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Asian Studies
Director of Asian Studies Program: Mao Chen
Affiliated Faculty:
Anthropology: Adam Yuet Chau
Art History: Deborah Hutton, Robert Linrothe
Chinese: Mao Chen, Mary Hong-Yu Chen
Dance: Isabel Brown
English: Rajagopal Parthasarathy
Government: Steven Hoffmann
History: Margaret Pearson
Japanese: Takahiko Hayashi
Liberal Studies: Jack T. F. Ling
Music: Veena Chandra, Gordon Thompson
Philosophy: Joel Smith
The student majoring in Asian studies examines multiple facets
of the cultures, traditions, and contemporary realities of
Asian countries and peoples. The Asian Studies Program (major
and minor) is interdisciplinary, with a significant linguistic
component, and opportunities for direct experience with an
Asian culture. For the major, a student may choose a concentration
in either East Asia (China and/or Japan) or South Asia (India).
The director of the program serves as the advisor to all majors
and minors.
THE ASIAN STUDIES MAJOR
East Asia Concentration
(a total of at least thirty-four credit hours)
1. Language. At least four semesters of Chinese or Japanese
at Skidmore or approved programs. Students are encouraged
to spend a year in an approved program in China or Japan,
and to continue their language studies throughout the major.
2. Foundation. One course in each of two of the following
categories, focusing on China or Japan:
i. one historical survey (FL258,
259,
267,
HI241,
242,
247,
LS2
113, AN252,
252C);
ii. one introduction to art or music
(AH104,
204,
210,
AS205,
FL257,
LS2
164, 165,
MU321);
iii. one introduction to religion
or philosophy (RE214,
PH215).
3. Junior Year*
i. Study in China or Japan: continuing
language instruction and practice; varying culture courses
and internships, for at least three 300-level credits on China
or Japan. Or
ii. At Skidmore: At least three credits
at the 300 level in Asian studies; electives will continue
language study and develop comparative and disciplinary focus.
4. Senior Year. At least six credits at the 300 level, three
of which are to be an independent study during the spring
semester, taken in conjunction with AS375,
Asian Studies Seminar, where the research paper written in
the independent study and a range of issues will be discussed.
Some students who have done prior research may submit the
independent study research paper as a thesis.
South Asian Concentration (a total of at least thirty-four
credit hours)
1. Language. Students are encouraged to participate in Skidmore's
Semester in India Program or another approved program in South
Asia, and to continue their language study throughout the
major.
Students choose one of the following three options:
i. eight credit hours of Hindi in
Skidmore's Semester-in-India Program, plus two courses of
self-instructional Hindi at Skidmore.
ii. eight credit hours of Hindi in
Skidmore's Semester-in-India Program, plus two culture courses
on India (in addition to courses that fulfill other requirements
for the major) at Skidmore from the list of approved courses
for the major.
iii. two courses of self-instructional
Hindi at Skidmore, plus two culture courses on India (in addition
to courses that fulfill other requirements for the major)
at Skidmore from the list of approved courses for the major.
2. Foundation. One course in each of the two following categories:
i. one introduction to art and society
(AH200,
211,
GO240,
MU309,
LS2
127, 153,
MP281);
ii. one introduction to religion
or philosophy (RE213,
220,
PH215).
3. Junior Year*
i. Study in India in Skidmore's Semester-in-India
Program or another approved program; language study and practice;
varying culture courses, for at least three 300-level credits
on South Asia. Or
ii. At Skidmore: At least three credits
at the 300 level in Asian studies; electives will continue
language study and develop comparative and disciplinary focus.
4. Senior Year. At least six credits at the 300 level, three
of which are to be an independent study during the spring
semester, taken in conjunction with AS375,
where the research paper written in the independent study
and a range of issues will be discussed. Some students who
have done prior research may submit the independent study
research paper as a thesis.
*Recommended for both concentrations: Completion of
all-college requirements and disciplinary prerequisites for
advanced courses by the end of the sophomore year.
HONORS: For honors in Asian studies, a student must earn a
3.0 or better cumulative GPA in all courses taken at Skidmore,
a 3.5 or better in all courses taken for the Asian studies
major, and a grade of A or A- on an approved senior thesis.
With the approval of the Asian studies director and faculty,
a student may write a thesis in the senior year to be directed
by a member of the Asian studies faculty, with one additional
reader.
THE ASIAN STUDIES MINOR consists of eighteen credit hours
approved by the director of Asian studies from the designated
Asian studies courses listed below, including at least three
credits at the 300 level. Up to eight credit hours of an Asian
language (Chinese or Japanese) may count toward the minor.
Approved courses taken at Beijing Normal University, China;
at universities in Tokyo and Nagoya through the Institute
of Asian Studies programs in Japan; all courses in the Semester-in-India
Program, and other preapproved courses taken abroad can be
counted toward the minor.
Asian Studies Curriculum
JAS 101, 102.
LANGUAGE AND CULTURE IN INDIA 4, 4
Introduction to the Hindi language
as a social artifact through study of basic grammar, composition,
conversation, and readings. After a three-week period of traditional
intensive classroom study, students will supplement continuing
classroom study with homestays, field trips, and the use of
Hindi in everyday life and travel. Offered each fall in
India.
JAS 201. HISTORICAL,
CULTURAL, AND SOCIAL BACKGROUND OF INDIAN DEVELOPMENT
3
An overview of the historical development of contemporary
India with emphasis on the interaction of the diverse strands
that have formed modern India. In addition to the study of
the literature of various periods, the course will draw on
the historical and cultural resources of Jaipur and other
sites in India. Offered each fall in India.
JAS 202. CONTEMPORARY
ISSUES IN INDIAN SOCIAL AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT
3
Introduction to contemporary Indian society, economics, and
politics by examining such issues as the relationship between
rural and urban life, the role of caste, the status of women,
the changing character of the family, the role of science
and technology, and the legacy of Gandhian thought and practice.
Offered each fall in India.
AS 205. PHILOSOPHY,
THEORY, AND PRACTICE OF CHINESE BRUSH PAINTING
3
A theory and praxis course on Chinese brush painting. The
course will first survey the primary scholar-painters of the
literati tradition and the contemporary landscape painters
of the Nanjing and Southern schools (from the Tang Dynasty
to the 1970s), then turn to those fundamental principles that
frame traditional Chinese calligraphy, poetry, and painting.
Students will learn to paint with brush and ink on untreated,
single-layer, Chinese rice/bamboo paper. (Designated a non-Western
culture course.) J. Ling
AS 371, 372.
INDEPENDENT STUDY 3,3
Individual study under the direction of Asian studies faculty.
AS
375. ASIAN STUDIES SEMINAR
1
A seminar required of all Asian
studies majors in the spring semester of their senior year.
The course will involve discussion of the theoretical underpinnings
of Asian studies, reflection on methods, and exchange of perspectives
across disciplinary and regional concentration. Specific topics
and readings will vary from year to year.
Asian Studies Program Director.
JAS 376.
DIRECTED FIELD STUDY IN INDIA 3
An independent research project
designed by the student to be executed in India with guidance
from one or more Indian advisors. The project must be designed
before leaving for India in consultation with appropriate
Skidmore advisors, and the project design must be approved
by the resident faculty advisor in India. Offered each
fall in India.
AH
105
Survey of Asian Art: South and Southeast Asian and Himalayan
AH
106
Survey of Asian Art: East Asia
AH
200
Hindu Art
AH
204
Japanese Art
AH
209
Islamic Art
AH
210
Chinese Painting
AH
211
Tibetan Art
AH
311
Buddhist Art of East Asia
AH
312
Ancient Chinese Art
AH
351
Indian Painting
AH
375G
Seminar in Art History: "Icons of Islamic Architecture"
AN
252C
Non-Western Themes in Anthropology: Japanese Culture and Society
AN
351C
Topics in Cultural or Biological Anthropology: "Gender
in East Asia
DA
230
Introduction to Dance History, Literature, and Repertory
DA
212, 213
Non-Western Dance Forms I
A.
Bharata Natyam I
B.
Kathak
E.
T'ai Chi
DA
303, 304
Non-Western Dance Forms II
A.
Bharata Natyam II
EN
231
Non-Western Literature: Classical World
EN
232
Non-Western Literature: Modern World
FC
101, 102,
203,
206,
220,
271,
272,
363,
371,
372
Chinese Language
FC
208
Advanced Chinese Conversation and Composition
FJ
101, 102,
203,
206,
207,
220,
271,
272,
363,
371,
372
Japanese Language
FL
257
Modern Chinese Literature in Translation
FL
258, 259
Chinese Civilization
FL
267
Modern Japanese Culture and Society
FX
171, 172,
271,
272
Self-Instructed Hindi
GO
239
Nationalism and Politics in the Middle East
GO
240
Political Modernization: The Case of India
GO
344
Comparative Politics and Culture: India and Japan
HI
241
Introduction to Imperial China
HI
242
Introduction to Modern China
HI
247
Rise of Japan
HI
343
The Chinese Revolution
HI
347
Japan: Samurai, Weavers, Writers, and Prostitutes
HI
362A
Topics in History: Non-Western, "Chinese History"
HI
362B
Topics in History: Non-Western, "Japanese History"
HI
375G
Colloquia in History: "Chinese History"
HI
375H
Colloquia in History: "Japanese History"
LS2
113
Change in Early China
LS2
153
The Politics of Reading Non-Western Literature: The Example
of India
LS2
163
China and the West
LS2
164
Factual and Fictional: History and the Novel in China
LS2
165
Modern China and Japan in Narrative and Film
MP
281
Private Musical Instruction: Sitar and Tabla
MU
309
Music in South Asia
MU
321
Music in East Asia
PH
215
Buddhist Philosophy
PR
325
Japanese Religious Philosophies
PR
326
Tibetan Buddhism
RE
213
Religious Traditions of India
RE
214
Religions of China and Japan
RE
220
Encountering the Goddess in India
Biology
Creative Thought Matters.
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