ASIAN STUDIES MINOR AT TCU |
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The Minor
The goal of the Asian Studies Minor is to provide a broad background in Asian culture, language, and history which will allow the student to explore Asia from a variety of disciplinary perspectives in order to prepare for graduate study or a professional career.
To add your name to the Asian Studies Minor mailing list, simply send an e-mail to: asianstudies@tcu.edu
Asia is home to over half of the world's population. Asian economies represent approximately one third of the World Gross Domestic Product. More than 80 percent of the U.S. global trade deficit is with Asian countries. Asian civilizations and American concerns are intertwined throughout history in the fields of commerce, politics, religion and culture. Those with knowledge of Asia are poised for success in business, law, education, government and international service work.
18 hours of coursework spread across at least three departments. No more than 9 hours may be taken in any one department and at least 9 hours must be at the 30000 level or above. At this time there is no Asian language requirement for the minor.
Asian Studies Courses Typically offered at TCU:
CHIN 10163 Second Semester Chinese
CHIN 20053 Third Semester Chinese
CHIN 20063 Fourth Semester Chinese
CHIN 30113 Chinese Culture & Civilization
ECON 30443 Asian Economies
ENGL 30783 Modern India: Literature and Culture
HIST 10943/20943 Asian Civilization To 1500
HIST 10953/20953 Asian Civilization Since 1500
HIST 30443 China : 1800 to present
HIST 40843 The Vietnam War
JAPN 10163 Second Semester Japanese
JAPN 20053 Third Semester Japanese
JAPN 20063 Fourth Semester Japanese
JAPN 30123 Fifth Semester Japanese: Japanese for Daily Use
JAPN 30113 Japanese Culture & Civilization
POSC 30303 International Relations of East Asia
POSC 30303 Japanese Foreign Policy
POSC 30503 Chinese History Culture and Politics (Study Abroad in China)
POSC 30503 Politics of China
POSC 30503 Politics of Japan
RELI 10023 World Religions (section taught by Mark Dennis only)
RELI 30513 Hindu Religious Perspectives
RELI 30523 East Asian Religious Perspectives
RELI 30533 Buddhism: Thought & Practice
RELI 30573 Daoism and Chinese Religions
RELI 30753 The Many Faces of Krishna
RELI 30773 India : Texts and Traditions
RELI 30863 Religion and Violence
Asian Studies Course Descriptions
CHIN 10153 – First Semester Chinese (Prof. Ziwo Lama)
NOTE: this course does not count for the minor. However, this course is a prerequisite before taking more advanced Chinese language courses which do count towards the minor.
This is an integrated Chinese language course. Through a wide range of practice in listening, speaking, reading and writing, students will be able to build a solid Chinese grammatical foundation, command about 300 characters, conduct basic conversation, and write Chinese. A series of real life dialogues— greetings, family, direction, time, studying, weather, phone talk, and so forth, will be covered. In addition, Chinese culture will be noted throughout the class. The course is designed for beginners and will be regularly offered in the fall semester.
Prerequisites: NoneCHIN 10163 – Second Semester Chinese (Prof. Ziwo Lama) This course is a continuation of first semester Chinese. It continues integrated training in all four skills – listening, speaking, reading and writing. However, more attention will be given to spoken and reading practice. By the end of the course students will be able to understand simple sentences regarding broad topics including dining, studying, asking directions, attending social events, seeing a doctor, dating, sports, traveling, etc. They will also be able to conduct basic conversations in Mandarin Chinese over the aforementioned topics, be able to read simple texts and dialogues, and use basic Chinese grammatical structures and write diaries, short letters, etc with the help of a dictionary. The course is designed for beginners and will be regularly offered in the spring semester.
Prerequisites: First Semester ChineseCHIN 20053 – Third Semester Chinese (Prof. Ziwo Lama)
This course continues the development of Chinese language skills at the intermediate level. Students will develop their vocabulary for everyday situations such as dining, asking directions, consulting a doctor, dating, etc. In addition, students will learn to write approximately 250 additional Chinese characters and continue study of intermediate grammar structures.
Prerequisite: CHIN 10163 with a C or aboveCHIN 20063 – Fourth Semester Chinese (Prof. Ziwo Lama)
This course continues to develop students' Chinese proficiency in all four skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Students will learn to write in paragraphs, creating documents such as simple letters, diaries, or other short texts. Vocabulary and language structures related to renting an apartment, sports, conducting transactions in the post office, travel, etc., are treated. Approximately 250 additional Chinese characters will be learned.
Prerequisite: CHIN 20053 with a C or aboveCHIN 30113 – Chinese Culture & Civilization (Prof. Ziwo Lama)
This course provides an overview of Chinese culture and civilization. Several major topics including Chinese language, writing systems, history, philosophy, religion, military strategy, literature, arts, technology, medicine, customs/traditions, contemporary issues, and ethnicity will be examined.
Prerequisites: NoneECON 30443 – Asian Economies (Dr. Kiril Tochkov)
In this course students will apply their knowledge of micro- and macroeconomic theory to the analysis of the economic development in East Asia. The course focuses on five countries including China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Singapore. A broad range of issues and policies associated with the rapid growth of these economies commonly dubbed as the “Asian Miracle” will be examined. Topics include savings patterns, trade and foreign direct investment, technological innovation, demographic changes, industrial organization, and the origins of the Asian financial crisis. The impact of historical, institutional, and cultural factors on the economic development in the region will be addressed as well. The objective of the course is to familiarize students with the economic rise of East Asia using standard economic tools.
Prerequisites: Micro and Macroeconomics are suggestedENGL 30783 – Modern India Literature and Culture (Dr. Mona Narain)
This course invites its participants to explore the culture of modern, post-independence India through the lens of selective, outstanding pieces of literary writing. The texts of the course will focus on India’s long experience and struggle with colonization and religious diversity in order to understand the heritage and crises of cosmopolitan India. Therefore, the course will use literature as a focal point but also include readings on Indian history, religion and philosophy. Through its exploration of Indian culture, the course asks students to see that human nature all over the world is significantly shaped by specific historical events and cultural practices. It is these specifics that account for the uniqueness of global cultures and individuality. On the other hand, by reading Indian texts in English, the course also emphasizes language’s ability to transcend cultural particulars and demonstrate how language and literature can be a means of finding points of commonality with another culture. The course’s goal is not only to give students a chance to examine another culture but also to compare it to their own. The course will be conducted in a combination of lecture and discussion. Though not a prerequisite, ENGL 30773: India: Texts and Traditions deals with Classical Indian Literature. This course is a natural segue for 30773
Prerequisites: ENGL 10803 or10833, ENGL 20803 and at least one 10000- or 20000-level ENGL course
HIST 10943/20943 – Asian Civilization To 1500 (Dr. Peter Worthing)
This course is an introduction to the history and culture of Asia from Neolithic times to approximately 1500. We will focus on the major political, economic, cultural, religious and intellectual trends of the people of East, South, and Southeast Asia. Students in this course will pursue a greater knowledge and understanding of Asian history and civilization through a combination of primary and secondary source readings, lectures, videos, discussions and writing assignments.
Prerequisites: NoneHIST 10953/20953 – Asian Civilization Since 1500 (Dr. Peter Worthing)
This course is an introduction to the civilizations of Asia from 1500 to late 20th century. We will focus on the major political, economic, cultural, religious, and intellectual trends in the modern histories of countries such as China, Japan, Korea, India, and Vietnam. Students in this course will pursue a greater knowledge and understanding of Asian history and civilization through a combination of readings, lectures, videos, discussions, and writing assignments. After completing this course, successful students will demonstrate advanced knowledge in the following areas:
• The traditional societies of Asia
• The internal challenges faced by these Asian civilizations after 1500
• The impact of imperialism and colonialism
• The rise of nationalism and revolutionary movements
• The development of the contemporary states of Asia
Prerequisites: NoneHIST 30443 – China : 1800 to present (Dr. Peter Worthing)
This course explores the history of modern China. Beginning with brief review of traditional Chinese civilization, this course will trace the history of China through the 19th and 20th centuries examining the internal and external factors that have shaped the modern history this important East Asian state. Students in this course will pursue a greater knowledge and understanding of Chinese history through a combination of readings, lectures, videos, discussion and assignments.
Prerequisites: NoneHIST 40843 – The Vietnam War (Fall 2006) – Dr. Peter Worthing
This course explores the Vietnam War within the larger context of modern Vietnamese history. Vietnam has survived a series of wars in the last 150 years and it is necessary to study Vietnamese history in order to understand how this small agricultural nation was able to defeat two Western industrialized nations in thirty years. The course will therefore deal with topics such as traditional Vietnamese culture, the impact of colonial rule, the rise of Vietnamese nationalism, and the French and American wars in Vietnam. This period of Vietnamese history involves many of the ideas and forces that shaped the twentieth century: nationalism, colonialism, revolution, communism, capitalism, nation building, and the Cold War.
Prerequisites: NoneJAPN 10153 – First Semester Japanese (Prof. Yumi Keitges)
NOTE: this course does not count for the minor. However, this course is a prerequisite before taking the more advanced Japanese language courses which do count towards the minor. In this course students will study the grammatical patterns of Japanese and their application. They will develop the ability to speak, understand, and to write short essays in Japanese. They will also develop a mastery of Hiragana and Katakana. This course is designed for beginners and is regularly offered in the fall semester.
Prerequisites: NoneJAPN 10163 – Second Semester Japanese (Prof. Yumi Keitges)
In this course students will study the grammatical patterns of Japanese and their application. They will develop the ability to speak, understand, and to write short essays in Japanese. They will also develop a mastery of Hiragana and Katakana, and will study Kanji. This course is regularly offered in the spring semester.
Prerequisites: First semester JapaneseJAPN 20053 – Third Semester Japanese (Prof. Yumi Keitges)
In this course students will further their study of the Japanese language, with emphasis placed on the following areas: 1) emphasis on good conversational skills in Japanese, (2) learning more grammatical patterns and applications, (3) developing the ability to write compositions in Japanese, and (4) learning more Kanji. This course is regularly offered in the fall semester.
Prerequisites: Second semester JapaneseJAPN 20063 – Fourth Semester Japanese (Prof. Yumi Keitges)
In this course students will further their study of the Japanese language, with emphasis placed on the following areas: 1) emphasis on good conversational skills in Japanese, (2) learning more grammatical patterns and applications, (3) developing the ability to write compositions in Japanese, (4) developing the ability to read articles in Japanese, and (5) learning more Kanji. This course is regularly offered in the spring semester.
Prerequisites: Proficiency up to third semester JapaneseJAPN 30123 – Fifth Semester Japanese: Japanese for Daily Use (Prof. Yumi Keitges)
In this course students will further study and reinforce Japanese grammatical patterns through frequent and contextualized practice and role playing. In addition, students will engage in the following tasks: (1) study and practice the essential conversational skills necessary for effective practical use of the Japanese language on a daily basis; (2) develop the ability to comprehend and discuss short native-level readings; and (3) develop the ability to write short, effective letters and essays in Japanese. This course is regularly offered in the fall semester.
Prerequisites: Proficiency up to fourth semester JapaneseJAPN 30113 – Japanese Culture & Civilization (Prof. Yumi Keitges)
In this course students will examine the issues that are unique to Japanese culture and civilization. The course will begin with a general overview of Japan and will emphasize the cultural aspects of Japanese society. Students will develop cultural sensitivities and an understanding of Japan, and will engage in the comparative study of Japan and the United States. This course is regularly offered in the spring semester.
Prerequisites: NonePOSC 30303 – IR of East Asia (Dr. Carrie Liu Currier)
This course serves as an overview to the international relations (IR) of East Asia. We will begin with an introduction to Asia’s distinct historical and cultural traditions, and explore some of the commonalities that can be drawn across states in the region. Next, we will focus on the key Northeast Asian states – China, Japan, North and South Korea, examining the structure of their political systems, how they interact with other states in the region, and how they engage other important actors such as the US and the EU. We also discuss the role of institutions like ASEAN and APEC, for their roles in facilitating regional cooperation and mitigating conflict. Finally, we will analyze military modernization and security threats as they relate to the strategic interests of the region and individual states.
Prerequisites: NonePOSC 30303 – Japanese Foreign Policy (Dr. Michael Strausz)
Japan’s relationship with the rest of the world has changed dramatically over and over again in the last two centuries. Japan has gone from being an isolationist semi-feudal state to a constitutional monarchy officially committed to westernization to an expansionist militarist state aiming to create an Asian empire to an advanced industrialized democracy that is constitutionally forbidden from having a military. This course examines the causes of some of these great transformations, as well as their results. The course will be divided into four units. First, we will look at Japan’s relationship with the rest of the world during World War Two. While we will spend some time discussing military issues, we will spend a great deal more time examining the ways that Japan thought about its relationship with the rest of the world during the war. Second, we will focus on the issue of postwar Japan’s armed forces. We will examine the consensus that developed about the appropriate role of the military in Japanese society, as well as challenges to that consensus. Third, we will look at Japan’s trade policy, focusing on the question of how the Japanese state has supported the interests of Japanese companies in international trade forums. Fourth, we will look at the way that international norms have influenced domestic politics in postwar Japan.
Prerequisites: None
POSC 30503 – Politics of China (Dr. Carrie Liu Currier)
This course examines the social, economic and institutional elements that have shaped the politics of the People’s Republic of China. We will begin by examining the rise of Mao and his impact on the political culture and institutions in modern China. Next we will discuss the reform era and China’s transformation from socialism to the more market-oriented development strategy Deng Xiaoping called, “socialism with Chinese characteristics.” Some of the issues we will focus on include: the stages of development, state-society relations, political elites and stability, human rights, sustainable development, the role of minorities, and the status of women. Over the course of the semester students will gain a better understanding of the formal and informal structures shaping China’s domestic politics, and we will examine how the Chinese case can be used to illuminate important themes in the subfield of comparative politics.
Prerequisites: NonePOSC 30503 – Politics of Japan (Dr. Michael Strausz)
This class will introduce you to Japan’s postwar political system. In addition to learning how the political system works in the abstract, we will also examine the way that the political system has actually functioned, particularly in regards to the relationship between the state and society, economic governance, and foreign policy. This class aims to deepen your understanding of current events in Japan, as well as to strengthen your ability to evaluate contemporary political issues and to talk and write about those issues in an informed and coherent manner.
Prerequisites: NoneRELI 10023 – World Religions (section taught by Dr. Mark Dennis only)
This course will introduce you to the vital role of religion in human experience by considering historical, comparative, and methodological issues in the study of religion with reference to rituals, institutions, texts, figures, and beliefs in major world religions. In particular, we will use World Religions Today’s discussion of “myth” as a central frame through which we will investigate these religions (Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Islam). The text describes myth as the central stories by which these traditions understand their place in the world. For example, “history,” as the central myth of Islam, is based (like Judaism and Christianity) on linear time, which has a beginning and an end. This myth is distinct from that of “liberation,” which is embraced by both Hinduism and Buddhism, where time is seen as moving in cycles. But these myths are also distinct from the myth of harmony, on which Daoism and Confucianism, the two Chinese religions we will study, are based. In the last third of the course we will draw on this material when we play one of the “Reacting to the Past” games that recreates the Partition of India. We will use the game book titled Defining a Nation: India on the Eve of Independence, 1945, which examines the history of the Indian subcontinent at the time it gained independence from Great Britain and the varied interests—Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh—that sought to promote their own visions of a postcolonial subcontinent. In the game, each of you will be assigned a role: some will play major figures from negotiations that we will recreate at Simla, such as Nehru and Jinnah, while others will be members of particular factions. The game includes quizzes, public speeches, and papers.
Prerequisites: NoneRELI 30513 – Hindu Religious Perspectives (Dr. Andy Fort)
This course will introduce the diverse strands of Hindu religious traditions. One major task is to trace "Hinduism" through its various manifestations: Vedic, brahmanical, ascetic, devotional, Tantric, and modern. A second goal is to examine the boundaries of our own worldviews by reflecting on what "religion" means in the Hindu context. Our study will illumine continuity and change in the Hindu tradition, and Indian culture more generally, from the ancient and classical to the modern periods. By introducing another worldview in some depth, this course offers the opportunity for us to reflect on our own. Our exploration will, of course, use the concepts and modes of inquiry common in the academic study of religion.
Prerequisites: NoneRELI 30523 – East Asian Religious Perspectives
RELI 30533 – Buddhism Thought & Practice (Dr. Andy Fort)
This course will introduce the religious tradition called Buddhism. We shall trace its development from India through Southeast Asia, Tibet, China, Japan, and North America. Description and analysis of Buddhist thought will be emphasized, although Buddhist practice will also be considered. Our aim will be to outline the history of Buddhism in various cultures, and to understand some Buddhist ways of thinking and acting. We shall thereby explore some of the diversity of human experience and better understand other cultures and peoples. Such understandings will necessarily entail some "self"-exploration; thus, existential inquiry is an inevitable component of this course. Our exploration will, of course, use the concepts and modes of inquiry common in the academic study of religion.
Prerequisites: NoneRELI 30573 – Daoism and Chinese Religions
RELI 30753 – The Many Faces of Krishna (Dr. Andy Fort)
This course considers the many images of the god Krishna in the literary and religious imagination of the Indian people. Krishna has been seen as an adorable child, all attractive young man, and wise leader as an adult, in each case a perplexing mix of divine and human. We shall look at selected texts in translation and artistic presentations which illustrate a variety of themes and issues connected with this multifaceted figure. After introducing some background of Hindu thought and practice, we shall look on how Krishna appears in different versions and interpretations of the great Indian epic, the Mahabharata, including the famous portion of it called the Bhagavad Gita. We next examine how Krishna appears in later devotional literature and poetry in the classical Sanskrit tradition, and finally Krishna in popular and regional understandings up to the present day. Credit cannot be given for both 30773 and 30573.
Prerequisites: NoneRELI 30773 – India Texts & Traditions (Dr. Andy Fort)
In this course, we shall look at selected texts in translation which reveal the literary and religious imagination of the Indian people, and illustrate a variety of themes and issues in Indian civilization. We shall focus on Hindu texts, particularly versions and interpretations of the two best-known Indian epics, the R¡m¡yaΔa and the Mah¡bh¡rata. We shall also consider the religious background for the epics, examine plays and poetics in the classical Sanskritic tradition, and read some modern Hindu thinkers. You will be introduced to some concepts and ways of understanding from both literary theory and religious studies. Our study will illumine continuity and change in the Hindu tradition, and Indian culture more generally, from the ancient and classical to the modern periods. By introducing another worldview in some depth, this course offers the opportunity for us to reflect on our own.
Prerequisites: NoneRELI 30863 – Religion and Violence (Dr. Mark Dennis)
Although the religious traditions of the world generally seek to promote peace and understanding of those considered outside or “other,” history is replete with examples of religiously inspired violence against such groups. This course will explore religious violence toward the “other” by analyzing five case studies: the Boxer Rebellion of China; the partition of India; the complicity of Zen Buddhists in the Japanese military’s aggression in East Asia during World War II; the Aum Shinrikyo cult of Japan; and the recent conflict between the Sunnis and Shiites of Iraq. A key part of this analysis will be the study of the means by which religious groups create the “other” or “others” and institutionalize their oppression. To this end, we will critically examine the work of Max Weber, Emile Durkheim, Clifford Geertz, and other thinkers who offer useful theoretical tools for critically interpreting the data of each of these five cases. But we will also explore these cases inductively; we will look to discover both commonalities and differences as we seek to understand the institutional, legal, narrative and other means by which particular groups have been segregated, dehumanized, repressed, and sometimes murdered with either the passive or active assistance of religion.
Prerequisites: None
Study Abroad Opportunities
China study abroad – Summer program (Dr. Carrie Liu Currier and Prof. Ziwo Lama)
This course is designed to be an introduction to Chinese history, politics, economics, and civilization where students will spend two weeks in China with site-enhanced visits. The primary location is Beijing, giving students an opportunity to visit the Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Lama Temple and several other sites to see how the city blends tradition with modernization. We will have special excursions to migrant schools, an environmental agency, and meet with a representative of the National People’s Congress to learn about some of the political and social dilemmas the country is currently facing. In addition, we will have three short trips outside of the city. Students will do an overnight hike on the Great Wall, visit the terracotta soldiers in Xian, and hike Wutaishan one of China’s sacred Buddhist mountains. Through these experiences students will gain a better understanding of China and see how one of the world’s most rapidly developing countries is adjusting to the demands of globalization.
Credit hours: 3 hours
Course: POSC 30503 Chinese History, Culture and Politics (this course is different from Politics of China which is also a POSC 30503 course)
Prerequisites: None, Chinese language is not requiredJapan study abroad – Summer program (Prof. Yumi Keitges)
The TCU in Japan program offers you three weeks to learn Japanese culture and language from within the country. Would you like to see old Japan? There are numerous temples and shrines everywhere you go. Would you like to see new Japan? Tokyo is one of the most important fashion Mecca’s in the world, and almost all brand names have boutiques there. Japan is indeed an important market for a multitude of businesses. More than two weeks will be spent at our exchange university in Tokyo for lectures and excursions to observe what you learned that day. In the evening, your Japanese conversational partner might take you to karaoke. Trips include a visit to Kyoto, Nara and Hiroshima, locations of great historical significance, and Mt. Fuji, Japan’s tallest mountain.
Credit hours: 3 – 6 credit hours
Courses: JAPN 30113 Japanese Culture & Civilization & JAPN 40970 Directed Study
Prerequisites: None, Japanese language is not required
Dr. Carrie Liu Currier, Coordinator
Department of Political Science
Chinese PoliticsDr. Mark Dennis
Department of Religion
East Asian ReligionsDr. Andy Fort
Department of Religion
Hinduism, Indian ReligionsProf. Yumiko Keitges
Department of Modern Languages
Japanese LanguageDr. Mona Narain
Department of English
South Asian Literature & CultureDr. Michael Strausz
Department of Political Science
Japanese PoliticsDr. Kiril Tochkov
Department of Economics
Asian economicsDr. Peter Worthing
Department of History
Modern China, Vietnam WarAffiliated Facutly
Ziwo Lama
Department of Modern Languages
Chinese Language and Culture
Asian Studies Award: $100 is awarded for the best presentation by students who center their research on the study of Asia. For details, on the program or the prize please see http://www.asianstudies.tcu.edu or contact the Director of Asian Studies at c.currier@tcu.edu
Asian Studies Award at the AddRan Festival of Undergraduate Scholarship and Creativity
The Asian Studies Award is a $100 prize for the best presentation (oral or poster) at the AddRan Festival of Undergraduate Scholarship and Creativity. Asian Studies is an interdisciplinary field of study that focuses on the people and cultures of Asia. The award is granted to a presentation that focuses on Asia and may include issues such as culture, economics, history, language, politics, religion, or society. For more information contact the Director of Asian Studies at c.currier@tcu.edu
For more information about the Asian Studies Minor, please contact:
Dr. Carrie Liu-Currier
Coordinator, Asian Studies Minor
Department of Political Science
(817) 257-6853
c.currier@tcu.edu
