fall 2008 Asian Studies

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FORMAT BELOW:  Course Number. Course title (# of credits)  prerequisite,  description of the course.

Core Courses:

HST 103.  Introduction to Global History (3) An introduction to the global effects of colonialism, industrialism and nationalism with special emphasis on Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East since 1500.

JPN 101.  Introductory Japanese (3) Emphasis on achievement of an active command of the language.  Aural-oral practice; intensive study of the basic pattern of spoken Japanese; reading, writing, and basic conversation.

PAR 232.   Asian Religions (3) A survey of Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism; historical aspects, basic insights, contemporary relevance. 

PLS 339.   Political Systems of Asia (3) Prerequisite:  PLS 230 or consent of instructor.  Political systems of selected Asian countries.  Special emphasis on the contemporary political, social and economic problems of India, Pakistan, Japan, China, Indonesia and other Asian countries. 
(PLS 339.   Political Systems of Asia (3) will be offered only in fall semesters)

Note:   PLS 339.   Political Systems of Asia (3) or PLS 317.   Political Thought of Asia (3)  is scheduled to be offered only fall semesters.

 Electives:

JPN 201  Intermediate Japanese (3) Prerequisite: JPN 102 or equivalent.  A review of the structure of the language.  Application in composition, conversation, and readings.

FLL 292  Introductory Chinese I (3) This experimental will be offered by a visiting Chinese professor. This course can substitute JPN101.  Upon completing the course, please see the coordinator to get the substitution form.

HST 290 The Practice of History "The US and Asia's Cold War" (4) An exploration of the nature of historical inquiry and of the techniques and methods essential to the study and writing of history. This course requires programmed library-based lab time each week.

HST 362.  The Pacific Region (3) Prerequisite: HST 103.  Survey of the history of the Pacific Ocean and Pacific rim.  Covers early civilizations, Western incursion, colonial and modern periods. 
In the history field there is a contention among Asianists, Southeast Asianists and scholars of the Pacific.  Which topics belong where?  Whose history should be privileged?  This course will be offered as an introduction to the region, so the intention is to focus on the Pacific but introduce Southeast Asian and East Asian materials as appropriate (as well as the occasional American topic.)

The following  unique courses will be offered in Spring 2009.

HST 292 World War II
Please refer to the 2008-2009 course catalogue.

FST 385 Japanese Cinema (3)
Prerequisite: FST 203 (ENG 270) (THR 270) or permission of instructor.
Explores Japanese cinema from the classical period through to the present day.  Emphasizes critical and historical approaches to Japanese cinema, as well as studies of key Japanese filmmakers, including Kurosawa, Mizoguchi, Ozu, Suzuki, and Kitano.

Upcoming study abroad courses

STUDY ABROAD IN INDIA, MAY 2009

Dr. Paige Tan of the Department of Public and International Affairs is working with Dr. Susan Bullers, Director of the Women’s Resource Center, to design a three-week study abroad trip to South India starting in May 2009.  The focus of the three-credit multidisciplinary trip will be Development and Globalization.  The trip will begin in the state of Kerala (according to National Geographic Traveler, one of fifty “must-see” destinations of a lifetime).  Highlights in Kerala include visits to an ancient seaport, the opportunity to volunteer at an orphanage for abandoned girls, a cruise of the luscious Kerala “Backwaters” where students can get to see rural life, and a visit to a tiger preserve.   From Kerala, the trip will cross into the state of Karnataka, visiting the high-tech hub of Bangalore, the ancient ruins of Hampi, the coffee highlands of Coorg, and the princely city of Mysore.  The trip will include discussions with local academics and naturalists and will include a pre-departure component designed to prepare students with the knowledge they need to get the most out of their visit to India. 

Contact Dr. Tan for more information at tanp@uncw.edu or 910-962-3221.

STUDY ABROAD IN JAPAN, MAY-JUNE 2009 (Sorry, this is postponed to May-June 2010)
Prerequisite:  JPN101 (first semester Japanese) or equivalent

Yoko Kano of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature is planning to create a study abroad in Japan during the summer I (May - June) of 2009.  The prerequisite is the first semester Japanese or equivalent and the course is total 6 credits and divided into Japanese language (3 credits) and culture (3 credits).   The focus is to acquire a survival language skills and knowledge on culture and manners/protocols to stay in Japan for a short period of times.  Homestay (staying at a Japanese family's home) for a weekend is also included.
 The course format is a blended course of on-line and two-week study trip in Japan visiting Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto as main locations.  During the first half of the course, students will study from the web, acquiring survival language skills and overview of the culture, manner, protocols prior to the trip to Japan; and during the last half of the course, they will  meet the instructor in person and the rest of the classmates in Japan and actually practice the acquired skills in real life.  Students are required to travel to Japan together with the group but allowed to stay longer and travel on their own after the course is over (up to three months total). The course is not just for UNCW students but for anyone (if you are not a UNCW student, you need to create a temporary UNCW student status.  Please ask Ms. Kano for the process.)

Contact Yoko Kano for more information at kanoy@uncw.edu  or 910-962-7575.

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To report problems, contact Asian Studies Minor Coordinator, Yoko Kano at kanoy@uncw.edu.