Asian Studies 2009-2010
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Overview
This program provides a broad, interdisciplinary liberal arts education focusing on the language, culture, and the arts of Asia (with emphasis on China and Japan). We seek to equip students to pursue interest and careers that require exposure to global issues, particularly pertaining to Asia. The major leads to a bachelor of arts degree and our graduates have gone on to careers in business, government service, law, education, the arts, journalism, or further study in graduate school.
Requirements for the Major: Fourteen courses including six courses in either Chinese or Japanese language (not a combination of both, unless authorized by the program director), and two courses devoted to a senior project. Students must select three courses from AS offerings in either the Humanities or the Social Sciences, and two additional courses in the opposite division. One of those five courses must deal entirely with the country outside the student’s language concentration. (For example, a student who takes a year of Japanese language must take one course that deals solely with China.) Students must also take at least one core course. A core course is designed to give students more breadth in their study of Asia by dealing with both China and Japan over a substantial period of time. Majors must pass a comprehensive examination in the form of an oral defense of their senior project. Students are required to participate in a term abroad to China or Japan, or in a mini-term to Asia.*
*If necessary, accommodations will be made.
Requirements for the Interdepartmental Major: Eight courses including three courses in either Chinese or Japanese language and one course devoted to a senior project. Students must also take at least one core course. Of the three remaining AS courses, one must deal entirely with the country outside the student’s language concentration. (For example, a student who takes a year of Japanese language must take one course that deals solely with China.) Students are strongly encourages to apply for the terms abroad to China and Japan.
Requirements for the Minor: Six courses including three courses in either Chinese or Japanese language, one core course with a content that includes more than one Asian country, and two additional AS courses.
Honors in the Program: To be eligible for honors in the program, the student must fulfill the following requirements: (1) a minimum index of 3.30 in the program; (2) a cumulative index of 3.30 or better; (3) a grade of “A minus” or higher on the senior project; and (4) superior performance in an oral exam based on the senior project.
Director of Asian Studies
Junko Ueno
Associate Professor of Japanese
(518) 388-6213
uenoj@union.edu
Affiliated Faculty
Megan Ferry
Associate Professor of Chinese
ferrym@union.edu
Bradley Lewis
Professor of Economics
lewisb@union.edu
Hui-Ju Lin
Visiting Assistant Professor of Chinese
linh2@union.edu
Joyce Madancy
Associate Professor of History
madancyj@union.edu
Jennifer Matsue
Associate Professor of Music and Anthropology
matsuej@union.edu
Eshragh Motahar
Associate Professor of Economics
motahare@union.edu
Shailaja Paik
Visiting Assistant Professor of History
paiks@union.edu
Linda Patrik
Professor of Philosophy
patrik@union.edu
Bunkong Tuon
Assistant Professor of English
tuonb@union.edu
Zhen Zhang
Visiting Assistant Professor of Chinese
zhangz@union.edu