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Asian Studies Career Paths

Industry Areas

Here are examples of industry areas students enter with this major, jobs/internships, typical employers that hire students, skills employers look for, and examples of where alumni work.  To find more information make an appointment with your career counselor/advisor.

Industry Areas for Asian Studies
Industry|Employers
Job/Roles
Skills
Alumni

Education

Universities and colleges
Campus cultural centers
Support programs, e.g. Educational Advancement Program, Upward Bound
School and community libraries
K-12 schools, public and private
Head Start programs
Non-profit organizations including those promoting literacy, e.g. VISTA
Adult education programs, e.g. those focusing on GED preparation

Higher Education:
Teaching
Research
Student Affairs Administration Including:

  • International Student Services
  • Study Abroad
  • Multicultural Programming
  • Student Support Services

Information/Library Science
Primary and Secondary Education
Community Education:

  • Literacy
  • English as a Second Language
  • GED Preparation

K-12: 

  • Coordination
  • public speaking
  • critical thinking
  • writing
  • social perceptiveness
  • complex problem solving.

Higher Ed:

  • Research
  • Writing
  • critical thinking
  • judgment and decision making
  • presentations

University of Maryland, Professor
Teach For America, Manager of Professional Recruitment
Chicago Public Schools, Teacher
Glenbrook North High School, English Department Instructor

Advocacy
(Public Policy & Activism)

Community action agencies
Non-profit organizations, e.g. Asian American Alliance
Private voluntary organizations
Faith based organizations (FBO’s) and Asian-American church communities
International aid and relief organizations
Non-governmental Organizations (NGO’s), e.g. International Red Cross
Federal government agencies with an international focus, e.g. Peace Corps, USAIDor focus on community assistance, e.g. Americorps
State and local government agencies
Research organizations
Community action agencies

Domestic and International Advocacy
Humanitarian Services
Development:

  • Economic
  • Community
  • Housing

Disaster/Disease Relief
HIV/AIDS Advocacy
Policy Development
Program Administration
Education
Volunteer Coordination
Grant Writing
Fundraising/Development
Research

Administrative
Communication
Foreign Language
Multitasking
Leadership
Prioritizing
Analytical Thinking
Attention to Detail
Time Management
Writing Skills
Active Learning

Human Rights Watch, Media Desk Officer
Clean Air Council, Energy Policy Analyst
The Nature Conservancy, Deputy Ethics and Compliance Officer

Human Services
(Medicine & Healthcare)

Mental health institutions
Hospitals and clinics
Residential treatment facilities
Private and group practice
Correctional institutions
Federal, state, or local government, including:
Department of Human Services
Organizations that aid immigrants, migrant workers, and refugees or focus on cultural issues
Youth organizations and camps including:

  • YMCA’s
  • Boys and Girls Clubs

Non-profit and social services organizations including:

  • United Way
  • Goodwill Industries
  • Salvation Army

Church-based programs

Counseling
Psychotherapy
Mental Health Services
Case Management
Programming
Community Relations
Fundraising/Development
Administration

Flexibility
Cross functional teamwork
Analytical ability
Communication skills
Time and project management
Technical and design (for research and manufacturing roles)
Engineering coursework (for manufacturing based positions)

Schwab Rehab Hospital
The Children's Heart Clinic, Physician
Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc. & Aff, Director, R&D Operations

Business

Public and private corporations in various industries including:

  • Banks and financial institutions
  • Insurance companies
  • Retail stores
  • Hotels and restaurants
  • Consumer goods manufacturers

Businesses targeting Asians
Staffing agencies
Consulting firms
Market research firms specializing in Asians
Public relations agencies
Asian firms operating in the U.S.
U.S. firms with operations in Asia
Asian chambers of commerce
Minority Business Development Center

  • Asian trade associations, e.g. Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce (APACC)
  • Travel agencies and tour operators
    Convention and visitors’ bureaus

International Business
Importing/Exporting
Logistics
Banking
Management
Customer Service
Sales
Marketing
Advertising
Public Relations
Training and Development
Human Resources
Equity and Diversity Functions
Travel and Tourism
Consulting

Problem-Solving Skills
Analytical Thinking Skills
Leadership & Team Based Skills
Business Judgment
Communication Skills
Project Management
Professionalism

VIZIO, Lead Application Developer
Directions Research Inc.
Kingdon Capital Management, LLC, Analyst
The Gathering Group, Marketing and Social Media Coordinator
Accenture LLP, Management Consultant
J.P. Morgan, Vice President

Law and Politics

Law firms
Corporate legal departments
Public defenders offices
District attorneys
Public interest groups, e.g. Asian American Legal Defense & Education Fund (AALDEF)
Civil rights organizations, e.g. Asian Americans Advancing Justice
Legal aid
Sole practitioner
Government agencies, e.g. Department of State (foreign service)
Lobbying groups

Law

  • Corporate Practice
  • Public Interest Law
  • Civil Law

Lobbying
Government Relations
Elected or Appointed Leadership
Public Policy
Research
Intelligence
Campaign Management
Special Interest Advocacy
Program Administration

Administrative
Analytical Thinking
Attention to Detail
Time Management
Writing Skills
Active Learning

Grimshaw and Harring, Associate Attorney
New York County District Attorney's Office Appeals Bureau, Assistant District Attorney
US Department of State, Foreign Service Officer
Willey & Bentaleb LLP, Partner

Media and The Arts

Broadcast media companies including television and movie industry
Radio stations
Foreign news agencies
Trade, professional, or consumer publications
Internet sites marketed toward Asian Americans
Advertising agencies
Publishing houses
Large corporations
Freelance
Museums
Galleries
Organizations and centers dedicated to promoting Asian visual and performing arts, e.g. Asian American Arts Alliance
Smithsonian Institution (Freer & Sackler Galleries)

Journalism
Creative Writing
Freelance Writing
Copy Writing
Editing
Research and Analysis
Broadcasting:

  • Television
  • Radio
  • Media Sales

Museum Work
Arts Programming
Art Sales
Fundraising/Development

strong interpersonal skills
attention to detail
ability to multitask
organizational skills
time management
verbal and written communication
ability to work collaboratively in a team environment
computer and technical skills (in various forms of electronic media)         

Columbia Records, Vice President, Visual Media
About.com (New York Times), Guide to China
Mars, Inc., Global Media Director
Boston Symphony Orchestra, Senior Publicist

Nonprofit

Nonprofit organizations
Social service agencies
Hospitals and medical centers
Faith based organizations (FBO’s) and Asian-American church communities
Private foundations, e.g. The Ford Foundation
International organizations, e.g. The World Health Organization, The International Red Cross
Special interest groups, e.g. Asian American Alliance
Trade or professional associations
Libraries
Educational institutions
Cultural heritage organizations
Historical sites

Administration
Program Management and Development
Fund Raising/Development
Grant Writing
Research
Policy Analysis
Service Delivery
Volunteer Coordination
Community Education
Public Relations and Marketing

Creativity
Multi-tasking
Interpersonal
Time Management
Service Orientation
Writing
Social
Perceptiveness                      
Enthusiasm & knowledge for the cause

The Brooking Institution, Research Analyst/Publications Manager
Literacy Volunteers, Director
American Geophysical Union, Assistant Director, Executive Office

Popular Industries (According to LinkedIn)

  • Media and Communication (15%)
  • Research (12%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Marketing (9%)
  • Entrepreneurship (9%)

Professional Associations