The Asia Pacific Religions Track trains students in the histories, spiritual practices, and texts of religions in the premodern, modern, and contemporary Asia Pacific region. These religious traditions include Hinduism, Buddhism, and other religious movements in the region as well as their global manifestations.
Students are encouraged to develop transnational, transdisciplinary, and translational research projects of consequence both within and beyond academia.
Taking advantage of USC’s location on the Pacific Rim, this track emphasizes advanced language competencies and is oriented towards collaborative scholarship with researchers based in the Asia Pacific region. Studies of comparative or trans-regional networks of religious life are also encouraged, including the study of Asia Pacific religions in the Americas or in other global contexts.
Students will also have access to advanced language training in multiple Asian languages and to the East Asian Collection at the Doheny Library (Chinese Collection, Japanese Collection, and the Korean Heritage Library).
Mandatory courses for students in the Asia Pacific Religions track include REL 545, 645, and one course from the 652/653/654/655 series.
Faculty in Asia Pacific Religions
For information on faculty areas of study and advisement, please click here.
Incoming graduate students will benefit from four nationally renowned East Asia research centers based at the university:
and a transnational research center:
Contact Us
Administrative Assistant II
Linda Wootton
wootton@usc.edu
Project Specialist
Johnna Tyrrell
johnnaty@usc.edu
USC School of Religion
825 Bloom Walk, ACB 130
Los Angeles, CA 90089
religion@usc.edu
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Sheila Briggs
sbriggs@usc.edu
Director of Graduate Studies
Cavan Concannon
concanno@usc.edu