The Asian Studies program offers students the opportunity to deepen their international outlook and cultural understanding of Asia through interdisciplinary study. In conjunction with Japanese or Chinese language study, students may choose from several dozen courses offered by faculty from over ten departments. The program's regional coverage includes South, Southeast, East and Northeast Asia.
Students in Asian Studies often, though not always, combine their Asian Studies major with another major or minor in a particular discipline.
The Asian Studies program strongly encourages study abroad in Asia. Through the campus' Center for International Programs, students have access to many opportunities including, though not limited to, programs in China, Japan, Korea, and India.
Graduates with expertise in Asia are sought by employers in a wide range of professions, including academia, business, government and think tanks, international companies and organizations, libraries and museums, media, non-profit organizations, and the teaching professions at home and abroad.
Required courses.........................................16 credits
Each major is required to complete at least two years of language study in either Chinese or Japanese.1
1Students with a high degree of language proficiency in these or other Asian languages may take 16 credits in other Asian Studies courses.
September 2025
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
SUNY New Paltz,
1 Hawk Drive,
NEW PALTZ,
New York,
12561, United States
Students must have a high school degree and a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade-point average (GPA) of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale (or an 85% grade average or higher).
English Language Proficiency: TOEFL iBT – 80; IELTS - 6.5; PTE Academic – 58; Duolingo English Test – 105. Application Deadlines: December 1 for Spring semester (January start); May 1 for Fall semester (August start).
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.