BA with a Major in Global Asian Studies

Degree Requirements 

To earn a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences degree from UIC, students must complete university, college, and program degree requirements. The Global Asian Studies Program degree requirements are outlined below. Students should consult the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies.

Summary of Requirements
General Education Requirements and Electives to reach total minimum hours87
Major Requirements33
Total Hours120

General Education Requirements:

See General Education and Writing-in-the-Discipline in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for information on meeting these requirements.

Major Requirements

Required Courses
GLAS 100Introduction to Global Asian Studies3
GLAS 210Asian American Histories a3
GLAS 300Global Asia in Chicago3
Selectives
Select 24 additional hours of GLAS course work from the lists below.24
No more than 12 hours can come from a single thematic list.
At least 15 hours must be at or above the 200 level.
At least one 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 Arts).
No more than three GLAS 105 courses (each on different topics) can count toward the major.
Total Hours33
Empire, Migration, and Diaspora b
GLAS 120Introduction to Asian American Studies3
GLAS 217Introduction to Filipino American Studies3
GLAS 223Global Hip-hop and Asian Diasporas3
GLAS 224Archaeology of Mainland Southeast Asia3
GLAS 228Sociology of Asia and Asian Americans3
GLAS 230Cultural Politics of Asian American Food3
GLAS 242Introduction to Arab American Studies3
GLAS 244Arab and Asian Connections in the U.S. and Globally3
GLAS 248Afro Asian Solidarities3
GLAS 255Introduction to Middle East and Muslim Feminisms3
GLAS 264The Pacific Rim in Modern History3
GLAS 270Topics in Asian Cultures and Societies3
GLAS 290Special Topics in Asian American Studies1-3
GLAS 390Special Topics in Asian American Studies3
GLAS 394Special Topics in Asian Studies3
GLAS 428Asian/Asian American Women in the Global Economy3
GLAS 437The Indian Ocean World: Contact, Commerce, Culture3
GLAS 458Asian America and Transnational Feminism3
GLAS 465Asian Diasporas in Latin America3
GLAS 479Culture and Colonialism in South Asia3
GLAS 490Advanced Topics in Asian American Studies3
GLAS 494Advanced Topics in Asian Studies3
Culture and the Arts b
GLAS 105Asian and/or Asian American Studies Seminar1
GLAS 123Introduction to Asian American Literature3
GLAS 125Introduction to the Art and Architecture of Asia3
GLAS 209Advanced Chinese Language and Culture3
GLAS 219Art and Architecture of East Asia3
GLAS 220Buddhist Art and Architecture3
GLAS 223Global Hip-hop and Asian Diasporas3
GLAS 229Introduction to Asian Film3
GLAS 230Cultural Politics of Asian American Food3
GLAS 263Asian American Gender and Sexual Diversity3
GLAS 270Topics in Asian Cultures and Societies3
GLAS 278Topics in the Art, Architecture and Visual Culture of Asia3
GLAS 290Special Topics in Asian American Studies1-3
GLAS 328Asian American Literature3
GLAS 390Special Topics in Asian American Studies3
GLAS 394Special Topics in Asian Studies3
GLAS 441Topics in Asian American Literature and Culture3
GLAS 463Politics of Gender and Sexuality in Asian America3
GLAS 471Topics in Asian Art and Architecture3
GLAS 490Advanced Topics in Asian American Studies3
Society, Politics, and the State b
GLAS 109East Asian Civilization: Ancient China3
GLAS 120Introduction to Asian American Studies3
GLAS 200Gandhi: The History and Practice of Nonviolence3
GLAS 201Asian Markets, Corporations, and Social Justice3
GLAS 207Asian Cities: Urban Cultures of the Global South3
GLAS 228Sociology of Asia and Asian Americans3
GLAS 231Introduction to Chinese Politics3
GLAS 232Politics in Korea3
GLAS 250Critical Issues in Community Engagement3
GLAS 270Topics in Asian Cultures and Societies3
GLAS 271Late Imperial China3
GLAS 272China Since 19113
GLAS 275History of South Asia to 18573
GLAS 276Modern South Asia3
GLAS 279South Asian Cultures and Societies3
GLAS 290Special Topics in Asian American Studies1-3
GLAS 390Special Topics in Asian American Studies3
GLAS 394Special Topics in Asian Studies3
GLAS 428Asian/Asian American Women in the Global Economy3
GLAS 438Women in South Asian History3
GLAS 458Asian America and Transnational Feminism3
GLAS 465Asian Diasporas in Latin America3
GLAS 473Topics in East Asian History3
GLAS 479Culture and Colonialism in South Asia3
GLAS 490Advanced Topics in Asian American Studies3
GLAS 494Advanced Topics in Asian Studies3
a

GLAS 210 fulfills the Writing in the Discipline requirement.

b

Students should consult General Education section of the catalog to determine which of these courses are approved General Education courses.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
ENGL 160 Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts 3
GLAS 100 Introduction to Global Asian Studies 3
Quantitative Reasoning course 5
Foreign Language 4
 Hours15
Spring Semester
ENGL 161 Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research 3
GLAS Major Elective a 3
Foreign Language 4
General Education Requirement course 3
General Education Requirement course 3
 Hours16
Second Year
Fall Semester
GLAS 210 Asian American Histories b 3
Foreign Language 4
General Education Requirement course 3
General Education Requirement course 3
General Education Requirement course 3-5
 Hours16-18
Spring Semester
GLAS Major Elective a 3
GLAS Major Elective a 3
Foreign Language 4
General Education Requirement course 3-5
 Hours13-15
Third Year
Fall Semester
GLAS Major Elective (200 level or above) a 3
GLAS Major Elective (200 level or above) a 3
General Education Requirement course 3
General Education Requirement course 3
Electives 3
 Hours15
Spring Semester
GLAS 300 Global Asia in Chicago 3
General Education Requirement course 3
Electives 9
 Hours15
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
GLAS Major Elective (200 level or above) a 3
GLAS Major Elective (400 level) 3
Electives 9
 Hours15
Spring Semester
GLAS Major Elective (200 level or above) a 3
Electives 12
 Hours15
 Total Hours120
a

Students are required to complete 24 hours of GLAS electives for the major, chosen from three thematic lists. No more than 12 hours may come from a single thematic list. At least three hours must be at the 400 level (excluding GLAS 495), and an additional 12 hours must be at the 200 level or above.

b

GLAS 210 satisfies the Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement.