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Asian Studies

Professors Kemper (Anthropology), Hirai (History), J. Strong (Religious Studies), Grafflin (History), Yang (Chinese), S. Strong (Japanese; chair, fall), Maurer-Fazio (Economics; chair, winter and Short Term) and Dhingra (English); Associate Professor Nguyen (Art and Visual Culture); Assistant Professors Fatone (Music), Boucher (Psychology), Schomburg (Religious Studies), Fan (Chinese), and Steininger (Japanese and Asian Studies); Visiting Assistant Professor Walt (Art and Visual Culture); Visiting Instructor Wu; Lecturers L. Miao (Chinese), Ofuji (Japanese), Sengupta (Asian Studies), Hiss (Asian Studies), X. Miao (Chinese), Menjo (Japanese), and Xu (Chinese)

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 (www.bates.edu/ASIA.xml).

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) 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.

2) AS/CI 207.

3) two courses from the following: AS/AV 234, AS/CI 206, 211, 225, AS/RE 208, CHI s30, or FYS 280 or 386. CHI 415 or 421 may also be used to fulfill part of this requirement if not being used as a fulfillment of requirement 5) below.

4) ASIA 320. Students of the classes of 2011, 2012, and 2013 may opt to chose a third course from those listed in 3) above in lieu of requirement 4). However, all students are encouraged to enroll in ASIA 320.

5) one course at the 400-level from the following: CHI 401, 402, 415, or 421. CHI 401 and/or 402 may be used in fulfillment of either this requirement or 1) above but not both.

6) 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.

Students may petition the program to have courses taken in their study-abroad program applied toward the fulfillment of requirements 1) and 3).

Pass/Fail Grading Option

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

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. Advanced Placement courses may not be applied toward the minor.

Pass/Fail Grading Option

Pass/fail grading may be elected for one course 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) JPN 101-102, 201-202, 301-302, or the equivalent.

2) AS/JA 125.

3) two courses from the following: FYS 277 or another first-year seminar on Japan, ASIA 110, AS/JA 130, 210, 218, 220, INDS 255, JA/WS s21, JPN s27 or another Short Term course on Japan, or CHI s30. Students may apply one of the following courses toward the fulfillment of this requirement: AS/HI 172, 276, 390T, or AS/RE 209.

4) ASIA 320.

5) JPN 401.

6) 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.

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 1) and 3).

Pass/Fail Grading Option

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

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, apply toward the minor. Advanced Placement courses may not be applied toward the minor.

Pass/Fail Grading Option

Pass/fail grading may be elected for one course applied 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 Beginning with the Class of 2012

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/JA 220, AS/CI 207, FYS 280, FYS 386.
II) visual art: AV/AS 234, AV/AS 243, AV/AS 246, AVC s10.
III) religion: AS/RE 208, AS/RE 209, AS/RE 251, AS/RE 309.
IV) history: AS/HI 173, AS/HI 278, AS/HI 390T, or AS/HI 171, or AS/HI 172 if not taken as a core course.

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

Modern East Asian Society and Culture:

a) two courses on contemporary East Asian society drawn from the following offerings in economics, psychology, and modern history: AS/CI 225, AS/EC 241, AS/EC 242, AS/PY 260, AS/HI 274, AS/HI 276, AS/HI 277, AS/HI 390G.
b) one course on modern East Asian culture from the following list: AS/JA 130, AS/JA 210, AS/JA 218, AS/JA s27, AS/CI 206, AS/CI 211, FYS 277, INDS 255.
c) any 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.

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.

Major Requirements for the Class of 2011

Students are required to organize their study of East Asia around two years of Chinese or Japanese language study and are strongly urged to spend at least one semester at an approved program in mainland China, Taiwan, or Japan. Majors must take at least one course dealing primarily with China and one dealing primarily with Japan. Students are urged to take at least one course that addresses premodern culture in China or Japan and another course addressing the modern period in China or Japan.

The major requires ten courses, plus a thesis, including:

1) four courses of Chinese or Japanese language.

2) AS/HI 171 or 172.

3) two courses from two of the following four groups:
a) AS/CI 207 or AS/JA 125;
b) AS/EC 241, or 242;
c) AS/RE 208 or 209;
d) AV/AS 246 or 247;

4) three additional courses focusing on East Asia, no more than one of which may be a language course.

5) ASIA 457 and/or 458, a senior thesis, written under the direction of a faculty advisor in Asian studies.

Pass/Fail Grading Option

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

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.

The following courses may be taken to fulfill the East Asian studies major:

AV/AS 234. Chinese Visual Culture.
AV/AS 243. Buddhist Visual Worlds.
AV/AS 246. Visual Narratives: Storytelling in East Asian Art.
AV/AS 247. The Art of Zen Buddhism.
AVC s10. A Cultural Walk into China.

AS/JA 125. Japanese Literature and Society.
AS/JA 130. Japanese Film.
AS/HI 171. China and Its Culture.
AS/HI 172. Japan: Myth, Stereotype, Reality.
AS/CI 206. Modern China through Film and Fiction.
AS/CI 207. Traditional Chinese Literature in Translation.
AS/RE 208. Religions in China.
AS/RE 209. Religions in Japan.
AS/CI 211. Film and Chinese Modernity.
AS/JA 220. The Myth of the Samurai.
AS/CI 225. Art and Politics in China.
AS/EC 241. China's Economic Reforms.
AS/EC 242. Work and Workers in China.
AS/RE 251. Religions of Tibet.
AS/PY 260. Cultural Psychology.
AS/HI 274. China in Revolution.
AS/HI 276. Japan since 1945 through Film and Literature.
AS/HI 278. Taiwan.
AS/RE 308. Buddhist Texts in Translation.
AS/RE 309. Buddhism in East Asia.
ASIA 360. Independent Study.
AS/HI 390G East Asia: Crimes of Modernity.
AS/HI 390T. Women and Men in Japanese History.
AS/HI s25. Americans in Japan.
AS/JA s27. Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

CHI 101-102. Beginning Chinese I and II.
CHI 201-202. Intermediate Chinese.
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 s30. Chinese Calligraphy and Etymology.

EN/WS 121G. Asian American Women Writers.
EN/WS 395S. Asian American Women Writers, Filmmakers, and Critics.

FYS 277. The Fantastic in Modern Japan.
FYS 280. Confucius: Faith and Transgression.
FYS 348. Literature through Cataclysm.
FYS 386. Chinese Traditions, Great and Small.

INDS 255. Modern Japanese Women Writers.

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.

In addition to the courses listed above for a major in East Asian studies, the following courses may be taken to fulfill the minor in Asian studies:

ANTH 240. Person and Society in South Asia.
AN/RE 263. Buddhism and the Social Order.

AV/RE 244. Visual Narratives in South and Southeast Asia.
AV/AS 245. Architectural Monuments of Southeast Asia.
AVC 248. Rock-Cut Temples in Asia.
AV/AS 380. Stupas: Forms and Meanings.
AV/AS s16. Understanding Vietnam: Its History and Culture.

ASIA 106. Desire, Devotion, Suffering.
AS/RE 249. The Hindu Tradition.
AS/RE 250. The Buddhist Tradition.
AS/MU 252. Musics of Southeast Asia.
ASIA s10. Introduction to South Asian Civilization.
ASIA s22A. Indian Lyrical Traditions: Writing Attentive.
ASIA s22B. Indian Lyrical Traditions.

ENG 395G. Literature and Cultural Critique.

FYS 289. The Life of Buddha.
FYS 307. Islam.
FYS 346. Desire, Devotion, Suffering.

Pass/Fail Grading Option

Pass/fail grading may be elected for one course applied toward the minor in Asian studies.

Courses
Short Term Courses