Asian Studies Major and Minor Requirements:
Recent economic, political and social changes
clearly show that broader and deeper understanding of
Asia is essential.
Despite the significance of Asian culture, the study of
Asia has received little
emphasis in our educational system, where the thrust of
instruction tends to reflect the origins of the majority of the
population. These conditions have changed over time, sometimes
dramatically, as the United States
has become a more pluralistic society. As a
relatively recent example, the 1965 liberalization of immigration
law has resulted in an enormous expansion in the number of
Americans of Asian origin. The need to know about
Asia also stems from the
changing economic landscape abroad, as well as developments at
home. Since 1981, the trade deficits with both
China and
Japan have become
enormous, creating political tensions. Both of these Asian
nations are also undergoing significant economic and political
changes, which in turn will influence relations with the
U.S. Furthermore, the
1997 financial crisis afflicting Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, and other Asian nations
had serious long term implications, and is an instructive example
of how developments in commercial markets can have truly global
implications.
The Asian Studies major will provide substantial
and systematic instruction about Asia; the minor will supplement
students existing majors through systematic instruction in
appropriate Asia-related areas. The goal
is to broaden understanding to prepare Carthage graduates for careers
involving Asia,
and more broadly for work and life in an increasingly global
economy. The College has faculty strength in East and South Asian
studies. The existing Mizuno fellowships, the exchange program
with Tokyo Gakugei University, and the Carthage/Hong Lou Si study
abroad program are important
components in helping to give students direct study and work
experience in Asia.
Developments in each decade since World War II
have alerted Americans to the importance of Asia. From a longer perspective,
Asian cultures and history have had profound effects on our own.
The proposed major and minor are designed to give
Carthage students an
effective and interdisciplinary education on different dimensions
of this significant region.
Requirements for the
Major:
The Asian Studies major consists of 40 credits,
of which 16 credits must be in a single Asian language.
The remaining 24 credits will include ASNS 400, Senior
Seminar in Asian Studies, HIST 120: Issues in Asian History, and
four additional courses either drawn from the list
below, or approved by the Director of Asian Studies. A
further requirement is that the courses, other than the Senior
Thesis, must be drawn from at least four different
academic departments.
Requirements for the
Minor:
The minor consists of six 4-credit courses.
Students are required to take HIST 120: Issues in Asian History,
and five other courses from the list below. These six
courses must be from at least three departments. Students may
choose their other courses from among the following:
-
Art
Department
ART 200:
Masterpieces of Asian Art and Architecture
-
Economics
Department
ECON 271: Topics in Economics (when the course
has substantial Asian content)
ECON310: Political Economy of
the Pacific Rim
ECON 403: International Political Economy
-
History
Department
HIST 340: Modern China
HIST 345: Modern Japan
-
Modern Language
Department
CHIN 101: Elementary Chinese I
CHIN 102: Elementary Chinese II
CHIN 201: Intermediate Chinese I
CHIN 202: Intermediate Chinese II
CHIN 301: Advanced Chinese I
CHIN 302: Advanced Chinese II
JPN 101: Elementary Japanese I
JPN 102: Elementary Japanese II
JPN 201: Intermediate Japanese I
JPN 202: Intermediate Japanese II
JPN 303: Japanese Conversation
JPN 375: Japanese Experience
MLAN 306: East Asian Civ. and Culture
MLAN 310: East Asian Lit. in Translation
-
Political Science
Department
POLS 103: Introduction to Comparative Politics
(when the course has substantial Asian content)
POLS 271: Topics in Political Science (when the course has
substantial Asian content)
POLS 339: Asian Politics
POLS 358: American Foreign Policy
-
Religion
Department
RELI 311: Hinduism
RELI 312: Islam
RELI 313: Buddhism
RELI 314: East Asian Religion
RELI 338: Religion and Society in
Modern India.
Other courses may also be counted toward the
major or the minor. These courses must have
substantial Asian content, and be approved by the Director of
Asian Studies.
Chinese
| 101 |
Elementary Chinese I |
4 credits |
This course focuses on elementary spoken Chinese (pinyin) through introduction of culture and current events and issues. Students are expected to get sensitized to the four tones in Mandarin Chinese and to be able to communicate orally with most basic linguistic structures in a culturally acceptable manner. Students learn to write about thirty to fifty Chinese characters (ideograms). Oral approach is the main mode of instruction. |
| 102 |
Elementary Chinese II |
4 credits |
|
Based on Chinese 101, this course takes students to a second level
of Chinese language acquisition. Students are expected to use their
vocabulary in briefly-structured conversations on topics such as daily
activities, classes, nationalities/languages, family, friends, numbers,
birthdays, and holidays. Students are required to master fifty to
seventy ideograms in order to write simple notes and short
compositions. The communicative approach is the main mode of
instruction. Audiovisual material is used to create a stimulating
linguistic and cultural environment. |
Prerequisite:
Chinese 101
|
| 201 |
Intermediate Chinese I |
4 credits |
|
In this course, while students continue to develop their four
linguistic skills: speaking, listening, writing, and reading, more
emphasis will be placed on writing. Ideograms powerfully represent
China's cultural identity. It is said that understanding China is to
understand Chinese ideograms. Students are required to read simple
Chinese texts and to master 150-200 characters in writing. Pinyin still
will be used for the purpose of oral communication. Students are
expected to talk about topics beyond their immediate reality, such as
cultural mannerisms, traveling, interesting people, new places, etc. |
Prerequisite:
Chinese 102
|
| 202 |
Intermediate Chinese II |
4 credits |
|
This class aims to engage students in communication on more complex and sophisticated topics, such as career plans, feelings, opinions, and negotiations, as well as current social, economic, and diplomatic issues, in simple terms. Students are expected to master about 400 Chinese characters and to be able to write their resume, greeting letters, career objectives, business memos, personal notes, and diaries. Simple literary readings in modern Chinese will be presented. Pinyin will be continued in oral communication. Calligraphy will be introduced as the essence of the Chinese language. |
Prerequisite:
Chinese 201
|
| 301 |
Advanced Chinese I |
4 credits |
|
The course continues the oral, written, and cultural experiences of Chinese 201/202. Actively engaging the students with literary, philosophical, and historical topics is the main mode of instruction, and provides linguistic and cultural contexts for grammar studies. Class discussions, debate, role-playing, oral presentations, and guided dialogues are designed to interpret, analyze, or act texts written in or translated to Chinese, while reading and compositions are intended to enhance students' ability to express themselves and write Hanzi correctly. They should be able to recognize 1,000 and produce 600-800 Hanzi by the end of the term. Calligraphy continues as an integral part of the course. |
Prerequisite:
Chinese 202
|
| 302 |
Advanced Chinese II |
4 credits |
|
The course continues the oral, written, and cultural experiences of
Chinese 301. Authentic texts and original compositions provide
opportunities for students to communicate about topics pertinent to
Chinese history, culture, and society while continuing their grammar
studies. Class discussions, debate, role-playing, oral presentations,
and guided dialogues are designed to interpret, analyze, or act out texts
written in Chinese. Hanzi is used throughout. Students should be able
to recognize 1,300 and produce 800-900 Hanzi by the end of the term.
Students will study song-style calligraphy. |
Prerequisite:
Chinese 301
|
Japanese
Study Abroad
At present Carthage has an exchange agreement with Gakugei
University in Tokyo permitting one or two Carthage students to spend an
academic year studying in Japan. (See GNRL 351 page 11)
| 101 |
Elementary Japanese I |
4 credits |
| This course teaches listening and speaking skills in Japanese
through active participation by the students in communicative
situations.
|
| 102 |
Elementary Japanese II |
4 credits |
|
This course teaches listening and speaking skills in Japanese through active participation by the students in communicative situations. Some reading and writing introduced. |
Prerequisite:
Japanese 101
|
| 201 |
Intermediate Japanese I |
4 credits |
|
Continuation of Elementary Japanese II. |
Prerequisite:
Japanese 102
|
| 202 |
Intermediate Japanese II |
4 credits |
|
Continuation of Intermediate Japanese I. By the end of the course, the students are able to comprehend and communicate orally in a culturally acceptable manner, using basic language structures and common vocabulary related to everyday and communication needs. |
Prerequisite:
Japanese 201
|
| 303 |
Japanese Conversation |
1 credits |
|
An opportunity for extended use of the target language to
improve oral fluency and proficiency. A wide range of
communicative opportunities will encourage active exploration of
the target culture. The course can be repeated for up to a total
of 4 credits. S or U.
|
Prerequisite:
Japanese 202
|
