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    * Minor in Asian Studies

  Minor in Asian Studies

      30 Units

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      * Program Requirements

        The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures offers a minor in Asian studies. Chinese, with more than 1.3 billion speakers, represents the world's largest linguistic community, while Japanese is the language of the world's third-largest economy. Besides Chinese and Japanese language courses at all levels, the program features topics in Asian culture, literature, history, religion, philosophy, anthropology, politics and development. It is designed to give you a comprehensive understanding of Asia's multi-faceted role in the contemporary world and of its historical and cultural transformations.

        Students are encouraged to participate in summer programs in China and Japan as well as to engage in volunteer opportunities offered through the Centre for Global and Community Engagement of the University of Ottawa.

        The wide range of skills and knowledge you acquire not only gives you important academic assets, but also prepares you for interesting careers in both the public and private sectors.

        All of our language courses are taught in Chinese or in Japanese. Other courses are offered in English or in French.

        Learn more about this program

      Requirements for this program have been modified. Please consult the 2025-2026 calendar for the previous requirements.

      The table below includes only discipline-specific courses. Please refer to the Academic Regulations for information on including a minor to your degree.

      Course List
        Code                                                                                 Title                        Units
        One option from the following:                                                       12 Units                   
          Option 1: Chinese 1                                                                                           
          CHN 1901                                                                           Introduction to Chinese I         
          CHN 1902                                                                           Introduction to Chinese II        
          CHN 2901                                                                           Intermediate Chinese I            
          CHN 2902                                                                           Intermediate Chinese II           
          CHN 3901                                                                           Advanced Chinese I                
          CHN 3902                                                                           Advanced Chinese II               
          Option 2: Japanese 1                                                                                          
          JPN 1901                                                                           Introduction to Japanese I        
          JPN 1902                                                                           Introduction to Japanese II       
          JPN 2901                                                                           Intermediate Japanese I           
          JPN 2902                                                                           Intermediate Japanese II          
          JPN 3901                                                                           Advanced Japanese I               
          JPN 3902                                                                           Advanced Japanese II              
        6 optional course units at the 3000 or 4000 level from the list of optional courses  6 Units                    
        12 optional course units from the list of optional courses                           12 Units                   
        Total:                                                                               30 Units                   
        
        1

        Students whose linguistic level is superior to the levels indicated above have to take other CHN or JPN courses in consultation with the department. The linguistic level will be determined by the Online Placement Test, available at the Department’s website: http://arts.uottawa.ca/modernlanguages/programs-of-study.

        List of Optional Courses

        Course List
          Code      Title                                          Units  
          ANT 3307  Contemporary Japanese Society                  3 Units
          ASI 3110  Selected Topics in East Asian Culture          3 Units
          ASI 3111  East Asian Cinemas                             3 Units
          CHN 1901  Introduction to Chinese I 3                    3 Units
          CHN 1902  Introduction to Chinese II 3                   3 Units
          CHN 2101  Introduction to Chinese Culture 3              3 Units
          CHN 2901  Intermediate Chinese I 3                       3 Units
          CHN 2902  Intermediate Chinese II 3                      3 Units
          CHN 3901  Advanced Chinese I                             3 Units
          CHN 3902  Advanced Chinese II                            3 Units
          GEG 4702  Le développement des villes                    3 Units
          HIS 2176  Introduction to the History of Southeast Asia  3 Units
          HIS 2178  History of East Asia from 1600 to the Present  3 Units
          HIS 3180  Selected Topics in Asian History               3 Units
          JPN 1901  Introduction to Japanese I 3                   3 Units
          JPN 1902  Introduction to Japanese II 3                  3 Units
          JPN 2101  Introduction to Japanese Culture 3             3 Units
          JPN 2901  Intermediate Japanese I 3                      3 Units
          JPN 2902  Intermediate Japanese II 3                     3 Units
          JPN 3901  Advanced Japanese I                            3 Units
          JPN 3902  Advanced Japanese II                           3 Units
          LCM 1101  How to Learn Foreign Languages                 3 Units
          LCM 1102  Tools for Cultural Analysis                    3 Units
          PHI 2389  Asian Philosophy                               3 Units
          POL 3114  Comparative Politics: Asia                     3 Units
          SRS 3313  Buddhism                                       3 Units
          
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