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Director: Professor Kathleen M. Ryor
Committee Members: Arnab Chakladar, Elizabeth Coville, Van Dusenbery, Roy F. Grow, Devashree Gupta, Mark Hansell, Roger R. Jackson, Mariko Kaga, Adeeb Khalid, Brendan LaRocque, Burton Levin, Tun Myint, Melinda Russell, Kathleen M. Ryor, Asuka Sango, Meera Sehgal, Shana Sippy, Kathryn W. Sparling, Lan Liana Tan, Noboru Tomonari, Nancy C. Wilkie, Seungjoo Yoon, Hong Zeng, Qiguang Zhao
Founded in 1964, the program in Asian Studies is administered by a committee of faculty drawn from multiple departments. It involves a wide variety of courses and activities aimed at enhancing appreciation and understanding of the art, life, and thought of the cultures of Asia, past and present. We concentrate on three regions: East Asia (China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam), South Asia (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Tibet), and Central Asia (Afghanistan, Bhutan, Iran, the Islamic former Soviet republics, Manchuria, inner and outer Mongolia, Tibet, Xinjiang). The program consists of courses on Asia in nine departments, extracurricular events on campus, and off-campus studies. An interdisciplinary, regionally-focused major in Asian Studies is offered, which is especially suitable for students with an overriding interest in one or more regions of Asia whose academic needs cannot be met by majoring in a disciplinary base. Students who do major in disciplinary base departments may concentrate in East Asian Studies or South Asian Studies.
A total of 66 credits:
I. 18 credits in a disciplinary based department: Art History, Asian Languages, History, Political Science/International Relations, Religion, and Sociology and Anthropology which must include:
a) at least 12 credits in courses related to Asia
b) 6 credits in an appropriate methodology course:
ARTH 298 Seminar for Art History Majors
HIST 298 Junior-year History Colloquium
LCST 245 Introduction to Critical Methods: Structure, Gender, Culture
POSC 230 Methods of Political Research
RELG 300 Issues in the Study of Religion
SOAN 331 Anthropological Thought and Theory
II. 42 additional credits in Asia-related courses (including appropriate off-campus credits, excluding ASST 400 and language-department courses below 228 or their equivalents); these must include:
a) at least 6 credits in each of three distribution areas: Arts and Literature, Humanities, Social Sciences
b) a maximum of 18 credits at the 100 level
c) a minimum of 24 credits at the 200 level or above
III. 6 credits of Senior Integrative Exercise (ASST 400), normally taken during winter term of the senior year.
The Senior Integrative Exercise, normally is a research paper of 30 pages or more that delves into some aspect of the student's focal region. The project normally is developed by the student during the fall term, and proposed to, and approved by the Asian Studies Committee, which assigns two faculty members as readers and advisers for the project. The first draft of the exercise is due by the end of the ninth week of winter term, and a final draft by the end of the fourth week of spring term. The student defends the project before the two readers, and presents the research publicly to interested members of the community.
IV. A regional focus: East Asia (China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam), South Asia (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tibet), or Central Asia (Afghanistan, Bhutan, Iran, the Islamic former Soviet republics, Manchuria, inner and outer Mongolia, Tibet, Xinjiang) involving:
a) at least 48 credits (exclusive of the Senior Integrative Exercise) related to one's focal region
b) at least 6 credits related to an Asian region different from one's focal region.
Courses by regional focus, subdivided by distribution area:
ARTH 164 Buddhist Art (not offered in 2010-2011)
ARTH 165 Japanese Art and Culture (not offered in 2010-2011)
ARTH 166 Chinese Art and Culture
ARTH 209 Chinese Painting
ARTH 220 Gender and Genre in the Floating World: Japanese Prints (not offered in 2010-2011)
ARTH 320 Japanese Theater: Visualizing Narrative Across Media
ASLN 111 Writing Systems
ASLN 237 Tao of Wisdom in Asian Literature (not offered in 2010-2011)
ASLN 260 Historical Linguistics (not offered in 2010-2011)
CHIN 115 The Taoist Way of Health and Longevity: Taichi and Other Forms (not offered in 2010-2011)
CHIN 212 Chinese Studies Seminar in Tianjin: Chinese Culture
CHIN 235 Beauty, Good, and Evil in Chinese Literature in Translation (not offered in 2010-2011)
CHIN 240 Chinese Cinema (not offered in 2010-2011)
CHIN 241 Twentieth Century Chinese Literature and Film in Translation
CHIN 248 The Structure of Chinese (not offered in 2010-2011)
CHIN 282 Chinese Studies Seminar in Tianjin: Chinese Civilization
CHIN 307 Chinese Studies Seminar in Tianjin: Advanced Chinese Language
CHIN 347 Advanced Readings in Contemporary Chinese Prose: Newspapers (not offered in 2010-2011)
CHIN 348 Advanced Chinese: The Mass Media
CHIN 349 Advanced Chinese: Social Commentary (not offered in 2010-2011)
CHIN 350 Advanced Chinese: Poems and Stories (not offered in 2010-2011)
CHIN 355 Contemporary Chinese Short Stories and Films (not offered in 2010-2011)
CHIN 356 Modern and Contemporary Women Writers (not offered in 2010-2011)
CHIN 357 Advanced Chinese: Contemporary Social Issues
CHIN 358 Chinese Idiom Stories (not offered in 2010-2011)
CHIN 360 Classical Chinese (not offered in 2010-2011)
ECON 240 Microeconomics of Development
HIST 151 History of Modern Japan (not offered in 2010-2011)
HIST 152 History of Imperial China
HIST 153 History of Modern China
HIST 200 The Zen of Asian and Western Woodworking (not offered in 2010-2011)
HIST 254 Colonialism in East Asia
HIST 255 Press and Culture in East Asia
JAPN 230 Topics in Pre-Modern Literature in Translation (not offered in 2010-2011)
JAPN 231 Japanese Cinema in Translation (not offered in 2010-2011)
JAPN 232 Autobiography in Modern Japan in Translation (not offered in 2010-2011)
JAPN 234 Modern Japanese Novel in Translation: Mothers/Daughters; Fathers/Sons (not offered in 2010-2011)
JAPN 236 Classical Japanese Fiction: The Tale of Genji and Its World in Translation
JAPN 237 Literature and Arts of Japan: 1333-1868 in Translation (not offered in 2010-2011)
JAPN 240 Literature and Society of Modern Japan in Translation
JAPN 345 Advanced Reading in Modern Japanese Literature: The Short Story (not offered in 2010-2011)
JAPN 346 Advanced Reading in Modern Japanese Literature: Poetry and Drama (not offered in 2010-2011)
JAPN 348 Advanced Japanese Conversation and Composition (not offered in 2010-2011)
JAPN 349 Advanced Readings in Contemporary Japanese Prose (not offered in 2010-2011)
JAPN 351 Advanced Japanese through Documentary Film (not offered in 2010-2011)
JAPN 352 Advanced Japanese through Manga and Contemporary Materials
LING 170 Linguistics of the Japanese Writing System (not offered in 2010-2011)
LING 180 The Structure of Japanese (not offered in 2010-2011)
MUSC 182J Chinese Musical Instruments (Juried)
MUSC 182 Chinese Musical Instruments
MUSC 282 Chinese Musical Instruments
POSC 170 International Relations and World Politics
POSC 237 Southeast Asian Politics (not offered in 2010-2011)
POSC 239 The Diplomat's Craft: Three Case Studies (not offered in 2010-2011)
POSC 241 Ethnic Conflict
POSC 326 America's China Policy*
POSC 329 Vietnam, Iraq, and American Policy* (not offered in 2010-2011)
POSC 345 Guerillas, Warlords and Bandits: The Art of Asymmetric War* (not offered in 2010-2011)
POSC 378 Beijing Program: Chinese Social and Political Institutions (not offered in 2010-2011)
POSC 379 Beijing Program: Chinese Decision Making (not offered in 2010-2011)
POSC 381 Beijing Program: Politics of Economic Development (not offered in 2010-2011)
POSC 382 Beijing Program: Chinese Economics in Transition (not offered in 2010-2011)
RELG 151 Religions in Chinese Culture
RELG 152 Religions in Japanese Culture (not offered in 2010-2011)
RELG 254 Zen Buddhism
RELG 255 Social Engagement in Asian Religions (not offered in 2010-2011)
RELG 258 Women and Buddhism (not offered in 2010-2011)
RELG 268 Encountering Islam: Dialogue and Difference (not offered in 2010-2011)
RELG 350 Emptiness
RELG 358 Zen, Nationalism, and Orientalism (not offered in 2010-2011)
SOAN 284 Anthropology of China (not offered in 2010-2011)
SOAN 286 Anthropology of East Asia (not offered in 2010-2011)
ARTH 164 Buddhist Art (not offered in 2010-2011)
ARTH 165 Japanese Art and Culture (not offered in 2010-2011)
ECON 240 Microeconomics of Development
ENGL 245 Bollywood Nation
ENGL 250 Modern Indian Fiction (not offered in 2010-2011)
ENGL 251 Contemporary Indian Fiction
ENGL 252 Caribbean Fiction (not offered in 2010-2011)
HIST 160 History of Classical India (not offered in 2010-2011)
HIST 161 History of Modern India (not offered in 2010-2011)
HIST 167 History of Modern South Asia
HIST 259 Women in South Asia: Histories, Narratives, and Representation (not offered in 2010-2011)
HIST 262 Post-colonial South Asia, 1947-Present (not offered in 2010-2011)
HIST 266 History of Islam in India
MUSC 180J Raga: Vocal or Instrumental Study of Hindustani Music
MUSC 180 Raga: Vocal or Instrumental Study of Hindustani Music
MUSC 181 Sitar
MUSC 248 Music of India (not offered in 2010-2011)
MUSC 280 Raga: Vocal or Instrumental Study of Hindustani Music
MUSC 281 Sitar
POSC 170 International Relations and World Politics
POSC 241 Ethnic Conflict
POSC 247 Comparative Nationalism
RELG 122 Introduction to Islam
RELG 123 Muhammad and the Qur'an (not offered in 2010-2011)
RELG 150 Religions of South Asia
RELG 163 The Qur’an (not offered in 2010-2011)
RELG 251 Theravada Buddhism (not offered in 2010-2011)
RELG 253 Tibetan Buddhism
RELG 257 Buddha (not offered in 2010-2011)
RELG 261 Beyond Hindu and Muslim: The Lives of Indian Saints (not offered in 2010-2011)
RELG 268 Encountering Islam: Dialogue and Difference (not offered in 2010-2011)
RELG 350 Emptiness
RELG 353 Hindu Hierarchies: Caste in Theory and Practice (not offered in 2010-2011)
RELG 356 Buddhism and Ecology (not offered in 2010-2011)
SOAN 157 Culture and Politics in India
SOAN 257 Culture and Politics in India (not offered in 2010-2011)
ECON 240 Microeconomics of Development
HIST 254 Colonialism in East Asia
HIST 265 Central Asia in the Modern Age (not offered in 2010-2011)
HIST 360 Muslims and Modernity (not offered in 2010-2011)
RELG 122 Introduction to Islam
RELG 123 Muhammad and the Qur'an (not offered in 2010-2011)
RELG 253 Tibetan Buddhism
RELG 263 Sufism
SOAN 256 Ethnography of Africa (not offered in 2010-2011)
SOAN 284 Anthropology of China (not offered in 2010-2011)
V. One year of study of an appropriate 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, which may be studied through off-campus programs, summer study, or special arrangement at Carleton, it will involve completion of the equivalent of 103. Language (as opposed to literature) courses below 228 may not be applied to the major. The following courses do not count towards the 66 credits needed for the Asian Studies major.
CHIN 101, 102, 103 Elementary Chinese
CHIN 204, 205 Intermediate Chinese
CHIN 206 Chinese in Cultural Context
CHIN 207 Chinese Studies Seminar in Tianjin: Intermediate Chinese Language
JAPN 101, 102, 103 Elementary Japanese
JAPN 204, 205, 206 Intermediate Japanese
Languages available at Carleton through special arrangement may include: Uzbek (A. Khalid); Sanskrit, Pali, and Classical Tibetan (R. Jackson).
VI) Normally, at least one term of off-campus study in Asia Students interested in studying in Asia may apply to one of a number of overseas programs. Carleton cooperates with several other colleges to sponsor the Associated Kyoto Program, which takes 50 students and seven faculty members to Japan for an academic year. Carleton also participates in a one-year program at Waseda University sponsored by the Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM). The ACM Program in India consists of five months stay in Pune, where students study Marathi, take academic courses centered on India, and investigate an independent study topic. The program in Hong Kong at the Chinese University, also for students from ACM institutions, normally lasts one year, though a semester-long program is also possible. The Carleton Chinese Studies Seminar in Tianjin is a Chinese language and culture program at Nankai University. Students take courses in Chinese languages, civilization and society and culture including art, Taichi and other martial arts. Carleton, Bates, Bowdoin, Colby, Swarthmore, Grinnell, Holy Cross, and Whitman jointly sponsor the Intercollegiate Sri Lanka Education Program (ISLE), in which students and a faculty member study at the University of Peradeniya near Kandy, the old capital in the middle of the island. A triennial program emphasizing Political Economy was begun in 1990, in Beijing, China. Opportunities to study in Asia also are available through a variety of non-Carleton programs.
Courses taken on off-campus programs may be applied to the major. Because of the paucity of Carleton courses in South Asian languages or on many aspects of Central Asia, off-campus programs generally form an important component of the major for those who focus in those two Asian regions.