Information
Clementine Fujimura, Ph.D.
Professor & Lead Coordinator
Area Studies Program
Languages and Cultures Department
U.S. Naval Academy
Annapolis, MD 21402
Objective: The new Area Studies Major will support midshipmen
1) as they become leaders who value diversity and create an ethical command climate;
2) who are effective communicators in foreign languages;
3) who are knowledgeable about various regions of the world;
4) who are adaptable,understanding and appreciate global cross-cultural dynamics;
5) who are critical and creative thinkers.
Learning Outcomes of the major:
1) Demonstrate an understanding of the field of Area Studies, its interdisciplinary nature and application to a naval officer’s career.
2) Demonstrate knowledge of common quantitative and qualitative social scientific methods and how they are applied to Area Studies ( to include, for example, cluster analysis, item response theory, survey methodology and sampling, ethnographic methods, and interview and narrative analysis).
3) Demonstrate knowledge about current discussions of the value of knowledge of languages and cultures (including their belief and value systems, economies, geography, governments, histories, literatures and arts) as the bases of Area Studies.
4) Demonstrate an ability to independently and critically analyze relevant examples of Area Studies, with a special focus on empirical studies that deal with societal developments in selected regions of the world.
5) Communicate, via oral and written presentation, substantial knowledge on one area/region of the world utilizing methods learned in the major.
Regions of Study: Currently we are only offering Asia/Pacific and Middle East/Africa
AREA LANGUAGES
1. Africa* Arabic, French and Portuguese
2. Europe* French, German, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish
3. Asia/Pacific Chinese, Japanese and Russian
4. Latin America* Spanish and Portuguese
5. Middle East/North Africa Arabic and French
Program Summary:
● Three disciplinary concentrations to choose from: Cultural, Historical, or Political
● Six Language Courses (plus one to earn a language minor)
● Area Studies Introductory Course
● Methods and Capstone courses in selected discipline
● Minimum of three regionally focused major electives