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Asian Studies Program

Akira R. Takemoto, Director

The Asian Studies program aims to create a better understanding of Asian cultures and their place in the world through an integrated course of interdisciplinary study. The structure of requirements and electives (see below) is designed to ensure a comprehensive education, while still allowing participating students latitude to develop their own interests. Additional guidance will be provided by an adviser chosen from among the faculty who regularly offer Asia-related courses.

Requirements

Language Requirement: Asian Studies majors must complete two years of an Asian language at Whitman (currently Chinese or Japanese), or the equivalent. Language classes above 206 can be used to meet elective credit requirements. Students opting to take at least a full year (eight credits) of a second Asian language may also apply those credits to the major. Courses numbered 206 and below (or equivalent) of the first Asian language will not count toward the major GPA in Asian Studies.

Major Requirement: All Asian Studies majors must take Introduction to Asian Studies, Senior Seminar, and Thesis. In the final year students majoring in Asian Studies must pass a senior assessment consisting in an oral defense of their thesis. Courses completed in Asian Studies apply to the fine arts, humanities, social science and alternative voices (selected courses) distribution areas.

In addition, Asian Studies majors must complete at least 28 credits, of which 16 must be above the 100 level, from the following list. Selections must meet the following area and subject distribution requirements:

Subject Clusters (two classes, 6-8 credits, in at least two of the following):

  1. Language (if second language or at 300 level or above)
  2. Art and Literature
  3. History and Religion
  4. Social Science

Area Clusters (two classes, 6-8 credits, in at least two of the following):

  1. Japan
  2. China
  3. South/Southeast Asia
  4. Central/Northeast Asia

Note: A single course may be used to cover both an area and a subject requirement, but may not be used to cover more than one area and one subject. For example, History 109 may fulfill the history subject requirement and the Japanese or the Chinese area requirement, but not both of the latter.

  • Anth 219 Chinese Religion (2, d)
  • Anth 233 Archaeology of East Asia (1, 2, d)
  • Anth 257 Chinese Society and Culture (2, d)
  • Anth 258 Peoples of the Tibeto-Burman Highlands (2, 4, d)
  • ArtH 240 Introduction to East Asian Art (1, 2, b)
  • ArtH 243 The Book in Asia (2, 3, b)
  • ArtH 246 Introduction to South and Southeast Asian Art (3, b)
  • ArtH 247 Asian Architecture (1 2, 3, b)
  • ArtH 248 Ways of Seeing: An Introduction to Japanese Art and Aesthetics (1, b)
  • ArtH 340 Modernity and Nationalism in Asian Art (1, 2, 3, b)
  • ArtS 301, 302 Special Projects in Asian Art (b)
  • AsnS 200 Summer Seminar in Chinese Studies (2)
  • Chin 210 Conversational Chinese II (summer) (2, a)
  • Chin 250 Chinese Poetry (2, b)
  • Chin 391, 392 Independent Study in Chinese Language (2, a)
  • Hist 109 East Asian History to 1600 (1, 2, c)
  • Hist 110 East Asian History 1600 to the Present (1, 2, c)
  • Hist 127 Islamic Civilization I: The Early and Medieval Islamic World (4, c)
  • Hist 128 Islamic Civilization II: The Modern Islamic World: The Ottomans to Arafat (4, c)
  • Hist 241 Early Japanese History (1, c)
  • Hist 247 Early Chinese History (2, c)
  • Hist 248 Topics in Asian History (4, c)
  • Hist 300 Gender in Chinese History (2, c, d)
  • Hist 301 East Asian Popular Religion (3, 4, c)
  • Hist 325 Women and Islam (4, c)
  • Hist 343 Traditional Chinese History (2, c)
  • Hist 344 Modern Chinese History (2, c)
  • Hist 346 Modern Japanese History (1, c)
  • Hist 349 Topics in Asian History (c)
  • Hist 490 Seminar in Asian History (1, 2, c)
  • Jpns 305, 306 Third Year Japanese (1, a)
  • Jpns 391, 392 Independent Study in Japanese Language (1, a)
  • Pol 267 Issues in Asian Politics (1, 2, 3, 4, d)
  • Pol 268 South Asian Diasporas: Migration, Culture and Transnational Politics (3, d)
  • Pol 359 Gender and International Hierarchy (2, 3, 4, d)
  • Psyc 347 Japanese Psychology (1, d)
  • Rel 207 Introduction to Islam (4, c)
  • Rel 217 (Qur'an (4, c)
  • Rel 221 South Asian Religions I: The Formative Period (3, b, c)
  • Rel 222 South Asian Religions II: The Classical Period (3, b, c)
  • Rel 250 Buddhist Civilizations in Asia I: South and Southeast Asia (3, b, c)
  • Rel 251 Buddhist Civilizations in Asia II: Central and East Asia (1, 2, 4, b, c)
  • Rel 343 Islam’s Intellectual Encounter with the West (4, c)
  • Rel 347 The Buddha (2, 3, b, c)
  • Rel 367 (cross listed as Classics 367): Comparative Indo-European Epic (3, b, c)
  • Rel 389 ST: Esoteric Currents in Islam (4, c)
  • WLit 227 Chinese Folk Literature (2, b)
  • WLit 317 Classical Chinese Drama (2, b)
  • WLit 318 Modern Chinese Literature (2, b)
  • WLit 327 Classical Japanese Literature (1, b)
  • WLit 328 Modern Japanese Literature (1, b)
  • WLit 387 ST: Poet Monk in Japanese Literature (1, b, c)

Courses

160 Introduction to Asian Studies
   x, 4  Walters
Taught by an Asian Studies faculty member, this course is designed to introduce the study of Asia to students with little or no background in the area. Reflecting the geographical and theoretical diversity of the Asian studies field itself, the course is not limited to a particular part of Asia nor to a particular disciplinary approach. Rather, the course introduces students to selected exemplary Asian primary materials and scholarly perspectives on them in order to open up discussion of the larger ideas and issues which concern scholars working in the Asian studies field today.

200 Special Topics: Summer Seminar in Chinese Studies
   2
Course offered at the Whitman Summer Studies in China program. Taught in China over a period of six weeks by the Whitman faculty member who is resident director. The course explores selected topics in Chinese studies and incorporates classroom and field studies. Prerequisite: admission to the Whitman Summer Studies in China program.

200 ST: Summer Seminar in Chinese Studies: History of Ethnic Interactions in Yunnan
   2, Summer 2008  Dott
This course is a general introduction to the history of peoples in Yunnan. Yunnan is the most ethnically diverse province in China and one of the last to be put under central administrative jurisdiction. In the course we will examine interactions between different ethnic groups in Yunnan from the Qing dynasty (1644-1911) up to the present through reading both primary and secondary sources. Classroom work will be supplemented with field trips to important cultural and historic sites in Kunming and in the northwest part of the province. Prerequisites: admission to the Whitman Summer Studies in China program.

201-204 Special Topics: Intermediate Level
   4; not offered 2007-08
The course explores selected topics in Asian studies at the intermediate level.

220 Women’s Writing and Women’s Activism in South Asia
   4, x  Wickramagamage
The course maps women’s activism for social justice in South Asia through textual formulations of activist histories and ventures. It will bring in for contemplation and analysis both “literary” texts and other forms of resistant articulations such as films, drama pieces, and oral testimonies. This inclusive line-up of texts introduces students to the diversity in foci and profile of activists who inhabit the socio-economic and political landscapes of South Asia. The selected texts offer both a broad survey of issues of importance and nuanced readings of these issues as they find expression in particular texts. One-time offering only. May be elected as Gender Studies 220. Distribution area: alternative voices.

301 Special Topics: Advanced Level
   4; not offered 2007-08
The course explores selected topics in Asian studies at the advanced level.

411, 412 Individual Projects
   1-4, 1-4  Staff
Directed individual study and research. Prerequisites: appropriate prior coursework in Asian Studies and consent of the supervising instructor.

490 Senior Seminar
   x, 1  Takemoto
Taught by an Asian Studies faculty member with guest participation by others, this course is a forum where students and faculty can read and critique each other’s work. Each week one or two individuals (faculty or students) will present their thesis or other ongoing research for discussion and critique by their peers. It is hoped that this process will foster an attitude of cooperation in scholarly research, as well as result in more comprehensive and thoughtful argumentation in student and faculty writings.

491 Thesis Research
   2, x  Takemoto
With the guidance of their adviser, senior majors undertake basic bibliographic research leading to the completion of a thesis in the spring semester. Required during the fall semester are a research plan, a detailed outline, a bibliography of relevant works, and a rough draft of the thesis.

492 Thesis
   x, 2  Staff
Senior majors record in a thesis a substantial original research project based on the previous semester’s plan, outline, bibliography, and rough draft.

498 Honors Thesis
   x, 2  Staff
Designed to further independent research leading to the preparation of an undergraduate honors thesis in Asian Studies. Required of and limited to senior honors candidates in Asian Studies. Prerequisite: admission to honors candidacy.

Asian Studies House

Located a block off-campus to the south, the Asian Studies house provides housing for 6 to 9 students interested in promoting a better understanding of Asian Culture and issues on campus. The Chinese native speaker lives in the house.

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