Asian Studies

This course is an introduction to the pre-modern history of East Asia up until the early 1800s, specifically focusing on China and its relations with Korea. In the first half of the semester, the course covers the political and cultural development that initially emerged in China proper and later spread to its neighbors, shaping the common bonds that bring East Asia together as a whole. In the second half of the semester, the course examines important transnational events and connections, most notably wars and commerce, with an emphasis on the 17th and 18th centuries when the social conditions of modern East Asia were shaped. 

This is a special studies course involving an internship with a corporate, public, governmental, or private organization, arranged with the Study Center Director or Liaison Officer. Specific internships vary each term and are described on a special study project form for each student. A substantial paper or series of reports is required. Units vary depending on the contact hours and method of assessment. The internship may be taken during one or more terms but the units cannot exceed a total of 12.0 for the year.

This course examines the history and present-day attributes of the China in the macro-region of Northeast Asia. This approach emphasizes the importance of conceptualizing China as more than just a national entity and looking beyond the traits of major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou to understand what and who is Chinese. This course highlights patterns and exceptions in relations on various levels, including state-to-state and individual-to-individual, between China and other states and societies of Northeast Asia. Students will develop their understanding of China’s connections to its neighbors and how political, economic, and social interaction among disparate groups shapes the region of Northeast Asia.

This course examines the rise of China and its implications for regional and global security. It critically examines the theory and practice of China's international relations, as well as explores the ways in which China's historical legacy has shaped its worldview and foreign policy. Drawing on key concepts of power, legitimacy, national identity and international status, the course examines China's evolving global role, with a particular emphasis on key relationships and security challenges in the Asia-Pacific. 

This course examines the manner in which modern Japanese literature reflects issues of concern in Japanese society, among them discrimination, family life, the ageing population, war, disaster, identity, gender, and sexuality. Students will read a range of translated Japanese literature including fiction, non-fiction, academic articles, and short-form literature (i.e. poetry, short stories) written from the early twentieth century to the early twenty-first century. Students will also engage with material written about Japan by non-Japanese writers (i.e. news articles, academic articles etc.). 

This course covers 600 years of Seoul history, the Chosun (1394-1897), Taehan Empire (1897-1919), and the Japanese Colonial Period (1910-1945). As of 2020, Seoul has a population of 9.97 million and is considered one of the top ten metropolitan economies in the world. By exploring the history of Seoul, students gain an understanding of the history of one of the oldest cities in the world and also the dynamic history of modern Korea.  By the end of the course students should be able to understand early modern Korean history and its significant events. In addition, students will understand how modern-day Seoul was established via its 600 year history.

This is an independent research course with research arranged between the student and faculty member. The specific research topics vary each term and are described on a special project form for each student. A substantial paper is required. The number of units varies with the student’s project, contact hours, and method of assessment, as defined on the student’s special study project form.

This course explores the multidimensional definitions and meanings of globalization by examining various interconnections, from traditional cultures to modern ones, cultural diversity to homogenization of culture, from migration and immigration to ethnic diversity, and from population growths to urbanization and climate change. 

Students will examine how globalization impacts the culture, family, aging, international migration, popular culture, population, urbanization, environment, and economic development in societies all around the world, paying special attention to how these issues affect Korean culture and society, and will explore possible solutions to these issues. 

This course provides basic knowledge of politics and society of the Democratic People`s Republic of Korea (DPRK; North Korea). This course is a mixture of area studies and international relations, particularly focusing on North Korea as a case study. Topics include DPRK political systems, governance, and economy; international sanctions and their impact, nuclear development, human rights, media and information control, and the future of the Korean Peninsula.  Based on basic information of internal dynamics of North Korea, students are expected to search for motivations to study further issues regarding North Korea. By the end of the semester, students find themselves to be better equipped with various approaches to North Korean politics and society. 

The course aims to give students the analytical skills to compare and contrast the multiple paths to prosperity and critically assess the prospects and challenges for Asian economies and their citizens to thrive in the future. It moves beyond the mainstream approach to assessing country-level economic performance by incorporating seven ways to think like a 21st-century economist, as explained in the book Doughnut Economics, in a holistic exploration of the economic growth and development patterns in the dynamic Asian region. These include shifting the goal beyond GDP to broader measures of sustainable development and human wellbeing; understanding the importance of economic and political systems beyond the textbook 'free market'; recognizing the critical role of governments in supporting equitable and regenerative development; and questioning whether the 20th-century obsession with economic growth is compatible with 21st-century development challenges.