Catalog 2024-2025

Asian Studies

Teaching Faculty

Faculty Contact: Gorvine and Liu
Interdisciplinary Minors Program Chair: Liu

Description

Minor in Asian Studies

6 courses in one of the two tracks listed below:

  • The Language Track*         
    • CHIN 110 Beginning Chinese I
    • CHIN 120 Beginning Chinese II
    • CHIN 210 Intermediate Chinese I
    • Three content courses from the non-language track listed below with at least two at the 300-level or above
  • The Non-Language Track
    Six courses from the following list of which:
  • Two must be at the 300 - level or above
  • Two disciplines must be included

    ANTH 385 Anthropology Special Topics**
    ASIA 191 East Asian Popular Cultures
    ASIA 204 Asia through Role-play
    ASIA 350 Topics in Asian Studies
    CHIN/ASIA 190 Chinese Martial Arts Novels and Film
    CHIN/ASIA 290 Gods Demons and the Supernatural
    CHIN/ASIA 295 Topics in Chinese Literature 
    ENGL 397 Vietnam in the Literary Imagination
    HIST 360 Vietnam and the 60s
    POLI 440 Advanced Topics in International Relations**
    RELI 111 Asian Religions
    RELI 218 Buddhist Contemplation
    RELI 223 Hindu Texts and Traditions
    RELI 238 Tibetan Religion and Culture
    RELI 280 Topics in Religious Studies**
    RELI 309 Yoga Past and Present
    RELI 334 Extraordinary Buddhist Lives
    RELI 380 Advanced Topics in Religion**

       

      *Upon Approval of the Interdisciplinary Minors chair in consultation with the Asian Studies faculty representatives, additional language courses may be counted towards the minor in place of content courses. 

      **Topics courses must have a substantive and geographic focus on countries of Asia or the region. Must be approved by the Interdisciplinary Minors Program Chair in consultation with the Asian Studies faculty representative.

      ***Note: The Asian Studies Program encourages all students to study abroad and to purse culturally immersive forms of engaged learning about Asia. Contact the Interdisciplinary Minors chair about possible substitutions for transfer or study abroad credits.

      Program Course Listings

      The courses for this program are organized into the following categories:

      Asian Studies Courses

      ASIA 190

      Chinese Martial Arts Novels & Films

      This course is taught completely in English with no prerequisite. In this course students study a specific genre and motif, “gods, demons and the supernatural,” in Chinese traditional and contemporary literature. By reading this genre and motif, this course provides students a strong foundation to understand Chinese traditional cultures through Chinese traditional thoughts and religious beliefs, as well as to comprehend modern Chinese cultures which are influenced by both Chinese traditional cultures and Western ideologies. Cross-listed as CHIN 190.

      Literary Studies LS
      ASIA 191

      East Asian Popular Cultures

      This course introduces select aspects of 20th century East Asian popular cultures, such as popular music, film, television shows, cartoon and comics, Internet, etc. We discuss various issues that emerge in reference to popular culture, for example: what is popular culture; how do people respond to or “consume” it in their daily lives; and how gender, class, race and other kinds of social identities are imagined and contested in popular culture.

      Literary Studies LS
      ASIA 204

      Asia through Role-play

      This course introduces Asian cultures, including values and history, to students through role-play games. Through reading historical and philosophical texts closely, students understand Asian traditional cultures and values and play roles of historical characters to relive the critical historical moments in Asian history. The games are elaborate and competitive and allow multiple outcomes. Possible game topics include Confucianism and the Succession Crisis of the Wanli Emperor (1587), Japan, Pan-Asianism, and the West (1940-41), Defining a Nation: India on the Eve of Independence, 1945, etc.

      Historical Perspectives HP
      Values, Beliefs and Ethics VA
      ASIA 290

      Gods Demons and the Supernatural

      This course studies a specific genre and common motifs, "gods, demons and the supernatural", in Chinese traditional and contemporary literature. "Literature" includes works of poetry, philosophical writings, classical tales, vernacular short stories, fiction, and drama. Through reading this particular genre, students understand and critically analyze Chinese literature in its own historical, cultural, social and intellectual background. This course is taught completely in English. Cross-listed as CHIN 290.

      Literary Studies LS
      Values, Beliefs and Ethics VA
      ASIA 295

      Topics in Chinese Literature

      A topics course in Chinese literature. This course explores various genres, movements, literary periods or topics in Chinese literature. This course can be repeated for additional credits as long as the section topics are different. Consult the online course schedule for information about the topics currently scheduled to be taught. Cross-listed as CHIN 295.

      Literary Studies LS
      ASIA 350

      Topics in Asian Studies

      A seminar course whose topics utilize approaches from a range of disciplines, reflecting the interdisciplinary teaching and research interests of faculty. This course can be repeated for additional credits as long as the section topics are different. Consult the online course schedule for information about the topics currently scheduled to be taught.

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