Students take a minimum of 18 credits to fulfill the minor, 15 of which may not simultaneously be counted towards the Core or other major/minor requirements. The minor begins with an introductory survey course on Asia as a world region from the vantage point of a particular discipline (such as art, literature, history, or philosophy), and concludes with a senior capstone course that approaches a particular topic relevant to the study of Asia from an interdisciplinary perspective. Along the way, students have ample opportunity to hone their interdisciplinary skills and global outlook through a wide range of lower and upper level electives in different departments. Although no more than an intermediate proficiency in an Asian language is required (the same as the University Core requirement), further language study is encouraged.

Students who test out of the Core language requirement on the basis of native proficiency in an Asian language are strongly encouraged to study another Asian language on any level. Students interested in learning a second Asian language can count those as electives, including at the elementary level. In general, students principally interested in language-study can use all their electives for language courses beyond the Core requirement as long as they take 1 course on Asia as a world region and 1 interdisciplinary capstone course.