106 or AS/REL 212.
