East Asian Studies

With the world's most populous nation and some of its largest economies, East Asia is a region of growing significance. It consists of areas encompassed by present day China, Japan, and Korea (and sometimes also Mongolia, Myanmar, Siberia, and Vietnam). The minor consists of a program of study combining language training, off-campus study, required core courses in various disciplines, and supporting courses, including a designated capstone course. The underlying logic of the minor seeks to highlight both the similarities and differences in the societies and cultures of East Asia and to generate increased understanding of a vital part of the modern world.

Requirements for the East Asian Studies Minor

The East Asian Studies Minor requires a total of 42 credits, with at least 6 credits drawn from each of the three Asian Studies distribution areas (Literary/Artistic Analysis, Humanistic Inquiry or Social Inquiry)

18 credits in core courses, drawn from at least two of the three Asian Studies distribution areas

24 credits from additional courses, drawn from at least two of the three Asian Studies distribution areas, and including a designated East Asia-related capstone course.

Courses taken on off-campus programs may be applied to the minor.

Normally, at least one term of off-campus study in East Asia

One year of study of an East Asian language, or its equivalent. For languages offered at Carleton, this will involve completion of a language through 103, or its equivalent. For languages not offered at Carleton, it will involve completion of the equivalent of 103.

Core Courses: 18 credits from among the following; courses must be from at least two distribution areas

  • ARTH 165 Japanese Art and Culture (not offered 2017-18)
  • ARTH 166 Chinese Art and Culture (not offered 2017-18)
  • HIST 153 History of Modern China
  • HIST 156 History of Modern Korea (not offered 2017-18)
  • RELG 151 Religions in Chinese Culture (not offered 2017-18)
  • RELG 152 Religions in Japanese Culture
  • RELG 153 Introduction to Buddhism (not offered 2017-18)

Supporting Courses: 24 credits from among the following; courses must be from at least two distribution areas.

  • ARTH 164 Buddhist Art (not offered 2017-18)
  • ARTH 165 Japanese Art and Culture (not offered 2017-18)
  • ARTH 166 Chinese Art and Culture (not offered 2017-18)
  • ARTH 209 Chinese Painting (not offered 2017-18)
  • ARTH 220 Origins of Manga: Japanese Prints (not offered 2017-18)
  • ARTH 267 Gardens in China and Japan (not offered 2017-18)
  • ASLN 111 Writing Systems (not offered 2017-18)
  • ASLN 260 Historical Linguistics
  • ASST 284 New Media Seminar: History and Culture of Japan
  • CHIN 206 Chinese in Cultural Context
  • CHIN 240 Chinese Cinema (not offered 2017-18)
  • CHIN 248 The Structure of Chinese (not offered 2017-18)
  • CHIN 250 Chinese Popular Culture (not offered 2017-18)
  • CHIN 347 Advanced Reading in Contemporary Chinese Prose: Newspapers (not offered 2017-18)
  • CHIN 348 Advanced Chinese: The Mass Media (not offered 2017-18)
  • CHIN 349 Advanced Chinese: Social Commentary (not offered 2017-18)
  • CHIN 355 Contemporary Short Stories (not offered 2017-18)
  • CHIN 360 Classical Chinese (not offered 2017-18)
  • CHIN 363 Conversation and Composition: The Liberal Arts in Chinese
  • ECON 240 Microeconomics of Development
  • ENTS 260 Comparative Agroecology
  • ENTS 261 Field Investigation in Comparative Agroecology
  • HIST 254 Colonialism in East Asia (not offered 2017-18)
  • HIST 255 Rumonrs, Gossip, and News in East Asia (not offered 2017-18)
  • HIST 256 History of Urban China (not offered 2017-18)
  • JAPN 206 Japanese in Cultural Context
  • JAPN 231 Japanese Cinema in Translation
  • JAPN 243 The Other in Modern Japanese Literature and Society in Translation (not offered 2017-18)
  • JAPN 244 The World of Anime in Translation (not offered 2017-18)
  • JAPN 254 World of Japanese Manga in Translation (not offered 2017-18)
  • JAPN 345 Advanced Reading in Modern Japanese Literature: The Short Story
  • JAPN 352 Advanced Japanese Through Manga and Contemporary Materials (not offered 2017-18)
  • JAPN 353 Thinking About Environmental Issues in Japanese
  • LING 285 The Linguistics of the Japanese Writing System
  • LING 286 The Structure of Japanese
  • MUSC 182 Chinese Musical Instruments
  • MUSC 182J Chinese Musical Instruments (Juried)
  • MUSC 282 Chinese Musical Instruments
  • MUSC 282J Chinese Musical Instruments (Juried)
  • POSC 170 International Relations and World Politics
  • POSC 237 Southeast Asian Politics (not offered 2017-18)
  • POSC 248 The U.S.-China Relationship
  • POSC 264 Politics of Contemporary China (not offered 2017-18)
  • POSC 378 Social Changes in Southeast Asia (not offered 2017-18)
  • POSC 379 Diversity of Social Ecological Systems in Southeast Asia
  • RELG 250 Buddhism and Ecology (not offered 2017-18)
  • RELG 254 Zen Buddhism
  • RELG 280 The Politics of Sex in Asian Religion (not offered 2017-18)

Capstone Course: To be determined in consultation with the director.