Sixty percent of the world’s population lives in Asia. Additional millions of Asians live in other parts of the world — and Asia is home to the world’s oldest modern civilizations, some of its richest cultures, and some of its most dynamic societies.
From our location in Seattle on the Pacific Rim, students and faculty at SPU learn about and encounter Asia because this is central to our mission of understanding and engaging our multicultural and complex world.
Pursuing Asian Studies as a major or minor will deepen your understanding of, and commitment to, global and cultural engagement, reconciliation, and human flourishing. In this major, your interdisciplinary coursework and diverse educational experiences will prepare you for service or further study in business, education, development, law, ministry, history, linguistics and many other fields.
entering and completing the major or minor
In order to earn a degree, you must complete an academic major. SPU encourages students to explore various academic paths, and students are not required to enter a major immediately upon admission to the University. However, you should enter a major by the end of your sophomore year to help ensure your timely completion of a degree. Students who transfer as juniors and seniors should identify and enter their major within their first two quarters at SPU.
- If this is your first quarter at SPU and you wish to enter a major or minor in this department, you may select a program by using the online Major or Minor Application form. You will receive an email notification of acceptance.
- If you are an SPU student with an SPU cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better, use the online Major or Minor Application form to select your major or minor. You will receive an email notification of acceptance. Students on academic probation (with an SPU cumulative GPA below 2.0) will not be permitted to enter a new major or minor until they regain good academic standing.
- The University requires a grade of C- or better in all classes that apply to a major or minor; however, programs may require higher minimum grades in specific courses. You may repeat an SPU course only once for a higher grade.
- To advance in this program, meet with your faculty advisor regularly to discuss your grades, course progression, and other indicators of satisfactory academic progress. If your grades or other factors indicate that you may not be able to successfully complete the major or minor, your faculty advisor can work with you to explore options, which may include choosing a different major or minor.
- You must complete the major or minor requirements in effect in the SPU Undergraduate Catalog for the year of admittance to the major or minor.