Asian Studies

Welcome to the Asian Studies major.  This advising video will outline the courses you should register for, for your first semester.


A student typically registers for 16-18 credits per semester, which include four 4- credit courses and perhaps 1 or 2 credits of extracurricular activities.

As an Asian Studies major, your first recommended courses are HIST 130 East Asian Civilization or PHIL 220 East Asian Philosophy. Not only do these courses fulfill major requirements, but HIST 130 East Asian Civilization also satisfies the core C2 history requirement, and PHIL 220 East Asian Philosophy fulfills the core D1 philosophy requirement.

Here are some options for your remaining classes:

You can consider registering for a composition course. Developing good writing and speaking skills is essential to your success in the classes you will take at USF.  Make sure to complete the directed self placement to determine which rhetoric and composition course to take. 


Another option is a first-year seminar or a transfer student seminar.  These seminars serve as a great introduction to the academic environment at USF and will fulfill a Core requirement.

You can take a foreign language course. Students pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Asian Studies must demonstrate proficiency equivalent to the 3rd semester in an Asian language. If you have prior experience with an Asian language, you can take a placement test to determine the appropriate course level for registration.

You can enroll in Public Speaking which is an important course to take early in your college career.  This course fulfills your Core A1 Public Speaking requirement.  

Or, you can choose another course from other core areas such as Math and Science, or Visual and Performing Arts.

There are also many 1- or 2-credit courses that you may like to consider. For example,

A College success course

A Physical activity course

A Computer Science course

Get involved in play production

Join a choir or vocal group

Once you have selected your classes, your schedule should resemble something like this.
HIST 130 East Asian Civilization
Language course
core course
Core Course


If you are a transfer student, you may have completed some of these courses. It is important for you to review your degree evaluation to determine which courses you need to complete.  

Spend some time navigating the Schedule of Classes to familiarize yourself with the layout.  Look for courses that you would like to register for, including specific sections. Spend some time doing this to find a schedule that works for you. You should also keep a back up list in case some classes are closed.

If you need help, please contact us.
asian.studies@usfca.edu
415.422.5213

We look forward to meeting you during Orientation.  During Orientation we will review the major requirements and you will have the opportunity to meet faculty and fellow students.

Welcome to USF!