Program Details
Asian Studies (BA)
Bachelor of ArtsRandolph-Macon College
In this "Pacific Century," Asia has never played so crucial a role on the world stage, as the forces of globalization bind the world's people together in new and unexpected ways. An Asian Studies major lays the groundwork for a career - perhaps a lifetime - of specialized engagement with this captivating part of the world: language, popular culture, art, society, religion, economy, philosophy, and history are all facets of a core curriculum that leads students towards careers as journalists, public policy experts, government analysts, teachers, and so much more. Majors are also enriched by a travel experience to Asia, made possible through the college's January term travel courses; strong relationships with colleges such as Kansai Gaidai, in Japan; and ISEP, which places accepted students in exchange programs all around the world.
Program Overview & Guidance
| Program Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Considerations for Selecting Degree | Chinese and Japanese also continue to be among the fastest-growing languages in high schools and through 'gamified' smartphone applications (i.e. Duolingo, Babbel, etc.). Randolph-Macon is the only institution in the VFIC, and the only institution on the 'admissions competitors' list, to offer a bachelor's degree in Asian Studies or have a Department of Asian Studies. We are also quite unusual in offering both Chinese and Japanese languages -- many Asian Studies programs or departments, specifically at small liberal arts colleges, are forced to devote resources to only one of these areas (these days, typically Chinese) while we can do both well. For a small liberal arts college, Randolph-Macon is exceptionally well-staffed in Asian Studies. Among the core faculty we have expertise in the following fields: Japanese language, history, culture, society, film, literature, and folk belief; Chinese and Taiwanese literature, language, culture, and traditional medicine; and East Asian history, culture, and society more generally. Finally, we might note the College's special relationship with Japan, as nearly 20% of our faculty, staff, and administration have traveled there in the past several years, to say nothing of several J-term classes, over a hundred students, and multiple SURF projects This process might come about through discussion of the Japanese concept of ikigai, or 'life purpose' (Paris, JAPN 220); an exploration of the complex politics of contemporary East Asia (ASTU 290, Munson); an in-depth study of Chinese characters, each representing a discrete idea (Wen, CHIN 111); a lesson in mixing herbs for traditional Chinese medicine (Chen, ASTU 281); or even taiko drum practice (Maclauchlan, festival troupe). Our students routinely discover universal concepts in unique contexts, an exercise at the very foundation of a liberal arts education. Japaneses National Honors Society and Suzumebachi Odori Japanese Festival Troupe Please note: Students enrolled at Randolph-Macon College attend classes primarily Monday-Friday between 8 am - 5 pm with very few evening courses. The large majority of RMC coursework is offered in-person and on campus. A very limited selection of online courses is offered in summer sessions. No more than one half of the courses on a major or minor can be transferred; at least one-half of the semester hours of the major or minor must be taken at Randolph-Macon. |
| Considerations When Selecting Courses |
Japanese Studies minor
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| Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses | The J. Earl Moreland Lecture on Asia is the Asian Studies department's signature event, held every year on campus and open to the public. As a mandatory event for the minor- and major-required -ASTU 290: Introduction to Asian Studies course every spring, students contribute to a college-wide experience that helps bring knowledge of Asia to the wider community. |
| Doing More With Your Degree | Students also have the opportunity to travel through courses such as JAPN 221 Japan Past and Present Graduates from our program are employed with companies such as JET Program Other graduates have continued their studies in programs such as University of Virginia Ritsumeikan University University of Hawaii |
| Program Successes & Highlights | Randolph-Macon is the only institution in the VFIC, and the only institution on the 'admissions competitors' list, to offer a bachelor's degree in Asian Studies or have a Department of Asian Studies. Crucially, Asian Studies does not rely on other departments or programs to staff our major courses -- a state of affairs which can be unpredictable and unreliable for institutions with an interdisciplinary program but no core faculty. Our departmental faculty can consistently and reliably staff our major, minor, and general education offerings across multiple fields, such as Chinese and Japanese language, visual culture, contemporary society, cinema, ancient and modern literature, folklore, and history, among others. We are complemented by offerings in other departments -- grant-funded faculty travel to China (2015) and Japan (2012, 2019) have facilitated the development or enhancement of extra-departmental offerings in numerous fields such as mathematics and music, all counting toward the major. We are also quite unusual in offering both Chinese and Japanese languages -- many Asian Studies programs or departments, specifically at small liberal arts colleges, are forced to devote resources to only one of these areas (these days, typically Chinese) while we can do both well. Finally, the Asian Studies major benefits from its relationship to another very successful program, the Japanese Studies minor -- please see the JAPN template for more detail. |
Program Credit Requirements
If you wish to see how your credits may apply, you can:
- Contact the institution where a staff member can help you map your credits to the requirements for this program.
- View the program requirements listed in the institution's catalog.
Applicable Admissions Agreements
The table below lists admissions agreements between Randolph-Macon College and partner institutions that may guarantee admission to this program if you meet the required criteria. Click on the title name of the agreement to view a summary of those criteria.
You can view the full text of these Agreements in the Resource Center
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
| Transfer Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Associate Transfer Degree Completion | Students admitted under our guaranteed admissions agreement are guaranteed completion of most general education requirements. Students may need to complete additional foreign language coursework to complete the Effective Communication requirements and must complete the college's Cross-Area Requirements, most of which can be fulfilled through major programs and should not significantly increase the time to completion of degree.
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Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School |
| Credit for Prior Learning | We accept AP (4 or 5 on the exam) and IB (5, 6, or 7 on higher level exams). |
| Did You Know That... |
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College Level Information
| College Fit Guidance | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Is This College Right For Me? | At Randolph-Macon, we recognize the breadth of knowledge and experience you bring as a transfer student. Our personalized, hands-on approach to learning lets you build on that foundation, honing the skills you'll need to excel. No matter what your future goals, we'll set you on a path to success that’s uniquely yours. |
| Transfer Student Catalog Year | Catalog year determined by first semester of attendance at RMC. |
| First Year Student Catalog Year | Catalog year determined by first semester of attendance |
| Applying for Guaranteed Admissions | GAA students must complete the RMC transfer application and submit all required materials by June 1 (for fall term) or December 1 (for spring term). GAA students will submit an Intent to Transfer form through their current community college contact to RMC. |
Where Can This Degree Transfer
| Institution | Title | Degree | Award Name | Award Level | Delivery Mode |
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Careers Where This Degree Applies
| O*Net Code | Name | Description | Parent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-1062.00 | Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | Teach courses pertaining to the culture and development of an area, an ethnic group, or any other group, such as Latin American studies, women's studies, or urban affairs. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
Cost To Complete