Asian Studies
The countries of Asia are Australia’s largest trading partners and are of vital importance to Australia’s economic growth and security. For Australians, Asia increasingly defines who we are and our place in the world. A knowledge of Asia is thus a crucial national asset at a time of rapid globalisation and social change. International students wishing to add an Asian competency to their qualifications will find a broad range of subjects taught by experts in the Asian region.
The Asian Studies program at the University of Melbourne is one of the largest in Australia. Asian Studies subjects are taught both within Asia Institute and across the Faculties. This enables the University to offer a comprehensive range of subjects in the rich intellectual, cultural, legal, economic, political and religious traditions of Asia, with a focus on China, Indonesia, Japan, the Middle East and Southeast Asian and Pacific societies.
Student exchange programs are additionally available to major universities within the Asian region and through the outreach unit, Asialink, the University offers a stimulating program of events and activities with an Asian focus.
Asian Studies subjects are normally taught in English and do not require language prerequisites. It is recommended that students majoring in Asian Studies also study an Asian language but this is not compulsory.
Ways to Enrol in Asian Studies
- Include one or more subjects in your Bachelor of Arts or combined Arts degree, or as an option within your non-Arts degree (see Asian Studies Subjects below).
- Include an Asian Studies major in your Bachelor of Arts or combined Arts degree.
- Enrol in a Diploma in Arts (Asian Studies) together with your other degree course. This option adds an extra year to your studies, but you will graduate with both a Bachelor’s degree and a Diploma.
- Enrol in Combined Asian Studies Honours after completion of a major in Asian Studies.
- If you are a graduate in another discipline, you can add to your qualifications by enrolling in one of a number of postgraduate coursework programs:
In order to optimise their choices in later years, students considering a major in Asian Studies are encouraged to include several subjects drawn from the following disciplines in their first year: Asia Institute subjects (code 110), History subjects (131), Politics (166), Geography (121) and Anthropology (121).
Students can undertake the study of Asian languages in addition to their major in Asian Studies. Languages available include Arabic, Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese, *Thai, *Korean and *Vietnamese. (*Subjects offered by other institutions to University of Melbourne students)
Students are encouraged to complete one or more of the first year subjects listed below and to examine carefully subject prerequisites for second/third year Asian studies subjects.
Requirements for a major
A major in Asian studies usually consists of eight 12.5-point subjects, totalling 100 points. It comprises:
- two first-year subjects from any program within the Faculty of Arts (25 points); and
- six second/third-year subjects (75 points) which must include:
- 131-228 Inventing Asian Traditions (p.12), the program's compulsory subject (12.5 points); and
- five subjects from the list of Asian studies subjects below.
Asian Studies Subjects
*Subject requires Asian language prerequisite or equivalent.
Note that the subjects offered by the Asian Law Centre require first year Law prerequisites and subjects offered by Management require first year subjects from the Faculty of Economics and Commerce.
| First year subjects | Semester |
|---|---|
| 110-186 China Since Mao | 2 |
| 110-187 Chinese Calligraphy | 1 |
| 110-118 Language & Power in Asian Societies [WebRAFT] | 1 |
| 131-154 The Modern World 1: The Nuclear Shadow | 1 |
| 131-155 The Modern World 2: People Power | 2 |
| 161-134 Asian Philosophies | Not offered |
| 175-108 Cross-Cultural Communication | 2 |
| Second / Third year subjects | |
| 131-228 Inventing Asian Traditions | 1 |
| Anthropology | |
| 121-060 Power, Ideology and Inequality | 1 |
| 121-063 Culture Change and Protest Movements | 2 |
| Asian Law Centre | |
| 730-327 Issues in Japanese Law | Summer |
| 730-352 Law in the People's Republic of China | Not offered |
| 730-358 Law and Society in South East Asia | 2 |
| 730-360 Law and Civil Society in Asia | Not offered |
| Chinese Studies | |
| 110-048 Modern Chinese Literature * | 1 |
| 110-049 Chinese Lingustics * | 2 |
| 110-052 Chinese Thought | 2 |
| 110-053 Taiwan | 1 |
| 110-184 Chinese Studies: Culture and Empire | 1 |
| 110-212 Strategies for Business and Bureacuracy | 2 |
| 110-225 Chinese Theatre | 1 |
| English | |
| 106-033 Writing After Empire | 2 |
| 106-217 Asian Screen Cultures | 1 |
| Geography | |
| 121-015 Development and the Third World | 2 |
| 121-023 China in Transition | Not offered |
| 121-026 The Mobile World: Migration and Tourism | 1 rep 2 |
| History | |
| 131-034 Gender, Culture and Identity politics | 2 |
| 131-038 Gender and Development | 1 |
| 131-039 The Rise of Modern Japan 1850s-1990s | Not offered |
| 131-046 Great Empires of Islamic Civilisation | Not offered |
| 131-062 Making China Modern | 1 |
| 131-066 The Modern Middle East | 1 |
| 131-076 Asia, the Pacific & the West in History | 2 |
| 131-210 Total War: Asia & the Pacific 1931-1945 | Summer |
| 131-217 Modern Southeast Asia | 2 |
| History and Philosophy of Science | |
| 136-211 Asian Civilisations and Science | 2 |
| Indonesian Studies | |
| 110-075 Analysing Indonesia:Concepts and Issues [WebRAFT] | 1 |
| 110-218 Mass Media in Indonesia [WebRAFT] | 1 |
| Islamic Studies | |
| 110-089 Understanding the Muslim World | 1 |
| 110-091 Islam and Political Movements | 2 |
| Japanese Studies | |
| 110-221 Dynamics of Japanese Architecture and Art | 1 |
| Management (Faculty of Economics and Commerce) | |
| 325-226 Business and Economy in South East Asia | 1 |
| 325-310 Japanese Business and Institutions | 2 |
| 325-332 Chinese Business and Economy | 2 |
| Philosophy | |
| 161-035 Philosophy of Buddhism | Not offered |
| Political Science | |
| 166-018 Chinese Politics and Society | 1 |
| 166-217 Gender and Politics in Southeast Asia | 1 |
| 166-218 Colonial/Postcolonial S.E. Asian Politics | Not offered |
| Sociology | |
| 166-090 Love, Family and Sexuality | 1 |
| Third / Fourth year subjects | |
| Anthropology | |
| 121-457 Ethnic Nationalism and the Modern World | 2 |
| Asian Law Centre | |
| 730-428 Land, Race and Law in South East Asia | Not offered |
| Chinese Studies | |
| 110-417 Gender and Agency in East Asia | 2 |
| 110-442 Contemporary Chinese Society | 1 |
| Geography | |
| 121-433 China Field Class | 2 |
| Indonesian Studies | |
| 110-419 Popular Cultures in Indonesia [WebRAFT] | Not offered |
| 110-422 Indonesian Performance & Performativity * | 1 |
| 110-425 History and Varieties of Indonesian | 1 |
| 110-426 Indonesian Political Economy | Not offered |
| 110-429 Islam and the State in Indonesia | 2 |
| 110-438 Modern Indonesian Literature * | Not offered |
| Japanese Studies | |
| 110-447 Social Problems in Japan | 2 |
| Faculty of Music | |
| 740-341 Music Cultures of Asia | 2 |
| 740-439 Rainforest Societies and their Music | Not offered |
| 740-466 Music and the Shaman | Not offered |
Asian Studies Convenor
MCLAREN, Anne, Dr.
Asia Institute Sidney Myer Asia Building Room 228
Phone: +61 3 8433-5149
Email: mclaae@unimelb.edu.au
General enquiries
Asia Institute
Second Floor, Sidney Myer Asia Centre
The University of Melburne
Victoria 3010
AUSTRALIA
Email: arts.unimelb@custhelp.com
Web Resources
- East Asian Collection Chinese Studies
- Asian Studies Association of Australia
- Bibliography of Asian Studies (electronic database available from the Baillieu Library)
- Asian Studies WWW Virtual Library (ANU)