Asian & Asian American Studies New Home
Asian and Asian American Studies at Providence College
Sixty percent of the world’s population lives in Asia. By 2050, Asian economies are expected to account for more than half of global wealth. Chinese is the most widely spoken language in the world. India is the world’s largest democracy. And that’s just the present. For centuries, Asian societies have produced a rich and diverse array of literature, art, religions, and political ideas and institutions. Closer to home, Asian diasporas have profoundly shaped the society, culture, and politics of the United States. To put it simply, to understand the 21st century world, you need to understand Asia. The minor in Asian & Asian American Studies allows students to explore the complexities of Asia’s past and present and the connections between Asia and their own lives.
Mission
Asian & Asian American Studies is an interdisciplinary program that promotes academic excellence and “seeks to reflect the rich diversity of the human family.”1 Recognizing that “the search for truth is the basis for dialogue with others and critical engagement with the world,” the program fosters knowledge and understanding of diverse cultures, societies, and traditions through a variety of disciplinary approaches and methods. Courses and other programming encourage students to think critically about the lines demarcating and linkages connecting Asia and the West. The “fruits of contemplation” derived from studying Asian and Asian American art, history, language, literature, politics, and society prepare our students to be engaged citizens of a diverse, globalized world.
Students who complete the minor are expected to demonstrate knowledge of and the ability to reflect critically on:
- The history and societies of Asia and/or Asian diasporas, or of particular Asian countries, peoples, and cultures.
- Asian and/or Asian-American political, economic, social, and cultural institutions, practices, and traditions, including those that are sub- or transnational in character.
- Historical and contemporary interactions, differences, and similarities among Asian cultures and societies; and between Asia and the West, including the US.
- The contributions of Asian diasporas and Asian societies to global, Western, and/or US history, culture, politics, arts & literature, economics, and society.
DEGREE PROGRAM
Minor
Minor
Students minoring in Asian & Asian American Studies must complete six (6) three-credit courses (eighteen (18) credit-hours) approved by the program. In addition to Asian & Asian American Studies classes like AST 101, students can take cross-listed courses in the departments of Art & Art History, Economics, English, Global Studies, Health Sciences, History & Classics, Political Science, Women’s & Gender Studies, and World Languages & Cultures (Chinese).
Courses taken abroad may also count toward the minor. At least one course must be at the 300 or 400 level. No more than four courses from a single department or program may count toward completion of the minor.
Students are strongly encouraged to study an Asian language. PC offers beginning and intermediate Chinese. Japanese and Korean may be taken at Brown University through the RI Language Consortium. Students may also count independent studies in Asian languages toward the minor, subject to the approval of the program director.
FACULTY
Our faculty are committed teachers and scholars who represent a range of disciplines, including Studio Art and Art History, Economics, English, Global Studies, History, Political Science, and Women’s and Gender Studies. They research an array of topics: art in imperial China, caste in contemporary India, 19th century Japanese samurai, and female health workers in Pakistan. They publish articles in major journals, write scholarly books, and produce works of art and literature. Our faculty hold degrees from institutions such as Brown, Columbia, Harvard, and UC Berkeley.
