2002-04 HOME

Section I:
The University

Section II:
Graduation Requirements

Section III:
Majors, Minors, Courses

Asian Studies

2001-2002 Faculty: Basu (Asian studies/anthropology/women's studies), Chandler (philosophy), L. Chiang (Chinese language), Y. Chiang (history), Chiba (Asian studies/Japanese language), Harman (religious studies), Itoh (Asian studies/ Japanese language), Sahu (political science), Smogor (Asian studies/mathematics), Watt (director; Asian studies/religious studies).

The University offers a broad range of courses dealing with Indian, Chinese and Japanese cultures. The Asian Studies Committee, headed by the director of Asian Studies, oversees both a major in East Asian Studies and a minor in Asian Studies. Students with a special interest in Asia are urged to take advantage of opportunities to study, either for a term or a full academic year, in India, China or Japan. Graduates of the Asian studies program typically go on to employment in business and education or enter professional and graduate schools.

In addition to a major in East Asian Studies and a minor in Asian Studies, a minor in Japanese language is offered. Consult the Modern Languages section of the catalog.

The Asian Studies Committee periodically reviews the list of courses that may be applied to both the East ASian Studies major and the Asian Studies minor.

Requirements for a major in East Asian Studies:

Total courses required:

nine to eleven courses

Core courses:

two to four terms of Chinese or Japanese language beyond the 100 level, including: JAPN 251, JAPN 252, CHIN 261, CHIN 262, JAPN 351, JAPN 352, CHIN 361, JAPN 451 two of the following introductory courses: HIST 107, HIST 108, REL 130E (a course that always includes sections on China and Japan) ASIA 480

Other required courses:

Four courses from the following (two of the four courses must be at the 300-400 level): ASIA 240, ASIA 281, ASIA 282, ASIA 290 (when an East Asian topic), ASIA 390, ASIA 470 HIST 252, HIST 290 (when an East Asian topic), HIST 350, HIST 351, HIST 352, HIST 353, HIST 490 (Seminar: East Asia), HIST 491 PHIL 218 POLS 253 REL 258, REL 261, REL 262, REL 352, REL 491 (A number of other courses apply toward the Asian Studies program. See the Schedule of Classes each semester for a complete listing.)

# 300 and 400 level courses:

three courses

Senior requirement:

A student usually takes ASIA 480 in the fall term of the senior year; in it, the student will complete a substantial essay. The student will also be orally examined on the senior essay.

Additional information:

A maximum of two non-language courses per term may be counted toward the major from off-campus programs.

Requirements for a minor in Asian Studies:

Total courses required:

five courses

Core courses:

approved courses chosen from those listed for the major, drawn from at least two disciplines

Other courses:

In addition to the courses listed under the East Asian Studies major, the following courses may be applied toward the minor: ANTH 290 (when an appropriate topic), JAPN 151, JAPN 152, CHIN 161, CHIN 162, REL 130, REL 253, REL 257, REL 371, POLS 150. No more than two courses in Asian language and no more than two courses from an off-campus program may be included in the minor. The 300-400 level course must be taken on campus and may not be an independent study course.

# 300 and 400 level courses:

one course

Courses in Asian Studies

ASIA 240. Popular Chinese Film and Culture --1 course
The analytical viewing of popular Hong Kong films is used as the basis for this introduction to the Chinese people and their ways of life and thought.

ASIA 281. Traditional Japanese Literature --1 course
A survey of Japanese literature, in English translation, from the eighth to the 18th century. Works from a variety of genres (poetry, plays, novels, diaries) are examined.

ASIA 282. Modern Japanese Novelists --1 course
A study, in translation, of major Japanese novelists of the 19th and 20th centuries, including Natsume Soseki (Kokoro) and the Nobel prizewinner Kawabata Yasunari (Snow Country).

ASIA 290. Topics in Asian Studies --1 course
Usually a course on aspects of one of the societies and cultures studied in the Asian Studies program (India, China and Japan) or a comparative treatment of aspects of these cultures.

ASIA 390. Topics in East Asian Studies --1 course
Examines selected themes, genres or periods in Chinese and Japanese literature, or explores, in an interdisciplinary manner, issues and/or periods in Chinese and Japanese cultural and intellectual history. Prerequisite: HIST 107 , HIST 108 or REL 130E .

ASIA 470. Directed Readings in East Asian Studies --1 course
Independent study for majors or, by permission of the instructor, for students with significant coursework in an aspect of East Asian Studies.

ASIA 480. East Asian Studies Senior Seminar --1 course
Required of majors in East Asian Studies. Normally taken in the fall semester of the senior year.

©2001 DePauw University

email: sbates@depauw.edu