Asian and Asian Diaspora Studies

Page Contents:01.Major or Minor02.Concentration03.Additional Resources

Explore Asian and Asian Diaspora Studies

These studies are designed for students interested in serious intensive research on the languages, history, politics, and cultures of Asia and/or the Asian diasporas. The geographic region of Asia includes countries such as Bangladesh, China, India, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

In this interdisciplinary field, you can earn a major, minor, or concentration.

Detail, from the “Nine Dragons” handscroll, painted by Chen Rong, during the Song Dynasty. Scroll located in the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. In this detail, the dragon (an auspicious symbol of strength and good luck in Chinese iconography) has grasped the pearl of wisdom. (Public domain image via Wikimedia Commons.)

Earning a major or minor

The goal of the program is to provide balanced coverage of language, humanistic and social science offerings on the region and to expose students to some comparative perspectives within the region. Global Languages, History, and Political Science offer a substantial number of subjects related to Asia and the Asian diasporas.

In consultation with an advisor, students may focus their coursework on a sub-region of Asia, on one of the Asian diasporas, or design their program to offer a comparative study across different regions and/or cultural groups.

Major

All interdisciplinary major students must write a senior thesis on a topic of their choice to be determined in consultation with an MIT faculty member whose specialty falls within Asian studies. The thesis research may include knowledge of an Asian language.

Visit the Registrar’s page on Asian and Asian Diaspora Studies to learn about major requirements and current subject offerings.

To declare or change your major, visit How to Apply.

Minor

Visit the Registrar’s page on Asian and Asian Diaspora Studies to learn about minor requirements and current subject offerings.

To declare or change your minor, visit How to Apply.

Earning a concentration

The Asian and Asian Diaspora Studies concentration is designed for students interested in the languages, history, politics, and cultures of Asia and the Asian diasporas. In consultation with the concentration advisor, students may focus their coursework on a sub-region of Asia or the Asian diasporas, or design their program to offer a comparative study across different regions and/or cultural groups.

Additional resources

For more information, contact the SHASS academic administrator.

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