Asian Studies is a rewarding Major program at many universities. The growing importance of Asia in the world scene means increasing career opportunities in education, business, international development, journalism, government, social work, and art. In particular, it encompasses the geographical and cultural areas of East Asia (China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan), South Asia (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka) and Southeast Asia (Thailand, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia), offering various courses in most of the disciplines of the humanities (e.g., Language and Literature, History, Religious Studies, Philosophy, Art, Archaeology) and the social sciences (e.g., Sociology, Anthropology, Political Studies, Psychology, Economics).
Asian Studies also relates to Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, a significant discipline that examines the western part of Asia, including such countries as Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Turkey. It interacts with Near Eastern Studies that presents another significant region belonging to West Asia, prior to the rise of Islam and with extension to the present in the case of Modern Hebrew. Asian Studies courses, on both undergraduate and graduate levels, are open to all university students with divergent academic and career interests. Many of these courses are credited toward majors in other departmental programs.
The Asian Studies Program at the University of Prince Edward Island was formally established and recognized by the Faculty of Arts and the University in early 1993. It is a maturing interdisciplinary Minor program that offers two core courses and eighteen electives on various topics on Asian civilizations, peoples, languages, histories, philosophical and religious traditions, social and political systems.
In collaboration with Japan's IIP (International Internship Programme), we have offered two popular Japanese language courses since 1993-94, both of which were credit courses taught by an experienced Japanese instructor. In 1996-98, two introductory courses in Asian Studies, 201 (Introduction to West Asia) and 202 (Introduction to East Asia), were taught. We also continue to offer elective courses in Religious Studies, Sociology/Anthropology, and Political Studies.
Participating faculty members in the Asian Studies Program at UPEI ome from five departments of the Arts Faculty: Religious Studies, Sociology/ Anthropology, History, and Political Studies. They are professors who are noted for good scholarship and teaching.
A program in Asian Studies is of immediate value for developing or enhancing your knowledge and experience of Asia, one of the world's greatest civilizations. It has further practical benefits for anyone who plans to work in Asia or in any career enterprise dealing with Asian-Canadian people, business, tourism industry, international communication, education, journalism, and social work. Some of the students who have completed Asian Studies core courses or electives are planning to work abroad as ESL instructors in Korea, Japan, or another Asian country. Others intend to pursue various career opportunities in PEI or other Canadian provinces, which relate to the private business sector, government offices, and other arenas involving Canada's multicultural and international circumstances.
Asian Studies students have various academic and practical interests. Its core courses attract students with divergent goals and objectives. For example, a third-year History major who successfully completed Asian Studies 202 said: "I wish to learn Asian histories, cultures and politics....I hope to work in Asia after graduating." Asian Studies definitely encourages and facilitates her goal. A fourth-year double major in Business Administration and Philosophy had a similar practical reason: "I have applied to the JET Programme... and I wish to learn how the society of Eastern Asia works." A graduating student in Business Administration had a fine social and global rationale: "I have friends from East Asia, and I want to learn more about the people and the area." There were other reasons: "I like to study more about Asian cultures and civilization" (first-year student of Southeast Asian background who has not yet declared a major); "I want to learn about different parts of the world" (first-year Psychology major); and "I needed one more course to graduate. I would like to know more about East Asia" (a part-time Sociology major).
In addition, our Asian Studies elective courses—which are regularly offered by Religious Studies, Sociology-Anthropology, Modern Languages, and Political Studies—appeal to a growing number of students from not only the Arts Faculty but also other Faculties and Schools. Here are a few relevant perspectives and insights
given by the students who took, for example, Religious Studies courses. A junior student who had travelled in several Asian countries decided to take Religious Studies 251 (Japanese Religion and Culture), one of the Asian Studies electives, said, "I want to return to Japan for travel and work." A junior Psychology major had an insightful self-reflection: "I became interested in the course because of the strong interest that the Japanese (tourists) have in PEI. I would like to learn more about their culture!"
More examples? A mature part-time student majoring in Business who completed a different Religious Studies course gave an interesting and respectful aim: "I took this course so as to get an insight into different cultures and religions of the world. I feel this will help in my future profession as a criminal lawyer." A first-year Accounting major also said, "I hope to enhance my knowledge about different cultures throughout the world." Another first-year student whose major is undecided had already developed a global mind: "(I want) To become more global and aware of the world around." A graduating Science student had an absolutely reasonable objective: "I am taking this course for a break from all my Science classes!"
In short, regardless of your Major at UPEI, an Asian Studies Minor will broaden and strengthen your university education. By learning more about Eastern ideas, traditions, cultures, histories, societies, languages, and their encounters with the West, Asian Studies will facilitate you in making your knowledge and experience more global and in preparing yourself for the expanding world of international travels, inter-cultural interactions, exchange/internship programs, career opportunities, and Internet communications.
Finally, the Asian Studies Minor program at UPEI serves as a good foundation for other universities' Major degree programs in Asian Studies which are required for any graduate studies (both MA and PhD) and for a professional academic career in Asian Studies and its various related fields.
We require no specific secondary school preparation beyond the general admission requirements of the University and Arts Faculty. Some knowledge of an Asian language or culture or some experience in interacting with an Asian (Asian-Canadian) friend or family can be a useful asset. The general admission requirements appear in the UPEI Calendar and in the University Information brochure, available from the Registrar's Office, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, P.E.I., Canada C1A 4P3.
If you intend to pursue a Minor in Asian Studies at UPEI, you must complete two required core courses, Asian Studies 201 (Introduction to West Asia) and Asian Studies 202 (Introduction to East Asia). These two core courses are also recommended preparation for a number of elective courses in Sociology-Anthropology, Religious Studies, Philosophy, Political Studies, Modern Languages, and History. Regardless of your decided or undecided Major, you are required to complete at least one course from each of the three or four groups of electives which are Asia-focused and offered by these departments in the Faculty of Arts. No specific language study is required, although we try to offer two credit Japanese courses every year and you are encouraged to take at least one of them. In other words, a Minor in Asian Studies without some basic knowledge of an Asian language would not be competitive on the national and North American level.
