Office hours with Professor of Asian Languages and Literatures Feng Xiao
In class with Professor of History Samuel Yamashita
Asian Studies Liaisons: l to r: Htet Yan, Malena Rivera, Miyu Owada, Emma Tom, Serena Li, and Mia Rechsteiner
In class with Professor Zhiru Ng
Asian Studies is a dynamic interdisciplinary program combining the humanities, social sciences and language study with a focus on Asia.
The Asian Studies Program oversees two majors and minors: Asian Studies and Middle Eastern Studies.
Asian Studies Major and Minor
The Asian Studies major and minor provide a broad introduction to the culture and history of Asian societies, with courses that offer a variety of perspectives on Asia's past and present, and the opportunity for specialized study of an academic field within Asian Studies.
Students have flexibility to pursue their interests, with courses in subjects ranging from religion to economics to theatre. Language study is required. Prospective majors and minors plan their programs with a member of our faculty.
Middle Eastern Studies Major and Minor
Middle Eastern Studies (MES) allows students to develop a broad knowledge of the societies, languages, cultures, and histories of the Middle East and their connections to the wider world. Most students study Arabic.
Courses draw on the expertise of faculty from a wide variety of departments, including anthropology, history, literature, music, politics, international relations and religious studies, and you are encouraged to develop complementary skills in one or more of these fields.
Faculty
Pomona has close to 30 faculty members involved in the Asian Studies program, and their teaching interests are far-reaching. Students also benefit from Pomona’s role as a member of The Claremont Colleges, allowing majors and minors to choose from more than 80 courses altogether.
Student Liaisons
Pomona College students majoring or minoring in Asian Studies or in Middle Eastern Studies (West Asian Studies) are represented by Student Liaisons. Student Liaisons organize departmental events that respond to student needs and that further integrate students and faculty.
Study Abroad and Campus Resources
Study abroad is an important element of the Asian Studies Program, with destinations ranging from China and Japan to Nepal, Jordan and Egypt. On campus, the Pacific Basin Institute sponsors events focused on Pacific Rim nations and has an extensive film archive that’s a key research tool.
Pomona’s Oldenborg Center offers Chinese and Japanese language residence wings and Asian Studies- and Middle Eastern Studies-related speaker events.
Outcomes
In addition to serving as a focus of a broad liberal arts education, Asian Studies and Middle Eastern Studies majors and minors profit from their interdisciplinary training to take up careers in sectors such as international affairs, public policy, law, economics, journalism, scholarship, and the arts.
Resources
Study Abroad
Pomona's extensive Study Abroad programs offers students the chance to study in Beijing, Kyoto, Taipei, or Tokyo, among other locations.
Student Liaisons
Pomona College students majoring or minoring in Asian Studies or in Middle Eastern Studies are represented by Student Liaisons. Student Liaisons organize departmental events that respond to student needs and that further integrate students and faculty.
Pacific Basin Institute at Pomona College
The College is home to the Pacific Basin Institute, which sponsors a continuing series of conferences, workshops and lectures featuring scholars and public figures from Pacific Rim nations. PBI's extensive archive of documentary videos and films is a key research tool for students.
Oldenborg Center for Modern Languages and International Relations
Additional opportunities for language and cultural study are available through Pomona's Oldenborg Center, a unique residence hall where students are immersed in Chinese and Japanese, among other languages. Oldenborg brings many Asia-related speakers to campus.
Korean Program at CMC
Pomona students can register for classes at the other Claremont Colleges. Claremont McKenna College offers a series of Korean language courses, providing additional opportunities for Asian Studies majors.
Libraries of The Claremont Colleges
Asian Studies students have access to the extensive library holdings of The Claremont Colleges, including an Asian Library devoted to Asian Studies.