The online catalog includes the most recent changes to courses and degree requirements that have been approved by the Faculty Senate, including changes that are not yet effective. Courses showing two entries of the same number indicate that the course information is changing. The most recently approved version is shown first, followed by the older version, in gray, with its last-effective term preceding the course title. Courses shown in gray with only one entry of the course number are being discontinued.
Asia Program
libarts.wsu.edu/asia
Wilson 310
509-335-3267
Program Director and Associate Professor D. Pietz (History, East Asia); Professors, P. Tansuhaj (International Business, South East Asia), M. Tolmacheva (History, Middle East), M. Myers (Philosophy and Religion, South Asia, East Asia), C. S. Ivory (Art History, the Pacific), R. A. Jussaume (Community and Rural Sociology, Japan ); Associate Professors, N. Kawamura (History, East Asia), C. Lupke (Chinese), H. Ono (Sociology, Japan), R. Sun (History, East Asia), P. Thiers (Political Science, East Asia); Assistant Professors, W. Brecher (Japanese), P. Narayanan (English, South Asia), X. Wang (History), C. Wilkinson-Weber (Anthropology, South Asia); Instructors, W. Cao (Chinese), R. Chan (History, East Asia), L. Gerber (History, China), K. Niimi (Japanese), L. Rahman-Turner (History/Anthropology, South Asia), R. Snyder (Philosophy, East Asia, South Asia), R. Staab (History, Middle East); Emeritus, T. Kennedy (History, China), A. Spitzer (Library).
The WSU Asia Program promotes teaching, research, and outreach to prepare present and future leaders for the opportunities and challenges of Asia’s increasing presence in global and regional affairs.
The WSU Asia Program offers a Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies, a minor in Asian Studies, Certificate in East Asian Studies for College of Business Majors, and a Certificate in East Asian Studies for College of Engineering and Architecture Majors. The curriculum, leading to a B.A. in Asian Studies, promotes depth and breadth. The program provides students the opportunity to focus on one country or region (China, Japan, India, Middle East), while at the same time, requiring students to develop pan-Asian perspectives through geographic disciplinary distribution requirements.
The Asia Program is designed to provide a broad, systematic knowledge of Asia through interdisciplinary study and is intended to serve four major objectives:
- To prepare students intending to teach courses on Asia in public schools,
- To provide academic background for those planning to pursue graduate work on Asia,
- To prepare students for business careers dealing with Asia, and
- To train those interested in governmental and various private career opportunities related to Asia.
Upon completion of the Asia Program curriculum, graduates will be able to: 1) identify, locate, and critically evaluate resources for the study of Asia; 2) understand the commonalities, complexity, and diversity of Asia; 3) understand disciplinary approaches to the study of Asia; 4) identify problems and questions related to Asia and place in appropriate context; 5) understand traditions and transformations of Asian cultures; and 6) have competency in an Asian language equivalent to 2nd year level.
Degree Programs
Students must complete one American Diversity [D] course to meet the General Education Requirements (GERs). Choose one humanities, social science, or Tier III course that is also designated as an American Diversity [D] course. Note: Honors students complete Honors requirements in place of GERs.
Asian Studies Requirements(120 Hours)
| First Year | |
| First Term | Hours |
| Biological Sciences [B] (GER) | 4 |
| Engl 101 [W] (GER) | 3 |
| GenEd 110 [A] (GER) | 3 |
| Foreign Language Elective1 | 4 |
| Second Term | Hours |
| Arts & Humanities [H,G] or Social Sciences [S,K] (GER) | 3 |
| Asia 270 or 314 | 3 |
| GenEd 111 [A] (GER) | 3 |
| Math Proficiency [N] (GER) | 3 |
| Foreign Language Elective1 | 4 |
| Second Year | |
| First Term | Hours |
| Asia 131, 275, or 315 | 3 |
| Asia 272, 273, or 306 | 3 |
| Foreign Language Elective1 | 4 |
| Physical Sciences [P] (GER) | 4 |
| Second Term | Hours |
| Arts & Humanities [H,G], Intercultural Studies [I,G,K], or Social Sciences [S,K] (GER) | 3 |
| Foreign Language Elective1 | 4 |
| Major Coursework | 3 |
| Social Sciences [S,K] (GER) | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Complete Writing Portfolio | |
| Third Year | |
| First Term | Hours |
| Communication Proficiency [C,W] (GER) | 3 |
| Intercultural Studies [I,G,K] (GER) | 3 |
| Major Coursework | 3 |
| Science Elective (GER) | 4 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Second Term | Hours |
| Arts & Humanities [H,G], Intercultural Studies [I,G,K], or Social Sciences [S,K] (GER) | 6 |
| Major Coursework [M] | 3 |
| Electives | 6 |
| Fourth Year | |
| First Term | Hours |
| Major Coursework | 3 |
| Tier III Course [T] GER) | 3 |
| Electives | 9 |
| Second Term | Hours |
| Major Coursework | 3 |
| Electives | 11 |
Footnotes
| 1 | 16 hours of college level study of a single Asian language (e.g., Chin/Japn 101, 102, 203, 204). Languages not taught at WSU may be studied through distance learning programs, intensive summer courses, etc. For the second year of languages not taught at WSU, students may substitute 8 hours of any Asian study abroad credit. Although native speakers of an Asian language may be exempt from the language requirement and take 16 additional credit hours of Asia courses, they are encouraged to complete a minimum of one year college level study of a different Asian language. |
Minors
Asian Studies
A minor in Asian Studies requires 23 hours, including one year of a single Asian language or 8 hours of Asian study abroad credit. Of the 23 required credits, at least half must be upper division, and at least 9 credit hours must be earned at WSU. Native speakers of an Asian language are exempt from the language requirement for the minor (they instead take 8 additional credit hours of Asia courses).
Certificates
Certificate in East Asian Studies for Business Majors
The Certificate in East Asian Studies for College of Business Majors requires a total of 17 credit hours and is open to any declared College of Business undergraduate major in good standing.
The requirements are: Chin 101 and 102 or Japn 101 and 102 or other East Asia Language available through study abroad; one from Asia 121, 275, 315, 373, 374, 475, 476, or 477; Asia 479; and one from IBus 380, HBM/IBus 435, MgtOp/IBus 453, EconS/IBus 470, Fin/IBus 481 or Mktg/IBus 482.
Students who complete two semesters of foreign language beyond the one-year requirement may waive three credits required from Asia 121, 275, 315, 374, 475, or 477. Study abroad is encouraged and appropriate credit toward completion of certificate will be accepted at the discretion of the Asia Program Director. No more than 4 hours earned at other institutions that may apply towards the certificate and no more than 4 hours may be pass/fail. Native speakers of an East Asian language may waive the foreign language requirement, but must take eight additional hours from the list of “cultural survey” courses (see department for an approved list). A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required for successful completion of the certificate.
Certificate in East Asian Studies for Engineering and Architecture Majors
The Certificate in East Asian Studies for College of Engineering and Architecture Majors requires a total of 17 credit hours and is open to any declared College of Engineering and Architecture undergraduate major in good standing.
The requirements are: Chin 101 and 102 or Japn 101 and 102 or other East Asia Language available through study abroad; two from Asia 121, 274, 315, 373, 374, 475, 476, or 477; and Asia 479.
Students who complete two semesters of foreign language beyond the one-year requirement may waive three credits required from Asia 121, 275, 315, 374, 475, or 477. Study abroad is encouraged and appropriate credit toward completion of certificate will be accepted at the discretion of the Asia Program Director. No more than 4 hours earned at other institutions that may apply towards the certificate and no more than 4 hours may be pass/fail. Native speakers of an East Asian language may waive the foreign language requirement, but must take eight additional hours of courses from the list of “cultural survey” courses (see department for an approved list). A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required for successful completion of the certificate.
Courses
Asia Program (ASIA)
111 [G] Asian Film 3 Same as Chin 111. Cooperative course taught jointly by WSU and UI (CHIN 111).
120 [G] Traditional Chinese Culture 3 Same as Chin 120.
121 [G] Modern Chinese Culture 3 Same as Chin 121.
122 Traditional Japanese Culture 3 Same as Japn 120.
131 [G] Masterpieces of Asian Literature 3 Same as Chin 131. Cooperative course taught by WSU, open to UI students (CHIN 320).
201 Special Topics: Study Abroad V 1-15 May be repeated for credit. S, F grading.
220 [G] Global Theory/Regional Reality 3 Same as For L 220.
270 [K] India: History and Culture 3 Same as Hist 270.
271 [K] Southeast Asian History: Vietnam to Indonesia 3 Same as Hist 271.
272 [I] Introduction to Middle Eastern History 3 Same as Hist 272.
273 [G] Foundations of Islamic Civilization 3 Same as Hist 273.
275 [K] Introduction to East Asian Culture 3 Same as Hist 275.
280 [G] Philosophy and Religion of Islam 3 Same as Phil 280.
301 [K] East Meets West 1 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 3 hours. Interdisciplinary course on the encounter between Asia and the West taught as a multicultural symposium.
302 [G] The Arts of Asia 3 Same as F A 302.
306 [K] Cultures and Peoples of the Middle East 3 Same as Anth 306.
311 (Effective through Summer 2009) [M] Great Asian Directors 3 (2-3) Prereq China 111, 121 or 131. Same as Chin 311.
314 [G,M] Philosophies and Religions of India 3 Same as Phil 314.
315 [G,M] Philosophies and Religions of China and Japan 3 Prereq 3 hours Phil. Same as Phil 315.
320 Issues in East Asian Ethics 3 Same as Japn 320.
330 [M] The Art of War 3 (2-2) Prereq Chin 111, 121 or 131. Same as Chin 330.
370 [G] History of Ancient and Medieval India 3 Same as Hist 370.
373 [G] Chinese Civilization 3 Same as Hist 373.
374 [G] Japanese Civilization 3 Same as Hist 374.
387 World War II in Asia and the Pacific 3 Same as Hist 387.
401 (Effective through Summer 2009) Special Topics - Study Abroad V 1-12 May be repeated for credit. S, F grading.
470 (Effective through Summer 2009) [M] Gandhi: India and the United States 3 Prereq completion of one Tier I and three Tier II courses. Same as Hist 470.
472 [M] The Middle East Since World War I 3 Same as Hist 472.
473 [T] The Middle East and the West 3 Same as Hist 473.
474 Modern South Asia: Community and Conflict 3 Same as Hist 474.
475 Mao to Deng: The People's Republic of China, 1949 - 1999 3 Same as Hist 475.
476 [M] Revolutionary China, 1800 to Present 3 Same as Hist 476.
477 [M] Modern Japanese History 3 Same as Hist 477.
479 History of East Asian Economic Development Since 1945 3 Same as Hist 479.
499 Special Problems V 1 (0-3) to 4 (0-12) May be repeated for credit. S, F grading.