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Asian Studies http://www.stolaf.edu/depts/asian-studies/ Chair 2000-01, Barbara Reed, Asian Studies and Religion, East Asian religions Faculty, 2000-01: Stephen Blake, History, South Asian history; Richard Bodman, Asian Studies, Chinese language and literature; Bruce Dalgaard, Eonomics, economics (Japan); Robert Entenmann, History, East Asian history; A. Malcolm Gimse, Art, Asian art; Dana Gross, Psychology, developmental psychology; Phyllis Larson, Asian Studies, Japanese language and literature; Michael R. Leming, Sociology/Anthropology, Southeast Asian Studies; Kristina MacPherson, Library, reference librarian, Asian studies; Xun Pomponio, Economics, economics (China); Anantanand Rambachan, Religion, Hinduism; Craig Rice, Academic Computing Center, comparative international development education; Pin P. Wan, Asian Studies, Chinese language and literature The Asian Studies Department provides students with the opportunity to study East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. The department offers an Asian Studies major and concentrations in Asian Studies, China Studies and Japan Studies. A concentration in Asian Studies -- which presumes that a student completes a major in another department -- is ideal for students with an interest in Asia who are majoring in economics, history, religion, anthropology, political science, or other areas. St. Olaf offers many international programs in Asia. The concentrations in China and Japan Studies allow students to pursue advanced language study with or without an Asian Studies major. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR An Asian Studies major shall consist of nine courses:
Students interested in a major focused on a region of Asia other than China and Japan should contact the chair of the Asian Studies Department about the possibility of doing a contract major. REQUIREMENTS FOR CONCENTRATIONS Students with a major in another department may choose a concentration in Asian Studies, China Studies, or Japan Studies. Students with Asian Studies majors may also choose to do a concentration in China and/or Japan Studies. An Asian Studies concentration shall consist of sixcourses:
A China Studies concentration shall consist of six courses:
A Japan Studies concentration shall consist of six courses:
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS Students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the many opportunities to study in Asia through St. Olaf programs and ACM programs. courses taken abroad may be certified by the chair of Asian Studies as fulfilling the appropriate course requirements. Language study is offered through the Term in China (Shanghai), ACM Japan Study (Tokyo), Ferris University (Yokohama) and Kansai Gaidai (Osaka, Japan). The ACM India Studies program (Pune) offers area studies courses and intensive language instruction without prerequisites. There are also programs in Asia that do not require previous language study: Term in Asia, Global Semester, Biology in South India, Interims, and several study/service opportunities. (See the Index under "Off-campus Programs.") Asian Studies courses taken in St. Olaf off-campus programs can often be counted toward a major in Asian Studies or concentrations in Asian Studies, China Studies or Japan Studies. Students who wish to count off-campus courses toward a major or concentration should seek approval from the chair of the Asian Studies Department before beginning their programs. Some restrictions apply. GRADUATE STUDY Students planning to pursue graduate work in an area of Asian Studies are strongly advised to develop competence in one of the disciplines (such as history, literature, economics, anthropology, religion, etc.) by taking additional courses that teach the methods of the discipline. COURSES ASIAN CONVERSATIONS PROGRAM The Asian Conversations program is an interdisciplinary way to begin a liberal arts education. Whether you plan to major in biology, economics, history, Asian Studies or anything else, the Asian Conversations program offers you an integrated, innovative way to complete required study in foreign language and the liberal arts. In the Asian Conversations program about twenty students will study Chinese or Japanese language while they explore the cultures of East Asia through the interdisciplinary courses listed below (Asian Studies 111, 112, 211, and 212). During the January Interim of their second year, students will have the option of traveling to China and Japan accompanied by an Asian Studies faculty member. Focusing on the theme "National Identity in China and Japan," this course will take students to sites in Shanghai and Beijing in China and to Tokyo and Kyoto in Japan and allow them the chance to interact with peers in the Asian language they have studied. Although this January study tour is not required for Asian Conversations students, they will be given priority in registering. Admittance to the Program: Registration for Asian Conversations courses is limited to students admitted into the program. Entering first-year students receive information about the program soon after their admission to St. Olaf College. For more details, contact the chair of the Asian Studies Department. 111 Asian Conversations: Family and Self in East Asia This seminar introduces students to East Asian cultures through the familiar institution of family. In contemporary novels, autobiographies and short stories, students read about the struggles between traditional ideals and modern pressures as East Asians strive to define themselves within families. The course also develops students' writing skills to prepare them for the rest of their college coursework. GE: FYW 112 Asian Conversations: East Asia and the West This is a history seminar to help students understand the impact that the West and East Asia have had on each other from the beginning of sustained contact in the 16th century to the end of World War II. Students read about and discuss the impact of Christian missionaries, the economic role of trade, and the political and military challenge of Western expansionism beginning with the Opium War. Prerequisite: Asian Studies 111 or permission of the instructor. GE: HWC. 211 Asian Conversations: Rice and Society in East Asia Using rice (and agriculture more generally) as a means of access, this course will introduce students to an examination of the societies, politics and economies of East Asian countries. Drawing on social science methods, it looks at traditional East Asian societies as well as the drive for modernization and the consequences that modernization has had on these societies. Prerequisite: Asian Studies 112 or permission of the instructor. Counts toward the Asian Studies major. GE: HBS.
212 Asian Conversations: National Identity in China and Japan In this Interim course students who have completed the "Asian Conversations" sequence will travel to sites in China and Japan in order to experience those cultures firsthand and to study Chinese and Japanese constructions of national identity. Through readings, site visits, interactions with peers in the target languages, homestays, and journal writing in both English and their target language, students will learn about how Asians in these two countries perceive themselves and their role in the region and in the world, both in the past and in the present. They will travel to Shanghai, Nanjing, Beijing, Kyoto, and Tokyo. Prerequisite: Asian Studies 211 or permission of the instructor. GE: MCS-G. OTHER ASIAN STUDIES COURSES 121 Asian Cultures in Comparative Perspectives This course examines major cultures of South, Southeast, and East Asia from interdisciplinary and comparative perspectives with attention to theories of human behavior. Themes vary from year to year but may include Asian cities, heroic ideals, village and family life, population growth, gender roles, and medicine and healing traditions. No prerequisites. GE: MCS-G. 124 Introduction to Japanese Film (in English translation) This course studies eight to 10 Japanese films by well-known directors such as Ozu, Kurosawa, and Itami. Consideration is taken of the way in which their angle of vision affects the development of themes, such as the conflict between duty and feeling, the sense of family, or satire of the family. Includes both historical samurai films and contemporary social problem films. Offered during Interim. GE: MCS-G, ALS-A. 151 Chinese Women Writers (in English translation) This course is an overview of women's experience in modern and contemporary China through the eyes of Chinese women writers. Special emphasis is given on women's changing status in the family, on society's attitude towards women, and on women's self-awareness. Offered during Interim. GE: MCS-G, ALS-L. 156 Contemporary China Through Film (in English translation) Students study basic concepts and approaches of film analysis, while examining aesthetics, themes, and techniques of masterworks directed by Chinese Fifth Generation directors. Through readings of cinema theory and criticism and class discussions, students explore artistic merits in these films and aspects of Chinese society and culture in contemporary China, particularly the changes which occurred since 1978 with China's Four Modernizations. All readings are in English. GE: MCS-G, ALS-A. 235 Modern Japanese Literature (in English translation) This survey of Japanese novels and short stories from the middle of the 19th century to the present includes works by Soseki, Tanizaki, and two recent Nobel recipients, Kawabata and Oe. Women writers such as Ichiyo, Ariyoshi and Enchi are considered. Students will also view four or five films to supplement their readings. The course focuses on the cultural context of the writings. GE: MCS-G, ALS-L. 236 Chinese Literature (in English translation) Students explore the major genres of Chinese literature: poetry, short story, novel and drama in English translation. A small number of major works are singled out for close attention. GE: MCS-G, ALS-L. The seminar intensively studies topics in Asian Studies. Prerequisite: senior Asian Studies major or concentrator, or permission of the instructor. GE: EIN CHINESE LANGUAGE COURSES Chinese 111, 112 Beginning Chinese I, II These courses offer an introduction to speaking, reading and writing Chinese, as well as mastery of basic grammar and command of 500 characters for reading and writing. Class meets four times weekly. Individual language laboratory visits are also required. Chinese 111 or equivalent is prerequisite to 112. Chinese 231, 232 Intermediate Chinese I, II Students continue to develop listening and reading comprehension and use of basic structures through speaking and writing. The vocabulary for reading and writing increases to 1,000 characters. Class meets four times weekly. Individual language laboratory visits are also required. Chinese 231 or equivalent is prerequisite to 232. GE: FOL-C for 231 or 232. Chinese 251, 252 Advanced Chinese I, II This course provides continued practice in speaking, reading and writing at the third-year level. Our text introduces students to Chinese geography and history and modern written style. Conducted entirely in Chinese. These courses are recommended for students seeking a concentration in Chinese language. Prerequisite: Chinese 232 or equivalent. GE: FOL-C. Readings include Chinese newspapers, modern short stories, and articles in the social sciences. Students give frequent oral reports. Conducted entirely in Chinese. Offered Fall Semester. GE: FOL-C. Chinese 398 Independent Research Students who have completed Chinese 371 are encouraged to continue their Chinese language study with faculty through individual and small group tutorials by registering for Chinese 298 or Chinese 398. Through individual tutorials students may pursue readings and projects in their area of interest. JAPANESE LANGUAGE COURSES Japanese 111, 112 Beginning Japanese I, II This course is an introduction to speaking, reading, and writing Japanese; writing includes the learning of all syllabic letters (Hiragana and Katakana) and basic Kanji (Chinese characters). Class meets four times weekly. Individual language laboratory visits are also required. Japanese 111 or equivalent is prerequisite to 112. Japanese 231, 232 Intermediate Japanese I, II This course offers a continuation of Japanese grammar and orthography through dialogues, discussions, and readings. Individual language laboratory visits are also required. Japanese 231 or equivalent is prerequisite to 232. GE: FOL-J. Japanese 251, 252 Advanced Japanese I, II These courses, which comprise speaking, reading, and writing Japanese at the third-year level, are recommended for students seeking a concentration in Japanese language. Prerequisite: Japanese 232 or equivalent. GE: FOL-J. Japanese 298 Independent Study Japanese 398 Independent Research Students who have completed Japanese 252 are encouraged to continue their Japanese language study with faculty through individual and small group tutorials by registering for Japanese 298 or Japanese 398. Through individual tutorials students may pursue readings and projects in their area of interest. COURSES IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS
In addition to the following, Interim courses, Carleton courses, and other courses may be submitted to the chair of Asian Studies for approval. Art 259 East Asian Art |