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. Please note that courses about the Asian American experience are considered ethnic studies courses and do not count for the Asian Studies minor.
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 such as 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 (Art of the Indian Subcontinent I)
ARTH 12A. Cultures & Ideas II (Art of the Indian Subcontinent II)
ARTH 11A. Cultures & Ideas I (China on the Silk Roads I)
ARTH 12A. Cultures & Ideas II (China on the Silk Roads II)
ARTH 11H. Cultures & Ideas I Honors (China on the Silk Roads I)
ARTH 12H. Cultures & Ideas II Honors (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 167. Cityscapes, Past and Present
ARTH 181. Animated Spaces: The Hindu Temple and its Global Forms
Communication Courses
COMM 181A. Asian Popular Culture: Global influence and Political Communication
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)
NEW HIST 48. China’s Rise to Global Power: 1949 to Present
NEW HIST 54/154. Modern India
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. China in Revolution: 1840 to Present
HIST 150. Gender and Sexuality in East Asia
HIST 151. Race and 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. Introduction to Chinese Language and Chinese-speaking Cultures I, II, III
CHIN 21–23. Chinese Language and Chinese-speaking Cultures I, II, III
CHIN 100–101. Advanced Chinese Conversation: Culture and Society I, II
NEW CHIN 103. Business Cultures in the Chinese-speaking World
CHIN 125. Love and Affection in Sinophone Films
CHIN 126. Sinophone Pop Culture in a Global Context
CHIN 127. Chinese History and Culture
CHIN 128. Social Justice in Taiwan: Past, Present, and Future
CHIN 137. Modern Chinese Culture
CHIN 197. Special Topics
CHIN 198. Directed Study
CHIN 199. Directed Reading
JAPN 1–3. Japanese Language and Culture I, II, III
JAPN 21–23. Japanese Language and Culture IV, V, VI
JAPN 100. Oral Communication in Japanese
JAPN 101. Japanese Popular Culture
JAPN 102. Contemporary Japanese Society Through Media
JAPN 103. Japanese Culinary Culture
JAPN 113–115. Readings in Japanese I, II, III
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)
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 66. Fabricating Nature in East Asia
RSOC 85. Hinduism
RSOC 86. Buddhism
RSOC 87. Buddhism and Film
RSOC 88. Chinese Religions
TESP 78. East Asian Literature and Christianity
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
TESP 194. Interreligious Studies
Women’s and Gender Studies Courses
WGST 126. Gender and Sexuality in East Asia