Asian Studies (certificate)


At a Glance: program details



The flexibility of two tracks allows you to choose a geographic region that is of most interest to you. Whether you choose the East Asia track or Southeast Asia track, this certificate complements your current graduate degree and prepares you for a variety of careers.

Program Description

Certificate Awarded: Asian Studies (certificate)

The graduate certificate program in Asian studies offers graduate students a transdisciplinary specialization in Asian language and area studies.

The certificate program is available in two tracks. The East Asia track includes China, Japan and Korea, and the Southeast Asia track includes Burma, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brunei and Timor Leste.


Degree Requirements

18 credit hours

Required Core (6 credit hours)
two courses at the 500 level or above dealing with Asian content from a single discipline

Electives (6 credit hours)
two courses at the 500 level or above dealing with Asian content from a discipline other than that chosen for the core courses

Other Requirements (6 credit hours)
language proficiency requirement: two courses at the 400 level or above in one Asian language (Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese)

Additional Curricular Information
Students work closely with a faculty advisor from the Center for Asian Research to develop a cohesive curriculum tailored to their individual goals and interests.

Some of the coursework from the discipline in which the student is earning a graduate degree may be used to satisfy these requirements.


Admission Requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Graduate students currently enrolled in any discipline may pursue a certificate in Asian studies in conjunction with their degree program.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

All applicants must submit:

  1. graduate admission application and application fee
  2. official transcripts
  3. proof of English proficiency

Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.

International students who need an F1 or J1 visa first need to apply to and be accepted into a graduate degree program prior to being considered for the certificate program. International students residing in the USA on other types of visas must adhere to all Graduate College policies and procedures regarding admission to be considered for admission to this certificate program.


Next Steps to attend ASU

Learn about our programs

Apply to a program

Visit our campus

Career Opportunities

The graduate certificate program in Asian studies provides students with training and knowledge relevant to careers in government, nongovernmental organizations, nonprofit organizations, global relationships, intercultural understanding, foreign service, researchers, professional writing and community college teaching.

Career examples include:

  • cultural center associate
  • historical society and exhibit curator
  • language interpreter
  • teacher or instructor

Global Experience

With over 250 programs in more than 65 countries (ranging from one week to one year), study abroad is possible for all ASU students wishing to gain global skills and knowledge in preparation for a 21st-century career. Students earn ASU credit for completed courses, while staying on track for graduation, and may apply financial aid and scholarships toward program costs. https://mystudyabroad.asu.edu

Program Contact Information

If you have questions related to admission, please click here to request information and an admission specialist will reach out to you directly. For questions regarding faculty or courses, please use the contact information below.