Undergraduate Fields of Specialization: South and East Asia

It is often said that the twenty-first century will be the “Asian century.” Half of the world’s population lives in South and East Asia. It is also home to the world’s fastest growing and innovative economies. Many of the goods we consume today, from smartphones to clothes, are manufactured in factories in China, Vietnam, or Bangladesh. These regions have also produced a rich cultural legacy, from pre-modern wonders like the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall to recent global phenomena like K-Pop. The struggles and achievements of generations of Asian immigrants have shaped the history of the U. S., from the transcontinental railroad to Silicon Valley. This field of specialization offers students unique perspectives on the challenges of our globally connected present. The faculty offers survey courses that explore the rich and complex histories of these regions and their peoples, as well as more advanced seminars that delve into key developments like empires and capitalism as well the legal, military, cultural, and political transformations that have made and remade South and East Asian states and societies.