At Northwestern a student may pursue Asian Studies either briefly or extensively. Students may use such courses either as electives or in fulfillment of appropriate requirements of their study programs. The strength of Asian Studies at Northwestern lies in the number and quality of the faculty who are Asian specialists, the variety of courses they offer, and the scholarly resources of the library. In addition, students can enjoy the off-campus educational resources of Chicago, including the Art Institute s collection of Asian art, the Oriental Institute s collection of ancient Near Eastern artifacts, the Field Museum s oriental collections, and Asian drama and musical productions. Chicago also offers many Asia-related recreational activities, notably restaurants, movie theaters, and stores specializing in Asian products.
Language study opens up opportunities, experiences, and insights otherwise unavailable.
Some of these advanced courses are appropriate substitutes for non-language courses. The major has two tracks. The first is an adjunct major that is taken in conjunction with another major. Students with an adjunct major must complete 11 quarter-courses. Students must choose a concentration and complete five courses in the declared concentration.