Asian Studies

Home to well over half the world's population, Asia's rich and varied traditions invite study as well as reflection. A major in Asian Studies combines study in Asia with courses in Sewanee so that a student may experience Asia, learn one of its languages, and explore its arts, history, cultures, religions, politics, and economics.

Major in Asian Studies: Asian Studies is an interdisciplinary major that requires the following:

a. Completion of ten or more courses in Asian Studies from the lists below (requirements c-g) or from a study-abroad program (with the approval of the Asian Studies chair).

b. Study abroad for a summer or semester in an Asian country.

c. Completion of one or more courses in an Asian language at or above the 300 level or completion of an intensive language program abroad approved by the Asian Studies chair. (Meeting the major's language requirement does not necessarily meet the college's language requirement.)

d. Asian Studies 100 or History 211 or History 212

e. Three or more courses on Asia in at least two of the humanities fields, drawn from the following list (which may be amended as new courses on Asia are added to the curriculum) or approved courses taken abroad. At least one of these courses must be:

Asia 204: Introduction to Contemporary Chinese Cinema;
Asia 205: Reading Modern China through Fiction and Film;
Asia 207: Memory in Chinese and Japanese Cinema;
Asia 311: Modern China in Literature and Films: Memory, Identity, and Modern Narratives;
History 211 and 212: History of China and East Asia;
History 375: British India;
History 388: The United States and Vietnam since 1945;
Philosophy 215: Chinese Philosophy;
Religion 162: Introduction to Asian Religions;
Religion 205: Women and Religion;
Religion 262: Buddhism;
Religion 263: Chinese Religion;
Religion 264: Hinduism;
Religion 364: Buddhist Ethics;
Religion 361: New Religions;
Religion 363: Zen.

f. Three or more courses on Asia in at least two of the social science fields, drawn from the following list (which may be amended as new courses on Asia are added to the curriculum) or approved courses taken abroad:

Anthropology 340: Families in Asia;
Anthropology 341: Culture and History of Southeast Asia;
Anthropology 342: Southeast Asia: An Introduction through Literature;
Economics 309: Women in the Economy;
Economics 310: Economic Development in the Third World;
Economics 345: Policies for Economic Development;
Political Science 249: China and the World;
Political Science 250: States and Markets in East Asia;
Political Science 326: Comparative Asian Politics;
Political Science 360: Chinese Politics.

g. Asian Studies 444 or International and Global Studies 400

h. A comprehensive exam in two parts: a) a written set of questions that integrate courses taken by the student(s) b) a written set of questions on specific courses taken by the student(s).

Minor in Asian Studies: A minor in Asian Studies requires five courses, including:

1. two courses in an Asian language
2. Asian Studies 100 or History 211 or History 212
3. two electives in Asian Studies, to be approved by the Asian Studies chair
No comprehensive examination.

To earn honors in Asian Studies a student must satisfy the following criteria: 1) a 3.33 grade point average from courses within the major, 2) awarding of a "B+" or better on the senior thesis, and 3) awarding of "distinction" on the comprehensive examination.

Summer program in China and India: Under the direction of Professor Yasmeen Mohiuddin, Sewanee students may take advantage of summer study in China/India. The continuing issue of the program is economic development, with other subjects also included in different summers. Note: does not fulfill the study-abroad requirement for Asian Studies.

Summer program in Southeast Asia, China, or Japan: Under the direction of Professors Harold Goldberg and Daniel Backlund, Sewanee students may take advantage of summer study that rotates with three different itineraries: one summer in Southeast Asia, then one summer in China, then one summer in Japan. The continuing issue of the program is history and theatre and the relationship between those areas in each country. Note: does not fulfill the study-abroad requirement for Asian Studies.