BA Asian Studies at University of California, Los Angeles

Programme overview

The Asian Studies major allows students to analyze the area or a subregion (e.g., Central Asia, East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia) from an interdisciplinary and modern perspective. The major seeks to ground students in broad international issues that they can then use to focus on particular concerns of that part of the world. Study Abroad Asian Studies majors are highly encouraged to study abroad.

Faculty: College of Letters and Science | Department: International and Area Studies | Study mode: full-time | Intake: Fall | Location: Los Angeles, CA, United States

What you will study

Preparation for the Major: Complete International and Area Studies 1, one area studies course, two international politics and markets courses, two international societies and cultures courses, and one area-related foreign language sequence through the intermediate level as follows. The Major: Complete one capstone seminar and 11 upper-division courses divided among area studies and international themes as follows.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Applies to students entering the major (college-level admission to UCLA is separate): Entry to the Major Policies: Each preparation for the major course must be taken for a letter grade, and students must have a UC grade-point average of 2.0 or better in those courses. In addition, students must have earned a grade of C or better in International and Area Studies 1. Transfer Students: Transfer applicants to the Asian Studies major with 90 or more units must complete the following introductory courses prior to admission to UCLA: two courses from sociocultural anthropology, cultural geography, contemporary world history, and world literature and two courses from comparative politics, economic geography, macroeconomics, microeconomics, and introductory sociology. Refer to the UCLA transfer admission guide for up-to-date information regarding transfer selection for admission.

Fall quarter only; UCLA does not offer early action or early decision.

Transfer students are admitted for fall quarter only.

Most graduate departments and schools have deadlines in November and early December for the following fall term.

Fall 2027 first-year and transfer: UC application opens August 1, accepts submissions October 1-November 30 (deadline November 30) via the UC application. First-year decisions late March; transfer decisions late April. UCLA is test-free and does not consider SAT or ACT scores for admission or scholarships. Application fees can be waived for up to four campuses for eligible students.

Transfer applicants must submit the Transfer Academic Update by the January 31 priority deadline; Statement of Intent to Register due June 1. First-year Statement of Intent to Register due May 1.

Apply through the official page: https://admission.ucla.edu/apply

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