East Asian Studies, B.A.

TENURED AND TENURED-TRACK FACULTY:
Mark Graham, Chair

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.

Major in East Asian Studies

Consists of eleven courses:

CHIN 20100 - Intermediate Chinese Level I
One elective Chinese course at the 200- or 300-level
ANTH 23101 - Peoples & Cultures: Japan
HIST 23400 - Chinese Civilization
HIST 23500 - Modern China
HIST 23600 - Modern Japan
RELS 22000 - Buddhism
One of the following courses:
EAST 11000 - Introduction to East Asia
SOCI 21900 - Globalization & Contemporary China
HIST 10100-10196 (when East Asia focused)
PHIL 23000 - East/West Comparative Philosophy
EAST 40100 - Junior Independent Study
EAST 45100 - Senior Independent Study
EAST 45200 - Senior Indepdent Study

Special Notes

Off-campus Study: The major and minor in East Asian Studies requires the completion of an approved off-campus study program in an East Asian country (e.g., a program in China or Japan appropriate for this major). Up to three approved transfer credits may count toward the requirements for the major.
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 19900. War & Culture in China [AH, C,W]

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 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 23400. Traditional China [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]

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]