Asian Study Courses

This interdisciplinary course offers an in-depth study of pre-modern China and Japan (from their beginnings to the eighteen century) through selected representative literary works and paintings. The readings will be original Chinese and Japanese Literary works, but in English translations. All the texts will be examined in relation to their historical, cultural contexts. The course will trace the evolution (the formation and development) of the rich and unique cultural and literary traditions of the two countries during their pre-modern period, by examining their myths, religions, ethics, and aesthetics that have historically defined identities of the two countries. Through close reading and discussion of the tests, students are encouraged to compare and contrast the "literary meanings" of the two countries (and the West) to see connectionism differences, continuities, and discontinuities.

Credit: 3 Hours

This interdisciplinary course offers an in-depth study of modern and post-modern China and Japan (from the nineteenth century to the present) through studying and analyzing selected representative literary works from various schools of influential writers and film makers. The readings will be original Chinese and Japanese literary works, but in English translations. All the texts will be examined in relation to their historical, cultural, and political contexts. The course will explore the transition from the imperial (China)/feudal (Japan) system to the modern state as reflected in their literary works, by focusing on the changes brought by the forceful entry of the West on the political, cultural, and economic fabrics of the two societies.

Credit: 3 Hours

Pronunciation, practice in character recognition, speaking, and sentence structure.

Credit: 3 Hours

Emphasizes pronunciation, writing, speaking, and reading. Prerequisite: Chinese 101 or written permission of instructor

Credit: 3 Hours

An interdisciplinary study of Chinese culture, including history politics, literature, and the arts, as well as Chinese customs.

Credit: 3 Hours

Pronunciation, further practice in character recognition, speaking, sentence structure, approached through readings based on culture of China.

Credit: 3 Hours

Continued practice in pronunciation, character recognition, speaking, and sentence structure, approached through more advanced readings based on culture of China.

Credit: 3 Hours

This course is a continuation of Chinese 202, with continued emphasis on vocabulary-building, and work on skills in listening comprehension, speaking, reading comprehension, and writing, Language will be introduced in relevant cultural contexts and through authentic materials.

Credit: 3 Hours

This course is a continuation of Chinese 301, with more emphasis on writing. Increased emphasis will be given to writing short essays in Chinese characters, writing for communication in real-life situations, and using available sources to discover useful cultural information.

Credit: 3 Hours

This course is an introduction to and exploration of the cultural and historical dimensions of East Asian cinemas (e.g. China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Japan). Through interpretations of selected films and reading materials, this course analyzes the socio-political issues, economics, woman’s issues, traditions, and national identity.

Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing or written permission of instructor

Credit: 3 Hours

This interdisciplinary course is a study of visual culture in China since the early 20th century through selected texts and illustrations. Visual culture in this course is broadly defined, with a focus on texts and visual art in mass culture, such as advertisements, popular prints, posters, and video clips. This course is to use texts as well as advertis¬ing and other elements of visual art in mass culture as means of com¬municating socio-cultural information that students will use to learn about culture, economy, and society in modern China. The study of culture is both visual and textual. Cross-listed as MASS 385.

Prerequisites: Sophomore standing

Credit: 3 Hours

Introduction to East Asian social, cultural, and political development from prehistory to the middle of the 19th century. The course focuses predominantly on China as the hearth of East Asian civilization.

Credit: 3 Hours

Social, cultural, and political developments in East Asia from the 19th century to the present. The course explores East Asian societies’ carried responses to the challenges presented by contact with the West, as well as different courses taken with regard to the process of modernization.

Credit: 3 Hours

Supervised travel to study leadership in foreign countries that are experiencing significant change. With the approval of the appropriate department, students majoring in History, International Business Management, Modern Languages, and Political Science may elect to take the course of 3 credit hours in their major department. The work of the courses may then be modified to include discipline specific work.

Credit: 3 Hours

Historically based understanding of emergence of contemporary China as a world power. Economic, political, and social trends in People’s Republic of China today.

Prerequisite: History 225

Credit: 3 Hours

Selected nations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America compared and contrasted with respect to their traditional political systems, growth of nationalism, evolution of leadership and factions, contemporary socioeconomic framework of constitutional development, and their governmental problems.

Credit: 3 Hours

Comparison of selected Asian civilizations, emphasizing emergence of new nation states from old cultures, contrasting patterns of political and economic development, and current state of political affairs in each country studied.

Credit: 3 Hours

A comparative examination of the egalitarian leadership styles and the traditions of North America which contrasts them with the “great leader” views commonly found elsewhere with special attention to Europe and Asia. Such Figures as Alexander the Great, Charles De Gaulle, Benjamin Franklin, John F. Kennedy, George Washington, and Mao Zedong are considered.

Credit: 3 Hours