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.
Language Requirement
Advanced facility in at least one Asian language is considered essential to the Asia Pacific Religions Track. Each student selects a primary language area. The mentoring committee determines which possible additional languages are necessary for the student’s course of study, and the procedures for the evaluation of proficiency in those languages. The following is provided as a guideline depending on the area of sub-specialization.
- Chinese: Classical and modern Chinese, as well as modern Japanese (as a research language) and a modern European research language.
- Japanese: Classical (Bungo) and modern Japanese, as well as Kanbun, and one modern research language (European, modern Chinese or modern Korean)
- Korean: Advanced Korean, as well as either modern Japanese (as a research language) or a European modern research language.
- Sanskrit and Hindi: Advanced competency in two South Asian languages, classical or modern, plus a modern research language judged relevant to the student’s research.
Faculty in Asia Pacific Religions
For information on faculty areas of study and advisement, please click here.
Contact Us
Chair
Cavan Concannon
concanno@usc.edu
Academic Program Manager
Angie Guerrero
angiegue@usc.edu
USC School of Religion
825 Bloom Walk, ACB 130
Los Angeles, CA 90089
religion@usc.edu
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Jill Hicks-Keeton
jill.hk@usc.edu
Director of Graduate Studies
Max Strassfeld
strassfe@usc.edu