Asian Studies Minor - Undergraduate - 2011 University Catalog

You are viewing the 2011 University Catalog. Please see the newest version of the University Catalog for the most current version of this program's requirements.

Coordinator: Elizabeth Wishnick

The Asian Studies Minor is designed for undergraduates and can complement any of the undergraduate majors of Montclair State University. This minor offers students the opportunity to focus a segment of their university training on Asia and to engage in this dynamic global and interdisciplinary field of study. Students will gain in-depth knowledge of the cultural, social, political, economic, and global components of issues related to Asian nations and identities; they will learn to appreciate and analyze complex cultural objects (text, art, symbols, ceremonies, etc), as well as the traditions behind them. Through such a course of study, students can better understand the complexity of Asian nations and cultures and the diversity of Asian political and economic systems, while gaining insights into global cultural movements of people and ideas and into the global challenges posed by a dynamically changing region. This minor helps students see, through the lens of literature, religion, philosophy, culture, and politics, how worlds of diverse and interconnected meanings are formed. And by  concentrating on  Asia in the context  of  multidisciplinary and inter-regional  courses  students will have the opportunity for a more solid, in depth, comparative understanding of Asia as a discrete yet complex reality and as a critical, dynamic global force.

Complete 18 hours from the courses listed below.  Additional elective courses may be taken with the approval of the Asian Studies Minor Coordinator.  The complete list of electives can be found here. Please contact the coordinator for further details. 

ASIAN STUDIES MINOR

Complete 18 semester hours, including the following 2 requirement(s):

  1. Complete the following course:

    GNHU 217 Reading Asian Cultures 3

  2. Complete 15 semester hours from the following. Courses must be selected from at least 2 different departments:

    1.  

      ANTH 130 Cultures of South Asia 3
      ANTH 431 Development of Indian Character and Culture 3

    2.  

      ARHS 327 History of Oriental Art 3

    3.  

      CHIN 101 Beginning Chinese I 3
      CHIN 102 Beginning Chinese II 3
      CHIN 201 Intermediate Chinese I 3
      CHIN 202 Intermediate Chinese II 3

    4.  

      ENLT 235 Contemporary Chinese Women's Literature 3

    5.  

      HIST 128 Pre-Modern Japan: A History or Japan to the Meiji Restoration 3
      HIST 129 Modern Japan: A History of Japan From the Meiji Through the Showa 3
      HIST 131 Introduction to Indian Civilization 3
      HIST 132 Introduction to Chinese Civilization 3
      HIST 133 Modern Chinese Civilization 3
      HIST 223 Communist Revolution in China 3
      HIST 330 Chinese Social History Through Literature 3
      HIST 431 Development of Indian Character and Culture 3
      HIST 432 Development of Japanese Character and Culture 3

    6.  

      JAPN 101 Beginning Japanese I 3
      JAPN 102 Beginning Japanese II 3
      JAPN 201 Intermediate Japanese I 3
      JAPN 202 Intermediate Japanese II 3

    7.  

      PHIL 137 Asian Philosophy 3

    8.  

      POLS 206 Government and Politics of China and Japan 3
      POLS 340 Government and Politics of India and South Asia 3

    9.  

      RELG 212 Asian Religions 3
      RELG 213 Buddhism 3
      RELG 214 Classical Texts of Asian Religions 3
      RELG 215 Hinduism 3
      RELG 217 Taoism 3

    10. Additional courses may be used with the approval of the Program Director. Contact Program Director for details.

Course Descriptions:

ANTH130: Cultures of South Asia

This course will provide a broad overview of society, culture, and history of South Asia. The goal is to convey the tremendous diversity of cultural expression and social plurality found in the region by focusing on specific events and concepts at scales varying from local to national, such as the emergence of nationalism, formation of nation states, and caste. The course will introduce students to an important region, home to one-fifth of the population of the world, and also help them understand contemporary political, economic, and environmental change in the subcontinent. Meets Gen Ed 2002 - Non-Western Cultural Perspectives. Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement - World Cultures. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

ANTH431: Development of Indian Character and Culture

The historical conditioning of Indian behavior. Culture change in the perspective of colonialism and modernization: contributions of religion to social and political values and modern literature. Cross listed with History, HIST 431. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

Prerequisites: ANTH 100 OR HIST 100.

ARHS327: History of Oriental Art

The factors that shaped oriental society; the art of China, Korea, Japan, India, Southeast Asia and the neighboring Islamic world. Offered as ARHS 327 through Spring 2012. To become ARHT 280 effective Summer 2012. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

Prerequisites: ENWR 105 or HONP 100.

CHIN101: Beginning Chinese I

The first semester of an introduction to the Chinese (Mandarin) language, focusing mainly on speaking and comprehension, with secondary emphasis on reading and writing. Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement - World Languages. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

CHIN102: Beginning Chinese II

The second semester of an introduction to the Chinese (Mandarin) language, focusing mainly on speaking and comprehension, with secondary emphasis on reading and writing. Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement - World Languages. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: CHIN 101.

CHIN201: Intermediate Chinese I

This is the first semester of a second year course in the Chinese (Mandarin) language. The course will continue to build the skills in spoken Chinese developed in Beginning Chinese I and II. However, the focus of this course will be reading and writing. The reading and writing components will be gradually increased to at least fifty percent of the course content. Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement - World Languages. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: CHIN 101 and 102 or equivalent.

CHIN202: Intermediate Chinese II

This course will complete the Intermediate Chinese (Mandarin) sequence. The increased emphasis on reading and writing, begun in Intermediate Chinese I, will continue. Reading and writing skills, along with vocabulary building, will be the focus of the course, although speaking will continue to be important. Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement - World Languages. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: CHIN 101 and 102 and 201 or equivalent.

ENLT235: Contemporary Chinese Women's Literature

Students of contemporary Chinese women's literature will analyze specific narrative techniques used in the representation of women in light of the literary inscriptions of place, family, history, gender, sexual politics, nationalism, and transnationalism. Students will examine how these narratives raise questions about Chinese origins, memories, desires and subjectivities in the age of globalization. Our primary focus will be on fiction written by women from mainland China, Taiwan, and Chinese diaspora. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

Prerequisites: ENWR 106 or HONP 101.

GNHU217: Reading Asian Cultures

This course is an introduction to a wide range of cultural traditions across Asia as seen through a spectrum of cultural objects. Particular emphasis will be given to the cultural accomplishments of China, Japan, and India, and these will be read in their cultural and historical contexts. Students can expect to read poetry, drama, and prose, view a variety of art forms, and listen to musical styles from ancient, medieval, and modern periods. Students will learn to appreciate and analyze complex cultural objects as well as the traditions behind them. Meets Gen Ed 2002 - Social Science, Non-Western Cultural Perspectives. Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement - World Cultures. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

HIST128: Pre-Modern Japan: A History or Japan to the Meiji Restoration

This is an introductory survey course in Japanese history from earliest times to the Meiji (1868-1912). It is a first step in Japan studies designed to provide a broad, useful, working knowledge of key aspects of traditional Japan. Culture, politics, society and economy will be built into a chronological, historical structure. Japan's uniqueness will be outlined against a background of greater East Asian and world interactions. This course will stand on its own, but will also serve as a useful background to understanding modern and contemporary Japan. The course also aspires to sensitizing students to the inherent value of East Asian culture as a part of human richness and diversity. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

HIST129: Modern Japan: A History of Japan From the Meiji Through the Showa

This is an introductory survey course in Japanese history from the Meiji (1868-1912) through the Showa (1925-present). While it would be useful to study premodern Japan before taking this course, modern Japan does stand on its own. A review of traditional Japan will be followed by study of the dynamic interaction of Japan and the West during the 19th Century. Japan's expansionism, World War II and the postwar period will be important topics. Cultural, military, economic, political, and social developments will be discussed in historical settings. Students will be encouraged to appreciate the unique dynamics of Japan's development as a modern nation state and to explore the likely progress of Japan into the 21st Century. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

HIST131: Introduction to Indian Civilization

The early history of India, 3000 B.C. to 1000 A.D. Principal religions, political and literary works, and their insights into Indian social values and institutions. Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement - World Cultures. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

HIST132: Introduction to Chinese Civilization

The early history of China, 2000 B.C. to 1300 A.D. Principal social, political and metaphysical-philosophic works, corresponding values and institutions. Meets Gen Ed 2002 - Social Science, Non-Western Cultural Perspectives. Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement - World Cultures. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

HIST133: Modern Chinese Civilization

Modern China, 1600 to the present. Changes in values and mutual influence of East and West, studied through literary, philosophical, anthropological, historical and artistic works. Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement - World Cultures. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

HIST223: Communist Revolution in China

Ideological and historical significance studied against the background of domestic and international events, personalities and ideologies. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

HIST330: Chinese Social History Through Literature

Masterpieces of the Chinese literary tradition from earliest times to the 20th century. Literary genre in historical perspective and as expression of social and cultural values. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

Prerequisites: HIST 100; AND HIST 117 OR HIST 118.

HIST431: Development of Indian Character and Culture

The historical conditioning of Indian behavior. Culture change in the perspective of colonialism and modernization; contributions of religion to social and political values and modern literature. Cross listed with Anthropology, ANTH 431. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

Prerequisites: ANTH 100 OR HIST 100.

HIST432: Development of Japanese Character and Culture

The historical conditioning of Japanese behavior. Cultural change in the perspective of traditional periodization of Japanese history. Contributions of religion and philosophy to defining social values. Cross listed with Anthropology, ANTH 432. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

Prerequisites: ANTH 100 OR HIST 100.

JAPN101: Beginning Japanese I

A basic introduction to the Japanese language, with emphasis on speaking and understanding. The fundamentals of the Japanese writing system will also be introduced. Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement - World Languages. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

JAPN102: Beginning Japanese II

A continuation of Beginning Japanese I. Additional vocabulary and more complex grammatical forms will be introduced. The emphasis remains on speaking and understanding. Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement - World Languages. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: JAPN 101 or equivalent.

JAPN201: Intermediate Japanese I

This course continues JAPN 101 and 102 Beginning Japanese I and II and will build on the skills that students have developed in those courses. Students will learn to use a wider variety of more complex structures; they will acquire significantly increased vocabulary; they will improve their pronunciation; and they will gradually gain mastery of the two most difficult aspects of Japanese: its writing system and its system of honorifics. Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement - World Languages. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: JAPN 102 or equivalent.

JAPN202: Intermediate Japanese II

This course builds on the skills that students have developed in JAPN 201 and will help the students refine their mastery of the spoken and written language, the vocabulary, the grammar, and the writing system. Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement - World Languages. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: JAPN 201 or equivalent.

PHIL137: Asian Philosophy

This course introduces students to the major movements and thinkers in Asian philosophy. It acquaints students with Asian philosophical interpretations of experience and reality found in both classical and contemporary Confucianism, Mohism, Daoism, Buddhism, and Hinduism in Eastern cultures. Meets GenEd 2002-Social Science, Non-Western Cultural Perspectives. Meets Multicultural Awareness Requirement. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

POLS206: Government and Politics of China and Japan

Governmental and political development, institutions, and practices in contemporary China-Japan. Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement - World Cultures. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

POLS340: Government and Politics of India and South Asia

The political experiences and institutions of the Indian subcontinent since 1947: The Republic of India, Pakistan, Ceylon and Bangladesh. Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement - World Cultures. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

Prerequisites: POLS 201 or departmental approval.

RELG212: Asian Religions

The cultural and theological bases for the faith and practice of major Eastern religions--Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Taoism. Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement - World Cultures. Meets Gen Ed 2002 - Non-Western Cultural Perspectives. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

Prerequisites: ENWR 105 or HONP 100.

RELG213: Buddhism

The exploration of Buddhist teachings, practices, history, and religious art in various Asian countries, notably India, Southeast Asia, Japan, and Tibet (may vary). No prerequisites, but RELG 100, Religions of the World, is suggested. Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement - World Cultures. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

RELG214: Classical Texts of Asian Religions

This course emphasizes critical analysis and interpretation of primary textual sources. Students will read and examine primary documents from each of the Asian religions, their traditional interpretations and recent understandings and applications of these texts. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

RELG215: Hinduism

An introduction to Hindu religious traditions, including philosophy, yoga practice, ritual workship, and sacred art. No prerequisites, but RELG 100 Religions of the World is suggested. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

RELG217: Taoism

An introduction to Taoist religious texts and traditions, including Tao Te Ching and Chuang Tzu; Taoist connections with traditional Chinese medicine and martial arts; Taoist ritual traditions; and sacred art. No prerequisites, but RELG 100 Religions of the World is recommended. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.

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