Laura Berlinsky-Schine December 1, 2020 5 Academic Tips and Info,College Lists

List of All U.S. Colleges with an Asian Studies Major

Asia has played an enormous role in the global political, cultural, economic, and other spheres, both currently and historically. That’s why scholars are so eager to study this important region. It’s also a rich, diverse major that can set you up for success in a wide variety of careers, from politics to law to the arts.

Keep reading to learn all about the Asian studies major and how it will prepare you for your future.

Overview of the Asian Studies Major

Aiming to broaden students’ understanding of Asian cultures, languages, and life, Asian studies is an interdisciplinary program combining many areas of focus, such as history, literature, political science, anthropology, communication, and economics. Among others, specific topics and course requirements may include:

Art history
Asian civilizations
Asian literature in translation
Asian languages
Comparative cultures
Comparative religion
Economics
Film Studies
Geography
Global governments
History of Asian cultures
International relations

Students often engage in research and explore a wide range of topics in Asian cultures.

This is a liberal arts major that will help students build skills and gain experience in text and primary source analysis; clear communication in writing, speaking, and reading in both English and Asian languages; cultural, historical, and economic comparison; language proficiency; and research.

Asian studies graduates have many and varied opportunities across sectors like:

Academia
Advocacy
Arts organizations
Community outreach
Communications
Economics
Global business
Government
International law
International politics
International relations
Journalism
Policy
Translation/interpretation
Travel/tourism

Some of these positions require graduate degrees. There are also master’s degree and PhD programs in Asian studies or niche topics, like Cornell University’s Asian Literature, Religion, and Culture PhD program. This is particularly useful for academic careers in Asian studies.

What to Look for in a College as an Asian Studies Major

Faculty who are preeminent interdisciplinary scholars

Asian studies is an interdisciplinary major, as discussed, and combines topics in many fields. Look for schools with faculty who are recognized leaders and scholars in their fields, particularly if they emphasize Asian cultures within their body of work. This might, for example, include faculty focused on Asian literature.

Study abroad opportunities

Many Asian studies programs urge students to study abroad in Asia to immerse themselves in the culture. Whether you want to study in China, Hong Kong, Japan, India, Malaysia, South Korea, or someplace else, many colleges will offer exchange programs to learn more about the countries they’re studying firsthand.

Internship placement

Look for schools that help students find internships that allow them to gain experience in an Asian studies-related field. At Pace University, for example, the Global Asia Studies program assists students with securing internships at Asian cultural institutions in New York City. The program’s website says that these experiences encourage students to develop new connections in the community, professional skills, and “a deepened understanding of diasporic Asian cultures.”

Research opportunities

Some Asian studies programs require research projects as part of their major. Even if they don’t, you should aim to get research experience anyway, working with faculty in the program and in related disciplines. Look for programs that provide opportunities to conduct research with scholars in their field.

List of All U.S. Colleges With an Asian Studies Major

School	City	State
American University	Washington DC	Washington DC
Amherst College	Amherst	Massachusetts
Arizona State University \| ASU	Tempe	Arizona
Augustana College	Rock Island	Illinois
Austin College	Sherman	Texas
Barnard College	New York	New York
Baylor University	Waco	Texas
Belmont University	Nashville	Tennessee
Bennington College	Bennington	Vermont
Berea College	Berea	Kentucky
Birmingham-Southern College \| BSC	Birmingham	Alabama
Boston University \| BU	Boston	Massachusetts
Bowdoin College	Brunswick	Maine
Bowling Green State University \| BGSU	Bowling Green	Ohio
Brigham Young University \| BYU	Provo	Utah
California State University, Long Beach \| Long Beach State	Long Beach	California
Calvin College	Grand Rapids	Michigan
Carleton College	Northfield	Minnesota
Carthage College	Kenosha	Wisconsin
Case Western Reserve University	Cleveland	Ohio
Claremont McKenna College \| CMC	Claremont	California
Clark University	Worcester	Massachusetts
Coe College	Cedar Rapids	Iowa
Colgate University	Hamilton	New York
College of St. Benedict \| CSB	Saint Joseph	Minnesota
College of the Holy Cross \| Holy Cross	Worcester	Massachusetts
Colorado College	Colorado Springs	Colorado
Connecticut College	New London	Connecticut
Cornell University	Ithaca	New York
Dartmouth College	Hanover	New Hampshire
DePauw University	Greencastle	Indiana
Florida International University \| FIU	Miami	Florida
Florida State University \| FSU	Tallahassee	Florida
Furman University	Greenville	South Carolina
George Washington University \| GW	Washington	Washington DC
Gonzaga University	Spokane	Washington
Hamilton College	Clinton	New York
Hobart and William Smith Colleges \| HWS	Geneva	New York
Hofstra University	Hempstead	New York
Indiana University of Pennsylvania \| IUP	Indiana	Pennsylvania
Kennesaw State University \| KSU	Kennesaw	Georgia
Knox College	Galesburg	Illinois
Lafayette College	Easton	Pennsylvania
Lake Forest College	Lake Forest	Illinois
Lehigh University	Bethlehem	Pennsylvania
Lewis & Clark College	Portland	Oregon
Loyola Marymount University \| LMU	Los Angeles	California
Macalester College	Saint Paul	Minnesota
Marietta College	Marietta	Ohio
Montana State University \| MSU	Bozeman	Montana
Mount Holyoke College	South Hadley	Massachusetts
New York University \| NYU	New York	New York
Northeastern University	Boston	Massachusetts
Northwestern University	Evanston	Illinois
Ohio University	Athens	Ohio
Old Dominion University \| ODU	Norfolk	Virginia
Pace University	New York	New York
Pennsylvania State University \| PSU	University Park	Pennsylvania
Pepperdine University	Malibu	California
Pomona College	Claremont	California
Purdue University	West Lafayette	Indiana
Rice University	Houston	Texas
Rollins College	Winter Park	Florida
Saint Mary’s College of California \| St. Mary’s	Moraga	California
San Diego State University \| SDSU	San Diego	California
Scripps College	Claremont	California
Seattle University	Seattle	Washington
Seton Hall University	South Orange	New Jersey
Sewanee: The University of the South \| Sewanee	Sewanee	Tennessee
Skidmore College	Saratoga Springs	New York
St. John’s University	Queens	New York
St. Joseph’s University \| SJU	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania
St. Mary’s College of Maryland	St. Mary’s City	Maryland
St. Olaf College	Northfield	Minnesota
Suffolk University	Boston	Massachusetts
Swarthmore College	Swarthmore	Pennsylvania
Temple University	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania
The State University of New York at Albany \| SUNY Albany	Albany	New York
The State University of New York at Binghamton \| SUNY Binghamton	Vestal	New York
The State University of New York at Stony Brook \| SUNY Stony Brook	Stony Brook	New York
Tufts University	Medford	Massachusetts
Tulane University	New Orleans	Louisiana
Union College (New York)	Schenectady	New York
University of California, Berkeley \| UC Berkeley	Berkeley	California
University of California, Los Angeles \| UCLA	Los Angeles	California
University of California, Riverside \| UC Riverside	Riverside	California
University of California, Santa Barbara \| UCSB	Santa Barbara	California
University of Cincinnati	Cincinnati	Ohio
University of Colorado Boulder \| CU Boulder	Boulder	Colorado
University of Delaware	Newark	Delaware
University of Florida	Gainesville	Florida
University of Hawaii at Manoa \| UH Manoa	Honolulu	Hawaii
University of Iowa	Iowa City	Iowa
University of Louisville	Louisville	Kentucky
University of Maryland, Baltimore County \| UMBC	Baltimore	Maryland
University of Massachusetts Boston \| UMass Boston	Boston	Massachusetts
University of Michigan	Ann Arbor	Michigan
University of Montana	Missoula	Montana
University of Nevada, Las Vegas \| UNLV	Las Vegas	Nevada
University of New Mexico \| UNM	Albuquerque	New Mexico
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill \| UNC	Chapel Hill	North Carolina
University of Northern Colorado \| UNC	Greeley	Colorado
University of Notre Dame	Notre Dame	Indiana
University of Oregon	Eugene	Oregon
University of Redlands	Redlands	California
University of Richmond	University of Richmond	Virginia
University of San Francisco \| USF	San Francisco	California
University of Texas at Austin \| UT Austin	Austin	Texas
University of the Pacific	Stockton	California
University of Toledo	Toledo	Ohio
University of Utah	Salt Lake City	Utah
University of Vermont \| UVM	Burlington	Vermont
University of Washington	Seattle	Washington
University of Wisconsin-Madison \| Wisconsin	Madison	Wisconsin
Utah State University	Logan	Utah
Vanderbilt University	Nashville	Tennessee
Vassar College	Poughkeepsie	New York
Washington State University \| WSU	Pullman	Washington
Wheaton College (Massachusetts)	Norton	Massachusetts
Whitman College	Walla Walla	Washington
Willamette University	Salem	Oregon
Williams College	Williamstown	Massachusetts

What Are Your Chances of Acceptance?

Whether you want to pursue a degree in Asian studies or one of hundreds of other disciplines, you’ll need to have stellar credentials to gain admission to top schools. Most selective colleges and universities use the Academic Index to filter out applicants, so first, you should put forth your best effort in all your courses and prepare extensively for your standardized tests.

You should also pay attention to the qualitative aspects of your application, pursuing leadership positions in your extracurriculars (such as heading an Asian language club or participating in a non-profit or cultural organization) and writing an exceptional essay.

To find out your real odds of admission to more than 500 colleges and universities, including those with top Asian studies programs, try our Chancing Engine. Not only will you find out how your profile compares with that of admitted students, but you’ll also receive guidance on how to improve your application. It’s completely free!

Laura Berlinsky-Schine

Senior Blogger

Short Bio

Laura Berlinsky-Schine is a freelance writer and editor based in Brooklyn with her demigod/lab mix Hercules. She specializes in education, technology and career development. She also writes satire and humor, which has appeared in Slackjaw, Points in Case, Little Old Lady Comedy, Jane Austen’s Wastebasket, and Funny-ish. View her work and get in touch at: www.lauraberlinskyschine.com.

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools

Your chance of acceptance

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars

List of All U.S. Colleges with an Asian Studies Major

Overview of the Asian Studies Major

What to Look for in a College as an Asian Studies Major

Faculty who are preeminent interdisciplinary scholars

Study abroad opportunities

Internship placement

Research opportunities

List of All U.S. Colleges With an Asian Studies Major

What Are Your Chances of Acceptance?

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools

Your chance of acceptance

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars

List of All U.S. Colleges with an Asian Studies Major

Overview of the Asian Studies Major

What to Look for in a College as an Asian Studies Major

Faculty who are preeminent interdisciplinary scholars

Study abroad opportunities

Internship placement

Research opportunities

List of All U.S. Colleges With an Asian Studies Major

What Are Your Chances of Acceptance?

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