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Asian Studies

Professors Dhingra (English), Grafflin (History), Kemper (Anthropology), Maurer-Fazio (Economics, chair), J. Strong (Religious Studies), S. Strong (Japanese), and Yang (Chinese); Associate Professors Boucher (Psychology), Fatone (Music), and Nguyen (Art and Visual Culture); Assistant Professor Fan (Chinese); Visiting Assistant Professors Eason (History and Asian Studies) and Wake (Japanese); Visiting Instructor Miao (Chinese); Lecturers Cui (Chinese) and Ofuji (Japanese)

In the early years of the twenty-first century, Asia has gained enormous visibility across the globe. Knowledge of Asian languages gives access to enduring, complex, and constantly developing societies to which the rest of the world has repeatedly turned for insight. An understanding of Asian cultures complements language study, concentrating on ways Asians live their lives and interact with the larger world.

Asian Studies is an interdisciplinary program designed to acquaint students with the economies, histories, politics, arts, languages, literatures, and religions of Asian societies. The program offers three majors, Chinese, Japanese, and East Asian studies. Each of these majors gives students an opportunity to develop an understanding of East Asia by intensive study of Chinese or Japanese and to pursue topical courses introducing some of the most accomplished civilizations and dynamic societies in today's world. In addition to the majors, the Program in Asian Studies offers minors in Chinese, Japanese, and Asian studies. More information on the Program in Asian Studies is available on the website (bates.edu/asian/).

The Chinese major is built around a structured sequence of instruction in language skills leading to competency in spoken and written Mandarin, with classical Chinese taught at the advanced level. Emphasis is placed on familiarizing students with the rich cultural heritage of China's 4,000-year history, which is transmitted and embodied by the native language of more than one billion people. The program strongly recommends that majors spend their junior year on a departmentally recognized study-abroad program in mainland China or Taiwan.

Major Requirements

The major consists of a minimum of twelve courses that must include:

1) Language:

a) CHI 101–102, 201–202, 301–302, or the equivalent. Students with previous experience in Chinese who begin their study of Chinese at the second-year level may elect to fulfill this requirement with CHI 201–202, 301–302, 401–402 or the equivalent.
b) one course at the 400-level from the following: CHI 401, 402, 415, 421, s40, s42. CHI 401 and/or 402 may be used in fulfillment of either this requirement or (a) above but not both.

2. Literature and Culture:

a) AS/CI 207.
b) two courses from the following: AS/CI 225, CI/TH 230, FYS 280 or 386. CHI 415, 421, s40, or s42 may also be used to fulfill part of this requirement if not being used toward fulfillment of requirement (1b) above. Students may also apply, at most, one of the following courses toward the fulfillment of this requirement: AS/AV 234, AS/RE 208, AS/HI 171, or AS/HI 274.

3. Thesis Sequence:

a) ASIA 320.
b) CHI 457 or 458, the senior thesis. Students are expected to utilize some source materials in Chinese in conducting research for the thesis. Qualified students may elect to write the thesis in Chinese.

Courses Taken Abroad

Students may petition the program to have courses taken in their study-abroad program applied toward the fulfillment of requirements (1a) and (2b) above.

Pass/Fail Grading Option

Pass/fail grading may not be elected for courses applied toward the Chinese major.

Advanced Placement

Students may receive credit for CHI 102 with a score of 4 on the Chinese AP examination, or credit for CHI 201 with a score of 5.

Minor

A minor requires seven courses, six of which must be in Chinese. At least one of the seven courses must involve the study of literature or culture. A student may petition to have up to three comparable courses, completed at other institutions in the United States or abroad, apply toward the minor.

Pass/Fail Grading Option

Pass/fail grading may not be elected for courses applied toward the minor in Chinese.

Courses
Short Term Courses

The major in Japanese presents an opportunity for an in-depth and focused study of Japanese language and culture. The major places emphasis on the student's acquisition of oral and written language proficiency as well as on the development of cultural awareness and competency. The program strongly recommends that majors spend their junior year at the Associated Kyoto Program or another approved year-long study-abroad program in Japan.

Major Requirements

The major consists of a minimum of twelve courses that must include:

1) Language:
a) JPN 101–102, 201–202, 301–302, or the equivalent.
b) JPN 401.

2) Literature and Culture:
a) AS/JA 125.
b) two courses from the following: FYS 277 or another first-year seminar on Japan, ASIA 110, AS/JA 210, 216, INDS 255, JPN s27, ASIA s29, ES/JA s29, or another Short Term course on Japan. Students may apply one of the following courses toward the fulfillment of this requirement: AS/HI 172, AS/RE 209, AV/AS 236, AV/AS 247, or INDS 215.

3) Thesis Sequence:
a) ASIA 320.
b) JPN 457 or 458, the senior thesis. Students are expected to utilize some source materials in Japanese when conducting research for the thesis. Qualified students may elect to write the thesis in Japanese.

Courses Taken Abroad

Students may petition the program to have courses taken in their study-abroad program (including the Bates Fall Semester Abroad) applied toward the fulfillment of requirements (1a) and (2b).

Pass/Fail Grading Option

Pass/fail grading may not be elected for courses applied toward the Japanese major.

Advanced Placement

Students may receive credit for JPN 102 with a score of 4 on the Japanese AP examination and JPN 201 with a score of 5.

Minor

A minor requires seven courses, six of which must be in Japanese. At least one of the seven courses must involve a study of literature or culture. A student may petition to have up to three comparable courses, completed at other institutions in either the United States or abroad, applied toward the minor. Advanced Placement courses may not be applied toward the minor.

Pass/Fail Grading Option

Pass/fail grading may not be elected for courses toward the minor in Japanese.

Courses
Short Term Courses

The East Asian studies major provides students with a broad introduction to the cultures and societies of East Asia and their interrelationships. The major includes, first, a core curriculum that consists of two years of Chinese or Japanese language study as well as two courses introducing the East Asian experience, and, second, a major concentration that focuses either on traditional or modern society and culture. East Asian studies majors are also encouraged to spend at least one semester at an approved program in mainland China, Taiwan, or Japan. Majors in Chinese or Japanese may count no more than two courses toward both their major in East Asian Studies and their major in Chinese or Japanese.

Major Requirements

Students majoring in East Asian studies must complete the core requirement, a major concentration, and the thesis sequence. Students must take at least one course dealing primarily with China and one dealing primarily with Japan.

The following core courses are required of all majors:
1) four courses of Chinese language and AS/HI 171 or four courses of Japanese language and AS/HI 172.

2) ASIA 110.

3) each major elects a major concentration, either East Asian Cultural Traditions or Modern East Asian Society and Culture.

East Asian Cultural Traditions:

a) three courses on traditional East Asian culture from at least two of the following four groups:
I) literature: AS/JA 125, AS/CI 207, AS/JA 216, CHI 415, FYS 280, FYS 386, FYS 426
II) visual and performing art: AVC 229, AS/CI 225, AV/AS 234, AV/AS 236, AV/AS 243, AV/AS 246, AV/AS 247, CI/TH 230.
III) religion: AS/RE 208, AS/RE 209, AS/RE 251, AS/RE 309.
IV) history: ASIA s24, AS/HI 171, or AS/HI 172 if not taken as a core course, INDS 215.

b) an additional course from the general list of courses in the East Asian studies major that follows.

Modern East Asian Society and Culture:

a) three courses on contemporary East Asian society drawn from the following two groups with at least one from each of the groups:

I) East ASian Society: AS/EC 231, AS/EC 241, AS/EC 242, AS/PY 260, AS/HI 274,
AS/HI 291, AS/HI 390G, AS/HI s26, INDS 215.

II) East Asian Culture: AS/CI 225, AS/CI 206, AS/CI 211, FYS 277, INDS 255, ASIA s24, ASIA s29, AS/HI s16, AS/JA s27, CHI s40.

b) an additional course from the general list of courses in the East Asian studies major that follows.

The Thesis Sequence

In addition to taking ASIA 457 and/or 458, written under the direction of an advisor in East Asian studies, majors must take ASIA 320 in the fall of the senior year.

Pass/Fail Grading Option

Pass/fail grading may not be elected for courses applied toward the major in East Asian studies.

Courses Taken Abroad

Students may petition the Asian studies program to have relevant courses taken in their study-abroad program (including the Bates Fall Semester Abroad) applied toward the fulfillment of the major requirements except for ASIA 110 and the thesis sequence.

Advanced Placement

Students may receive credit for CHI 102 or JPN 102 with a score of 4 on the corresponding language's AP examination, or credit for CHI 201 or JPN 201 with a score of 5.

Minor in Asian Studies

Students may fulfill a minor in Asian studies by completing six courses from the list of courses in Asian studies. In consultation with an Asian studies faculty member (chosen or appointed by the Asian studies chair) and in accordance with program guidelines, students may design their own course of study. Among the six courses, at least four should be related as a coherent group. Examples include a group of courses related to Buddhist studies, South Asia, gender issues, environmental concerns, a specific historical period, or the socioeconomic or political situation of a particular region.

The minor may include one Short Term course and a maximum of four language courses. No more than two of those language courses may be counted toward the coherent group. With the approval of the minor advisor, students may apply up to two courses taken on study-abroad programs toward the minor, as well as courses taken on Bates Fall Semester Abroad programs in Asia. Majors in Chinese, Japanese, or East Asian studies may count no more than two courses toward both the Asian studies minor and their major.

Pass/Fail Grading Option

Pass/fail grading may not be elected for courses applied toward the minor in Asian studies.

Courses for the Major

Any course with the Asian studies designation (ASIA or AS) may be taken to fulfill the major in East Asian studies except those which focus on South Asia and Sourtheast Asia (245, 249, 250, 252, 380, s10, and s16).

In addition these courses may be taken to fulfill the East Asian studies major:

CHI 101-102. Beginning Chinese I and II.
CHI 201-202. Intermediate Chinese.
CI/TH 230. Drama and Theater of China.
CHI 301-302. Upper-Level Modern Chinese.
CHI 401-402. Advanced Chinese I and II.
CHI 415. Readings in Classical Chinese.
CHI 421. Readings in Modern Chinese Culture.
CHI s42. Readings in Modern Chinese Culture.

EN/WS 121G. Asian American Women Writers.
EN/WS 395S. Asian American Women Writers, Filmmakers, and Critics.
ES/JA s29. Haiku Poetry.

FYS 277. The Fantastic in Modern Japan.
FYS 280. Confucius: Faith and Transgression.
FYS 386. Chinese Traditions, Great and Small.

JPN 101-102. Beginning Japanese I and II.
JPN 201-202. Intermediate Japanese I and II.
JPN 301-302. Intermediate Japanese III and IV.
JPN 401-402. Advanced Japanese I and II.

Courses for the Minor

All courses offered in Asian studies (designated ASIA or AS) may be taken to fulfill the minor in Asian studies. In addition, the following courses may be taken to fulfill the minor in Asian studies:

ANTH 240. Person and Society in South Asia.
ANTH 263. Buddhism and the Social Order.
ANTH 264. South Asian and Its World: Bhangra, Bollywood, and Buddhism.

AV/RE 244. Visual Narratives in South and Southeast Asia.
AVC 248. Rock-Cut Temples in Asia.

ENG 260. Passages to and from India.

FYS 259. The Life of Buddha.

MUS s25. Performing Musical Art of Indonesia.

Courses
Short Term Courses