Undergraduate Course Descriptions
ASAN 201 Introduction to Asian Studies: East Asia
(3)
Understanding East Asia through multidisciplinary approaches. Examines
the interrelationship of policies, economy, literature, religion, the
arts, and history as the basis for such an understanding.
ASAN 202 Introduction to Asian Studies: South/Southeast
Asia (3)
Understanding South and Southeast Asia through
multidisciplinary approaches. Examines the interrelationship of
policies, economy, literature, religion, the arts, and history as the
basis for such an understanding.
ASAN 241 Civilizations of Asia (3)
Historical survey of major civilizations of Asia from earliest times:
East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. (Cross-listed as HIST 241)
AH2
ASAN 242 Civilizations of Asia (3)
Continuation of 241. (Cross-listed as HIST 242) AH2
ASAN 310 Asian Humanities (3)
Multidisciplinary. Classics of literature, philosophy, and religion
shaping Asian beliefs and values. Pre: 201 and 202, or consent.
ASAN 312 Contemporary Asian Civilization (3)
Multidisciplinary examination of problems and issues affecting peoples
and institutions of contemporary Asia: ethnic, language, religious,
and cultural differences; population growth; public health; economic
development; political and social change; environmental problems;
etc. Pre: 201 and 202, or consent. SS
ASAN 320 (Alpha) Asian Nation Studies (3)
Multidisciplinary examination of major Asian countries; cultural,
social, economic, and political lives of their peoples. (C) China; (I)
South Asia; (J) Japan; (K) Korea; (P) Philippines; (S) Southeast Asia;
(Z) Other. Pre: 201 and 202, or consent.
ASAN 323 The Way of Tea in Japanese History and Culture (3)
History and culture of Japan as revealed in study and practice of tea
ceremony: Zen, aesthetics, calligraphy, architecture, ceramics,
gardens, politics. Pre: HIST 151 and HIST 152. (Cross-listed as HIST
323)
ASAN 325 Japanese Film: Art and History (3)
Study and analysis of Japanese film; its history and relationship to
cultural, social, philosophical, and aesthetic contexts. Pre: upper
division standing or consent. (Cross-listed as EALL 325)
ASAN 330 Chinese Film: Art and History (3)
Study and analysis of Chinese film; its history and relationship to
cultural, social, philosophical, and aesthetic contexts. Pre: 201 and
202, or consent.
ASAN 393 (Alpha) Field Study in Asia (3)
Students may submit proposals to have academic course work, field
research, or work experience in Asia. See specific center for
guidelines and procedures. (C) China; (I) South Asia; (J) Japan; (K)
Korea; (P) Philippines; (S) Southeast Asia; (Z) Other.
ASAN 463 Gender Issues in Asian Society (3)
Construction of gender identities in contemporary Asia. How these
interface with other aspects of social difference and inequality
(e.g., with class, religion, ethnicity). Pre: 201 and 202, or any WS
course, or consent. (Crosslisted as WS 463)
ASAN 469 Ethnic Diversity in China (3)
Surveying Tibetans, Mongols, Manchus, Muslims, and other minorities,
as well as analyzing the nature of minority/majority identity in China
from an anthropological perspective. Pre: 201 and 202, or consent.
ASAN 473 Chinese Diaspora and Visual Media (3)
Course focuses on the role of visual media in shaping social
relationships and cultural practices of Chinese communities living in
Taiwan, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, Europe, and Northern
America. Include examinations of films, theatre and musical
productions, video-culture, art exhibitions, and photography. Pre: any
300-level course in AMST EALL, ENG, ES or WS; or
consent. (Cross-listed as EALL 473) DH
ASAN 480 Culture and Economy of Southeast Asia
(3)
An exploration of the cultural and economic development of the
countries of Southeast Asia from early times to the present day, with
an emphasis on the effects of outside influences. Pre: 201 and 202, or
consent.
ASAN 482 The Political Economy of Japan (3)
Institutions, processes, and dynamics of the contemporary Japanese
political economy including business/government relations, industrial
relations, and international dimensions. Pre: 201 and 202, or consent.
ASAN 484 Society and Politics in China (3)
Interdisciplinary review and analysis of social and political issues
in contemporary China, interchange between state and society in
national policies, relationship between cultural tradition and
technological modernization in the socialist transformation
process. Pre: 310, 312, or SOC 356; or consent. (Cross-listed as POLS
484)
ASAN 485 Contemporary Chinese Development (3)
Development and planning in contemporary China: economic policy and
institutional structure in the development and urbanization process;
urban and rural transformation in a socialist economy. Pre: upper
division standing or consent.
ASAN 491 (Alpha) Topics in Asian Studies (3)
Selected topics in Asian studies. (B) Buddhist studies; (C) China; (G)
Asia; (I) South Asia; (J) Japan; (K) Korea; (P) Philippines; (S)
Southeast Asia; (Z) Other. Pre: 201 or 202, or consent.
ASAN 493 Development and Poverty in Asia (3)
Social transformations by capitalism in agricultural and industrial
sectors of contemporary societies. Perspective is historical and
global; approach is interdisciplinary. Repeatable twice. Pre: 201 and
202, or consent.
ASAN 496 Religions of Island Southeast Asia
(3)
A comparative, interdisciplinary examination of indigenous beliefs,
Islam, Christianity, and Hinduism in island Southeast Asia, and how
they have been adjusted because of economic and social change. Pre:
201 and 202, or consent.
ASAN 499 Directed Reading (V)
Pre: consent.
Degree Planning Tools
The Asian Studies Program offers students two degree planning tools: a degree planning matrix that shows probably course offerings for the next few years. Please realize that this is only tentative, and may change; and a degree planning tool that shows when courses that fall under Asian Studies have been taught. This provides an good indication of when they may be taught again.
In addition, each center will have a list of courses, with descriptions, that are applicable to their area. Southeast Asia Japanese studies Chinese studies Korean studies Philippine Studies South Asian studies