Asian Studies (ASST)
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 single discipline. Students who do major in single discipline departments are strongly encouraged to concentrate in East Asian Studies or South Asian Studies, although in exceptional cases a double major with Asian Studies can be approved.
Requirements for a Major
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
CAMS 330 Cinema Studies Seminar
LCST 245 Introduction to Critical Methods: Structure, Gender, Culture
POSC 230 Methods of Political Research
RELG 300 Theories and Methods in the Study of Religion
SOAN 330 Sociological 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: Literary/Artistic Analysis, Humanistic Inquiry, and Social Inquiry
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:
EAST ASIA:
ARTH 164 Buddhist Art (not offered in 2014-2015)
ARTH 165 Japanese Art and Culture (not offered in 2014-2015)
ARTH 166 Chinese Art and Culture
ARTH 209 Chinese Painting (not offered in 2014-2015)
ARTH 220 The Origins of Manga: Japanese Prints (not offered in 2014-2015)
ARTH 267 Gardens in China and Japan
ARTH 321 Arts of the Chinese Scholar's Studio (not offered in 2014-2015)
ASLN 111 Writing Systems (not offered in 2014-2015)
ASLN 237 Tao of Wisdom in Asian Literature (not offered in 2014-2015)
ASLN 260 Historical Linguistics
ASST 284 New Media Program in Japan: History and Culture of Japan
CHIN 115 The Taoist Way of Health and Longevity: Taichi and Other Forms (not offered in 2014-2015)
CHIN 206 Chinese in Cultural Context
CHIN 207 Chinese Studies Seminar in Tianjin: Chinese Language
CHIN 212 Chinese Studies Seminar in Tianjin: Chinese Culture
CHIN 248 The Structure of Chinese (not offered in 2014-2015)
CHIN 250 Chinese Popular Culture
CHIN 282 Chinese Studies Seminar in Tianjin: Chinese Civilization
CHIN 307 Chinese Studies Seminar in Tianjin: Advanced Chinese Language
CHIN 346 Advanced Readings: Chinese Fiction (not offered in 2014-2015)
CHIN 347 Advanced Readings in Contemporary Chinese Prose: Newspapers (not offered in 2014-2015)
CHIN 348 Advanced Chinese: The Mass Media
CHIN 349 Advanced Chinese: Social Commentary (not offered in 2014-2015)
CHIN 350 Advanced Chinese: Poems and Stories
CHIN 360 Classical Chinese (not offered in 2014-2015)
CHIN 363 Conversation and Composition: The Liberal Arts in Chinese (not offered in 2014-2015)
ECON 240 Microeconomics of Development
ECON 241 Growth and Development (not offered in 2014-2015)
HIST 100 Confucius and His Critics
HIST 151 History of Modern Japan
HIST 152 Imperial China (not offered in 2014-2015)
HIST 153 History of Modern China (not offered in 2014-2015)
HIST 156 History of Modern Korea (not offered in 2014-2015)
HIST 251 History of Chinese Capitalism (not offered in 2014-2015)
HIST 254 Colonialism in East Asia (not offered in 2014-2015)
HIST 255 Rumors, Gossip, and News in East Asia
HIST 256 History of Urban China (not offered in 2014-2015)
JAPN 204 Intermediate Japanese
JAPN 205 Intermediate Japanese
JAPN 206 Japanese in Cultural Context
JAPN 230 Topics in Pre-Modern Literature in Translation (not offered in 2014-2015)
JAPN 231 Japanese Cinema in Translation (not offered in 2014-2015)
JAPN 236 Classical Japanese Fiction: The Tale of Genji and Its World in Translation (not offered in 2014-2015)
JAPN 238 Individuals and the Family in Modern Japanese Literature in Translation (not offered in 2014-2015)
JAPN 254 World of Japanese Manga in Translation
JAPN 343 Advanced Japanese Through Fiction and Film (not offered in 2014-2015)
JAPN 344 Advanced Writing: Contemporary Prose (not offered in 2014-2015)
JAPN 345 Advanced Reading in Modern Japanese Literature: The Short Story
JAPN 346 Advanced Reading in Modern Japanese Literature: Poetry and Drama (not offered in 2014-2015)
JAPN 349 Advanced Readings in Contemporary Japanese Prose
JAPN 353 Thinking about Environmental Issues in Japanese (not offered in 2014-2015)
MUSC 182J Chinese Musical Instruments (Juried)
MUSC 182 Chinese Musical Instruments
MUSC 282J Chinese Musical Instruments (Juried)
MUSC 282 Chinese Musical Instruments
POSC 170 International Relations and World Politics
POSC 232 Chinese Foreign Policy
POSC 237 Southeast Asian Politics (not offered in 2014-2015)
POSC 239 The Diplomat's Craft: Three Case Studies (not offered in 2014-2015)
POSC 241 Ethnic Conflict
POSC 248 The U.S.-China Relationship
POSC 264 Politics of Contemporary China (not offered in 2014-2015)
RELG 151 Religions in Chinese Culture (not offered in 2014-2015)
RELG 152 Religions in Japanese Culture
RELG 153 Introduction to Buddhism (not offered in 2014-2015)
RELG 250 Buddhism and Ecology (not offered in 2014-2015)
RELG 253 Tibetan Buddhism (not offered in 2014-2015)
RELG 254 Zen Buddhism (not offered in 2014-2015)
RELG 255 Social Engagement in Asian Religions (not offered in 2014-2015)
RELG 280 The Politics of Sex in Asian Religion
RELG 282 Samurai: Ethics of Death and Loyalty
RELG 350 Emptiness (not offered in 2014-2015)
WGST 310 Asian Mystiques Demystified (not offered in 2014-2015)
SOUTH ASIA:
ARTH 164 Buddhist Art (not offered in 2014-2015)
ASST 260 Resistance Struggles & People's Movements in India (not offered in 2014-2015)
ECON 240 Microeconomics of Development
ECON 241 Growth and Development (not offered in 2014-2015)
ENGL 245 Bollywood Nation
ENGL 250 Modern Indian Fiction
ENGL 251 Contemporary Indian Fiction (not offered in 2014-2015)
ENGL 252 Caribbean Fiction (not offered in 2014-2015)
ENGL 335 England in India/India in England (not offered in 2014-2015)
ENGL 395 Salman Rushdie
HIST 161 History of Modern India, c. 1700-1047 (not offered in 2014-2015)
HIST 167 History of Modern South Asia 1947-Onward (not offered in 2014-2015)
HIST 259 Women in South Asia: Histories, Narratives and Representation (not offered in 2014-2015)
MUSC 180J Raga: Vocal or Instrumental Study of Hindustani Music
MUSC 180 Raga: Vocal or Instrumental Study of Hindustani Music
MUSC 181J Sitar (Juried)
MUSC 181 Sitar
MUSC 248 Music of India (not offered in 2014-2015)
MUSC 280J Raga:Voc/Instr Study Hindustani (Juried)
MUSC 280 Raga: Vocal or Instrumental Study of Hindustani Music
MUSC 281J Sitar (Juried)
MUSC 281 Sitar
POSC 170 International Relations and World Politics
POSC 237 Southeast Asian Politics (not offered in 2014-2015)
POSC 241 Ethnic Conflict
POSC 378 Political Economy & Ecology of Southeast Asia: Social Changes in Southeast Asia
POSC 379 Political Econ & Ecology of S.E. Asia: Diversity of Social Ecological Systems in Southeast Asia
POSC 392 Political Economy & Ecology of Southeast Asia: Field Research Experiences and Methods
RELG 122 Introduction to Islam
RELG 150 Religions of South Asia
RELG 153 Introduction to Buddhism (not offered in 2014-2015)
RELG 155 Religions of Southeast Asia (not offered in 2014-2015)
RELG 238 The Sacred Body
RELG 245 Buddha
RELG 251 Theravada Buddhism (not offered in 2014-2015)
RELG 252 Mahabharata: The Hindu Book of War and Peace (not offered in 2014-2015)
RELG 253 Tibetan Buddhism (not offered in 2014-2015)
RELG 255 Social Engagement in Asian Religions (not offered in 2014-2015)
RELG 256 Modern Hinduism: Encounters with the West (not offered in 2014-2015)
RELG 259 Gandhi (not offered in 2014-2015)
RELG 260 Tantra: Secrecy, Sex, and the Sublime
RELG 261 Hearing Islam (not offered in 2014-2015)
RELG 263 Islamic Mysticism (not offered in 2014-2015)
RELG 265 Religion and Violence: Hindus, Muslims, Jews (not offered in 2014-2015)
RELG 266 Religion and the Senses (not offered in 2014-2015)
RELG 280 The Politics of Sex in Asian Religion
RELG 281 Performing Tradition: Art, Religion, and Globalization
RELG 289 Global Religions in Minnesota (not offered in 2014-2015)
RELG 350 Emptiness (not offered in 2014-2015)
RELG 362 Spirit Possession
SOAN 157 Culture and Politics in India (not offered in 2014-2015)
SOAN 257 Culture and Politics in India (not offered in 2014-2015)
WGST 310 Asian Mystiques Demystified (not offered in 2014-2015)
CENTRAL ASIA:
CHIN 248 The Structure of Chinese (not offered in 2014-2015)
ECON 240 Microeconomics of Development
ECON 241 Growth and Development (not offered in 2014-2015)
HIST 254 Colonialism in East Asia (not offered in 2014-2015)
HIST 265 Central Asia in the Modern Age (not offered in 2014-2015)
HIST 267 Muslims and Modernity
HIST 360 Muslims and Modernity
RELG 122 Introduction to Islam
RELG 153 Introduction to Buddhism (not offered in 2014-2015)
RELG 253 Tibetan Buddhism (not offered in 2014-2015)
RELG 255 Social Engagement in Asian Religions (not offered in 2014-2015)
RELG 263 Islamic Mysticism (not offered in 2014-2015)
SOAN 256 Africa: Representation and Conflict
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 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 207 Chinese Studies Seminar in Tianjin: Intermediate Chinese Language
CHIN 212 Chinese Studies Seminar in Tianjin: Chinese Culture
JAPN 101, 102, 103 Elementary Japanese
JAPN 204, 205 Intermediate Japanese
Languages available at Carleton through special arrangement may include: Uzbek (Adeeb 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 College has several of its own term-long off-campus studies programs. The Carleton Chinese Studies Seminar in Tianjin and Shanghai is a Chinese language and culture program at Nankai University and Tongji University. Students take courses in Chinese languages, civilization and society and culture including art, Taichi and other martial arts are also available. The Linguistics Off-Campus Seminar in Kyoto offers courses in Japanese history and culture in addition to linguistics. The Carleton program in Political Economy and Ecology of Southeast Asia provides opportunites for students to learn about social and ecological changes in Thailand, Lao PDR and Myanmar.
Carleton also 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. Carleton, Bates, Bowdoin, Colby, Swarthmore, Grinnell and Holy Cross 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. Opportunities to study in Asia also are available through a variety of non-Carleton programs and non-consortial 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.
Asian Studies Courses (ASST)
ASST 260. Resistance Struggles & People's Movements in India India, according to V.S. Naipal, is the land of "a million mutinies." What are these uprisings, rebellions, and resistance movements? Who is rising up, and why? In this class we will look, through the lens of social movements, at the wide variety of efforts to bring about social change, justice, and equality that have been at work in modern India. Case studies will include movements focused on the caste system, women in search of gender justice, queer activism, farmers' challenges to corporate agricultural policies, environmentalism, struggles for localized control over resources, Maoist uprisings against the state, and religious nationalism. 6 cr., HI, IS, Not offered in 2014-2015.
ASST 284. New Media Program in Japan: History and Culture of Japan This course is an introduction to several aspects of Japanese society, taking advantage of the New Media seminar in Kyoto. The course consists of readings and lectures about important events in historical and contemporary Japan, and will include visits to sites that illuminate those events in an important way. In addition to Kyoto and the nearby Uji and Nara, we will also make excursions to Tokyo and Hiroshima. 6 cr., HI, IS, Offered in alternate years. Spring—Doshisha University Faculty