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Asian Studies Development Program!

We are part of an initiative that promotes Asian studies in the United States and Asia.


As the first institution to become an Asian Studies Development Program (ASDP)* regional center, MCC has been involved for more than two decades in the development of Asian studies initiatives.

MCC and ASDP-EWC collaborate to strongly promote and support international education locally and nationally through grants, field studies, workshops and conferences.

Many of our programs are part of a series of on-going events organized by MCC and ASDP-EWC through grant related activity.

Mission and Approach

The initiative has a mission to provide teaching faculty with resources such as international seminars and programs and offer ongoing support for institutionally relevant Asian studies program development.

We promote diversity and global awareness inside and outside the classroom. An international perspective is infused in the curriculum through the Multicultural and Global Awareness Intensive Value requirements within our core curriculum. This requirement applies to your program of study.

More than 170 different MCC courses in all disciplines foster an ability to analyze historical or contemporary experiences of diversity in the United States and other parts of the world.

Activities

Through our core curriculum requirements, MCC promotes an understanding of the varied experiences and perspectives that exist within, or across, cultural boundaries and the nature of social inequality.

We offer a variety of extracurricular activities that revolve around multicultural or global awareness topics throughout the school year.

Our students enjoy special programs that embrace and celebrate international and cultural diversity with: 

  • Concerts
  • Performances 
  • Seminars
  • Speakers

To develop the ability to appreciate and communicate in various cultural contexts, we encourage you to participate in classes, co-curricular programming with an international emphasis, international fellowships, and projects.

*This initiative is sponsored by the ASDP, which is based at the East-West Center (EWC) and the University of Hawaii, Honolulu. The EWC's mission is to infuse Asian content and perspectives into the undergraduate core curriculum at American two- and four-year institutions. The ASDP network includes more than 500 institutions in 50 universities in Asia, 10 universities in Latin America, and 17 schools designated as regional centers.

50 + Universities in Asia
10 + Universities in Latin America
17 schools designated as regional centers

Globally Focused Programs

History, Politics & Global Studies

This concentration will prepare you to transfer into bachelor’s degree programs in any one of a number of Social Science and related disciplines such as:

  • History
  • American Studies
  • Political Science
  • Economics
  • Sociology
  • Public Policy
  • Education
  • Global Studies
  • International Business

The program is interdisciplinary in nature and examines social, economic, environmental and political issues from a current and historical perspective. Through the program’s focus, you are challenged to critically evaluate the commonalities and differences within various cultural and social frameworks, and look at relationships between national and international systems that influence the world community.

World Languages Option

The World Languages Option Associate in Arts, Liberal Arts and Sciences degree program is designed to:

  • Develop your global perspective
  • Prepare you to participate in a society characterized by linguistic and cultural diversity
  • Enable you to understand different cultures and value systems

This program option allows the student to master one world language at the Intermediate II level, and another at the Beginning II level. Language study will involve a seamless transition between Flexible Studies and traditional classroom settings. 

Graduates in this option will be able to transfer into a language major or minor, and to satisfy the intermediate-level language requirement, at a bachelor’s degree program. This program qualifies for MassTransfer, which guarantees credit transfer to Massachusetts state universities and the University of Massachusetts.