Core Courses
ASIA 3300 Introduction to Asian Studies:
An overview of central issuesrelevant to the study of East Asia, Southeast Asia, and other Asian regionsthrough multidisciplinary approaches. Examines the interrelationships ofhistory, policies, philosophy, religion, economics and the arts to achieve thisgoal. May be team-taught by bringing in special speakers or faculty.
HIST 3334 Pre-Modern East Asia:
Survey of East Asian societies,focusing on China, Japan, and Korea from prehistory to the 1600s; designed tooffer insights into the separate cultural, economic, political, and religious traditions of each society, but at the same time allowing students to examinethe whole of East Asia as a unit within the larger global history perspective.
HIST 3335 Modern East Asia:
Survey of East Asian societies,focusing on China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan from the 1600s to the present;designed to offer insights into the separate cultural, economic, political, and religious traditions of each society, but at the same time allowing students toexamine the whole of East Asia as a unit within the larger global history perspective.
PHIL 3340 Asian Philosophies:
A consideration of classical Asianphilosophical texts and traditions. Topics are normally selected from eitherthe Chinese or Indian traditions. A course on classical Chinese philosophy would focus upon the principal texts of Confucianism and Daoism. A focus upon Indian philosophy would lead to a consideration of schools such as AdvaitaVedanta, Upanishadic Theism, and Nyaya
RS 3310 Major World Religions:
Brief examination of the world’smajor religions, followed by an in-depth study of one religion, such asBuddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, or Judaism. Course may be repeated forcredit when main focus of the course varies.
POLS 3339 Comparative PoliticalSystems:
An examination of theories andmethods used in comparative political analysis with illustrative cases drawnfrom a variety of political cultures.
OPTIONAL COURSES
ANTH 3306 Cultural Diversity:
A cross-cultural comparison ofhuman behavior addressing the areas of family life, marriage, kinship, andritual. The course will also deal with the potential for misunderstandings thatarise in the context of cross-cultural interactions.
ASIA 3350 Special Topics in AsianStudies:
To accommodate special topicsofferings from various departments on a proposal by proposal basis. This isintended to offer a space for departments which don=talready have a regular course offering in the given area. Examples might include courses in Asian arttraditions, music, film, etc.
ENGL 3331 World Literature (when thefocus is Asia):
Study of a selected worldliterature and culture in translation.Topics and authors to be determined by professor.
ENGL 3317 Postcolonial Literature:
A study of literatures produced bywriters who come from countries with a history of colonialism.
ECON 4325 International Economics:
Principal theories of internationaltrade: foreign exchange markets, international capital flows, barriers totrade, international economic institutions, and the economics of regional tradeintegration.
HIST 2301 World History:
An analysis of the development ofsocieties in Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas from the origins of mankindto 1500 CE.
HIST 2302 World History:
An analysis of the development ofsocieties in Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas from 1500 to the present,with an emphasis on their global interactions.
HIST 3324 The U.S. in Vietnam andSoutheast Asia:
American relations with Southeast Asia in thetwentieth century, focusing on the American acquisition and governance of thePhilippines, the American response to Asian nationalism during and after WorldWar II, and the war in Vietnam.
HIST 3338 History of Modern China:
Introduction to modern Chinese history from the late 18thcentury to the present. Topics include imperialism, modernization, the end ofthe Qing Dynasty, the republican period, warlordism, the war against Japan, theChinese Civil War, the establishment of the PRC, the turbulent Mao years, andfinally, the economic and social reforms under Deng Xiaoping.
HIST 3339 Pyramids and Prophets:
Examines the distinct series ofcircumstances that led to the development of civilization in the Ancient NearEast. [Director=snote: This course includes substantial attention to the history of the SilkRoad and trade with China]
HIST 3390 20th Century China viaFiction and Film:
In this course we will use selectedliterary and cinematic works, in context, to study China from the beginning ofthe 20th century to the present. Topics will include the fall of the Qingdynasty, warlords, the May Fourth Movement, the war against the Japanese, theCivil War, the many trials and tribulations under Mao Zedong, and China afterDeng Xiaoping’s economic and social reforms.
HIST 3390 Special Topics (when thefocus is Asia):
POLS 3360 International Relations:
The theory and practice ofinternational politics with particular attention to the forces and processescontributing to conflict and cooperation among global political structures andinstitutions.
POLS 3332 Political Geography:
The study of political phenomenaand the impact of decision-making in their special context.
POLS 3334 BPolitics in World Regions (when the regional focus is Asia):
POLS 4314 Women, Power and Politics:
Focuses on the distribution ofpower between women and men in society and the political implications of thatdistribution.
POLS 4348 Politics of DevelopingCountries:
The study of political culture,institutions, and processes of developing countries. Emphasis is placed on institution building,economic development, and ethnic conflict.
POLS 4364 International PoliticalEconomy:
An examination of the relationshipbetween international politics, national policies, and economics regardinginternational trade, investments, debt, monetary policy and oil.
POLS 4365 InternationalOrganizations:
Examines the development ofinternational organizations, such as NATO and the United Nations and considersthe legal and constitutional aspects of their creation. It also presents the tools to evaluate thesuccess of international organizations in the management of conflict and theadvancement of social, economic and political cooperation.
RS 3350 Special Topics in ReligiousStudies (when the focus is Asian religion):