Asian Studies

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.

As a core course in the department’s program on East Asian studies, this graduate-level course, conducted fully in English, explores various dimensions of the political, economic, and social developments of the People’s Republic of China since 1979. In addition to familiarizing the students with the empirical evidence and relevant methodology of such developments, this course also introduces the theoretical evolution/debates both in China studies and authoritarianism in comparative politics. An extended goal of this course is to prepare the students for delving into new research topics and conducting independent field research in China in the future. Students have to finish all the required readings and be prepared for heavy class participation before each class meeting. Lectures by the instructors where necessary play a supplementary role only.

This course provides fundamental knowledge of media history in Japan and Asia from the late 19th century to the early 21st century, discussing the historical process of the transformation of relations between media, governments and peoples. The focus is to promote historical understanding and analysis of media development with influences in political process.

This course examines the modern Japanese sense of cultural, social and national identity, as analyzed by social scientists, cultural historians, and scholars of Japanese thought. Topics include famous studies of the Japanese self by psychologists, anthropologists, sociologists and socio-linguists, supplemented by a historical perspective focusing on the samurai heritage and the ideas behind the Meiji Restoration. Japanese language is not required.

This course explores the intricate dynamics of branding in our modern society, focusing on Korea as a country brand that encapsulates a multifaceted identity through elements that shape its distinctive global presence. The course aims to dissect the evolution and development of Korea as a country brand, specifically exploring how its individual facets have contributed to the formation of the overarching country brand identity. Through an exploration of strategic brand communication principles, the course explores the essence of brands; their significance, components, and mechanisms of manifestation. Emphasis is placed on case studies and practical exercises, focusing on sub branding elements including K-pop, K culture, and K-products.