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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: Masako Inamoto
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 thirty-two to 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);
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 Asia Concentration (a total of at least thirty-four thirty-two to 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 or Hindi when done in Skidmore's India Program) 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. JAS 251. TOPICS IN
INDIA 1-4
An examination at the introductory or intermediate level of a selected
topic pertinent to the issues of Indian culture and society. Specific
topics to vary by instructor and semester. JAS 351. ADVANCED TOPICS IN
INDIA 1-4
An examination at the advanced level of a selected topic pertinent to
the issues of Indian culture and society. Specific topics to vary by
instructor and semester. 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.) Lab fee: $20 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 268 People and the Environment in China 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 FL 324 Themes and Trends in Chinese Literature and Culture FS 243 The World of Japanese Animation 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 The 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 LS2 217 Truth Be Told: The Theme of Madness in Chinese Literature 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
