Asian Studies

Director: Gregory P. Corning

The Asian Studies minor is designed to provide an introduction to the cultures and languages of Asia. Courses in several disciplines enable students to sample different dimensions of Asian cultures as well as focus on a specific area of interest. Students are strongly urged to spend a summer or quarter in one of the University-approved study abroad programs in Asia.

Requirements for the Minor

Students must complete the following requirements for a minor in Asian studies:

Culture Courses

  • Two lower-division courses and four upper-division courses (maximum of two upper-division courses from a student's major and three in any one department) selected from the list of approved courses

  • Culture courses include approved offerings in disciplines including art history, communication, history, philosophy, political science, and religious studies

Language Courses

  • Completion of the third course of the first-year, college-level sequence in an Asian language (Japanese and Chinese are offered) or demonstration of an equivalent level of proficiency by passing a language proficiency examination supervised by the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures

  • Non-native speakers of English may satisfy this requirement by presenting professionally recognized documentation of proficiency in an Asian language

Upper-Division Courses: Asian Studies

ASIA 199. Directed Reading/Directed Research

Note: In addition to the courses listed below, many departments offer occasional special topics, directed reading, and seminar courses on Asian studies topics. Students should consult with the program director to determine the applicability of these courses, as well as study abroad courses, to the minor.

Art History Courses

ARTH 11A. Cultures & Ideas I (China on the Silk Roads I)

ARTH 12A. Cultures & Ideas II (China on the Silk Roads II)

ARTH 26. Art! Making China Modern

ARTH 66. Fabricating Nature in East Asia

ARTH 81. Modern Indian Art

ARTH 166. From Emaki to Manga

ARTH 181. Animated Spaces: The Hindu Temple and its Global Forms

Communication Courses

COMM 189A. Communication, Identity, and Globalization in Asia

History Courses

HIST 11A. Cultures & Ideas I (Across the Pacific I)

HIST 12A. Cultures & Ideas II (Across the Pacific II)

HIST 55. Southeast Asia

HIST 92. Modern East Asia

HIST 146A. Medieval and Early Modern Japan

HIST 146B. Modern Japan in the World

HIST 147A. Wonders of Ancient China

HIST 147B. Modern China

HIST 150. Gender and Sexuality in East Asia

HIST 151. Imperialism in East Asia

HIST 152. History of Christianity in China

HIST 159. Special Topics in Asian History

HIST 197. Senior Project

HIST 199. Directed Reading/Directed Research

Modern Language and Literatures Courses

CHIN 1--3. Elementary Chinese I, II, III

CHIN 21--23. Intermediate Chinese I, II, III

CHIN 100--102. Advanced Chinese I, II, III

NEW CHIN 125. Language of Love and Affection in Sinophone Films

CHIN 127. Chinese History and Culture

CHIN 137. Modern Chinese Culture

CHIN 197. Special Topics

CHIN 198. Directed Study

CHIN 199. Directed Reading

JAPN 1--3. Elementary Japanese I, II, III

JAPN 21--23. Intermediate Japanese I, II, III

JAPN 100--102. Advanced Japanese I, II, III

NEW JAPN 103. Japanese Culinary Culture

JAPN 113--115. Readings in Japanese I, II, III

JAPN 137. Japanese Culture

JAPN 198. Directed Study

JAPN 199. Directed Reading

Philosophy Courses

PHIL 11A. Cultures & Ideas I (Beauty, Truth, and Goodness I)

PHIL 12A. Cultures & Ideas II (Beauty, Truth, and Goodness II)

NEW PHIL 21B. Introduction to Ethics in Chinese Philosophy

PHIL 174. Uncertainty, Conflict, and Self-Development: Chinese Perspectives

PHIL 175. Chinese Philosophy

PHIL 176. Buddhist Philosophy

PHIL 177. Indian Philosophy

Political Science Courses

POLI 122. Asia-Pacific International Relations

POLI 199. Directed Reading

Religious Studies Courses

RSOC 7. South and Southeast Asian Religious Traditions

RSOC 10. Asian Religious Traditions

RSOC 11. Asian Christianity

RSOC 85. Hinduism

RSOC 86. Buddhism

RSOC 87. Buddhism and Film

RSOC 88. Chinese Religions

RSOC 106. Zen in Theory and Practice

RSOC 115. Tibetan Buddhism: A Cultural History

RSOC 130. East Asian Buddhism

RSOC 199. Directed Reading and Research

NEW TESP 194. Interreligious Studies