ASIAN STUDIES (Div. I & II, see explanation below)

Chair, Professor CORNELIUS C. KUBLER

Professors: KUBLER, YAMADA*. Associate Professors: KAGAYA***, YAMAMOTO. Assistant Professors: C. BOLTON*, C. CHANG, NUGENT, YU. Visiting Lecturers: SAKURAI, F. WANG. Adjunct Faculty for the Major: Professors: CRANE, DREYFUS, JUST*, WONG. Associate Professors: JANG*, W. A. SHEPPARD. Assistant Professors: DE BRAUW*, MARUKO- SINIAWER*, A. REINHARDT. Language Fellows: HOSAKA, MARKOVIC, J. WANG, WU.

The Department of Asian Studies offers courses in English in the field of Asian Studies as well as courses in Chinese and Japanese language, literature, and culture. Three distinct majors are offered: a major in Chinese; a major in Japanese; and an interdisciplinary Asian Studies major which allows students to choose from a wide range of courses in the anthropology, art, economics, history, languages, linguistics, literatures, music, politics, religion, and sociology of China,Taiwan, Japan, and other Asian countries. Students with questions about the Asian Studies majors or about Asian Studies course offerings should consult the chair. Please note: Courses with ASST prefix carry Division II credit and courses with CHIN and JAPN prefixes carry Division I credit unless otherwise noted.

THE MAJOR

All students wishing to major in the Department of Asian Studies are required to take and pass a total of eleven courses, as follows:

1. 1) Asian Studies 201, or, with permission of the Chair, students may select a substitute from the following courses:
2. Religion 236 The Greater Game? Central Asia and its Neighbors Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
3. Religion 241 Hinduism: Construction of a Tradition
4. Religion 242 Buddhism: Concepts and Practices
6. 2) four semesters of Chinese or Japanese language ( including no more than two 100-level courses)

In addition to completing (1) and (2) above, all majors choose either an Area Studies track, leading to a major in Asian Studies; or a Language Studies track, leading to a major in Chinese or Japanese. The requirements for each of these tracks are indicated below:

1. 3A) Asian Studies Major
2. a. a three-course qualification in one of the disciplines represented within Asian Studies (anthropology/sociology, art history, economics, history, linguistics, literature, music, political science, religion). The qualification, to be determined through consultation between students and their advisor, normally includes an introductory course, a more advanced methodological or comparative course, and a course on Asia.
3. b. three approved electives, which may include further language work
4. 3B) Chinese Major
5. a. four additional semesters of Chinese language (300-level or higher)
6. b. Chinese 412 Introduction to Classical Chinese
7. c. one approved course in Chinese literature or culture in translation
8. 3C) Japanese Major
9. a. four additional semesters of Japanese language
10. b. one course in Japanese literature in translation
11. c. one elective on Japan
12. Electives

ArtH 103 Asian Art Survey: From the Land of the Buddha to the World of the Geisha

ArtH 270 Japanese Art and Culture

ArtH 274 Chinese Calligraphy: Theory and Practice

ArtH 376 Image and Anti-images: Zen Art in China and Japan

Asian Studies/Anthropology 233/Religion 249 Spiritual Crossroads: Religious Life in Southeast Asia

Chinese 131 Basic Cantonese

Chinese 152 Basic Taiwanese

Chinese 412 Introduction to Classical Chinese

Chinese/Linguistics 431 Introduction to Chinese Linguistics

Economics 207 China's Economic Transformation Since 1980

Economics 366 Rural Economies of East Asia

Economics 387 Economic Transition in East Asia

History 118 "Ten Years of Madness": The Chinese Cultural Revolution

History 212 Transforming the "Middle Kingdom": China, 2000 BCE-1600

History 213 Modern China, 1600-Present

History/Women's and Gender Studies 319 Gender and the Family in Chinese History

History 384 Comparative Asian-American History, 1850-1965

History 385 Contemporary Issues in Recent Asian-American History, 1965-Present

Music 126 Musics of Asia

Political Science 247 Political Power in Contemporary China

Political Science 265 The International Politics of East Asia

Political Science 341 The Politics of the Global Economy: Wealth and Power in East Asia

Religion 241 Hinduism: Construction of a Tradition

Religion 242 Buddhism: Concepts and Practices

Religion 245 Tibetan Civilization

Religion 304/Comparative Literature 344 From Hermeneutics to Post-Coloniality

STUDY ABROAD

Students intending to major in Asian Studies are encouraged to study in Asia during one or both semesters of their junior year. Williams faculty serve on the boards of several study abroad programs in China and Japan. Opportunities to study in India, Indonesia, Korea, Taiwan,Thailand, and other Asian countries are also available. Prospective Asian Studies majors who are planning to study abroad should discuss their plans with their advisor as far in advance as possible. Up to eight courses taken overseas can count toward graduation, and up to four courses taken off campus may be counted toward the major.

THE DEGREE WITH HONORS

Students interested in writing an honors thesis in Asian Studies, Chinese, or Japanese should submit a proposal to the department chair when they register for courses in the spring of their junior year. The proposal should include a statement of the topic, a general description of the types of materials available for study and how the study will be carried out, and the name of the faculty member who will serve as advisor. Admission to the honors thesis program will normally be limited to students who have maintained at least a B+ average in their courses for the major.

Students admitted to the program should register for ASST 493-W31-494, CHIN 493-W31-494, or JAPN 493-W31-494. They will be expected to turn in the final draft of their thesis shortly after spring break and to discuss their results formally with their faculty graders. Their final grades in the three courses listed above and the award of Honors, Highest Honors, or no honors will be determined by the quality of the thesis and the student's performance in the oral defense.

THE ASIAN STUDIES ENDOWMENT

The Linen summer grants for study abroad, the Linen visiting professorships, and several other programmatic activities in the department are supported by an endowment for Asian Studies established by family and friends in memory of James A. Linen III, Class of 1934, Trustee of the College from 1948 to 1953 and from 1963 to 1982.

COURSES IN CHINESE (Div. I)

The department regularly offers four levels of instruction in Modern Standard Chinese (Mandarin), designed to enable the student to become proficient in aural comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing, as well as introductory courses in Cantonese, Taiwanese, Classical Chinese, and Chinese linguistics. The course numbering system for Chinese is sequential. Students move from Chinese 101-102 or 121, 122, to 201, 202, 301, 302, 401, and 402. Independent study (Chinese 497, 498) may be offered depending on student needs and available resources; interested students must contact the Coordinator of the Chinese Program one semester in advance and present a proposal to the Coordinator or the professor with whom they wish to study by the first day of pre-registration week. Those students entering with proficiency in Chinese should see the Coordinator concerning placement.

The department also offers courses on Chinese literature and culture in English translation for students who wish to become acquainted with the major achievements in Chinese literary, intellectual and cultural history. For the purpose of the distribution requirement, all courses in Chinese are considered Division I unless otherwise noted.

STUDY ABROAD

Students majoring in Chinese are strongly encouraged to study in mainland China or Taiwan during one or both semesters of their junior year, during the summer, or over Winter Study. It is important that students interested in any of these options consult as early as possible with the department and the Dean's Office concerning acceptable programs.

COURSES IN JAPANESE (Div. I)

The department regularly offers four levels of language instruction in Modern Japanese, designed to enable the student to become proficient in aural comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Courses on Japanese literature in translation and film are also offered. The course numbering system for Japanese is sequential. Students move from Japanese 101-102 to 201, 202, 301, 302, 401, and 402. Independent study (Japanese 497, 498) may be offered for students who have completed 402 or the equivalent, depending on student needs and available resources. Students interested in pursuing independent study must contact the Coordinator of the Japanese Program one semester in advance and present a proposal to the professor with whom they wish to study by the first day of pre-registration week. Those students entering with proficiency in Japanese should see the Coordinator concerning placement. For the purpose of the distribution requirement, all courses in Japanese are considered Division I unless otherwise noted.

STUDY ABROAD

Students majoring in Japanese are encouraged to consider study in Japan at some point in their Williams career-during one or both semesters of their junior year, during the summer, or over Winter Study. It is important that students interested in any of these options consult carefully with the department and the Dean's Office starting at an early date.