Welcome to the Southern Methodist University
Asian Studies
Program
Many leading scholars have declared this new century the Asian Century. Not only is Asia home to nearly 60% of the world's population and much of its history, but today it is also one of the most important regions of the world. The Asian Studies program is therefore dedicated to the study of Asia, both as a vital part of the world today and as a central part of human history.
The SMU Asian Studies Program (a minor) introduces students to different forms of political activity and social relations, religious traditions, and literatures. Students explore a world that since the nineteenth century has come to share in the dilemmas of modernity that challenge us all. For some this inquiry provides a challenging and satisfying addition to a liberal arts education. For some it is an opportunity to restore connections to an ancestral past. For others it leads to graduate studies. And for many others it is the beginning of a professional career in international business or law.
Highlights
- A minor in Asian Studies combines well with other majors such as business, economics, history, journalism, marketing, political science, public policy, sociology or religious studies
- SMU offers language classes in Chinese, Hindi, and Japanese
- Students are encouraged to study abroad in one of the SMU-affiliated programs in Beijing, Kyoto, Suzhou or Taipei
- The Asian Studies program introduces students and the community to leading scholarship on Asia through courses, lectures, and films
- Promotes opportunities for internships with leading companies working in Asia
Careers in Asian Studies
With the growing importance of Asia in the globalizing world, all governments, corporations and universities are placing a premium on knowledge of this part of the world. For example, Christine Lee ('02) holds a National Science Foundation grant at Duke University where she is pursuing a Ph.D. in Indian History. Rachel Ball ('06) is fully funded by Boston College to pursue a Ph.D. in Indian History. Stephanie Decker ('02), on the other hand, went to Emory Law School and then was only one of 20 international students to obtain a Master of Laws degree in international business law from the Shanghai campus of the National University of Singapore. She now works in the Shanghai office of DLA Piper, the largest international law firm in the world.
Contact
Johan Elverskog
Director of Asian Studies
Associate Professor of Religious Studies