Welcome...
The Department of Asian Studies was formed in 1994 to provide a focus within The University of Texas at Austin for the creation and dissemination of knowledge about Asia, principally East Asia (China, Japan, and Korea) and South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Afghanistan). With over forty instructors, the Department is one of the largest and most distinguished in the country. It offers courses in ten Asian languages: Bengali, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Malayalam, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, and Vietnamese. The Department teaches the histories, cultures, religions, and literatures of Asia, as well as the contemporary issues facing Asian countries from economic and ecological issues to security and ethnic conflicts.
The Department also houses the Center for East Asian Studies. Besides promoting the study of East Asia within The University of Texas, the Center engages in outreach to Texas communities, civic organizations, and businesses. The Center for East Asian Studies and its webpage are in the process of being reorganized. Please refer to the Department of Asian Studies events calendar for for information about East Asia lectures and other events.
Current News
Patrick Olivelle interviewed by ABC in Australia on King Asoka
King Asoka was the ancient king of India who converted to Buddhism and initiated a sweeping moral reform. Legends of Asoka are numerous but it's only in the last century that his real history has become known as historian of Sanskrit literature at the University Texas, Patrick Olivelle, explains.
Devon Reynolds receives Unrestricted Endowed Presidential Scholarship
Award recognizes outstanding academic achievement
Ishan Chakrabarti receives University Co-op / George H. Mitchell Award
Award recognizes academic excellence
Graduate Students Receive Fellowships and Awards
Congratulations to our Masters and Ph.D. students on their awards
Ph.D. Students Awarded Fellowships by the Office of Graduate Studies
Congratulations to Urmila Patil, Shaohua Guo, David Brick, and Maeri Megumi, all of whom will receive fellowships from Graduate Studies for the 2008-2009 academic year.
These Graduate Studies fellowships are among the most prestigious awards made by the University to current graduate students.
Graduation 2008
The Department of Asian Studies congratulates its undergraduate and graduate students who graduated this academic year!
View photos from the graduation luncheon
Doctoral Candidates Receive Grants to Conduct Research in India
Peter Knapczyk and Nathan Tabor received multiple grants to conduct research in India during the 2008-2009 academic year.