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ASIAN STUDIES

College of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Pacific Asia, including the nation states on the Asian shores of the Pacific Rim, the Koreas, Japan, China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, and Indonesia, is a region of great economic, political and strategic importance, possessing immense natural and human resources.

The major is designed to provide students with a coherent introduction to the language, history, and culture of Asian societies on the western rim of the Pacific Basin. While focusing on Pacific Asia, the program also supports the study of cultures from the Indian subcontinent and other regions of Asia. Each concentration provides an interdisciplinary understanding of the major social and historical forces at work in the region, supported by appropriate language training. Graduates of the program either continue their studies at graduate institutions or utilize their knowledge and training through employment in government, business or education relating to this increasingly important region of the world.

The minor offers students a framework to explore one or more Pacific Asian societies from an interdisciplinary perspective. It is particularly relevant for students in various academic or applied disciplines who have a regional interest in Pacific Asia.

Concentrations

  • Japanese Concentration
  • Chinese Concentration
  • South and Southeast Asian Concentration
  • Asian American Concentration

Special Features

  • The program of Asian Studies is administered through the Center for Pacific Asian Studies. The Center is composed of designated faculty in the departments of Anthropology, Art, English, Ethnic Studies, Foreign Languages, Geography, Government, International Business, History, Music, Philosophy, Humanities and Religious Studies, and Sociology.
  • A program committee, comprised of the director of the center and six members of the Asian Studies faculty, oversees the Asian Studies Program.
  • The Center also serves to support and facilitate various university activities related to furthering our understanding of the Pacific Asian region (as well as the Indian subcontinent and other regions of Asia): faculty research, sponsoring summer training institutes, travel and residential programs in Pacific Asia, seminars for faculty, students and the community, and establishing collaborative links with institutions and community groups.

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS

Requirements - Bachelor of Arts Degree

Units required for Major: 42; these units include the 15 units of study in student's chosen concentration (see below) Minimum total units required for the BA: 120

Courses in parentheses are prerequisites.

A. Core Requirements
(30 units, 15 of which are required core courses as outlined in the Additional Requirements for Specialization section below).

(3)

ART 3A

Traditional Asian Art OR

 

ART 3B

Modern and Contemporary Asian Art

(3)

ASIA 198

Asia in the World Today (Instructor permission) OR

 

HIST 192C

Seminar in Recent Interpretations of Asian History (GWAR certification before Fall 09, WPJ score of 70+, or at least a C- in ENGL 109M/W)

(3)

HIST 6

Asian Civilizations

(3)

HRS 70

Arts and Ideas of Asia: Ancient to Medieval OR

 

HRS 71

Arts and Ideas of Asia: Medieval to Modern

(3)

GOVT 145

Government and Politics in Asia (GOVT 1 or equivalent) OR

 

HIST 100

Introduction to Historical Skills

B. Concentration Requirements (15 units)

Select one of the following areas:

Japanese Studies Concentration

(3)

ANTH 134

Japanese Cultural and Society

(3)

HIST 146A

Cultural History of Japan to 1800

(3)

HIST 146B

Modern Japan 1800 to Present

(3)

HRS 174

Modern Japanese Literature and Culture

(3)

JAPN 120

Japanese Civilization

Chinese Studies Concentration

(15) Select five of the following:

(3)

ANTH 148

Anthropology of Chinese Societies

(3)

CHIN 120

Chinese Civilization

(3)

CHIN 150

Survey of Chinese Literature (GWAR Certification before Fall 09, or WPJ score of 70+, or at least a C- in ENGL 109M/W)

(3)

HIST 148A

China: Antiquity to 1600 A.D.

(3)

HIST 148B

China, 1600 to Present

(3)

HRS 172

The Classical Culture of China

(3)

HRS 173

Chinese Philosophy and Religion

(3)

PHIL 145A

Chinese Philosophy (GWAR Certification before Fall 09, or WPJ score of 80+, or C or higher grade in ENGL 109M/W, or C- grade in ENGL 109M/W or WPJ score 70/71 and ENGL 109X co-requisite)

South and Southeast Asian Concentration

(15) Select five of the following:

(3)

ANTH 147

Peoples of Southeast Asia

(3)

ANTH 149

Cultures of South Asia

(3)

ART 117A

Art of India and Southeast Asia (ART 3A or equivalent, or instructor permission)

(3)

HIST 149

The Making of Modern Southeast Asia

(3)

HRS 147

History of Buddhism

(3)

HRS 178A

Religions of India I: The Formative Period

(3)

HRS 178B

Religions of India II: Medieval and Modern

(3)

HRS 179A

The Hindu Year: Fall

(3)

HRS 179B

The Hindu Year: Spring

(3)

PHIL 145B

Philosophies of India (GWAR Certification before Fall 09, or WPJ score of 80+, or C or higher grade in ENGL 109M/W, or C- grade in ENGL 109M/W or WPJ score 70/71 and ENGL 109X co-requisite)

Asian-American Concentration

(15) Select five of the following:

(3)

ENGL 180M

Asian American Literature (GWAR Certification before Fall 09, or WPJ score of 80+, or C or higher grade in ENGL 109M/W, or C- grade in ENGL 109M/W or WPJ score 70/71 and ENGL 109X co-requisite)

(3)

ETHN 110

The Asian American Experience

(3)

ETHN 111

Southeast Asians in the U.S.

(3)

ETHN 112

Contemporary Asian American Issues

(3)

ETHN 113

Asian American Communities

(3)

ETHN 114

Asian Americans and Globalization

(3)

ETHN 116

Asian American Politics and Public Policy

(3)

ETHN/WOMS 118

Asian American Women

(3)

ETHN 167

Asian American Families: Issues and Perspectives

C. Electives (12 units)

Note: Students must take 12 units of electives from four different groupings. Students cannot satisfy elective requirements with courses from their area of concentration.

Group 1: Japan

(3)

ANTH 134

Japanese Culture and Society

(3)

HIST 146A

Cultural History of Japan to 1800

(3)

HIST 146B

Modern Japan, 1800-Present

(3)

HRS 174

Modern Japanese Literature and Culture

(3)

JAPN 120

Japanese Civilization

Group 2: China

(3)

ANTH 148

Anthropology of Chinese Societies

(3)

CHIN 120

Chinese Civilization

(3)

CHIN 150

Survey of Chinese Literature (GWAR Certification before Fall 09, or WPJ score of 70+, or at least a C- in ENGL 109M/W)

(3)

HIST 148A

China: Antiquity to 1600 A.D.

(3)

HIST 148B

China, 1600 to Present

(3)

HRS 172

The Classical Culture of China

(3)

HRS 173

Chinese Philosophy and Religion

(3)

PHIL 145A

Chinese Philosophy (GWAR Certification before Fall 09, or WPJ score of 80+, or C or higher grade in ENGL 109M/W, or C- grade in ENGL 109M/W or WPJ score 70/71 and ENGL 109X co-requisite)

Group 3: South and South-East Asia

(3)

ANTH 147

Peoples of Southeast Asia

(3)

ANTH 149

Cultures of South Asia

(3)

ART 117A

Art of India and Southeast Asia (ART 3A or equivalent, or instructor permission)

(3)

HIST 149

The Making of Modern Southeast Asia

(3)

HRS 178A

Religions of India I: The Formative Period

(3)

HRS 178B

Religions of India II: Medieval and Modern

(3)

HRS 179A

The Hindu Year: Fall

(3)

HRS 179B

The Hindu Year: Spring

(3)

PHIL 145B

Philosophies of India (GWAR Certification before Fall 09, or WPJ score of 80+, or C or higher grade in ENGL 109M/W, or C- grade in ENGL 109M/W or WPJ score 70/71 and ENGL 109X co-requisite)

Group 4: Asian-American

(3)

ENGL 180M

Asian American Literature (GWAR Certification before Fall 09, or WPJ score of 80+, or C or higher grade in ENGL 109M/W, or C- grade in ENGL 109M/W or WPJ score 70/71 and ENGL 109X co-requisite)

(3)

ETHN 110

The Asian American Experience

(3)

ETHN 111

Southeast Asians in the U.S.

(3)

ETHN 112

Contemporary Asian American Issues

(3)

ETHN 113

Asian American Communities

(3)

ETHN 114

Asian Americans and Globalization

(3)

ETHN 116

Asian American Politics and Public Policy

(3)

ETHN/WOMS 118

Asian American Women

(3)

ETHN 167

Asian American Families: Issues and Perspectives

Group 5: Pan-Asia

(3)

ART 113B

Asian Art and Mythology (ART 3A or equivalent, or instructor permission)

(3)

ART 115

Topics in Asian Art (Upper division or graduate status, ART 3A or equivalent, an upper division Asian Art History course such as ART 113B, ART 117A, ART 117B, or INTD 124B or instructor permission, GWAR certification before Fall 09, WPJ score of 70+, or at least a C- in ENGL 109M/W)

(3)

ART 117B

Art of China and Japan (ART 3A or equivalent, or instructor permission)

(3)

ASIA/HIST 140

Modern East Asian Cinema (GWAR certification before Fall 09, or WPJ score of 80+, or C or higher grade in ENGL 109M/W, or C- grade in ENGL 109M/W or WPJ score 70/71 and ENGL 109X)

(3)

GEOG 125

Geography of East Asia

(3)

HRS 175

Zen, Buddhism and Daoism

(3)

HRS 176

The Confucian Tradition

(3)

WOMS 121

Women of the Middle East

Group 6: Advanced Language

(3)

CHIN 110

Advanced Mandarin: Modern Chinese Fiction (CHIN 2B or instructor permission)

(3)

JAPN 110

Introduction to Japanese Literature (JAPN 2B or instructor permission)

(3)

JAPN 116A

Language and Culture of the Japanese and the Japanese in America (JAPN 2B or equivalent)

(3)

JAPN 116B

Language and Culture of the Japanese and the Japanese in America (JAPN 116A or instructor permission)

(3)

JAPN 150

Advanced Japanese Grammar and Conversation (JAPN 2B or instructor permission)

Group 7: Fieldwork-Internships

(3)

ASIA 195

Internship: Asian Studies OR

 

 

Approved Internships or Fieldwork in other departments

D. Language Proficiency Requirement

Students must demonstrate proficiency at a level equivalent to four semesters of an Asian language appropriate to their concentration by coursework or a language proficiency examination provided by the Department of Foreign Languages. Students concentrating in South or Southeast Asia can demonstrate proficiency in any South or Southeast Asian Language. Students concentrating in Asian-American Studies can demonstrate proficiency in any Asian language. The following courses are available at Sacramento State to fulfill the proficiency requirements:

CHIN 1A

CHIN 1B

Elementary Mandarin

Elementary Mandarin (CHIN 1A or instructor permission)

CHIN 2A

CHIN 2B

Intermediate Mandarin (CHIN 1B or instructor permission)

Intermediate Mandarin (CHIN 2A or instructor permission)

JAPN 1A

JAPN 1B

Elementary Japanese

Elementary Japanese (JAPN 1A or instructor permission)

JAPN 2A

JAPN 2B

Intermediate Japanese (JAPN 1A, JAPN 1B or equivalent)

Intermediate Japanese (JAPN 2A or equivalent)

Requirements - Asian Studies Minor

Total units required for minor: 24; 12 must be in upper division.

Courses in parentheses are prerequisites.
 
A. Course Requirements (12 units)

(3)

ART 3A

Traditional Asian Art OR

 

ART 3B

Modern and Contemporary Asian Art

(3)

ASIA 198

Asia in the World Today (Instructor permission) OR

 

HIST 192C

Seminar in Recent Interpretations of Asian History (GWAR certification before Fall 09, WPJ score of 70+, or at least a C- in ENGL 109M/W)

(3)

GOVT 145

Government and Politics in Asia (GOVT 1 or equivalent) OR

 

HIST 100

Introduction to Historical Skills

(3)

HIST 6

Asian Civilizations

B. Electives (12 units)

Students must take 12 units of electives from four different groupings listed under the major.

C. Language Proficiency
Language proficiency is not required for the minor; however, students are highly encouraged to study an Asian language.

Faculty

Pat Chirapravati, Art; Cindi Sturtz Sreetharan, Raghuraman Trichur, Anthropology; Jeffery Dym, Mitchell Mumark, Michael Vann, History; James Sobredo, Ethnic Studies; Kazue Masuyama, Lewis Robinson, Foreign Languages; Joel Dubois, Richard Shek, Humanities & Religious Studies; James Chopyak, Music; Qiaoming Amy Liu, Sociology

Contact Information

Pat Chirapravati, Director
Kadema Hall 186
(916) 278-3880
James Deshaw Rae, Asst. Director
Tahoe Hall 3123
(916) 278-7866
www.csus.edu/asia



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