May 15, 2025  
2025-2026 University Catalog 
    
2025-2026 University Catalog

Asian Studies


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OFFICE: Arts and Letters 473
TELEPHONE: 619-594-0931
WEBSITE: http://asiapacific.sdsu.edu


Undergraduate Information

The Major

The importance of the immense and varied regions of Asia and the Pacific Rim are reflected in the rich culture and history of Asian people, Asian contributions to the world’s literature and art, religion and philosophy, as well as contemporary international relations and economics.

The major in Asian studies is multidisciplinary. Students can enroll in classes from a wide range of departments and programs, such as anthropology, art, Chinese, comparative literature, economics, history, Japanese, philosophy, political science, religious studies, sociology, and women’s studies. Because the program draws its faculty from multiple programs and departments on the SDSU campus, the major is able to provide resources for understanding East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Rim, the relation of these peoples and cultures to North America, and Asian American diaspora communities. Areas of special interest may be pursued in depth.

The major provides students with the background for careers that require an understanding of Asia, whether in academic, business, government, or community and social services. Students in the major develop an understanding of cultural heritage, societies, and languages, as well as the social, political, and environmental issues of the Asian and Pacific regions. Non-majors who wish to increase their understanding about Asian and Pacific peoples and cultures will find courses available in Asian Studies.

Advising

All College of Arts and Letters majors are urged to consult with their department adviser as soon as possible; they are required to meet with their department adviser within the first two semesters after declaration or change of major.


Faculty

Asian and Pacific Studies is administered by the Asian and Pacific Studies Committee. Faculty assigned to teach courses in Asian and Pacific studies are drawn from Anthropology, Art and Design, Asian American Studies, Chinese, Economics, English and Comparative Literature, Geography, History, Japanese, Journalism and Media Studies, Linguistics and Asian/Middle Eastern Languages, Philosophy, Political Science, Public Health, Religious Studies, Sociology, Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, Women’s Studies.

Committee:

Director of Asian and Pacific Studies: Kim, Minjeong, Professor of Sociology (B.A., The Ohio State University; M.A., Ph.D., University at Albany - State University at New York)

Director of Asian American Studies: Henry, Alvin, Associate Professor of Asian American Studies (B.S., University of Maryland, College Park; M.A., Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley)  

Edgerton-Tarpley, Kathryn J., Professor of History (B.A., Wesleyan University; M.A., Ph.D., Indiana University, Bloomington)

Killmer, Jocelyn, Lecturer of Asian and Pacific Studies and Anthropology (B.A., Smith College, M.A., Ph.D., Syracuse University) 

Loh-Hagan, Virginia, Director of Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Resource Center (APIDA) (B.A./M.T., University of Virginia; Ed.D., University of San Diego-San Diego State University)

Suh, Stephen Cho, Assistant Professor of Asian American Studies and Sociology (B.A., University of California, San Diego; M.A., Ph.D., University of Minnesota) 

Thomases, Drew, Associate Professor of the Study of Religion (M.A., M. Phil., Ph.D., Columbia University)

Wawrytko, Sandra A., Professor of Philosophy (B.A., Knox College; M.A., Ph.D., Washington University at St. Louis)

Wu, Ruey-Jiuan Regina, Professor of Linguistics and Asian/Middle Eastern Languages (B.A., National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan; M.A., University of Washington; Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles)

Emeritus Faculty:

Ghosh, Huma Ahmed, Ph.D., 1994-2000, Professor of Women’s Studies

Guang, Lei, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science

Kitajima, Ryu, Ph.D., 1992-2020, Associate Professor of Japanese

Madhavan, Murugappa C., Ph.D., 1968-1999, Professor of Economics and Asian Studies

Weiner, Michael A., Ph.D., 2000-2005, Professor of Asia Pacific Studies


Programs

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