Requirements for the GLAS Major

Bachelor of Arts in Global Asian Studies

Beginning Fall 2022, the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Global Asian Studies will be offered!  This is the first degree program in the Midwest offering curricular content from both Asian Studies and Asian American Studies. This program is 30 years in the making and a product of a long history of student activism.

The GLAS Major is based on an interdisciplinary and intersectional curriculum that is anchored by social justice frameworks and prepares students for a critical analysis of history, politics, and culture. The Major focuses on three thematic areas: Empire, Migration and Diaspora; Culture and the Arts; Society, Politics, and the State.

Download GLAS Major brochure HERE.

Required Courses: (9 hours)

• GLAS 100: Introduction to Global Asian Studies
• GLAS 210: Asian American Histories**
• GLAS 300: Global Asia in Chicago

* These requirements are in addition to the General Education and graduation requirements of the campus.

** GLAS 210: fulfills the Writing in the Discipline requirement.

24 Additional Hours of GLAS Coursework Selected from these Three Thematic Categories***

• Empire, Migration, and Diaspora
• Culture and the Arts
• Society, Politics, and the State

*** No more than 12 hours can come from a single thematic list. At least 15 credits must be at or above the 200-level. At least 1 course must be at the 400-level (excluding GLAS 495). One upper-level/advanced Asian language course beyond the basic language sequence (i.e., beyond 104) can count toward the Major (in the category “Culture and the Arts”).

No more than three GLAS 105 courses (each on different topics) can count toward the Major.

Empire, Migration, and Diaspora

GLAS 120 Introduction to Asian American Studies
GLAS 217 Introduction to Filipino American Studies
GLAS 223 Global Hip-hop and Asian Diasporas
GLAS 224 Archaeology of Mainland Southeast Asia
GLAS 228 Sociology of Asia and Asian Americans
GLAS 230 Cultural Politics of Asian American Food
GLAS 242 Introduction to Arab American Studies
GLAS 244 Arab and Asian Connections in the U.S. and Globally
GLAS 248 Afro-Asian Solidarities
GLAS 252 US Imperialism and Racism
GLAS 255 Introduction to Middle East and Muslim Feminisms
GLAS 264 The Pacific Rim in Modern History
GLAS 270 Topics in Asian Cultures and Societies
GLAS 290 Special Topics in Asian American Studies
GLAS 340 Immigration, Law, and Rights
GLAS 390 Special Topics in Asian American Studies
GLAS 394 Special Topics in Asian Studies
GLAS 428 Asian/Asian American Women in the Global Economy
GLAS 437 The Indian Ocean World: Contact, Commerce, Culture
GLAS 458 Asian America and Transnational Feminism
GLAS 465 Asian Diasporas in Latin America
GLAS 479 Culture and Colonialism in South Asia
GLAS 490 Advanced Topics in Asian American Studies
GLAS 494 Advanced Topics in Asian Studies

Culture and the Arts

GLAS 105 Asian and/or Asian American Studies Seminar
GLAS 123 Introduction to Asian American Literature
GLAS 125 Introduction to the Art and Architecture of Asia
GLAS 209 Advanced Chinese Language and Culture
GLAS 219 Art and Architecture of East Asia
GLAS 220 Buddhist Art and Architecture
GLAS 223 Global Hip-hop and Asian Diasporas
GLAS 229 Introduction to Asian Film
GLAS 230 Cultural Politics of Asian American Food
GLAS 270 Topics in Asian Cultures and Societies
GLAS 263 Asian American Gender and Sexual Diversity
GLAS 278 Topics in the Art, Architecture and Visual Culture of Asia
GLAS 290 Special Topics in Asian American Studies
GLAS 328 Asian American Literature
GLAS 390 Special Topics in Asian American Studies
GLAS 394 Special Topics in Asian Studies
GLAS 441 Topics in Asian American Literature and Culture
GLAS 463 Politics of Gender and Sexuality in Asian America
GLAS 471 Topics in Asian Art and Architecture
GLAS 490 Advanced Topics in Asian American Studies

Society, Politics, and the State

GLAS 109 East Asian Civilization: Ancient China
GLAS 120 Introduction to Asian American Studies
GLAS 200 Gandhi: The History and Practice of Nonviolence
GLAS 201 Asian Markets, Corporations, and Social Justice
GLAS 207 Asian Cities: Urban Cultures of the Global South
GLAS 215 Techno-Orientalism: Race, Media and Society
GLAS 228 Sociology of Asia and Asian Americans
GLAS 231 Introduction to Chinese Politics
GLAS 232 Politics in Korea
GLAS 250 Critical Issues in Community Engagement
GLAS 252 US Imperialism and Racism
GLAS 270 Topics in Asian Cultures and Societies
GLAS 271 Late Imperial China
GLAS 272 China Since 1911
GLAS 275 History of South Asia to 1857
GLAS 276 Modern South Asia
GLAS 279 South Asian Cultures and Societies
GLAS 290 Special Topics in Asian American Studies
GLAS 340 Immigration, Law, and Rights
GLAS 390 Special Topics in Asian American Studies
GLAS 394 Special Topics in Asian Studies
GLAS 428 Asian/Asian American Women in the Global Economy
GLAS 438 Women in South Asian History
GLAS 458 Asian America and Transnational Feminism
GLAS 465 Asian Diasporas in Latin America
GLAS 473 Topics in East Asian History
GLAS 479 Culture and Colonialism in South Asia
GLAS 490 Advanced Topics in Asian American Studies
GLAS 494 Advanced Topics in Asian Studies