East Asian Studies Minor

FACULTY:
Ng Wee-Siang Margaret (History), Chair
James Bonk (Chinese, East Asian Studies)
Mark Graham (Religious Studies)
Seiko Matsuzawa (Sociology and Anthropology)
Elizabeth Schiltz (Philosophy)

The East Asian Studies major and minor focus on developing an integrated interdisciplinary understanding of the diverse but related historical and cultural traditions of East Asia. Starting with a foundation in Chinese language and history, the curriculum extends that focus across the East Asian region to Japan, and across multiple disciplinary approaches to understanding China, Japan, and East Asia, broadly. The East Asian Studies Program recognizes the diversity of cultural and national traditions that exist across this region, but at the same time seeks to foster an understanding of the common cultural and historical concerns that make “East Asia” a coherent focus of study.

Given the complexity of histories and traditions in this region of the world, the East Asian Studies major and minor require interdisciplinary study with a core orientation in history and language, and off-campus study in an East Asian country as part of the curriculum. Our expectation is that the East Asian Studies major will be appropriate for students who seek a broad-based study of East Asia, including course work focused on China and Japan, and who are interested in off-campus study in a Wooster-endorsed program either in Japan, or in a broad-based East Asian Studies program in China. Students whose studies are focused exclusively on China, including off-campus study in China, should consult the Chinese Studies major.

The East Asian Studies major and minor are offered through the interdepartmental program in East Asian Studies. Eight faculty members from five departments (six disciplinary areas) contribute to the East Asian Studies Program.

Minor in East Asian Studies

Consists of six courses:

EAST 11000 - Introduction to East Asia
CHIN 20100 - Intermediate Chinese Level I
Four of the following courses:
EAST 29901 - Manga and Anime in Japanese and Global Contexts
Chinese courses at the 200- or 300-level
HIST courses (when East Asia focused)
HIST 23400 - Chinese Civilization
HIST 23500 - Modern China
SOCI 21900 - Globalization and Contemporary China
HIST 23600 - Modern Japan
RELS 22000 - Buddhism
RELS 267xx or 269xx (when East Asia focused)
THTD 26300 - Asian Theatre: From South to East

Special Notes

Off-campus Study: As part of the East Asian Studies major, students are expected to complete an approved off-campus study program (or approved equivalent experience) in an East Asian country. Up to three approved transfer credits may count toward the requirements for the major.
Students with Chinese language preparation beyond CHIN 20100 , or who have equivalent preparation in another East Asian language, should consult the program chair regarding how their language preparation will fit into the major or minor.
Students who wish to take the maximum number of courses for this major are encouraged to complete additional courses from the options offered in the major requirements.
Only grades of C- or better are accepted for the major or minor.

Cross-listed Courses Accepted for East Asian Studies Credit

Chinese

CHIN 20100. Intermediate Chinese Level I [C]

CHIN 20200. Intermediate Chinese Level II [C]

CHIN 22200. Women in Chinese Literature [AH, C]

CHIN 22300. Chinese Cinema As Translation Culture [AH, C]

CHIN 22400. War & Culture in China [AH, C, W]

CHIN 22500. Performance Traditions of ChinaTradition in Chinese Literature [AH, C]

CHIN 22501. China - Myth, Legends, Beliefs [AH, C ,R]

CHIN 30100. High Intermediate Chinese I

CHIN 30200. High Intermediate Chinese II

CHIN 31100. Advance Chinese 1: Journey to the West [AH, C, R]

CHIN 31200. Advanced Chinese II [AH, C]

History

HIST 10100. Intro to Historical Investigation [HSS]

HIST 10183. Family in Chinese History [C, HSS]

HIST 10184. Chinese Medical Tradition [HSS]

HIST 20100. The Craft of History [HSS, W]

HIST 20115. Body in Chinese Tradition [C, HSS,W]

HIST 20135. History of Pain

HIST 23400. Chinese Civilization [C, HSS]

HIST 23500. Modern China [C, HSS]

HIST 23600. Modern Japan [C, HSS]

HIST 30151. The Body and Chinese Nation [C, HSS]

Philosophy

PHIL 23000. East/West Comparative Philosophy [AH, C, GE, W]

PHIL 23200. Chinese Philosophy

Religious Studies

RELS 22000. Buddhism [AH, C, R]

RELS 26720. Asian Religions in America [R]

RELS 26737. East Asian Buddhism [R]

RELS 26740. Buddhist Visual & Material Cultures [R]

Sociology and Anthropology

ANTH 23101. Peoples & Cultures: Japan [C, HSS, D, GE]

SOCI 21900. Globalization & Contemporary China [C, HSS, D, GE]