Pacific Asia, including the nation states on the Asian shores of the Pacific Rim, the Koreas, Japan, China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, and Indonesia, is a region of great economic, political and strategic importance, possessing immense natural and human resources.

The major is designed to provide students with a coherent introduction to the language, history, and culture of Asian societies on the western rim of the Pacific Basin. While focusing on Pacific Asia, the program also supports the study of cultures from the Indian subcontinent and other regions of Asia. Each concentration provides an interdisciplinary understanding of the major social and historical forces at work in the region, supported by appropriate language training.

Graduates of the program either continue their studies at graduate institutions or utilize their knowledge and training through employment in government, business or education relating to this increasingly important region of the world.