The Asian studies program at UB is now offering a major in addition to its minor, in hopes of letting students take a closer look at the distinct intricacies of Asian culture.
The Asian studies program was established in 1993, according to director Thomas Burkman, an expert on Japanese history. Previously, the program only offered students the option of taking Asian Studies as a minor.
Burkman said students will be expected to study a wide variety of subjects in the course of an Asian studies degree.
Right now, there are 20 faculty members from various departments at UB affiliated with the Asian studies program.
"We have strong offerings in history, linguistics, anthropology, communication, art history, economics and philosophy," said Burkman.
The list of possible real-world applications for the Asian Studies degree that Burkman offered was as long as the list of departments affiliated with the program.
"(Asian Studies majors) are well trained for any work with international focus. It could be in international business, law, management or foreign services," he said. "For others, (Asian Studies provides) a strong liberal arts education with a global focus."
Burkman said the Asian Studies program has decided to offer a major mainly because of student demand, as well as to keep pace with other SUNY universities.
In addition to the Asian Studies programs already offered at SUNY Stonybrook and SUNY Albany, SUNY Binghamton is in the process of designing a similar major, which would place the curriculum at all four university centers.
Burkman said that the Asian Studies major will make the necessary distinction between Asian Studies and Asian American studies.
"The difference between Asian studies and Asian American studies is that where Asian American studies looks at the spread of Asian culture to America, Asian studies has a focus on Asia itself," he said.
Burkman stressed that Asian Studies is a program and not a department, and will stay that way.
"It really is a genuinely interdisciplinary program," said Burkman. "We would rather see departments inspired to include Asian Studies into their own curricula. We see ourselves as a service unit. We are here to strengthen departments in their treatment of Asia."
One of the core requirements for the Asian Studies program is AS 110, "The Asian American Experience." Burkman explained the reasoning behind the requirement.
"We want our students to learn that Asia isn't just in the locale of Asia. Asia is a global phenomenon," he said.
According to Burkman, while the Asian Studies program is still small, it is expanding. This coming January, the program will bring three Japanese Noh actors into residency, and the College of Arts and Sciences will make its first permanent appointment of an Asian studies expert to the English department next fall.
Any students interested in the major can e-mail Burkman at burkman@buffalo.edu or reach the department by calling 645-3474.
