Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Asian Studies

Core Faculty
Lara C.W. Blanchard, Luce Professor of East Asian Art (Chair, Asian Studies)
Christopher Annear, Associate Professor of Anthropology
Etin Anwar, Professor of Religious Studies
Sheila Bennett, Professor Emeritus of Sociology
Michael Dobkowski, Professor of Religious Studies
Jiangtao “Harry” Gu, Assistant Professor of Media and Society
Jack D. Harris, Professor  Emeritus of Sociology
James-Henry Holland, Associate Professor of Asian Studies
Chi-chiang Huang, Professor Emeritus of Asian Studies
Shalahudin Kafrawi, Associate Professor of Religious Studies
Feisal Khan, Professor of Economics
Kyoko Ishida Klaus, Tanaka Lecturer in Japanese
John Krummel, Associate Professor of Religious Studies
Sooyoung Lee, Assistant Professor of Economics
Darrin Magee, Professor of Environmental Studies
Stacey Philbrick Yadav, Professor of International Relations
Yi-Tung Wu, Visiting Instructor of Asian Studies
Vikash Yadav, Professor of International Relations
Lisa Yoshikawa, Professor of History
Jinghao Zhou, Associate Professor of Asian Studies
Iskandar Zulkarnain, Assistant Professor of Media and Society

Working closely with other academic departments at Hobart and William Smith, the Department of Asian Studies offers a variety of courses that are designed to acquaint its majors and minors with the languages, people, arts and architectures, economies, environments, histories, media, politics, societies, and religions of Asia in its full geographic and temporal scope, and to provide a firm foundation for further study. Regional language offerings include Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese, with some additional opportunities for the study of Hindi/Urdu and Korean through partnership programs. Majors and minors in the department are strongly encouraged to participate in the Colleges' off-campus programs in India, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Taiwan, Tunisia, and Viet Nam. All courses designated ASN are taught in English. 

Mission Statement

Asian Studies introduces students to the diverse aspects of Asia, from politics and economies to histories and the arts, and provides a firm foundation for further study. Asian Studies at HWS is expansive in its coverage of over half the world’s population, spanning from Jordan to Tokyo and Ulaanbaatar to Jakarta. We have close to twenty professors in multiple disciplines with various regional and thematic specializations teaching students in small classroom settings. Our language courses are team-taught by professors and drill instructors who provide personalized guidance. Asian Studies courses examine the societies, environments, philosophies, etc., of the wealthiest and the most diverse and region of the world. Asia is home to over 2,000 languages and cultures, and its diaspora population is the largest growing group in the United States. Asia has been the center of world commerce, religious traditions, cultural exchange, and more, and remains so to this day and in future projections. Asian Studies courses challenge the nineteenth- and twentieth-century paradigms that continue to shape academia and foregrounds the Asia Indo-Pacific region that has reemerged as the leading force of the world.

Offerings

Asian Studies offers an interdisciplinary major and minor.

A Note on Languages. At present, the Colleges have fully staffed language instruction in Chinese and Japanese. Arabic and Vietnamese are offered abroad and on campus, the latter remotely taught from Viet Nam. It is structured in cycles (Vietnamese 101 and 201 in the Fall and Vietnamese 102 and 202 in the Spring) in order to give students the opportunity to study up to four semesters. Historically, the Colleges have offered Hebrew, Hindi, and Korean at various levels, through study abroad programs, distance learning, and other means. Students wishing to use these or other less commonly taught languages to fulfill major/minor requirements must consult early with the Department chair.

Departmental Language Courses

ARAB 101 Beginning Arabic I
ARAB 102 Beginning Arabic II
ARAB 201 Intermediate Arabic I
ARAB 202 Intermediate Arabic II
ARAB 450 Advanced Conversational Arabic (independent study)
CHIN 101 Beginning Chinese I 
CHIN 102 Beginning Chinese II 
CHIN 201 Intermediate Chinese I
CHIN 202 Intermediate Chinese II 
CHIN 301 Advanced Chinese I 
CHIN 302 Advanced Chinese II 
CHIN 450 Independent Study
JPN 101 Beginning Japanese I 
JPN 102 Beginning Japanese II 
JPN 201 Intermediate Japanese I 
JPN 202 Intermediate Japanese II
JPN 301 Advanced Japanese I 
JPN 302 Advanced Japanese II 
JPN 450 Independent Study
VIET 101 Beginning Vietnamese I 
VIET 102 Beginning Vietnamese II 
VIET 201 Intermediate Vietnamese I 
VIET 202 Intermediate Vietnamese II

Asian Studies Major (B.A.)

interdisciplinary, 12 courses
Learning Objectives:

• Demonstrate a multidisciplinary perspective centered on Asia.
• Demonstrate foundational abilities in one or more Asian languages, including appropriate proficiencies in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
• Demonstrate an understanding of current and historical cultural, social, geographical, and political diversity within Asia.
• Demonstrate the ability to plan and carry out scholarly research and give a scholarly presentation on an Asian topic in English.

Requirements:
Four courses in one Asian language: Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, or Vietnamese. (Students exempted from this requirement by passing a proficiency test permitting them to enter the third year or above of an Asian language must still complete 10 courses.) The departmental introductory course: ASN 101/HIST 107 Trekking Through Asia; at least two core courses on Asia in the social sciences division; at least two core courses on Asia from the humanities division that are not language courses; at least two Asian Studies electives; and the departmental capstone course: ASN 401 Senior Colloquium. All courses must be passed with a grade of C- or higher. Credit/no credit courses cannot be counted towards the major. At least two of the 12 courses must be at the 300- or 400-level.

Asian Studies Minor

interdisciplinary, 7 courses
Requirements:
At least two courses in one Asian language. Students may be exempted from this requirement by passing a proficiency test permitting them to enter the second year or above of an Asian language. Students who take advantage of this exemption still must complete at least five non-language courses in Asian studies for the minor. The departmental introductory course: ASN 101 Trekking Through Asia; at least one social science course on Asia; at least one humanities course on Asia; at least two Asian Studies electives. At least one course on Asia must be at the 300- or 400-level. All courses must be passed with a grade of C- or higher. Credit/no credit courses cannot be counted towards the minor.

Asian Studies Courses

ASN 101 Trekking through Asia
ASN 102 Ottoman Worlds
ASN 103 Introduction to Asian Art
ASN 110 Himalayan Challenges
ASN 115 Imagining Asian Religion/s
ASN 120 Making of the Samurai
ASN 125 Japan: Supernatural Beings
ASN 211 Buddhism
ASN 212 Confucianism, Marxism, and Chinese Women 
ASN 215 Environment and Development in East Asia 
ASN 236 Contemporary China
ASN 242 Riding with Genghis Khan 
ASN 268 China Goes Global
ASN 296 China and the U.S.
ASN 305 Showa through the Silver Screen 
ASN 340 Water and Energy in China
ASN 342 Seminar: Chinese Cinema
ASN 393 The Pacific Century
ASN 401 Asia Colloquium
ASN 450 Independent Study
ASN 456 1/2 Credit independent Study 
ASN 495/496 Honors
ASN 499 Internship

Cross-Listed Courses

Social Sciences
ANTH 110 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
ANTH 298 Modern Japan
ECON 126 Economics of Immigration
ECON 233 Comparative Economic Systems 
ECON 302 International Trade Issues
ECON 344 Economic Development
ECON 465 Political Economy of Corruption
ENV 215 Environment and Development in Asia
ENV 340 Water and Energy in China
INRL 140 Introduction to Comparative World Politics 
INRL 180 Introduction to International Relations
INRL 208 Gender and Politics in the Middle East
INRL 246 East Asia
INRL 248 Development
INRL 254 Globalization
INRL 258 State, Society, and Market in the Middle East
INRL 260 Human Rights and International Law
INRL 281 South Asia
INRL 283 Political Violence and Non-Violence
INRL 285 Borders, Belonging, and Rights in the Middle East
INRL 301 India
INRL 304 Afghanistan
INRL 350 China
INRL 360 Post-Conflict Justice and Reconstruction
INRL 371 Research Design and Ethics (if research topic is Asia)
INRL 387 Neoliberalism
INRL 401 Capstone Research (if research topic is Asia)
SOC 299 Vietnam: Conflict, Contradiction, and Change
SOC 353 Global Cities

Humanities
AMST 221 Immigrant Art
ARTH 103 Introduction to Asian Art
ARTH 209 Chinese Pictures: 1000 Years
ARTH 210 Women Artists in Europe & Asia, 1300-1750
ARTH 212 Arts of Modern China
ARTH 249 Islamic Art and Architecture
ARTH 252 Japanese Art and Culture
ARTH 253 Buddhist Art and Architecture
ARTH 254 Islamic Art at the Crossroads
ARTH 303/403 Gender & Painting in China
ARTH 306/406 Telling Tales: Narrative in Asian Art
ARTH 336/436 Landscapes and Gardens
BIDS 219 Imagining Environmental Apocalypse across the Muslim World
ENG 270 Globalization and Literature
ENG 272 India and the Global
ENG 276 Imaging the Middle East
ENG 361 Readings in Multi-Ethnic Women's Literature
HIST 107 Trekking through Asia
HIST 120 Making of the Samurai
HIST 202 Japan Since 1868
HIST 242 Riding with Genghis Khan
HIST 305 Showa through the Silver Screen
HIST 320 Asia Pacific Wars
HIST 324 The Worlds of Civilized Barbarians
MDSC 130 Introduction to Global Animation
REL 115 Imagining Asian Religion/s
REL 211 Buddhism
REL 215 Japanese Religions
REL 219 Islam and Society
REL 226 Religion and Nature
REL 236 Gender, Sexuality, and Islam
REL 239 Nihilism East and West
REL 242 Islamic Mysticism
REL 243 Suffering and Salvation
REL 255 Peace and Violence in Quran
REL 260 Religion & Philosophy from a Global Perspective
REL 265 The West and the Qur'an
REL 274 Zionism, Israel and the Middle East Conflict
REL 280 Negotiating Islam
REL 286 Islam and Environment
REL 288 Religious Extremism
REL 289 Material Culture and Islam
REL 295 Sustainability, Fashion, and Justice
REL 304 Buddhist Philosophy
REL 325 Japanese Philosophy & Religious Thought
REL 335 Jihad
REL 347 Gender and Identity in Muslim World

Asian Studies Course Descriptions

ASN 101 Trekking through Asia  Welcome to the "Asian Century." Asia has re-emerged as the center of the world, after a brief hiatus that started in the 18th century. With histories and religious traditions stretching back three millennia, today as we see cultures across Asia have transformed in ways to meet the demands of our rapidly changing world. China, Japan, and India are three of the world's top economies. Asia contains six of the world's ten largest countries, and is home to over half of the world's population and two of the world's major religions, Hinduism and Buddhism. For decades Asian countries have been leaders in global manufacturing, and Asian universities are now renowned centers for scientific and medical innovation. Fifty percent of the declared nuclear-weapon states are also in the region. Simply put, Asia matters a great deal! In this course, we trek through the Asian past and present, exploring this vast and vibrant region. Through writings and travelogues that documented the peoples and lands of places stretching from the Sea of Japan to Persia, and from Java to the Mediterranean Sea, we will learn about the cultural systems that helped shape Asian societies. We will consider how these traditions contributed to and were changed by historical interactions in Asia itself and in relationship to the rest of the world. Join us on the journey! (Yoshikawa, offered annually)

ASN 102 Ottoman Worlds  The modern Middle East as it is configured today is the byproduct of the particular circumstances and set of governing practices that characterized the Ottoman Empire. Far from a medieval monolith, this was an adaptive, modernizing empire that stitched together peoples of different languages, religions, ethnicities, and political commitments. Yet well before it was formally dissolved in the defeat of the First World War, the coherence of Ottoman rule was disintegrating along its periphery. This course maps both the construction and disintegration of the empire, showing how both jointly made the network of states that replaced it. As an interdisciplinary course drawing from the humanities and social sciences, the course asks students to map and critically understand a variety of cultures of resistance through which Ottoman subjects worked to fashion their lives and their empire. (Philbrick Yadav, offered occasionally)

ASN 103 Introduction to Asian Art  This course presents a topical study of the arts and architecture of East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. We will examine developments in a variety of media, including painting, sculpture, architecture, ceramics, prints, and installations, through a series of case studies. Broad topics will include connections between art, politics, philosophy, and religion; text-image relationships; artistic practice, patronage, and collecting; and international art movements in the 19th and 20th centuries. In addition, students will learn to analyze two- and three-dimensional works of art and architecture. (Blanchard, offered annually)

ASN 110 Himalayan Challenges  From the storied tea plantations of Darjeeling to the terraced rice paddies of Sikkim, the idyllic Himalayan twin cities at the gateway India's Northeast are simultaneously at the forefront of sustainable development in a globalized economy and a reminder of a colonial era economy that is quickly vanishing in the face of unplanned development and environmental degradation. The state (formerly Kingdom) of Sikkim is the first territory to move to entirely organic agriculture in India. Meanwhile, the women and men who labor on the tea plantations of Darjeeling continue a practice established by the British colonial power in an earlier age of globalization. We will explore how environmental, labor, and identity politics intersect in these areas which are simultaneously at the periphery and forefront of our global economy. (Yadav, summer study abroad, offered occasionally)

ASN 115 Imagining Asian Religion/s  Is Buddhism a religion? What is religion? Does it entail a belief in God or reference to the transcendent? Is it some kind of faith? But neither was the notion of a god significant, nor was that of faith central to, early Buddhism. One could make similar claims about Confucianism. What do we mean by "religion"? Until modern times, Asian cultures lacked the very concept of what Western scholars call "religion." Or is what the Indians call dharma equivalent to "religion"? What about what the ancient Chinese (Buddhists, Confucians, and Daoists) called fo, jiao, and dao or the Japanese (Buddhists, Shintoists, and Confucians) called ho, kyo, and do "law," "teaching," and "way"? Are these terms equivalent to what we today mean by "religion"? How do we imagine "religion" in these "Asian cultures"? What is "Asian religion/s"? (Krummel, offered annually)

ASN 120 Making of the Samurai  Images of samurai are ubiquitous today in movies, computer games, comic books and animations, historical novels , and even advertisements. But who were the samurai in Japanese history, and what did they do? When did they emerge, and where did they stand in society? What did they eat, and how did they go about their day-to-day lives? How were they perceived by their contemporaries, and how did they see themselves? When did today's images of the samurai come about, and how? These are some of the questions we will address in this course, Making of the Samurai. In the process, we will also work on critical writing, reading, and thinking skills. (Yoshikawa, offered alternate years)

ASN 125 Japan: Supernatural Beings  Godzilla. Pokémon. Films like "Spirited Away" or "The Ring." The ninja magic of Naruto. The shape-shifting demons of Inu Yasha. These are all examples of the Japanese supernatural, repackaged for world consumption. But what does the American consumer miss out on when enjoying these Japanese tales? Why is occult lore such an important part of the expressive culture of Japan? What is the historical or religious basis of the "soft power" of "Cool Japan"? What do we learn about Japan - and about ourselves - when we shiver to a well-told Japanese ghost story? Readings will include Japanese comic books (in translation) and short creative fiction, backed up with academic analyses of the history of spooks in Japan. Students will research particular beings and give presentations on their findings. This is a writing-intensive course, and the final project will involve a creative re-imagination of the Japanese lore learned through the semester, expressed in live or filmed performances, written stories or visual art projects. This course is open only to first-year students and sophomores. There are no prerequisites. (Holland, offered alternate years)

ASN 211 Buddhism  This course covers the rise and historical development of Buddhism in South Asia and its spread into Southeast, Central, and East Asia. Through regular writing exercises, extensive use of visual and audio materials, and some fieldwork, students will acquire a basic vocabulary for discussing the ritual practices, ethical systems, and scriptures of Buddhism (e.g., selections from the Pali Canon); situate the major branches of Buddhism in their historical and geographical contexts (e.g., Theravada in Sri Lanka, Vajrayana in Tibet, Zen in Japan); and explore important concepts in each of the traditions and locations in view of significant sociohistorical processes, events, and institutions (e.g., the interaction of Buddhists with Daoists and Confucians in China and the associations of Shinto practitioners and Buddhists in Japan). No prior knowledge of Buddhism is required. (Krummel, offered alternate years)

ASN 212 Confucianism, Marxism, and Chinese Women  This course examines the interplay between Confucianism, Marxism, and Chinese women’s experience, tracing their influence on women's roles and identities from imperial China to the present day. The course will address several key questions: How did Confucianism and Marxism influence public philosophy and the feminist movement in China? What are the similarities and differences between Confucian, Marxist, and Western feminist perspectives on women’s issues? How do Chinese women negotiate their identities and interests amidst competing and conflicting discourses and practices? The course aims to provide students with a comparative perspective on the interactions between Confucianism, Marxism, and Chinese women, and help them understand the implications and relevance of these interactions for the future of China and the world. No prerequisites. (Zhou, offered alternate years)

ASN 215 Environment Development in East Asia  Course also listed as ENV 215. Rapid development in East Asia has brought prosperity to many but has also created serious environmental problems. Rivers and lakes suffer from pollution and algal blooms; water tables have dropped dramatically; farmland has been polluted by industrial chemicals and over-fertilization; and cities choke on pollution from industry and automobiles. This course explores the environmental challenges facing East Asia as well as how governments and other groups are addressing them through various approaches to 'sustainable development.' Special emphasis is placed on China, given its regional and global importance, and the Four Little Dragons (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Korea). (Magee, offered occasionally)

ASN 236 Contemporary China  This course addresses the momentous social and cultural changes that have occurred in China in recent years. In exploring this subject, Chinese culture is systematically examined from different aspects, including but not limited to Chinese cultural roots, family, population, woman, economy, environment, ideology, politics, religion, and education. Some of China's hottest issues, with which Western societies have been concerned in recent years, are discussed, such as the reform movement, the Tiananmen Square Incident of 1989, censorship, human rights, China's threat, the origin of COVID-19, possible war over the Taiwan Strait, China-U.S. relations, and China's future. (Zhou, offered alternate years)

ASN 242 Riding with Genghis Khan  Genghis Khan and his descendants rode hard, fought bloody battles, envisioned world conquest, and drank copiously. They also created the largest land empire in the world, ruled over this empire effectively, and fostered cultural exchange across Eurasia at an unprecedented scale. After its fall, the empire's legacies continued to impact Eurasian history, arguably to this day. This course explores aspects of this great empire, from its Central Asian nomadic origins to the Mongol predicament after its fall. Our main focus is Genghis and the Mongol empire. Learn about the awesome Mongol battle strategies, and their administration that led to Pax Mongolica. Witness the magnificent courts and peoples that Marco Polo, or his reverse counterpart, Rabban Sauma, encountered, as you experience the excitement of their adventures. Explore how Mongols lived every day, and how they saw the world around them. Investigate how they adapted to various natural surroundings, and how they interacted with their various human neighbors, most famously the Chinese and the Persians. Consider why the great Khan remains widely known today, and why so many myths surround him. Let's ride through history with Genghis. (Yoshikawa, offered alternate years)

ASN 296 China and the U.S.  Since the Nixon administration opened a new chapter with the People's Republic of China in 1972, China-U.S. relations have shifted from hostile relations to normalization and engagement. However, the relationship between the two countries has nosedived to the lowest point in four decades. The biggest challenge to the U.S. today is the communist China. Cooperation and competition between the two largest world's economies will determine the direction of Asia and the future of global development. The relationship between China and the U.S. has become one of the central global issues in the twenty-first century. By employing a perspective of cultural studies, this course will examine the development of China-U.S. relations since the establishment of the People's Republic of China, explore the roles of culture in shaping China-U.S. relations, discuss the relationship between characteristics of culture and the mindset of foreign policymakers, and analyze the future of China-U.S. relations and its implications to western hegemony and the international order. No prerequisites. (Zhou, offered alternate years)

ASN 305 Showa through the Silver Screen  Showa (1926-1989), the reign of Hirohito, is most often associated with Japan's plunge into multiple wars, its occupation by a foreign nation, and its economic recovery to become the second largest economy in the world. Less explored is Showa as the heyday of Japanese cinema. While motion pictures were first introduced to Japan in the late 19th century, domestic production only took off in the 1920s to the 1930s. Following the Asia-Pacific Wars, Japanese film gained worldwide popularity in the 1950s and 1960s with directors such as Kurosawa Akira, Ozu Yasujiro, and Mizoguchi Kenji gaining international recognition. By the end of Showa, Japanese cinema was in decline as other forms of entertainment overshadowed movie-going and a massive recession affected the film industry. This course explores the history of the Showa period using films as artifacts of Japanese perspectives into their state and society and the Japanese role in the Asia-Pacific region and the world. (Yoshikawa, offered occasionally)

ASN 340 Water and Energy in China  Course also listed as ENV 340. Water and energy are at the heart of China's environmental challenges, and addressing those challenges (or failing to) has very real human and ecological implications now and in the future. This is so not only for the people of China, the most populous country on Earth, but also for the rest of the world: pollution from China's coal-fired power plants brings acid rain and heavy metals to the Koreas, Japan, and even the western US, and manufactured products (including foodstuffs) tainted with industrial toxins have made their way to store shelves around the world. Yet the roots of many of China's environmental challenges are global: just as more developed countries have outsourced many of their manufacturing activities to China, so, too, have they outsourced the pollution of water, air, soil, and bodies resulting from those activities, along with the energy and other resource demands necessary to carry them out. This course explores the challenges and opportunities of sustainability in China - from ecological, socioeconomic, and geopolitical perspectives - through a close examination of the country's water and energy resources. (Magee, offered occasionally)

ASN 342 Seminar: Chinese Cinema  This course is designed to examine the development of Chinese cinema. It introduces the fifth and sixth generation of Chinese filmmakers, as well as recent Chinese films produced in Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the United States. It is hoped to help students develop their ability to analyze visual images from both Chinese and multicultural perspectives. Through the lens of Chinese films used in this course, students are expected to better understand issues such as gender, family, tradition, custom, and politics in China today. In the meantime, they are expected to become familiar with some new trend of cultural and social movement in China and overseas Chinese communities. (Zhou, offered annually)

ASN 495 Honors 

Arabic Course Descriptions

ARAB 101 Beginning Arabic I  This course will introduce students to the Arabic alphabet and script, phonetics, and elementary grammar and conversation. Students will develop the ability to communicate in the present tense, to employ different grammatical forms, to carry out and understand basic conversations. Multimedia technologies will be employed to improve listening comprehension and oral expression. Attendance at a weekly language table is required. (Staff, offered annually)

ARAB 102 Beginning Arabic II  This course will build upon and further expand students' familiarity with the script, phonetics, and elementary grammar and conversation begun in Beginning Arabic I. Students will develop and further their ability to communicate in the present, past, and future tenses, to employ different grammatical forms, and to carry out and understand basic conversations. Multimedia technologies will be employed to improve listening comprehension and oral expression. Attendance at a weekly language table is required. (Staff, offered annually)

ARAB 201 Intermediate Arabic I  In this course students will be exposed to more complex grammar structures and they will expand their communication skills in increasingly complex and varied situations. Multimedia technologies will be employed to improve listening comprehension and oral expression. Attendance at a weekly language table is required. (Staff, offered annually)

ARAB 202 Intermediate Arabic II  In this course students, who have already taken three semesters, or the equivalent, of Arabic will continue to study more complex grammatical structures that will enable them to develop their communication skills. They will also expand their vocabulary and engage in speaking and understanding culturally relevant texts. Multimedia technologies will be employed to improve listening comprehension and oral expression, Attendance at a weekly language table is required. (Staff, offered annually)

ARAB 450 Advanced Conversational Arabic  This course is offered as an independent study available to students with unique Arabic-language needs. This course is appropriate for students who have completed ARAB 202 at HWS, have reached an equivalent level through coursework elsewhere, have studied abroad in an Arabic-speaking country and/or those who are heritage speakers of an Arabic dialect. When a sufficient number of students are enrolled, there is the possibility of coordination and small group learning activities, but the core design of the course is individualized to each student’s language-learning goals and abilities. Placement is determined by the Arabic language coordinator (Staff, offered as needed)

Chinese Course Descriptions

CHIN 101 Beginning Chinese I  An introduction to modern Mandarin Chinese, the course teaches four skills, i.e., listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students acquire solid training and knowledge in pronunciation, writing, grammar, usage of words, and other fundamentals of general communication skills. The principal text is Integrated Chinese, Level 1 Part 1, Simplified Character Edition, which introduces Pinyin Romanization System. Online learning programs, a CD, and a DVD accompanying the text are used to help students learn to read, write, and use approximately 250 characters. Students also acquire skills in Chinese word-processing and are able to use Chinese character input system to type characters and sentences. Laboratory is mandatory. (Zhou, Fall, offered annually)

CHIN 102 Beginning Chinese II  A continuation of CHIN 101, this course introduces an additional 300 characters, new sentence patterns, and new grammatical rules. Students learn to make effective use of their language skills, acquire ability to conduct simple real situation dialogues, write simple notes, and read authentic materials such as signs and newspaper headlines. Students can also enhance their skills in Chinese word-processing and electronic communication. The principal text is Integrated Chinese, Level 1 Part 1, Simplified Character Edition. Online learning programs along with a CD and DVD accompanying the text are used. Prerequisite: CHIN 101 or the equivalent. Laboratory is mandatory. (Zhou, Spring, offered annually)

CHIN 201 Intermediate Chinese I  This course continues CHIN 102 and instruction is conducted half in Chinese. Students learn an additional 400 characters on top of the 550 characters they learned at the beginning level. They speak and write frequently in class and after class, acquiring a higher level of language proficiency in all four skills. They are expected to do Chinese word-processing and electronic communication with ease. The principal text is Integrated Chinese, Level 1 Part 2, and Integrated Chinese, Level 2-1 Traditional/Simplified Character Edition, which is used along with online learning programs as well as CDs and DVDs accompanying the text. Instruction consists of three class contact hours and two lab sessions per week. Prerequisite: CHIN 102 or the equivalent. (Zhou, Wu, Fall, offered annually)

CHIN 202 Intermediate Chinese II  This course continues CHIN 201 and is conducted primarily in Chinese. An additional 450-500 characters and phrases in both traditional and simplified forms are introduced. Students interact and communicate in Chinese in class and after class. Supplementary readings are used in addition to the principal text, Integrated Chinese, Level 1 Part 2, Traditional/Simplified Character Edition. Instruction consists of three class contact hours and two lab sessions per week. Prerequisite: CHIN 201 or the equivalent. (Zhou, Wu, Spring, offered annually)

CHIN 301 Advanced Chinese I  This course continues CHIN 202 and is conducted exclusively in Chinese. An additional 500-550 characters and phrases are introduced. Students interact and communicate in Chinese in class and after class. Supplementary readings are used in addition to the principal text, Integrated Chinese, Level 2 Part 1, Traditional/Simplified Character Edition. Prerequisite: CHIN 202 or the equivalent. (Staff, Fall, offered annually)

CHIN 302 Advanced Chinese II  This course continues CHIN 301 and is conducted exclusively in Chinese. Approximately 600-700 new characters and phrases are added to the vocabulary repository each individual student has built up. Students interact and communicate in Chinese in class and after class. Supplementary readings are used in addition to the principal text, Integrated Chinese, Level 2 Part 1, Traditional/Simplified Character Edition. Prerequisite: CHIN 301 or the equivalent. (Staff, Spring, offered annually)

Japanese Course Descriptions

JPN 101 Beginning Japanese I  This course provides an introduction to modern spoken Japanese. (Klaus, offered annually)

JPN 102 Beginning Japanese II  This course is a continuation of JPN 101. Prerequisite: JPN 101 or placement by instructor. (Klaus, offered annually)

JPN 201 Intermediate Japanese I  Prerequisite: JPN 102 or placement by instructor. (Klaus, offered annually)

JPN 202 Intermediate Japanese II  Prerequisite: JPN 201 or placement by instructor. (Klaus, offered annually)

JPN 301 Advanced Japanese I  Prerequisite: JPN 202 or placement by instructor. (Klaus, offered annually)