Calvin College is the only evangelical college in North America to offer a major in Asian Studies. The student may choose one of three different “tracks” or concentrations:
1. Chinese language concentration: minimum of 8 language courses and 4 culture courses, with at least one of the latter at the 300 level.
2. Japanese language concentration: minimum of 8 language courses and 4 culture courses, with at least one of the latter at the 300 level.
3. Area studies concentration: at least 4 language courses and 8 culture courses, with 3 of the latter at the 300 level.

The first 4 courses of either language, 101/2 and 202/2, fulfill the College Core requirement as well. Also, native speakers of Chinese or Japanese may only use courses in the other language for the major.

For all 3 concentrations, 3 of the culture courses taken (3 of 4 or 3 of 8) must be the following in the ‘required’ category:

1. History 245 or 246, East Asia to 1800 or East Asia since 1800
2. Philosophy 225, Chinese Thought and Culture
3. Religion 255, World Religions (formerly Rel 351)

Beyond the 3 required courses above, courses are to come from the list of Asian Studies elective courses (below). Electives include Asia-focused interim courses; no more than 2 interims may count towards the AS area studies concentration. No interims may count towards the language concentrations. One (for language concentrators) or three (for area studies concentrators) of the elective culture courses chosen from the list of Asian Studies courses must be at the 300 level.

The Calvin semester in China program (STCH 203 and 204) may substitute for Hist 245 or 246 and Phil 225. The semester program at JCMU, because its curriculum varies somewhat from year to year, may substitute for such courses as may be decided appropriate by the Asian Studies advisor and the Committee for the Asian Studies Major.

List of Asian Studies electives:

Art 241 Asian art
Chinese 101/102 Elementary Chinese I, II
Chinese 201/202 Intermediate Chinese I, II
Chinese 215/216 Advanced Chinese I, II
Chinese 217/218 Modern Chinese Literature I, II
Japanese 101/102 Elementary Japanese I, II
Japanese 201/202 Intermediate Japanese I, II
Japanese 215/216 Advanced Japanese I, II
Japanese 217/218 Modern Japanese Literature I, II
History 235 Early India
History 236 Modern India
History 245 East Asia to 1800
History 246 East Asia since 1800
History 272 The Contemporary World: The Korean War
and the Cold War
History 346 Modern China
History 371 Asia and the Pacific Since 1850
Political Science 277 Asian Politics
Religion 354 Hinduism
Religion 355 Buddhism
Interim courses (In Asia or on Asian topics)
CHIN 390 (Beijing) level appropriate for student
STCH 203 (Beijing) Traditional Chinese Civilization
STCH 204 (Beijing) Modern China
STCH 210 (Beijing) Emerging China
JCMU courses (as approved by Asian Studies director or committee)