Asian Studies Program
In the age of global economy and digital communication, Pacific Rim nations have become America’s close partners in multinational business, diplomacy and cultural exchange. The most populated region of the world, Asia has developed some of the fastest and most productive economies. A growing demand exists for Americans to become familiar Asian business, journalism, government, education, information technology and service.
BGSU is one of few Ohio universities to offer a bachelor’s degree in Asian Studies. Students gain a broad knowledge of the culture and societies of East Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia; and in-depth knowledge of one of the East Asian countries (Japan, China, and Korea; and basic conversational and reading skills of an Asian language.
FEATURED
Careers in Asian Studies
Opportunities exist in academia, business, government and the nonprofit sector for Asian Studies graduates.
NEWS AND STORIES
Akiko Jones Honored for Teaching Excellence
For Akiko Kawano Jones, director of the Asian Studies Program, teaching Japanese involves far more than helping students learn a language. For her, it means introducing them to an entire culture and immersing them in it as much as possible.
For her tireless devotion to her students and her extraordinary ability as an instructor, the Student Alumni Ambassadors named Jones the 2018 Master Teacher. The award includes a $1,000 cash prize.
Alumna Credits Japanese Studies for Career Success
As an undergraduate majoring in International Business in the late ’80s, Sheila Spradlin Reich planned to take Japanese only long enough to fulfill a humanities requirement and to speak just enough of the language to be employable upon graduation. “I ended up taking Japanese all the way through my junior year,” she said. “Not only did I learn the language, my eyes were also opened to a whole new culture and society.”
Asian Studies Class Returns to Hiroshima
Every two years since 2006, students in “Hiroshima and Beyond” (Asian Studies 3100) travel to Japan to observe the anniversary of the WWII atomic bomb attack and to immerse themselves in Japanese culture. The program is offered through a partnership with Hiroshima Jogakuin University, which provides lecturers and experts during the experience and places students with host families during their visit.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the baccalaureate degree, students in Asian Studies are expected to be able to:
- Know the developments in the arts, history, culture, economics, politics, and societies of selected countries in East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia; recognize the diversity of Asia; and identify basic practices and theories of major Asian beliefs and institutions;
- Demonstrate an advanced level of understanding of a chosen Asian country or region;
- Develop knowledge of the historical, present, and evolving relationship of the United States with other Asian countries of the Pacific Rim. Cultivate a sensitive cultural and historical understanding of US-Asian relations;
- Choose at least one discipline (language and literature, history, political science, geography, philosophy, anthropology, education, music) and gain an ability to use its methodology in identifying, analyzing, and explaining issues of Asian region;
- Demonstrate college-level competence in an Asian language (including speaking, reading, and writing).
Accreditation and/or Program/Cluster Review
Bowling Green State University [BGSU] is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. BGSU has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 01/01/1916. The most recent reaffirmation of accreditation was received in 2012 - 2013. Questions should be directed to the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.
The Asian Studies program went through Program/Cluster Review during the Academic Year 2017/18.
Professional Licensure (If applicable)
Bowling Green State University programs leading to licensure, certification and/or endorsement, whether delivered online, face-to-face or in a blended format, satisfy the academic requirements for those credentials set forth by the State of Ohio.
Requirements for licensure, certification and/or endorsement eligibility vary greatly from one profession to another and from state to state. The Asian Studies program does not lead to professional licensure.
Gainful Employment (If applicable)
Under the Higher Education Act Title IV disclosure requirements, an institution must provide current and prospective students with information about each of its programs that prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.
The Asian Studies program is not a recognized occupation that requires a Gainful Employment disclosure.