Asian Languages and Cultures (B.A.)

The B.A. in Asian Languages and Cultures is an interdisciplinary major that serves students with strengths and interest in Asian languages and cultures, providing these students with communicative, critical thinking, analytical, and writing skills as well as the intercultural competency that employers seek, enhancing possibilities of working internationally. Choosing from three concentrations (Chinese, Japanese, and Korean), majors will acquire the advanced language skills required to communicate effectively in the target Asian language. 

The major is composed of 36-42 credits. Unless otherwise noted, 120 credits of coursework is required for the baccalaureate degree with a minimum 2.0 overall GPA, and a minimum 2.0 major GPA.

Inquiries: Wing Shan Ho (how@montclair.edu)

Program Requirements Overview

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
General Education Requirements		42
World Languages and Cultures Requirements		0-3
Major Requirements		36
Free Electives		42-39
Total Credits		120

Major Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Major Required Courses
WLNC 145	Introduction to Asian Studies	3
WLNC 469	Capstone Course in Asian Languages and Cultures	3
Required Concentration 1
Complete one concentration. See requirements below.		30
Total Credits		36

Chinese Concentration

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Required Concentration Courses
CHIN 101 and CHIN 112 may be required as prerequisites. Students must either complete both courses or be placed at the intermediate level by the department.
CHIN 121	Intermediate Chinese I	3
CHIN 132	Intermediate Chinese II	3
CHIN 205	Mastering Chinese	3
Concentration Electives
Complete three courses from the following:		9
CHIN 205	Mastering Chinese
CHIN 206	Spoken Chinese
CHIN 210	Contemporary Chinese Cinema and Society
CHIN 215	Popular Music and Modern Chinese Culture
CHIN 303	Introduction to Chinese Culture
CHIN 331	Business Chinese
CHIN 375	Chinese Study Abroad
CHIN 410	Perfecting Chinese Grammar
WLNC 368	Special Topics in Asian Culture
WLNC 467	Independent Study in Asian Language or Culture
Electives in Chinese Language or Asian Culture
Complete 12 credits from the list below. Students may complete upper-level Chinese language courses not already used in the concentration. Electives must be taken in at least two different departments outside of World Languages and Cultures		12
Total Credits		30

Electives in Chinese Language or Asian Cultures

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
ANTH 130	Cultures of South Asia	3
ARHT 280	Asian Art	3
CHIN 210	Contemporary Chinese Cinema and Society	3
or CHEN 210	Contemporary Chinese Cinema and Society
CHIN 215	Popular Music and Modern Chinese Culture	3
CHIN 303	Introduction to Chinese Culture	3
CHIN 331	Business Chinese	3
CHIN 375	Chinese Study Abroad	3
or CHEN 375	Study Abroad: China
CHIN 410	Perfecting Chinese Grammar	3
EAES 271	Geography of East and Southeast Asia	3
ENGL 308	Gender and Sexuality in Asian American Literature	3
HIST 129	Modern Japan: A History of Japan From the Meiji Through the Showa	3
HIST 131	Introduction to Indian Civilization	3
HIST 132	Introduction to Chinese Civilization	3
HIST 133	Modern Chinese Civilization	3
HIST 138	Introduction to Modern South Asia	3
HIST 223	Communist Revolution in China	3
HIST 330	Chinese Social History Through Literature	3
HIST 432	Development of Japanese Character and Culture	3
PHIL 237	Asian Philosophy	3
POLS 206	Government and Politics of China and Japan	3
POLS 340	Government and Politics of India and South Asia	3
POLS 362	International Relations in Asia	3
RELG 213	Buddhism	3
RELG 214	Asian Texts	3
RELG 215	Hinduism	3
RELG 217	Taoism	3
RELG 240	Asian Religions	3
WLNC 303	Asian Cities and Cinemas	3
WLNC 368	Special Topics in Asian Culture	3
WLNC 467	Independent Study in Asian Language or Culture	3

Japanese Concentration

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Required Concentration Courses 1
JAPN 101 and JAPN 112 may be required as prerequisites. Students must either complete both courses or be placed at the intermediate level by the department.
JAPN 121	Intermediate Japanese I	3
JAPN 132	Intermediate Japanese II	3
JAPN 251	Advanced Japanese I	3
Concentration Electives
Complete three courses from the following:		9
JAPN 206	Japanese Conversation and Culture
JAPN 207	Kanji through Reading
JAPN 208	Reading in Japanese
JAPN 209	Gender and Social Status in the Japanese Language through Manga and Short Stories
JAPN 252	Advanced Japanese II
JAPN 301	Advanced Japanese III
JAPN 375	Japanese Study Abroad
JAPN 401	Advanced Japanese IV
WLNC 368	Special Topics in Asian Culture
WLNC 467	Independent Study in Asian Language or Culture
Electives in Japanese Language or Asian Culture
Complete 12 credits from the list below. Students may complete upper-level Japanese language courses not already used in the concentration. Electives must be taken in at least two different departments outside of World Languages and Cultures		12
Total Credits		30

Electives in Japanese Language or Asian Cultures

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
ANTH 130	Cultures of South Asia	3
ARHT 280	Asian Art	3
CHIN 210	Contemporary Chinese Cinema and Society	3
or CHEN 210	Contemporary Chinese Cinema and Society
EAES 271	Geography of East and Southeast Asia	3
ENGL 308	Gender and Sexuality in Asian American Literature	3
HIST 129	Modern Japan: A History of Japan From the Meiji Through the Showa	3
HIST 131	Introduction to Indian Civilization	3
HIST 132	Introduction to Chinese Civilization	3
HIST 133	Modern Chinese Civilization	3
HIST 138	Introduction to Modern South Asia	3
HIST 223	Communist Revolution in China	3
HIST 330	Chinese Social History Through Literature	3
HIST 432	Development of Japanese Character and Culture	3
JAPN 206	Japanese Conversation and Culture	3
JAPN 207	Kanji through Reading	3
JAPN 208	Reading in Japanese	3
JAPN 209	Gender and Social Status in the Japanese Language through Manga and Short Stories	3
JAPN 252	Advanced Japanese II	3
JAPN 301	Advanced Japanese III	3
JAPN 375	Japanese Study Abroad	3-9
PHIL 237	Asian Philosophy	3
POLS 206	Government and Politics of China and Japan	3
POLS 340	Government and Politics of India and South Asia	3
POLS 362	International Relations in Asia	3
RELG 213	Buddhism	3
RELG 214	Asian Texts	3
RELG 215	Hinduism	3
RELG 217	Taoism	3
RELG 240	Asian Religions	3
WLNC 303	Asian Cities and Cinemas	3
WLNC 368	Special Topics in Asian Culture	3
WLNC 467	Independent Study in Asian Language or Culture	3

Korean Concentration

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Required Concentration Courses 1
KORE 101 and KORE 102 may be required as prerequisites. Students must either complete both courses or be placed at the intermediate level by the department.
KORE 121	Intermediate Korean I	3
KORE 132	Intermediate Korean II	3
KORE 201	Mastering Korean: Daily Life in Korea	3
Concentration Electives
Complete three courses from the following:		9
KORE 206	Conversational Korean through K-Pop and Popular Culture
KORE 308	Reading in Korean
KORE 331	Business Korean
KORE 375	Korean Study Abroad
KORE 410	Perfecting Korean Grammar
WLNC 368	Special Topics in Asian Culture
WLNC 467	Independent Study in Asian Language or Culture
Electives in Korean Language or Asian Culture
Complete 12 credits from the list below. Students may complete upper-level Korean language courses not already used in the concentration. Electives must be taken in at least two different departments outside of World Languages and Cultures		12
Total Credits		30

Electives in Korean Language or Asian Cultures

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
ANTH 130	Cultures of South Asia	3
ARHT 280	Asian Art	3
CHEN 210	Contemporary Chinese Cinema and Society	3
CHEN 375	Study Abroad: China	3-9
EAES 271	Geography of East and Southeast Asia	3
ENGL 308	Gender and Sexuality in Asian American Literature	3
HIST 129	Modern Japan: A History of Japan From the Meiji Through the Showa	3
HIST 131	Introduction to Indian Civilization	3
HIST 132	Introduction to Chinese Civilization	3
HIST 133	Modern Chinese Civilization	3
HIST 138	Introduction to Modern South Asia	3
HIST 223	Communist Revolution in China	3
HIST 330	Chinese Social History Through Literature	3
HIST 432	Development of Japanese Character and Culture	3
KORE 206	Conversational Korean through K-Pop and Popular Culture	3
KORE 308	Reading in Korean	3
KORE 331	Business Korean	3
KORE 375	Korean Study Abroad	3-9
KORE 410	Perfecting Korean Grammar	3
PHIL 237	Asian Philosophy	3
POLS 206	Government and Politics of China and Japan	3
POLS 340	Government and Politics of India and South Asia	3
POLS 362	International Relations in Asia	3
RELG 213	Buddhism	3
RELG 214	Asian Texts	3
RELG 215	Hinduism	3
RELG 217	Taoism	3
RELG 240	Asian Religions	3
WLNC 303	Asian Cities and Cinemas	3
WLNC 368	Special Topics in Asian Culture	3
WLNC 467	Independent Study in Asian Language or Culture	3

General Education Requirements

Click here for a list of courses that fulfill General Education categories.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
A. New Student Seminar
Complete a 1 credit New Student Seminar		1
C. Communication
1. Writing		3
2. Literature		3
3. Communication		3
D. Fine and Performing Arts
Complete a 3 credit Fine and Performing Arts course.		3
F. Humanities
1. Great Works and Their Influences		3
2. Philosophical and Religious Perspectives		3
G. Computer Science
Complete a 3 credit Computer Science course.		3
H. Mathematics
Complete a 3 credit Mathematics course.		3
I. Natural Science Laboratory
Complete a 4 credit Natural Science Laboratory course.		4
J. Physical Education
Complete a 1 credit Physical Education course.		1
K. Social Science
1. American and European History		3
2. Global Cultural Perspectives		3
3. Social Science Perspectives		3
Students in P12 Subject Area Teaching programs complete EDFD 200 as part of the Teacher Education sequence.
L. Interdisciplinary Studies
Complete a 3 credit Interdisciplinary Studies course.		3
Students in P12 Subject Area Teaching programs complete SASE 210 as part of the Teacher Education sequence.
Total Credits		42

World Languages and Cultures Requirements

Click here for a list of courses that fulfill World Languages and Cultures categories.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
World Languages
Based on language placement exam, complete one or two sequential courses in the same language. Requirement is automatically fulfilled by language major courses.		3-6
World Cultures
Requirement may be fulfilled by course selected in General Education - Social Science: Global Cultural Perspectives. Requirement may also be fulfilled by major coursework. See list of courses.		0-3
Total Credits		3-9

Recommended Roadmap to Degree Completion

This four-year plan is provided as an outline for students to follow in order to complete their degree requirements within four years.  This plan is a recommendation and students should only use it in consultation with their academic advisor.

Chinese Concentration

First Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
GNED 199	1	GENERAL EDUCATION (C2) Literature	3
WRIT 105	3	GENERAL EDUCATION (D) Fine and Performing Arts	3
CMST 101	3	CHIN 112 (or Free Elective)	3
GENERAL EDUCATION (G) Computer Science	3	CHIN 210	3
GENERAL EDUCATION (K1) Social Science – American and European History	3	WLNC 145	3
CHIN 101 (or Free Elective)	3
	16		15
Second Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
GENERAL EDUCATION (F1) Humanities – Great Works and Their Influences	3	GENERAL EDUCATION (F2) Humanities – Philosophical and Religious Perspectives	3
GENERAL EDUCATION (I) Natural Science Laboratory	4	GENERAL EDUCATION (H) Mathematics	3
GENERAL EDUCATION (K3) Social Science – Social Science Perspectives	3	GENERAL EDUCATION (J) Physical Education	1
GENERAL EDUCATION (L) Interdisciplinary Studies	3	World Cultures	3
CHIN 121	3	CHIN 132	3
		Free Elective	3
	16		16
Third Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
CHIN 205	3	Chinese Elective	3
Chinese Elective	3	Chinese Elective	3
Free Elective	3	Chinese Elective/Asian Cultures Elective	3
Free Elective	3	Free Elective	3
Free Elective	3	Free Elective	3
	15		15
Fourth Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
Chinese Elective/Asian Cultures Elective	3	WLNC 469	3
Chinese Elective/Asian Cultures Elective	3	Chinese Elective/Asian Cultures Elective	3
Free Elective	3	Free Elective	3
Free Elective	3	Free Elective	3
Free Elective	3
	15		12
Total Credits 120

Japanese Concentration

First Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
GNED 199	1	GENERAL EDUCATION (C2) Literature	3
WRIT 105	3	GENERAL EDUCATION (D) Fine and Performing Arts	3
CMST 101	3	GENERAL EDUCATION (K2) Social Science – Global Cultural Perspectives	3
GENERAL EDUCATION (G) Computer Science	3	JAPN 112	3
GENERAL EDUCATION (K1) Social Science – American and European History	3	WLNC 145	3
JAPN 101	3
	16		15
Second Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
GENERAL EDUCATION (F1) Humanities – Great Works and Their Influences	3	GENERAL EDUCATION (F2) Humanities – Philosophical and Religious Perspectives	3
GENERAL EDUCATION (I) Natural Science Laboratory	4	GENERAL EDUCATION (H) Mathematics	3
GENERAL EDUCATION (K3) Social Science – Social Science Perspectives	3	GENERAL EDUCATION (J) Physical Education	1
GENERAL EDUCATION (L) Interdisciplinary Studies	3	World Cultures	3
JAPN 121	3	JAPN 132	3
		Free Elective	3
	16		16
Third Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
JAPN 251	3	Japanese Elective	3
Japanese Elective	3	Japanese Elective	3
Free Elective	3	Japanese Elective/Asian Cultures Elective	3
Free Elective	3	Free Elective	3
Free Elective	3	Free Elective	3
	15		15
Fourth Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
Japanese Elective/Asian Cultures Elective	3	WLNC 469	3
Japanese Elective/Asian Cultures Elective	3	Japanese Elective/Asian Cultures Elective	3
Free Elective	3	Free Elective	3
Free Elective	3	Free Elective	3
Free Elective	3
	15		12
Total Credits 120

Korean Concentration

First Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
GNED 199	1	GENERAL EDUCATION (C2) Literature	3
WRIT 105	3	GENERAL EDUCATION (D) Fine and Performing Arts	3
CMST 101	3	GENERAL EDUCATION (K2) Social Science – Global Cultural Perspectives	3
GENERAL EDUCATION (G) Computer Science	3	KORE 102	3
GENERAL EDUCATION (K1) Social Science – American and European History	3	WLNC 145	3
KORE 101	3
	16		15
Second Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
GENERAL EDUCATION (F1) Humanities – Great Works and Their Influences	3	GENERAL EDUCATION (F2) Humanities – Philosophical and Religious Perspectives	3
GENERAL EDUCATION (I) Natural Science Laboratory	4	GENERAL EDUCATION (H) Mathematics	3
GENERAL EDUCATION (K3) Social Science – Social Science Perspectives	3	GENERAL EDUCATION (J) Physical Education	1
GENERAL EDUCATION (L) Interdisciplinary Studies	3	World Cultures	3
KORE 121	3	KORE 132	3
		Free Elective	3
	16		16
Third Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
KORE 201	3	Korean Elective	3
Korean Elective	3	Korean Elective	3
Free Elective	3	Korean Elective/Asian Cultures Elective	3
Free Elective	3	Free Elective	3
Free Elective	3	Free Elective	3
	15		15
Fourth Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
Korean Elective/Asian Cultures Elective	3	WLNC 469	3
Korean Elective/Asian Cultures Elective	3	Korean Elective/Asian Cultures Elective	3
Free Elective	3	Free Elective	3
Free Elective	3	Free Elective	3
Free Elective	3
	15		12
Total Credits 120