Minor in Asian Studies

For more information contact Dr. Johan Elverskog at johan@.smu.edu

The minor in Asian Studies provides students with an opportunity to design an interdisciplinary program of study that will give them an in-depth knowledge of the history, politics, society, and culture of traditional and contemporary Asia. The program embraces all of the sub regions of Asia, including East Asia (China, Japan, and Korea), South Asia (India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh), and the many countries of Southeast Asia. With such a diverse region it is especially important to take account of specific national cultures and traditions. To maximize the educational experience, students are strongly encouraged to spend at least one term or summer studying in Asia. Most of the courses taught in University study-abroad programs in Asia may be applied to the Asian Studies minor.

The minor in Asian Studies requires 15 hours of study in specific courses. The first 6 hours (two courses) must be chosen from the four categories of the International Studies Basic Curriculum. (see smu.edu/catalogs/undergrad/dedman/internatl.asp) Each of the two courses must be from a separate category: either World Cultures, International Politics, International Economics, or Global Perspective. The next nine hours (three courses) must be chosen from the Asian Studies curriculum (below), with at least one course from each of the two groups: Group I (Social Sciences) or Group II (Humanities and Arts). At least nine hours must be at the 3000 level or above. If a student is an International Studies major, only one course from the Area Studies curriculum may be double counted. A co curricular requirement for the minor in Asian Studies is one year of college-level study of an Asian language. This requirement may be met through examination, the transfer of language study credit from another university, or by taking courses on campus.

Group I: Social Sciences

ANTH 3316 Cultures of the Pacific Island

ANTH 3317 Peoples of Southeast Asia

ANTH 4390 Asian Society: Study Tour and Seminar (SMU-in-Australia)

BA 3300 Japanese Business (SMU-in-Japan)

ECO 4357 Japanese Economy (SMU-in-Japan)

FL 3320/HIST 3337 Post-War Japanese Culture and Society

FL 3350/SOCI 3341 Perspectives on the East Asian Woman

HIST 2390 Civilization of India

HIST 2393 Japan Before 1850

HIST 2394 China Before 1850 (also SMU-in-Japan)

HIST 2395 Modern East Asia

HIST 3387 Asia and the West: Mutual Images 1800-1920

HIST 3393 China in Revolution

HIST 3394/5 Problems in Asian History

HIST 3395 History of Islam in South Asia

HIST 3395 Early Asia (SMU-in-Australia)

HIST 3395 Traditional South Asia (SMU-in-Australia)

HIST 3398 Women in Chinese History

HIST 4394 Modern History of China

PLSC 3346 Government and Politics of Japan (also SMU-in-Japan)

PLSC 3352 Chinese Politics

PLSC 4353 The Government and Politics of East Asia

PLSC 4340 Special Studies: Comparative Politics

HIST 4394 Modern History of China (SMU-in-Taipei)

SOCI 3300 Japanese Society (SMU-in-Japan)
 

Group II: Humanities and Arts

ARHS 1305 Introduction to Far Eastern Art

ARHS 3394 Arts of Japan (SMU-in-Japan)

ARHS 3395 Arts of India

ARHS 3396 Art and Architecture of China (also SMU-in-Taipei)

CHIN 4381 Readings in Chinese Literature and Culture

CHIN 4382 Chinese Culture and Society in Film

FL 3310 Transnational Chinese Cinema

FL 3312 Women, Writing, and Identity in 20th-Century Chinese Literature

FL 3322 Japanese Literature in Translation (SMU-in-Japan)

FL 3325 Perspectives on Modern China

FL 3348/SOCI 3348 Women in Japanese Culture and Society

RELI 1303 Introduction to Eastern Religions

RELI 3306 Introduction to the Hindu Tradition

RELI 3307 Introduction to Buddhism

RELI 3365 Understanding the Self: East and West

RELI 3367 Religious Life of China and Japan (SMU-in-Japan)

RELI 3377 The Cultural History of Tibet

RELI 3378 Religions of China

RELI 3382 Mysticism, East and West

RELI 3384 Hinduism and Colonial Encounters