Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Asian Studies

Core Faculty
Vikash Yadav, Professor of International Relations (Chair, Asian Studies)
Christopher Annear, Associate Professor of Anthropology
Etin Anwar, Professor of Religious Studies
Lara C.W. Blanchard, Luce Professor of East Asian Art
Jiangtao “Harry” Gu, Assistant Professor of Media and Society
James-Henry Holland, Associate Professor of Asian Studies
Melissa Hosek, Assistant Professor of Practice in Asian Studies
Shalahudin Kafrawi, Associate Professor of Religious Studies
Feisal Khan, Professor of Economics
Kyoko Ishida Klaus, Teaching Instructor and Tanaka Lecturer in Japanese
John Krummel, Associate Professor of Religious Studies
Sooyoung Lee, Associate Professor of Economics
Alaa Murad, Visiting Assistant Professor of Asian Studies
Stacey Philbrick Yadav, Professor of International Relations
Yi-Tung Wu, Teaching Instructor of Asian Studies
Lisa Yoshikawa, Professor of History
Jinghao Zhou, Associate Professor of Asian Studies
Iskandar Zulkarnain, Assistant Professor of Media and Society

Working closely with other academic departments at Hobart and William Smith, the Department of Asian Studies offers a variety of courses that are designed to acquaint its majors and minors with the languages, people, arts and architectures, economies, environments, histories, media, politics, societies, and religions of Asia in its full geographic and temporal scope, and to provide a firm foundation for further study. Regional language offerings include Arabic, Chinese, and Japanese, with some additional opportunities for the study of Vietnamese and Korean through partnership programs. Majors and minors in the department are strongly encouraged to participate in HWS’s off-campus programs in India, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Taiwan, Tunisia, and Viet Nam. All courses designated ASN are taught in English.

Mission Statement
Asian Studies introduces students to the diverse aspects of Asia, from politics and economies to histories and the arts, and provides a firm foundation for further study. Asian Studies at HWS is expansive in its coverage of over half the world’s population, spanning from Jordan to Tokyo and Ulaanbaatar to Jakarta. We have close to twenty professors in multiple disciplines with various regional and thematic specializations teaching students in small classroom settings. Asian Studies courses examine the societies, environments, philosophies, etc., of the wealthiest and the most diverse and region of the world. Asia is home to over 2,000 languages and cultures, and its diaspora population is the largest growing group in the United States. Asia has been the center of world commerce, religious traditions, cultural exchange, and more, and remains so to this day and in future projections. Asian Studies courses challenge the nineteenth- and twentieth-century paradigms that continue to shape academia and foregrounds the Asia Indo-Pacific region that has reemerged as the leading force of the world.

Offerings

Asian Studies offers an interdisciplinary major and minor.

A Note on Languages. At present, HWS has fully staffed language instruction in Arabic, Chinese, and Japanese. Vietnamese and Korean are offered abroad. Historically, HWS has offered Hebrew, Hindi, and Korean at various levels, through study abroad programs, distance learning, and other means. Students wishing to use these or other less commonly taught languages to fulfill major/minor requirements must consult early with the Department chair.

Departmental Language Courses
ARAB 101 Beginning Arabic I
ARAB 102 Beginning Arabic II
ARAB 201 Intermediate Arabic I
ARAB 202 Intermediate Arabic II
ARAB 450 Advanced Conversational Arabic (independent study)
CHIN 101 Beginning Chinese I 
CHIN 102 Beginning Chinese II 
CHIN 201 Intermediate Chinese I
CHIN 202 Intermediate Chinese II 
CHIN 301 Advanced Chinese I 
CHIN 302 Advanced Chinese II 
CHIN 450 Independent Study
JPN 101 Beginning Japanese I 
JPN 102 Beginning Japanese II 
JPN 201 Intermediate Japanese I 
JPN 202 Intermediate Japanese II
JPN 301 Advanced Japanese I 
JPN 302 Advanced Japanese II 
JPN 450 Independent Study

Asian Studies Major (B.A.)
interdisciplinary, 12 courses
Learning Objectives:

• Demonstrate a multidisciplinary perspective centered on Asia.
• Demonstrate foundational abilities in one or more Asian languages, including appropriate proficiencies in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
• Demonstrate an understanding of current and historical cultural, social, geographical, and political diversity within Asia.
• Demonstrate the ability to plan and carry out scholarly research and give a scholarly presentation on an Asian topic in English.

Requirements:
Four courses in one Asian language: Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or Vietnamese. (Students exempted from this requirement by passing a proficiency test permitting them to enter the third year or above of an Asian language must still complete 10 courses.) The departmental introductory course: ASN 101/HIST 107 Trekking Through Asia; at least two core courses on Asia in the social sciences division; at least two core courses on Asia from the humanities division that are not language courses; at least two Asian Studies electives; and the departmental capstone course: ASN 401 Senior Colloquium. All courses must be passed with a grade of C- or higher. Credit/no credit courses cannot be counted towards the major. At least two of the 12 courses must be at the 300- or 400-level.

Asian Studies Minor
interdisciplinary, 7 courses
Requirements:
At least two courses in one Asian language. Students may be exempted from this requirement by passing a proficiency test permitting them to enter the second year or above of an Asian language. Students who take advantage of this exemption still must complete at least five courses in Asian studies for the minor. The departmental introductory course: ASN 101 Trekking Through Asia; at least one social science course on Asia; at least one humanities course on Asia; at least two Asian Studies electives. At least one course on Asia must be at the 300- or 400-level. All courses must be passed with a grade of C- or higher. Credit/no credit courses cannot be counted towards the minor.

Asian Studies Courses
ASN 101 Trekking through Asia
ASN 102 Ottoman Worlds
ASN 103 Introduction to Asian Art
ASN 110 Himalayan Challenges
ASN 115 Imagining Asian Religion/s
ASN 119 Arabic Cinema and Literature
ASN 120 Making of the Samurai
ASN 125 Japan: Supernatural Beings
ASN 201 Technology, Society, and Science Fiction from China and Beyond
ASN 211 Buddhism
ASN 212 Confucianism, Marxism, and Chinese Women 
ASN 236 Cultural Dynamics in China and Taiwan
ASN 242 Riding with Genghis Khan 
ASN 268 China’s Path to Global Hegemony
ASN 296 The U.S. and China
ASN 305 Showa through the Silver Screen 
ASN 340 Water and Energy in China
ASN 342 Seminar: Chinese Cinema and Global Issues
ASN 372 Global Technology and Society
ASN 373 Darwinian World
ASN 401 Asia Colloquium
ASN 450 Independent Study
ASN 456 1/2 Credit independent Study 
ASN 495/496 Honors
ASN 499 Internship

Cross-Listed Courses

Social Sciences
ANTH 110 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
ANTH 225 China in Africa: Cross-Cultural Perspectives: Food, Debt and Democracy
ANTH 298 Modern Japan
ECON 126 Economics of Immigration
ECON 233 Comparative Economic Systems 
ECON 302 International Trade Issues
ECON 344 Economic Development
ECON 465 Political Economy of Corruption
INRL 140 Introduction to Comparative World Politics 
INRL 180 Introduction to International Relations
INRL 208 Gender and Politics in the Middle East
INRL 246 East Asia
INRL 248 Development
INRL 254 Globalization
INRL 258 State, Society, and Market in the Middle East
INRL 260 Human Rights and International Law
INRL 261 Laws of War
INRL 281 South Asia
INRL 283 Political Violence and Non-Violence
INRL 285 Borders, Belonging, and Rights in the Middle East
INRL 301 India
INRL 304 Afghanistan
INRL 350 China
INRL 360 Post-Conflict Justice and Reconstruction
INRL 371 Research Design and Ethics (if research topic is Asia)
INRL 387 Neoliberalism
INRL 401 Capstone Research (if research topic is Asia)
SOC 353 Global Cities

Humanities
AMST 221 Immigrant Art
ARTH 103 Introduction to Asian Art
ARTH 209 Chinese Pictures: 1000 Years
ARTH 210 Women Artists in Europe & Asia, 1300-1750
ARTH 212 Arts of Modern China
ARTH 249 Islamic Art and Architecture
ARTH 252 Japanese Art and Culture
ARTH 253 Buddhist Art and Architecture
ARTH 254 Islamic Art at the Crossroads
ARTH 303/403 Gender & Painting in China
ARTH 306/406 Telling Tales: Narrative in Asian Art
ARTH 336/436 Landscapes and Gardens
BIDS 219 Imagining Environmental Apocalypse across the Muslim World
BIDS 220 Found in Translation: Japanese Literature
BIDS 234 Studio Ghibli and Anime Culture
ENG 270 Globalization and Literature
ENG 272 India and the Global
ENG 276 Imaging the Middle East
ENG 361 Readings in Multi-Ethnic Women's Literature
HIST 107 Trekking through Asia
HIST 120 Making of the Samurai
HIST 202 Japan Since 1853
HIST 242 Riding with Genghis Khan
HIST 305 Showa through the Silver Screen
HIST 320 Asia Pacific Wars
HIST 324 Barbarian Empires: Indigenous Peoples, Pirates, Sea Otters
HIST 372 Global Technology and Society
HIST 373 Darwinian World
MDSC 130 Introduction to Global Animation
MDSC 333 Global Video Games: Cultures, Aesthetics, Politics
MDSC 371 Authorship in Global Animation
REL 105 Religion, Peace, and Conflict
REL 115 Imagining Asian Religion/s
REL 211 Buddhism
REL 215 Japanese Religions
REL 226 Religion and Nature
REL 236 Gender, Sexuality, and Islam
REL 239 Nihilism East and West
REL 242 Islamic Mysticism
REL 243 Suffering and Salvation
REL 255 Peace and Violence in Quran
REL 260 Religion & Philosophy from a Global Perspective
REL 265 The West and the Qur'an
REL 274 Zionism, Israel and the Middle East Conflict
REL 280 Negotiating Islam
REL 286 Islam and Environment
REL 288 Religious Extremism
REL 289 Material Culture and Islam
REL 295 Sustainability, Fashion, and Justice
REL 304 Buddhist Philosophy
REL 325 Japanese Philosophy and Religious Thought
REL 335 Jihad
REL 347 Gender and Identity in Muslim World

Asian Studies Course Descriptions

ASN 101 Trekking through Asia  Welcome to the "Asian Century." Asia has re-emerged as the center of the world, after a brief hiatus that started in the 18th century. With histories and religious traditions stretching back three millennia, today as we see cultures across Asia have transformed in ways to meet the demands of our rapidly changing world. China, Japan, and India are three of the world's top economies. Asia contains six of the world's ten largest countries, and is home to over half of the world's population and two of the world's major religions, Hinduism and Buddhism. For decades Asian countries have been leaders in global manufacturing, and Asian universities are now renowned centers for scientific and medical innovation. Fifty percent of the declared nuclear-weapon states are also in the region. Simply put, Asia matters a great deal! In this course, we trek through the Asian past and present, exploring this vast and vibrant region. Through writings and travelogues that documented the peoples and lands of places stretching from the Sea of Japan to Persia, and from Java to the Mediterranean Sea, we will learn about the cultural systems that helped shape Asian societies. We will consider how these traditions contributed to and were changed by historical interactions in Asia itself and in relationship to the rest of the world. Join us on the journey! (Yoshikawa, offered annually) P3, P4 [Prerequisite: Open to First Year and Sophomore students only, or open to ASN, HIST, and INRL majors and minors, or permission of instructor.]

ASN 102 Ottoman Worlds  The modern Middle East as it is configured today is the byproduct of the particular circumstances and set of governing practices that characterized the Ottoman Empire. Far from a medieval monolith, this was an adaptive, modernizing empire that stitched together peoples of different languages, religions, ethnicities, and political commitments. Yet well before it was formally dissolved in the defeat of the First World War, the coherence of Ottoman rule was disintegrating along its periphery. This course maps both the construction and disintegration of the empire, showing how both jointly made the network of states that replaced it. As an interdisciplinary course drawing from the humanities and social sciences, the course asks students to map and critically understand a variety of cultures of resistance through which Ottoman subjects worked to fashion their lives and their empire. (Philbrick Yadav, offered occasionally) P3, P4

ASN 103 Introduction to Asian Art  This course presents a topical study of the arts and architecture of East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. We will examine developments in a variety of media, including painting, sculpture, architecture, ceramics, prints, and installations, through a series of case studies. Broad topics will include connections between art, politics, philosophy, and religion; text-image relationships; artistic practice, patronage, and collecting; and international art movements in the 19th and 20th centuries. In addition, students will learn to analyze two- and three-dimensional works of art and architecture. (Blanchard, offered annually) P3, P4 [Prerequisite: Open to First Year and Sophomore students only, or ASN majors and minors.]

ASN 110 Himalayan Challenges  From the storied tea plantations of Darjeeling to the terraced rice paddies of Sikkim, the idyllic Himalayan twin cities at the gateway India's Northeast are simultaneously at the forefront of sustainable development in a globalized economy and a reminder of a colonial era economy that is quickly vanishing in the face of unplanned development and environmental degradation. The state (formerly Kingdom) of Sikkim is the first territory to move to entirely organic agriculture in India. Meanwhile, the women and men who labor on the tea plantations of Darjeeling continue a practice established by the British colonial power in an earlier age of globalization. We will explore how environmental, labor, and identity politics intersect in these areas which are simultaneously at the periphery and forefront of our global economy. (Yadav, summer study abroad, offered occasionally) P3 [Confirmation approval for students in study abroad programs to enroll.]

ASN 115 Imagining Asian Religion/s  Is Buddhism a religion? What is religion? Does it entail a belief in God or reference to the transcendent? Is it some kind of faith? But neither was the notion of a god significant, nor was that of faith central to, early Buddhism. One could make similar claims about Confucianism. What do we mean by "religion"? Until modern times, Asian cultures lacked the very concept of what Western scholars call "religion." Or is what the Indians call dharma equivalent to "religion"? What about what the ancient Chinese (Buddhists, Confucians, and Daoists) called fo, jiao, and dao or the Japanese (Buddhists, Shintoists, and Confucians) called ho, kyo, and do "law," "teaching," and "way"? Are these terms equivalent to what we today mean by "religion"? How do we imagine "religion" in these "Asian cultures"? What is "Asian religion/s"? (Krummel, offered annually) P3, P4

ASN 120 Making of the Samurai  Images of samurai are ubiquitous today in movies, computer games, comic books and animations, historical novels , and even advertisements. But who were the samurai in Japanese history, and what did they do? When did they emerge, and where did they stand in society? What did they eat, and how did they go about their day-to-day lives? How were they perceived by their contemporaries, and how did they see themselves? When did today's images of the samurai come about, and how? These are some of the questions we will address in this course, Making of the Samurai. In the process, we will also work on critical writing, reading, and thinking skills. (Yoshikawa, offered alternate years) P3, P4 [Prerequisite: Open to First Year and Sophomore students only, or open to ASN, HIST and INRL majors and minors, or permission of instructor.]

ASN 125 Japan: Supernatural Beings  Godzilla. Pokémon. Films like "Spirited Away" or "The Ring." The ninja magic of Naruto. The shape-shifting demons of Inu Yasha. These are all examples of the Japanese supernatural, repackaged for world consumption. But what does the American consumer miss out on when enjoying these Japanese tales? Why is occult lore such an important part of the expressive culture of Japan? What is the historical or religious basis of the "soft power" of "Cool Japan"? What do we learn about Japan - and about ourselves - when we shiver to a well-told Japanese ghost story? Readings will include Japanese comic books (in translation) and short creative fiction, backed up with academic analyses of the history of spooks in Japan. Students will research particular beings and give presentations on their findings. This is a writing-intensive course, and the final project will involve a creative re-imagination of the Japanese lore learned through the semester, expressed in live or filmed performances, written stories or visual art projects. This course is open only to first-year students and sophomores. There are no prerequisites. (Holland, offered alternate years) P3 [Prerequisite: Open to First Year and Sophomore students only. Students can't have taken FSEM 194.]

ASN 201 Technology, Society, and Science Fiction from China and Beyond  Science Fiction from and about East Asian contexts are more accessible than ever in the English-speaking world. In this class, we examine the hopes, fears, and concerns regarding technology that are expressed through science fiction. In examining how notable texts, films, and works of art make this genre mode to comment on real world issues, we will debate the relevance to today's discussions about technological change. We will take a comparative approach to draw out the particular aesthetic and intellectual traditions of Asian cultures and also to observe where commonalities in ideas that transcend borders. Students will learn skills related to literary and aesthetic analysis, ethical reasoning, global perspectives, and communication. (Hosek, offered occasionally) P3

ASN 211 Buddhism  This course covers the rise and historical development of Buddhism in South Asia and its spread into Southeast, Central, and East Asia. Through regular writing exercises, extensive use of visual and audio materials, and some fieldwork, students will acquire a basic vocabulary for discussing the ritual practices, ethical systems, and scriptures of Buddhism (e.g., selections from the Pali Canon); situate the major branches of Buddhism in their historical and geographical contexts (e.g., Theravada in Sri Lanka, Vajrayana in Tibet, Zen in Japan); and explore important concepts in each of the traditions and locations in view of significant sociohistorical processes, events, and institutions (e.g., the interaction of Buddhists with Daoists and Confucians in China and the associations of Shinto practitioners and Buddhists in Japan). No prior knowledge of Buddhism is required. (Krummel, offered alternate years) P3, P4 [Prerequisite: Open to sophomores and juniors only.]

ASN 212 Confucianism, Marxism, and Chinese Women  This course examines the interplay between Confucianism, Marxism, and Chinese women's experience, tracing their influence on women's roles and identities from imperial China to the present day. The course will address several key questions: How did Confucianism and Marxism influence public philosophy and the feminist movement in China? What are the similarities and differences between Confucian, Marxist, and Western feminist perspectives on women's issues? How do Chinese women negotiate their identities and interests amidst competing and conflicting discourses and practices? The course aims to provide students with a comparative perspective on the interactions between Confucianism, Marxism, and Chinese women, and help them understand the implications and relevance of these interactions for the future of China and the world. No prerequisites. (Zhou, offered alternate years) P3, P4

ASN 222 Arabic Cinema and Literature  For students most often introduced to the Middle East and North Africa through the lens of conflict and contention, this course offers an opportunity to explore the region through the lens of its cultural production and the role that fiction, poetry, and the arts play in meaning-making within and across borders. The course uses film and literature to explore dynamics of belonging within and across communities of different scales in Southwest Asia and North Africa, mapping some of the variation in experience over space and time, from small agricultural communities and nomadic trade routes to sprawling megacities that are hubs of cultural transformation. Selections and case studies vary by semester. (Staff, offered alternate years)  [Antirequisite: Students can't have taken AFS 222 or FRNE 222]

ASN 236 Cultural Dynamics in China and Taiwan  Curious about the cultural dynamics that shape one of the most fascinating regions in the world? This course delves into the cultures of China and Taiwan, exploring both shared traditions and unique differences in a broad range of over 20 topics. It tackles critical questions such as: How do cultural practices influence the identities on both sides and shape the minds of their people? In what ways do cultural practices affect the social and political landscapes of China and Taiwan? What role does culture play in navigating the future relationship between the two in a global context? Students will have opportunities to engage in lively discussions, analyze real-world case studies, and appreciate the importance of understanding different cultures in daily life. Whether you're interested in global affairs and cultures, or simply curious about East Asia, this course offers fresh insights into how culture shapes the world we live in. (No prerequisites. Zhou, offered alternate years) P3, P4

ASN 268 China's Path to Global Hegemony  The "China doomer" theory has been widely speculated in the West for decades, yet the prediction has not come to pass. Neither the American 'Pivot to Asia' nor the trade wars have stopped China's global expansion. Instead, the U.S. has shifted its objective from global dominance to securing the Western Hemisphere to avoid confrontation with China. China has proven more resilient than expected. What is the secret of China's playbook for becoming a global power? Is the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation irresistible? This course decodes China's playbook by examining the structural advantages of its authoritarian model and the internal weaknesses of the United States. Under its centralized leadership, China employs a whole-of-society approach with long-term vision and a sophisticated coordinating system across every domain of competition, steadily moving toward global hegemony. Failing to understand the logic behind China's rise and the fractures within the American system could allow China's goal to materialize while the United States continues to lose strategic ground. P3, P4

ASN 296 The U.S. and China  After Nixon's icebreaking trip to Beijing in 1972, U.S.-China relations shifted from hostile relations to normalization. China greatly benefited from the engagement and became the world's second-largest economy in 2010. Although U.S.-China relations have nosedived to the lowest point since 2018 as China now poses the biggest challenge to the United States, the relationship between the U.S. and China has remained one of the central global issues. By employing international relations theories and a cultural perspective, this course will examine the development of US-China relations since the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, explore the role of culture in shaping the mindset of foreign policymakers and the dynamics of U.S.-China relations, discuss the implications of China's rise and its challenges to the United States, and analyze the future of great-power competition between the U.S. and China in a broader global context. (Zhou, offered alternate years) P3, P4

ASN 296 The U.S. and China After Nixon's icebreaking trip to Beijing in 1972, U.S.-China relations shifted from hostile relations to normalization. China greatly benefited from the engagement and became the world's second-largest economy in 2010. Although U.S.-China relations have nosedived to the lowest point since 2018 as China now poses the biggest challenge to the United States, the relationship between the U.S. and China has remained one of the central global issues. By employing international relations theories and a cultural perspective, this course will examine the development of U.S.-China relations since the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, explore the role of culture in shaping the mindset of foreign policymakers and the dynamics of U.S.-China relations, discuss the implications of China's rise and its challenges to the United States, and analyze the future of great-power competition between the U.S. and China in a broader global context. (Zhou, offered alternate years) P3, P4

ASN 342 Chinese Cinema & Global Issues  Are you ready to embark on the journey of becoming a responsible global citizen? Would you like to explore global issues through the powerful lens of Chinese cinema? This course invites students to critically engage with some of today's most pressing global challenges while exploring Chinese culture through selected Chinese films produced in Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the United States. Through film screenings, discussions, and analytical exercises, students will explore topics including-but not limited to-global poverty, human rights violations, family dynamics, same-sex marriage, migration and immigration, gender inequality, prostitution, environmental degradation, and access to education. Students will also grapple with broader academic questions, such as: In what ways do Chinese filmmakers portray local and global tensions? How do national identity, censorship, and diaspora shape cinematic narratives? By the end of the course, students will have developed a deeper understanding of global issues and enhanced their critical thinking skills, particularly in analyzing visual media from multicultural perspectives. (No prerequisites; Zhou, offered annually) 

ASN 372 Global Technology and Society Throughout history, technology has fundamentally altered the nature of life, and has thoroughly transformed communications, warfare, regional relations, leisure time, the arts, and more. In this course, we examine the impact of technology and its circulation on social relations and human relations to nature. We explore the global creation, promotion, and institutionalization of technical innovation since the medieval times to today, with focus on Asia. We also scrutinize the conflicting intellectual and social responses to technological change, ranging from fantasies of technocratic utopias to dark visions of humanity displaced and dominated by mechanized systems. (Yoshikawa, offered occasionally)  P3, P4 [Prerequisite: ASN, or HIST, or INRL major or minor, or permission of instructor]

ASN 373 Dawrinian World This course first examines the life and work of Charles Darwin focusing on the genesis of his theory of evolution and then explores the ramifications of the Darwinian revolution both for the natural and human sciences and for broader religious, cultural, and political life. The course investigates what the Darwinian revolution tells about scientific revolutions and about the use and abuse of science in the modern world. The emphasis will be on Darwinian revolution globally with emphasis on Asia. (Yoshikawa, offered occasionally) P3, P4 [Prerequisite: ASN or ENV or HIST or INRL major or minor. Students can't have taken HIST 373 or HIST 313]

Arabic Course Descriptions

ARAB 101 Beginning Arabic I  This course will introduce students to the Arabic alphabet and script, phonetics, and elementary grammar and conversation. Students will develop the ability to communicate in the present tense, to employ different grammatical forms, to carry out and understand basic conversations. Multimedia technologies will be employed to improve listening comprehension and oral expression. Attendance at a weekly language table is required. (Staff, offered annually) 

ARAB 102 Beginning Arabic II  This course will build upon and further expand students' familiarity with the script, phonetics, and elementary grammar and conversation begun in Beginning Arabic I. Students will develop and further their ability to communicate in the present, past, and future tenses, to employ different grammatical forms, and to carry out and understand basic conversations. Multimedia technologies will be employed to improve listening comprehension and oral expression. Attendance at a weekly language table is required. (Staff, offered annually) P3 [Prerequisite: ARAB 101 or the equivalent, placement exam, or permission of instructor]

ARAB 201 Intermediate Arabic I  In this course students will be exposed to more complex grammar structures and they will expand their communication skills in increasingly complex and varied situations. Multimedia technologies will be employed to improve listening comprehension and oral expression. Attendance at a weekly language table is required. (Staff, offered annually) P3 [Prerequisite: ARAB 102 or the equivalent, placement exam, or permission of instructor]

ARAB 202 Intermediate Arabic II  In this course students, who have already taken three semesters, or the equivalent, of Arabic will continue to study more complex grammatical structures that will enable them to develop their communication skills. They will also expand their vocabulary and engage in speaking and understanding culturally relevant texts. Multimedia technologies will be employed to improve listening comprehension and oral expression, Attendance at a weekly language table is required. (Staff, offered annually) P3 [Prerequisite: ARAB 201 or the equivalent, placement exam, or permission of instructor.]

Chinese Course Descriptions

CHIN 101 Beginning Chinese I  An introduction to modern Mandarin Chinese, this course teaches the four skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students receive solid training in pronunciation, writing, grammar, vocabulary, and other fundamentals of general communication. The principal text is Integrated Chinese, Volume 1, Simplified Character Edition, which is used along with multimedia resources to help students learn approximately 250 characters. (No prerequisite. Wu, Fall, offered annually) P3

CHIN 102 Beginning Chinese II  A continuation of CHIN 101, this course introduces an additional 300 characters, new sentence patterns, and new grammatical rules. Students learn to make effective use of their language skills, acquire the ability to conduct basic dialogues in a predictable situation and write simple notes. The principal text is Integrated Chinese, Volume 1, Simplified Character Edition, which is used along with multimedia accompanying the text. (Wu, Spring, offered annually) P3 [Prerequisite: CHIN 101 or permission of instructor]

CHIN 201 Intermediate Chinese I  This course continues CHIN 102 and instruction is conducted primarily in Chinese. They speak and write frequently in class and after class, acquiring a higher level of language proficiency in all four skills. The principal text is Integrated Chinese, Volume 2, Simplified Character Edition, which is used along with multimedia accompanying the text. (Wu, Fall, offered annually) P3 [Prerequisite: CHIN 102 or permission of instructor]

CHIN 202 Intermediate Chinese II  This course continues CHIN 201 and instruction is conducted primarily in Chinese. They speak and write frequently in class and after class, acquiring a higher level of language proficiency in all four skills. The principal text is Integrated Chinese, Level 1 Part 2, Simplified Character Edition, which is used along with multimedia accompanying the text. (Wu, Spring, offered annually) P3 [Prerequisite: CHIN 201 or permission of instructor]

CHIN 301 Advanced Chinese I  This course continues CHIN 202 and is conducted exclusively in Chinese. An additional 500-550 characters and phrases are introduced. Students interact and communicate in Chinese in class and after class. Supplementary readings are used in addition to the principal text, Integrated Chinese, Volume 3, Traditional/Simplified Character Edition. (Wu, Fall, offered annually)  [Prerequisite: CHIN 202 or permission of instructor]

CHIN 302 Advanced Chinese II  This course continues CHIN 301 and is conducted exclusively in Chinese. Approximately 600-700 new characters and phrases are added to the vocabulary repository each individual student has built up. Students interact and communicate in Chinese in class and after class. Supplementary readings are used in addition to the principal text, Integrated Chinese, Volume 3, Traditional/Simplified Character Edition. (Staff, Spring, offered annually)  [Prerequisite: CHIN 301 or permission of instructor]

Japanese Course Descriptions
JPN 101 Beginning Japanese I  This course is designed for students with no prior background in Japanese. Students will develop all four skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing, with a focus on oral communication. The course will also cover aspects of Japanese culture and proper etiquette as part of the language instruction. Students will be introduced to hiragana, katakana, and up to 45 kanji characters. Classes meet three times per week, with some additional evening online activities involving students in Japan. (Klaus, offered each fall) P3

JPN 102 Beginning Japanese II  This course is a continuation of JPN 101. (Klaus, offered each spring) P3 [Prerequisites: JPN 101 or placement by instructor]

JPN 201 Intermediate Japanese I  Continuation of Japanese, second year. (Klaus, offered each fall) P3 [Prerequisite: JPN 102 with a B- or higher, or placement by instructor.]

JPN 202 Intermediate Japanese II  Continuation of Japanese 201. (Klaus, offered each spring) P3 [Prerequisites: JPN 201 or placement by instructor]

JPN 301 Advanced Japanese I  Continuation of Japanese, third year. (Klaus, offered each fall)  [Prerequisite: JPN 202 or placement by instructor.]