Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies < University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Skip to Content
AZ Index
Catalog Home
Institution Home
The University
of
North Carolina
at
Chapel Hill
2025-2026 Academic Catalog
Undergraduate
Explore Programs (Majors & Minors)
Programs A-Z
Degree Requirements
IDEAs in Action Curriculum
Departments
Professional Schools and Colleges
Academic Enrichment Programs
Graduate
Explore Programs (Graduate)
Programs A-Z
Schools and Departments
Graduate Education
Courses
Courses A-Z
Course Search
Archives
Undergraduate
Departments
Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
Print Options
Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
Introduction
The department offers students a range of language classes in Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew, Hindi-Urdu, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Turkish, and Vietnamese, as well as a selection of courses taught by our core and affiliated faculty in the humanities (art and art history, cinema, drama, linguistics, literature, and religious studies) and in the social sciences (anthropology, economics, environmental studies, geography, history, sociology, and urban studies).
Students majoring in the Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies also may pursue a minor in the department that is different from their major.
Advising
All majors and minors have a primary academic advisor assigned in ConnectCarolina. Students are strongly encouraged to meet regularly with their advisor and review their Tar Heel Tracker each semester. All majors are also required to meet each fall with a faculty advisor within the department. Departmental advising is an opportunity to discuss major progress, course selection and planning, study abroad, graduate school, career opportunities, and other matters pertinent to the major field. Advisors are assigned by concentration; advisor listings and contact information may be found on the
department’s website
and are also disseminated via the majors’ listserv.
Graduate School and Career Opportunities
As a liberal arts major, the Asian studies major trains undergraduates to read and think analytically and to present their ideas effectively orally and in writing, essential preparation for a variety of careers and for the responsibilities of living in an interdependent world. Graduates of the program have continued their academic preparation in top-ranked graduate programs across the country while others have built distinguished careers in fields including arts, banking, government, international education, journalism, law, medicine, and public health.
Majors
Asian Studies Major, B.A.–Interdisciplinary Concentration
Asian Studies Major, B.A.–Arab Cultures Concentration
Asian Studies Major, B.A.–Chinese Concentration
Asian Studies Major, B.A.–Japanese Concentration
Asian Studies Major, B.A.–Korean Studies Concentration
Asian Studies Major, B.A.–Persian Studies Concentration
Asian Studies Major, B.A.–South Asian Studies Concentration
Minors
Arabic Minor
Asian Studies Minor
Chinese Minor
Modern Hebrew Minor
Hindi-Urdu Minor
Japanese Minor
Korean Minor
Middle Eastern Languages Minor
Persian Minor
Southeast Asian Studies Minor
Graduate Programs
M.A. in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
Courses
Asian Studies (ASIA)
Arabic (ARAB)
Chinese (CHIN)
Hebrew (HEBR)
Hindi-Urdu (HNUR)
Japanese (JAPN)
Korean (KOR)
Persian (
PRSN
Turkish (TURK)
Vietnamese (VIET)
Professors
Mark Driscoll, Pamela Lothspeich, Morgan Pitelka, Robin Visser, Claudia Yaghoobi, Nadia Yaqub.
Associate Professors
Uffe Bergeton, Li-ling Hsiao, Ji-Yeon Jo, Yaron Shemer, Afroz Taj.
Assistant Professors
Kyoungjin Bae, Keren He, I Jonathan Kief, Yurika Tamura, Ana Vinea.
Teaching Professors
Yuki Aratake, Yi Zhou.
Teaching Associate Professors
Shahla Adel, Dongsoo Bang, Luoyi Cai, John Caldwell, Doria Elkerdany, Yuko Kato, Bud Kauffman, Eunji Lee, Lini Ge Polin, Katsu Sawamura, Hanna Sprintzik.
Teaching Assistant Professors
Dwayne Dixon, Na Fan, Fumi Iwashita, Shuishui Long, Caroline Sibley.
Affiliated Faculty
Barbara Ambros (Religious Studies), Benjamin Arbuckle (Anthropology), Cemil Aydin (History), Inger Brodey (English and Comparative Literature), Becky Butler (Linguistics), Yong Cai (Sociology), Jocelyn Chua (Anthropology), Peter A. Coclanis (History), Barbara Entwisle (Sociology), Michael Figueroa (Music), Banu Gökariksel (Geography), Guang Guo (Sociology), Juliane Hammer (Religious Studies), Gail Henderson (Social Medicine), Carmen Hsu (Romance Studies), Heidi Kim (English and Comparative Literature), Michelle King (History), Charles Kurzman (Sociology), David Lambert (Religious Studies), Christian Lentz (Geography), Lauren Leve (Religious Studies), Townsend Middleton (Anthropology), Christopher Nelson (Anthropology), Lisa Pearce (Sociology), Xue Lan Rong (Education), Steven Rosefielde (Economics), David Ross (English and Comparative Literature), Sarah Shields (History), Kumi Silva (Communication), Jennifer Smith (Linguistics), Sara Smith (Geography), Yan Song (City and Regional Planning), Eren Tasar (History), Meenu Tewari (City and Regional Planning), Michael Tsin (History), Margaret Wiener (Anthropology).
Professors Emeriti
Jan Bardsley, Kevin Hewison, Wendan Li, Jerome P. Seaton.
Associate Professor Emeritus
Gang Yue.
Senior Lecturer Emeritus
Eric Henry.
Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
Visit Program Website
New West 113, CB# 3267
(919) 962-4294
Chair
Li-ling Hsiao
hsiaoLL@email.unc.edu
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Bud Kauffman
budk@email.unc.edu
Student Services Specialist
Ash Barnes
wow@unc.edu
Undergraduate
Programs A-Z
Departments
Aerospace Studies
African, African American, and Diaspora Studies
American Studies
Anthropology
Applied Physical Sciences
Archaeology
Art and Art History
Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
Biochemistry and Biophysics
Biology
Biomedical Engineering
Biostatistics
Chemistry
City and Regional Planning
Civic Life and Leadership
Classics
Communication
Computer Science
Dramatic Art
Economics
Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences
English and Comparative Literature
Environment, Ecology, and Energy
Environmental Sciences and Engineering
European Studies
Exercise and Sport Science
Geography and Environment
Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures
Global Studies
Health Behavior
Health Policy and Management
Medicine-Health Sciences
Clinical Laboratory Science Major, B.S.
Neurodiagnostics and Sleep Science Major, BS
Radiologic Science Major, B.S.
Speech and Hearing Sciences Minor
History
Interdisciplinary Studies
Latin American Studies
Linguistics
Mathematics
Microbiology and Immunology
Military Science
Music
Naval Science
Nutrition
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Peace, War, and Defense
Philosophy
Physics and Astronomy
Political Science
Psychology and Neuroscience
Public Policy
Religious Studies
Romance Studies
Sociology
Statistics and Operations Research
Women’s and Gender Studies
Schools/College
College of Arts and Sciences
Kenan–Flagler Business School
Data Science and Society
Education
Information and Library Science
UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media
UNC Adams School of Dentistry
Nursing
UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy
Gillings School of Global Public Health
Summer School
Digital and Lifelong Learning
IDEAs in Action Curriculum
FY-SEMINAR & FY-LAUNCH
GLBL-LANG
FC-AESTH
FC-CREATE
FC-PAST
FC-VALUES
FC-GLOBAL
FC-NATSCI
FC-POWER
FC-QUANT
FC-KNOWING
FC-LAB
Research and Discovery
High-Impact Experience
Communication Beyond Carolina
Interdisciplinary
Lifetime Fitness
Foundations of American Democracy
Campus Life Experience
Supplemental General Education
Degree Requirements
Academic Enrichment Programs
Global Guarantee
Study Abroad
Undergraduate Research
Honors Carolina
Honors Beyond Chapel Hill
Internships
Distinguished Scholarships
Languages across the Curriculum
Student Life and Leadership
North Carolina Fellows Program
Summer Bridge
Graduate
Degree Programs
Schools and Departments
African, African-American, and Diaspora Studies
American Studies
Anthropology
Applied Physical Sciences
Applied Professional Studies
Art
Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
Biochemistry and Biophysics
Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Biology
Biomedical and Health Informatics
Biomedical Engineering
Biostatistics
Kenan–Flagler Business School
Cell Biology and Physiology
Chemistry
City and Regional Planning
Classics
Clinical Laboratory Science
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling
Communication
Computer Science
Data Science and Society
UNC Adams School of Dentistry
Digital Curation and Management
Dramatic Art
Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences
Economics
Education
English and Comparative Literature
Environment, Ecology, and Energy
Environmental Sciences and Engineering
Epidemiology
Exercise and Sport Science
Genetics and Molecular Biology
Geography and Environment
Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures
Global Studies
Government
Health Behavior
Health Policy and Management
History
Human Movement Science
Information and Library Science
Journalism and Media
School of Law
Linguistics
Maternal and Child Health
Mathematics
Medicine-Health Sciences
Microbiology and Immunology
Music
Neuroscience
Nursing
Nutrition
Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Pharmacology
UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy
Philosophy
Physician Assistant Studies
Physics and Astronomy
Political Science
Psychology and Neuroscience
Gillings School of Global Public Health
Public Health Leadership and Practice
Public Policy
Religious Studies
Romance Studies
Social Work
Sociology
Speech and Hearing Sciences
Statistics and Operations Research
Toxicology and Environmental Medicine
Graduate Education
Academic Resources
Certificate Programs
Ambulatory Care Scholars Certificate
Applied Data Science Certificate
Business of Healthcare Certificate
Digital Communication Strategy Certificate
Digital Media Management Certificate
Digital Storytelling Certificate
Healthcare Management Certificate
Innovation, Leadership, and Management Certificate
Leadership Academy Certificate
Pre-Health Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
Rural Pharmacy Health Certificate
Survey Science Certificate
Total Worker Health Certificate
Courses
AEROSPACE STUDIES (AERO)
AFRICAN, AFRICAN-AMERICAN, DIASPORA STUDIES (AAAD)
AMERICAN STUDIES (AMST)
ANTHROPOLOGY (ANTH)
APPLIED SCIENCES (APPL)
ARABIC (ARAB)
ARCHAEOLOGY (ARCH)
ARMY (ARMY)
ART HISTORY (ARTH)
ASIAN STUDIES (ASIA)
ASTRONOMY (ASTR)
BIOCHEMISTRY (BIOC)
BIOINFORMATICS AND COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY (BCB)
BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES (BBSP)
BIOLOGY (BIOL)
BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING (BMME)
BIOSTATISTICS (BIOS)
BOSNIAN-CROATIAN-SERBIAN (BCS)
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (BUSI)
CAROLINA HEALTH INFORMATICS PROGRAM (CHIP)
CATALAN (CATA)
CELL BIOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY (CBPH)
CHEMICAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY (CBMC)
CHEMISTRY (CHEM)
CHEROKEE (CHER)
CHICHEWA (CHWA)
CHINESE (CHIN)
CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING (PLAN)
CLASSICAL ARCHAEOLOGY (CLAR)
CLASSICS (CLAS)
CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE (CLSC)
CLINICAL REHABILITATION AND MENTAL HEALTH COUNSEL (CRMH)
COMMUNICATION STUDIES (COMM)
COMPARATIVE LITERATURE (CMPL)
COMPUTER SCIENCE (COMP)
CONTEMPORARY EUROPEAN STUDIES (EURO)
CZECH (CZCH)
DATA SCIENCE AND SOCIETY (DATA)
DENTAL GRADUATE COURSE (DENG)
DENTAL HYGIENE (DHYG)
DENTAL HYGIENE EDUCATION (DHED)
DRAMATIC ART (DRAM)
DUTCH (DTCH)
EARTH, MARINE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES (EMES)
ECONOMICS (ECON)
EDUCATION (EDUC)
ENDODONTICS (ENDO)
ENGLISH (ENGL)
ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY (ENEC)
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING (ENVR)
EPIDEMIOLOGY (EPID)
EXERCISE AND SPORT SCIENCE (EXSS)
EXPERIENCED TEACHER EDUCATION (EDMX)
EXPERIENTIAL AND SPECIAL STUDIES (SPCL)
EXPERIMENTAL THERAPEUTICS (DPET)
FOLKLORE (FOLK)
FRENCH (FREN)
GENETICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (GNET)
GEOGRAPHY (GEOG)
GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES (GEOL)
GERMAN (GERM)
GERMANIC AND SLAVIC LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES (GSLL)
GLOBAL STUDIES (GLBL)
GOVERNMENT (GOVT)
GRADUATE STUDIES (GRAD)
GREEK (GREK)
HEALTH BEHAVIOR (HBEH)
HEALTH POLICY AND MANAGEMENT (HPM)
HEBREW (HEBR)
HINDI-URDU (HNUR)
HISTORY (HIST)
HUNGARIAN (HUNG)
INFORMATION AND LIBRARY SCIENCE (INLS)
INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES (IDST)
INTRODUCTION TO CLINICAL MEDICINE UNDERGRADUATE (ICMU)
ITALIAN (ITAL)
JAPANESE (JAPN)
JEWISH STUDIES (JWST)
KOREAN (KOR)
LATIN (LATN)
LAW (LAW)
LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES (LTAM)
LIFETIME FITNESS (LFIT)
LINGALA LANGUAGE (LGLA)
LINGUISTICS (LING)
MACEDONIAN (MACD)
MANAGEMENT AND SOCIETY (MNGT)
MARINE SCIENCE (MASC)
MATERIAL SCIENCE (MTSC)
MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH (MHCH)
MATHEMATICS (MATH)
MEDIA AND JOURNALISM (MEJO)
MICROBIOLOGY (MCRO)
MUSIC (MUSC)
NAVAL SCIENCE (NAVS)
NEUROBIOLOGY (NBIO)
NEURODIAGNOSTICS AND SLEEP SCIENCE (NDSS)
NEUROSCIENCE (NSCI)
NURSING (NURS)
NUTRITION (NUTR)
OCCUPATIONAL SCIENCE (OCSC)
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY (OCCT)
OPERATIVE DENTISTRY (OPER)
ORAL PATHOLOGY (ORPA)
ORAL RADIOLOGY (ORAD)
ORTHODONTICS (ORTH)
PATHOLOGY (PATH)
PEACE, WAR, AND DEFENSE (PWAD)
PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY (PEDO)
PERIODONTOLOGY (PERI)
PERSIAN (PRSN)
PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES (PHRS)
PHARMACOENGINEERING AND MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS (DPMP)
PHARMACOLOGY (PHCO)
PHARMACY (NON-DEPARTMENTAL) (PHCY)
PHARMACY OUTCOMES AND POLICY (DPOP)
PHILOSOPHY (PHIL)
PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES (PHYA)
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT STUDIES (PASC)
PHYSICS (PHYS)
POLISH (PLSH)
POLITICAL SCIENCE (POLI)
PORTUGUESE (PORT)
PRACTICE ADVANCEMENT AND CLINICAL EDUCATION (PACE)
PROSTHODONTICS (PROS)
PSYCHOLOGY (PSYC)
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (PUBA)
PUBLIC HEALTH (PUBH)
PUBLIC POLICY (PLCY)
RADIOLOGIC SCIENCE (RADI)
RECREATION AND LEISURE STUDIES (RECR)
RELIGIOUS STUDIES (RELI)
ROMANCE LANGUAGES (ROML)
RUSSIAN (RUSS)
SCHOOL OF CIVIC LIFE AND LEADERSHIP (SCLL)
SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH GENERAL (SPHG)
SLAVIC LANGUAGES (SLAV)
SOCIAL WORK (SOWO)
SOCIOLOGY (SOCI)
SPANISH (SPAN)
SPEECH AND HEARING SCIENCES (SPHS)
STATISTICS AND OPERATIONS RESEARCH (STOR)
STUDIO ART (ARTS)
SWAHILI (SWAH)
TOXICOLOGY (TOXC)
TURKISH (TURK)
UKRAINIAN (UKRN)
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH (URES)
VIETNAMESE (VIET)
WOMEN'S AND GENDER STUDIES (WGST)
WOLOF LANGUAGE (WOLO)
YORUBA LANGUAGE (YORU)
About UNC
Administrative Officers
Board of Trustees
Board of Governors
UNC-Chapel Hill: An Introduction
The UNC System
Academic Calendar
Admissions
Undergraduate Admissions
NCCC Transfer Articulation and Pathways
Graduate Admissions
Archives
Explore Programs
Policies and Procedures
Academic Standing
Attendance, Grading, and Examination
Conferral of Degrees and Transcripts
Credit and Evaluation
General Education Approved Course Substitution Lists
Registration, Enrollment, and Withdrawal
Student Code of Conduct
Syllabi and Classrooms
Tuition and Benefits
University Policies
Resources
Resources: Academic and Research
Resources: Campus Life
Resources: Career Planning
Resources: Health and Wellness
Resources: Service and Leadership
Tuition and Financial Aid
About UNC
Admissions
Resources
Policies and Procedures
Tuition and Financial Aid
Academic Calendar
Office of the University Registrar
Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
Feedback? Contact
unccatalog@unc.edu
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Catalog is updated once yearly during the early spring and is published on June 1. For archiving and legal purposes, it serves as a static record of the upcoming academic year.
Print Options
Send Page to Printer
Print this page.
Download Page (PDF)
The PDF will include all information unique to this page.
Download PDF of the 2025-26 Graduate Catalog
All pages in Graduate Catalog.
Download PDF of the 2025-26 Undergraduate Catalog
All pages in Undergraduate Catalog.
Cancel
US