What Is the Asian Studies Program at Georgetown University?

The Asian Studies Program at Georgetown University is an academic program within the Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS), established more than forty years ago to meet demand for rigorous academic study of Asia. It treats the region as critically important to global affairs and organizes its work around that premise. If you are looking for a program that combines regional expertise with international affairs training, this is the relevant unit to examine — though the specific degrees, certificates, and admissions paths matter, so read the sections below before deciding.

Where it sits and what it covers

The program is housed in the Walsh School of Foreign Service, not a standalone department. That placement shapes its character: the study of Asia is approached through the lens of international affairs rather than purely through language, literature, or history departments.

Its stated founding purpose was to meet the demands for rigorous academic study of Asia, recognizing the region's critical importance in global affairs. That framing has held for over four decades.

Academic offerings

The program spans both undergraduate and graduate study. Confirmed from the program's own materials:

• Master of Arts in Asian Studies (MASIA) — a graduate degree. A student spotlight on the site features Sam Bresnick (MASIA '22), who went on to become a Research Fellow and Andrew W. Marshall Fellow at Georgetown's Center for Security and Emerging Technology.
• Undergraduate Certificate in South Asian Studies — announced as a new credential. The program page links to further details under "Learn More."
• Undergraduate study in Asian Studies — the program describes itself as serving both undergraduate and graduate learning directions.

The site does not publish tuition, application deadlines, or admission requirements on the pages reviewed here. Treat those as things to confirm directly with the program rather than assume.

What the program actually does beyond teaching

A significant share of the program's public activity is events and public conversation. Examples listed under ASP News:

The recurring US-China conference series and the Korea-focused fireside chat suggest the program's public programming leans toward contemporary geopolitics and U.S.–Asia relations. If you are evaluating the program for its events and network rather than only its curriculum, that pattern is worth noting.

The site also offers short introductions in Chinese (中文简介), Japanese (日本語案内), and Korean (한국어 안내), which is a practical signal for prospective students or visitors who read those languages.

How to decide whether it fits you

Ask three questions:

1. Do you want Asia studied through an international affairs school? If yes, the SFS placement is an advantage. If you want a disciplinary home in history, literature, or religion, a different unit may suit you better.
2. Which credential are you targeting? The MASIA is a graduate degree; the South Asian Studies certificate is undergraduate. They are not interchangeable, and the site does not present them as a single track.
3. Do you need funding, deadline, or eligibility details? Those are not in the material reviewed here. Go to the program's own admissions pages or contact the program directly.

For current specifics — course lists, faculty, application requirements, and the full terms of the new South Asian Studies certificate — the program's own site is the authoritative source.