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Asian Studies
From East Asia to Southeast Asia & Transnational Themes

Asian Studies

The OHIO Asian Studies Program offers a comprehensive and interdisciplinary examination of the rich cultural traditions, complex political and economic histories, and diverse human security challenges of countries in East, Southeast, and South Asia.

The program emphasizes the study of economic developments, political strategies, religious diversities, and technological transformations.

As Asia continues to grow in geopolitical and economic significance, this program prepares students for success in careers such as policy and diplomacy, international business, global marketing, cultural and linguistic educators, human rights and international law, and more.

Areas of Concentration

  • East Asia

    Tokyo citiscape

    The East Asia concentration explores the modern political and economic history of East Asian countries, emphasizing comparative political economy and development, trade and financial markets, cross-cultural exchange, and the interplay between technology and society.

  • Southeast Asia

    Asian city alight with night sky.

    The Southeast Asia concentration focuses on the region's colonial and postcolonial histories, environmental and ecological challenges, cultural transactions, and political mobilizations within the framework of globalization.

  • Transnational Asia

    An Asian business, with women making jewelry and beads.

    The Transnational Asia concentration includes three thematic fields that span East, Southeast, and South Asia: Arts, Popular Culture and the Media; Gender, Ethnicity and Religion; and Globalization, Conflict and Social Change.

Study Asia: Degrees & Languages

Study Asia: Here or Abroad

OHIO's Renowned Asian Studies Program

Ohio University's Southeast Asian Studies Program was established in 1967 as one of the first of its kind in North America. It was recognized as a Department of Education National Resource Center (NRC) across decades from the 1970s to the early 2010s.

Ohio University Libraries houses one of the largest collections of research materials on Southeast Asia in the United States, including the Malaysian Resource Center, a renowned Indonesian collection, the David K. Wyatt Thai collection, the Chubu University Commemorative Japanese Collection, and the Dr. Shao You-Bao Overseas Chinese Documentation and Research Center.

In 2012, the OHIO Asian Studies Program was established with concentrations in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Transnational Asia, which includes three thematic fields: Arts, Popular Culture and the Media; Gender, Ethnicity and Religion; and Globalization, Conflict and Social Change.

OHIO is the only university in the state of Ohio offering a master’s degree in Asian Studies.

Global Partners

The Asian Studies Program is proud of OHIO's recent and current partnerships and collaborations with universities and organizations around the world.

Endowed Chairs

Tun Abdul Razak Chair

Named in honor of the second Prime Minister of Malaysia, the Tun Abdul Razak Chair is a unique and extraordinary venture in higher education. Since its inception in 1979, the Tun Abdul Razak Chair program has made important contributions to Malaysian-American understanding. It has educated more than 2,000 Malaysian citizens, helped countless Americans acquire expertise on Malaysia and Southeast Asia, developed partnerships, and built one of the finest library collections on Malaysia in the Americas.

Fuller Endowed Chair

The Frances M. and Stephen H. Fuller Visiting Professorship in Southeast Asian Studies is an endowed professorship in the Center for International Studies at Ohio University. An Athens native and graduate of Athens High School and Ohio University, Fuller went on to earn his MBA and DBA from Harvard University, where he eventually became Associate Dean of the Harvard Business School. He also served as Vice President of General Motors and President of Worldbook.

Logo for "OHIO and Malaysia: Inspiring and Driving Sustainable Innovation"

Research & Expertise about Asia

  • Faculty Research Areas: Asia


    Center for International Studies faculty have expertise in many research areas about Asia.

    Faculty Research Areas

    Faculty Directory

  • Ohio University Press: Asian Studies


    The Ohio University Press publishes on subjects featuring Asia, including about the history of Asia and Southeast Asia, literature, literary criticism, poetry and political science.

    Indian Ocean Studies Series, edited by Richard B. Allen

    Research in International Studies, Southeast Asia Series, edited by Elizabeth F. Collins

    Ohio University Press

  • The Monsoon Newsletter


    The Monsoon Newsletter is a portal into the world of South East Asia and its effects on the world around us, written by Ohio University students.

    The Monsoon Newsletter 

  • Asian Studies Library Research Guides


  • Our East Asia Collection


    The East Asia Collection includes two notable holdings. The Chubu University Commemorative Japanese Collection and Dr. Shao You-Bao Overseas Chinese Documentation and Research Center. 

    A gift presented by Chubu University in 1993, the Chubu Collection consists of materials that support Japanese language education and the study of Japan-related topics for Ohio University students, as well as materials necessary for students from Japan and materials that foster the understanding of and friendly relations with Chubu University. 

    Established through a gift from Dr. Shao You-Bao in 1993, the Overseas Chinese Collection focuses on documentation and research of ethnic Chinese in Southeast Asia as well as Latin America, Africa, Europe, and the Pacific. 

  • Our Southeast Asia Collection


    The Southeast Asia Collection, established in 1967, is among the oldest and largest collections of research materials on Southeast Asia in North America. 

    Although Ohio University Libraries acquires materials on all countries of Southeast Asia, library holdings on Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and Brunei are especially strong. Since 2005, Ohio University has made great strides in expanding its library holdings on Thailand. 

    The Southeast Asia Collection houses a number of special sub-collections and other resources, including the Malaysian Resource Center, the Marion Alden Southeast Asia Fine Arts Collection, and the David K. Wyatt Thai Collection

Join a Student Organization

Information on the Ohio University student organizations can be found on BobcatConnect.

  • Association For Cultural Exchange
  • Chinese and American Business Organization
  • Chinese Culture Exchange Association
  • Chinese Students & Scholars Association
  • Indian Student Association
  • Interfaith Impact
  • International Student Union
  • Japanese Connection (JCON)
  • Japanese Student Association
  • Korean Student Association
  • OU Communication and Development
  • PERMIAS
  • SEASA (Southeast Asian Student Association)
  • Students for Justice in Palestine and Israel
  • Taiwanese Student Association
  • Turkish Student Association
  • Unicef

Contact Us

Asian Studies Faculty Directory

Director: Dr. Takaaki Suzuki

Asian Studies Program
Center for International Studies
Yamada International House
56 E. Union St.
Athens, Ohio 45701

740-593-9781 (tel)
740-593-1837 (fax)

Email: suzuki@ohio.edu