East Asian Studies, Minor
Understand East Asia’s role in the world.
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"The minor was a great help to furthering my understanding of Asia and its complexities. It helped prepare me to study abroad in Seoul, South Korea."
Lake Dodson (B.A. in Political Science, Minors in East Asian Studies and Global Security Studies, '24)
About the Minor in East Asian Studies
The College of Liberal Arts offers the interdisciplinary minor in East Asian Studies. It focuses on China, Japan, and Korea, especially the interconnections between East Asian culture, history, and politics. Students gain a critical understanding of East Asia’s central role in the world, both past and present.
The minor helps prepare students for dynamic careers in multiple fields, including business, finance, law, government, policy, medicine, and academia. Students can ttailor the minor to their interests and future plans through choices of coursework and unique opportunities such as study abroad and internships.
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Program Information
Degree
Required Credit Hours
18
Program Type
Minor
Program Location
School
Academic Requirements
Find out about credit hour and course requirements from the 2025-26 academic catalog.
Students in the East Asian Studies minor complete 18 credit hours in at least three different departments from the approved lists below, with at least one course in each category - China, Northeast Asia (Japan and Korea), and regional focus. A minimum grade of C is required in all courses applied toward the minor.
Students must demonstrate interest in an East Asian language by completing 6 hours of language at any level (including 1XX) with a minimum grade of C. Up to 6 hours in an East Asian language may be used towards the minor.
Courses with a focus on China
- AH 381: Art of China
- Chin 300: Envision Taiwan
- Chin 361: China through Film and Literature
- Hst 381: Late Imperial and Modern China
- Hst 382: China in Revolution
- Hst 383: China and the United States since 1784
- Inst 341: Contemporary China
- Mlll 302: China through Literature and Film
- Pol 324: Politics of China
- PPL 376: Policymaking and Governance in China
- Rel 325/Phil 325: Chinese Religions: Confucianism and Daoism
Courses with a focus on Northeast Asia (Japan and Korea)
- Anth 345/Geog 344: Gender, Kinship, and Citizenship in Korea
- AH 382: Art of Japan
- AH 384: Art of Korea
- Hst 389: History of Japan-U.S. Relations
- Hst 387: Modern Japan
- Hst 482: Samurai in Film
- Inst 345: Japan in the World
- Inst 346: The Two Koreas
Courses with a Regional focus
- AH 380: Asian Art
- Hst 180: Intro to East Asian History
- Hst 385/G St 364: Gender/Sexuality in East Asian History
- Inst 310: Topics in East Asian Studies
- Inst 331: Topics in East Asian Studies Abroad
- Pol 337: Asia in World Affairs
- Pol 387: Political Economy of East Asia
- Rel 102: Introduction to Asian Religions
- Rel 308: Buddhism
- Rel 325: Chinese Religions: Confucianism & Daoism
- Rel 353: Great Books in East Asian Religions
- Soc 359: Sociology of Globalization
Welcome from the Director
"Our students are global citizens, with a strong grasp of intercultural communication and experience in learning the unfamiliar. These are qualities that match well with any major and can help a person stand out in any career trajectory.
The East Asian Studies minor signals that a student has taken a different path, that they are motivated people who have developed expertise in very difficult East Asian languages, and have wide-ranging familiarity with East Asian cultures, history, and politics."
Peter Thilly
Director of East Asian Studies and Associate Professor of History
Affiliated Faculty
Cheng-Fu Chen
- Associate Professor of Modern Languages
Gang Guo
- Croft Associate Professor of Political Science
Joshua Howard
- Professor and Associate Chair of History Department
Bokyung Kim
- Instructional Assistant Professor of Art History
Fei Lan
- Associate Professor of Religion
Bridget Martin
- Croft Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Korean Studies
Peter Thilly
- Associate Professor of History and Director of the Interdisciplinary Minor in East Asian Studies
Noell Wilson
- Executive Director of the Croft Institute for International Studies and Croft Associate Professor of History and International Studies
Your Major + East Asian Studies
UG
Understand the relationship between people, events, cultures, places, and time.
- Oxford
- Booneville
- DeSoto
- Tupelo
UG
Strong writers and visual storytellers with a sense of adventure will find a home in our distinguished Bachelor of Arts in Journalism program with its reputation for producing award-winning talent.
- Oxford
- Online
UG
Acquire superior levels of Chinese language skills and become a global professional.
- Oxford
UG
Cross disciplines. Connect Ideas. Create Insight.
- Oxford
- Booneville
- DeSoto
- Tupelo
UG
Explore the history, cultures, politics, and economies of the world. Study abroad and develop fluency in one of eight languages.
- Oxford
UG
Understanding political actors and institutions, both domestic and international.
- Oxford
UG
Examine the dynamics of social interaction and social problems.
- Oxford
- Booneville
- DeSoto
- Tupelo
Enhance your Academic Experience
According to national surveys, employers are more likely to hire college graduates who have:
- had professional internships,
- worked with people from diverse backgrounds on community service,
- collaborated with peers on projects,
- taken multiple courses with significant writing,
- produced a senior project or thesis, and
- studied abroad.
These experiences are about core liberal arts skills of thinking, communicating, interpersonal skills, and understanding the world around us. Showcase and enhance these skills in an internship opportunity for that first step into the professional world.
We encourage students in the East Asian Studies minor to combine coursework with these hands-on, experiential learning opportunities. For example, one student interned with a Tokyo newspaper while studying abroad. He is now a professional journalist.
Beyond the Classroom
Study Abroad
The best way to boost your understanding of East Asia is to live and study in one of the countries. UM has many partner programs across the region.
Cultural Events
Many of the faculty, departments, and student clubs associated with East Asia host regular cultural events on campus that are open to all students. These include film screenings, celebrating holidays, game nights, guest speakers, and more.
Global Ambassadors
Help international exchange and Intensive English Program students from East Asia acclimate to life in the US/Oxford. Become a student mentor with UM Global Ambassadors to foster cultural understanding and community connections.
What Can You Do After Graduation?
- International Business
- Graduate School
- Law School
- Education
- Journalism
- Government
- Non-Profits
Alum Spotlight
Lauren Reddoch earned a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, comprised of minors in Chinese, East Asian Studies, and Entrepreneurship. She is now an Account Executive with a Japanese company, Konica Minolta, a global corporation with expertise in digital, optical, and electronic technology.
Lauren Reddoch
B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies ('21)