Asian Studies (AST)

AST 270. Tales of the Chinese Diaspora - D2, AH3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall Odd Years

Description: An introduction to Chinese historical, global migrations in modern times, the reciprocal influences between Chinese and non-Chinese cultures, and Chinese ethnicity and identities within the global context.

Note: Cross-listed with CHST 270 and M L 270.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

AST 290. Survey of Asian Art - D2, AH3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

Description: A survey of the major artistic traditions of Asia, primarily China, India, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia from Neolithic times to the turn of the century.

Note: Cross-listed with ARTH 290.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

AST 308. Understanding China: People, Environment and Development3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered

Description: The diversity of China's environment and people is integral to understanding the ways in which economic and sociocultural changes have taken place. This course is designed to help students gain a better understanding of China under globalization. The course explores modern China around two leading themes: (1) China's spatial organization, including its growing links to the global system, and (2) the human occupancy and use of the many types of environments. It will examine how transformations of China's land, people, economy, and society are reshaping its internal divisions and repositioning China in a rapidly changing world.

Note: Cross-listed with GEOG 308.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

AST 310. Introduction to Asian Studies - D2, SB3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Spring Only

Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor.

Description: An interdisciplinary overview of the geography, history, politics, societies, and cultures of China, India, and Japan.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

AST 314. Introduction to Japanese Society - SB, D23 Units

Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered

Description: This course introduces students to contemporary Japanese society through the lens of cultural anthropology. It examines a broad range of topics including demography, kinship and family, education, gender, minority and ethnicity, popular culture, and environmental issues.

Note: Cross-listed with ANTH 314.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

AST 316. Geography of South Asia3 Units

Description: An analysis of the Indian subcontinent; emphasis on the physical and cultural setting, political disturbances, population problems, and economic development.

Note: Cross-listed with GEOG 316.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

AST 317. Contemporary Chinese Society - D2, SB3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Description: It is widely acknowledged that China is a rising power in the global political economy. However, with the coexistence of tradition and modernity, the nature of Chinese culture and society remains heavily debated. This course introduces students to a wide range of topics and issues that constitute the socio-cultural fabric of contemporary mainland Chinese society. These topics include, but are not limited to, family, gender, ethnicity, religion, education, politics, and economics. Our investigation will focus on two broad themes: 1) the unity and diversity of Chinese society, and 2) the continuity and change that took place from late traditional China to the present. The goal of this course includes learning various aspects of Chinese culture and society, examining diverse anthropological approaches to the study of China, and exploring the political dimensions of representation.

Note: Cross-listed with ANTH 317.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

AST 323. Doing Business in China3 Units

Description: Discussion of business traditions, practices, etiquette, and norms in China.

Note: Cross-listed with CHST 323.
Note: Conducted in English.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

AST 330. Twentieth Century Chinese Artists and Architects - AH, D23 Units

Term Typically Offered: Spring Only

Description: This course studies twentieth-century Chinese art and architecture through major artists and architects whose work showcases the rethinking of Chinese culture in the modern era and global context.May be used to satisfy the Period/Area 3 requirement.

Note: Cross-listed with ARTH 335.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

AST 331. Chinese Art3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered

Description: An introduction to important Chinese artistic works and stylistic changes through history and their relationships with Chinese society, culture and visual traditions.May be used to satisfy the Period/Area 3 - Non-western requirement.

Note: Cross-listed with ARTH 331.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

AST 333. Contemporary China3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered

Description: Discussion of China today, including popular culture, technology, mass media, folk theater, urban consumer culture, and state policy.

Note: Cross-listed with CHST 333.
Note: Conducted in English.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

AST 335. China Through Film - D2, AH3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall Only

Description: Examination of 20th-century China through the critical study of selected examples of film.

Note: Conducted in English.
Note: Cross-listed with CHST 335.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

AST 337. Eastern Asia Landscape Art3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered

Description: This course explores the traditions of Chinese and Japanese landscape art and design from its beginning phase around the first century until early 20th century.Cross-listed with ARTH 337.

Note: May be used to satisfy the Period/Area 3 - Non-Western requirement.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

AST 340. South Asian Religious Thought and Culture - AH, D23 Units

Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered

Description: Study of Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism and their interrelationship with cultures of South Asia (India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan).

Note: Cross-listed with HUM 341.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

AST 341. Ethnicity and Religion in China3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered

Description: Study of the minority peoples such as Uigurs, Huis, Mongols and Tibetans, including their life styles,languages, art, and religion. Discussion of how Buddhism, Islam, Christianity and other religious beliefs spread in China,and their presence in China today.

Note: Cross-listed with CHST 341.
Note: Conducted in English.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

AST 343. East Asian Religious Thought and Culture - D2, AH3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered

Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing.

Description: Study of Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, and Shinto and their relationships with the cultures of China, Korea, and Japan.

Note: Cross-listed with HUM 343.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

AST 347. Global Capitalisms3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered

Description: The course adopts an interdisciplinary approach to explore how capitalism is organized, practiced, or resisted. It seeks to understand capitalism as historically situated and culturally informed practices in different world regions.

Note: Cross-listed with ANTH 347.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

AST 351. Chinese Literature in Translation I - D2, AH3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered

Description: Chinese literature from the beginning to 1911, discussion of principal genres, authors, and works. Conducted in English.

Note:Cross-listed with CHST 351.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

AST 365. The People's Republic of China - D2, WR, SB3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Description: An analysis of political processes in China, with emphasis on participation and recruitment, socialization, ideology, education and organization.

Note: Cross-listed with POLS 365.
Note: Approved for the Arts and Sciences upper-level requirement in written communication (WR).

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

AST 366. Politics of East Asia - D2, SB3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall Only

Description: A survey of East Asian political systems with an emphasis on development, social and economic policies, political institutions and cultures.

Note: Cross-listed with POLS 366.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

AST 367. Politics and Government of Southeast Asia3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered

Description: An introduction to the government and politics of Southeast Asia, revealing the historical context within which to locate the current security, political and economic challenges that the countries of the region face. Special focus will be given to the politics of Burma, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore as well as the impact of the ascendant China.

Note: Cross-listed with POLS 367.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

AST 390. Topics in Asian Studies-Humanities3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Description: Selected topics in Asian studies from a humanities perspective.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

AST 391. Topics in Asian Studies-Social Sciences3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered

Description: Selected topics in Asian Studies from a social science perspective.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

AST 396. History of India3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered

Description: Introduction to the history of the Indian subcontinent since the foundation of the Indus Valley civilization. Role of political, intellectual, social and economic change in the creation of modern India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Note: Cross-listed with HIST 396.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

AST 397. Traditional China3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered

Description: This course studies the political,social and economic history of China from Shang dynasty to the intrusion of the West (1700 BC-1800 AD)

Note: Cross-listed with HIST 397.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

AST 398. Modern China3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall Only

Description: From Confucianism to Communism in China: society, economy and politics, 1600 to the present.

Note: Cross-listed with HIST 398.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

AST 399. Modern Japan3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered

Description: This course reviews Japanese history from the Yamato state to the collapse of the bubble economy (500-1900s). We first examine how Japanese native culture and government interplayed with imported elements from China and Korea, forming its own distinctive political structure and society in the Tokugawa era (1600-1868). We focus on Japan's modern experiences-state-led nationalism and modernization since Meiji restoration, investigating how Western influence transformed Japanese state, society, culture, and values. We explore the origin, development, and the defeat of Japanese imperialism and militarism , analyzing how race, gender, and nationalities were constructed and manipulated within Japanese empire in the wartime era (1931-45). Finally we examine postwar Japanese democracy and economic prosperity.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

AST 491. Independent Study1-3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered

Prerequisite(s): Minimum grade point average of 3.0 overall, minimum grade point average of 3.5 in the department, and at least 18 semester hours credit in the department.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

AST 495. Senior Seminar - CUE3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Prerequisite(s): Completed 90 hours, Asian studies majors only, and consent of instructor.

Description: Will examine issues related to area studies methods, empirical knowledge of Asian countries, and Asian language skills.

Course Attribute(s): CUE - This course fulfills the Culminating Undergraduate Experience (CUE) requirement for certain degree programs. CUE courses are advanced-level courses intended for majors with at least 90 earned credits/senior-level status.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

AST 500. Topics in Asian Studies-Humanities3 Units

Description: Selected topics in Asian studies from a humanities perspective.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

AST 501. Topics in Asian Studies-Social Sciences3 Units

Description: Selected topics in Asian studies from a social science perspective.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

AST 517. Anthropology of China3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall Only

Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

Description: It is widely acknowledged that China is a rising power in the global political economy. However, with the coexistence of tradition and modernity, the nature of Chinese culture and society remains heavily debated. This course explores a wide range of topics and issues that constitute the socio-cultural fabric of contemporary mainland Chinese society. These topics include, but are not limited to, family, gender, ethnicity, religion, education, politics, and economics. Our investigation will focus on two broad themes: 1) the unity and diversity of Chinese society, and 2) the continuity and change that took place from late traditional China to the present. The goal of this course includes learning various aspects of Chinese culture and society, studying diverse anthropological approaches to the study of China, and examining the political dimensions of representation.

Note: Cross-listed with ANTH 517.
Note: Students may not receive credit for this course and ANTH 317 or AST 317.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

AST 531. Studies in Asian Art3 Units

Prerequisite(s): One 300-level course in Asian art, or consent of instructor.

Description: Select topics that examine the development of art and architecture in the context of social and cultural history of China and Japan.

Note: Cross-listed with ARTH 531.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

AST 598. Nationalism and Modernity in East Asia3 Units

Description: The creation of modern nation-states in China, Japan, and Korea from 1840 to 1945.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes