Chair, Professor CORNELIUS C. KUBLER
Professors: KUBLER, YAMADA. Associate Professors: CHANG, KAGAYA, YAMAMOTO. Assistant Professors: C. BOLTON, NUGENT*, YU. Visiting Lecturers: SAKURAI, C. WANG. Adjunct Faculty: Professors: CRANE**, DREYFUS, JANG, JUST, SHEPPARD, WONG. Assistant Professors: JOSEPHSON, A. REINHARDT, SINIAWER, VALIANI. Language Fellows: HSIAO, SHIBATA, SU.
The mission of the Department of Asian Studies is to help as many students as possible-both majors and non-majors-develop practical proficiency in Asian languages and, in the tradition of the liberal arts, acquire a meaningful understanding of important facets of one or more of the disciplines represented within Asian Studies (including anthropology, art history, economics, history, linguistics, literature, music, political science, religion, and sociology), so that they may realize their fullest intellectual and personal potential and be able to make useful contributions to society.
We offer 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:
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:
American Studies 283/English 287 Topics in Asian American Literature
American Studies 302/English 388 Asian American Writing and the Visual Arts
American Studies 311 Asian American Film
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
ArtH 470 American Orientalism
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 384 Comparative Asian-American History, 1850-1965
History 385 Contemporary Issues in Recent Asian-American History, 1965-Present
Music 126 Musics of Asia
Music 210 American Pop Orientalism
Political Science 242 America and the Vietnam War
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
Political Science 345T Political Leadership in Ancient Chinese Thought
Political Science 382 The Art of Political and Historical Inquiry: The Vietnam War
Religion 236/History 216 The Greater Game? Central Asia and its Neighbors Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
Religion 241 Hinduism: Construction of a Tradition
Religion 242 Buddhism: Concepts and Practices
Religion 245 Tibetan Civilization
Religion 251 Zen Buddhism
Religion 256 Engendering Buddhism
Religion 257 Gods and Demons in East Asian Religion
Religion 259/History 214 Japanese Religions and the State
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 to 201, 202, 301, 302, 401, and 402. Independent study (Chinese 497, 498) may be offered depending on student needs and available resources. 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, 402 and, if appropriate, 403 and 404. 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.