CHIN 101 - Elementary Chinese (5 cr.)

Emphasis on speaking, reading, and writing elementary Mandarin.

CHIN 201 - Intermediate Chinese (5 cr.)

Prerequisite, CHIN 102 or equivalent. Emphasis on oral communication, with continuing development in all major skill areas: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

CHIN 313L - Chinese Poetry in Translation (3 cr.)

The works of major Chinese poets to 1300 A.D.

JPNS 101 - Elementary Japanese I (5 cr.)

Understanding of grammar and basic sentence structures are taught as a foundation for oral comprehension. The students will learn Hiragana and Katakana, two syllabic writing systems, and approximately 400 Kanji ideographs.

JPNS 150H - Japanese Culture & Civilization (3 cr.)

The historical, religious, artistic, literary, and social developments in Japan from the earliest times to the present.

JPNS 201 - Intermediate Japanese I (5 cr.)

Prerequisite, JPNS 102 or equivalent. Reading and writing kanji; building oral/aural fluency.

JPNS 306 - Japanese for Business & Tourism (3 cr.)

Prerequisite, JPNS 202 or equivalent. Vocabulary and idiom of oral and written communication in business and tourism. Professional, ethical practices, and special etiquette.

JPNS 312 - Japanese Literature Medieval to Modern (3 cr.)

Prerequisite, WRIT 101 or equivalent, and one intermediate writing course. Introduction to the literature of Japan from the 15th to the 20th century.

JPNS 392 - Independent Study (1-6 cr.)

Course material appropriate to the needs and objectives of the individual student.

Course information available soon

U EAS 102 Introduction to East Asian Studies (3 cr.)

An introduction to the modern history of China and Japan and to contemporary trends in those two countries that have particular import to the U.S. and East Asia.

U CHIN/JPN 101 and 102 (10 cr.)

Elementary Chinese/Japanese I and II

U HSTR 240 East Asian Civilizations (3 cr.)

An introduction to East Asia, its geography, cultures, and ways of thinking, presented in geographical and historical context with a focus on China and Japan.

U JPNS 150H/MCLG 210H Japanese Culture and Civilization (3 cr.)

Offered autumn. The historical, religious, artistic, literary, and social developments in Japan from earliest times to the present. Previously MCLG 150H.

U CHN 211H/AS 211H/LS 211H Chinese Culture and Civilization (3 cr.)

Offered intermittently. An introduction to the historical, intellectual, political, literary, and social developments of China from early times to the present.

U LSH 161H Introduction to Asian Humanities (3 cr.)

Offered autumn. Coreq., LS 151L or consent of instr. Selective survey of classical South and East Asian perspectives on the humanities as introduced in LS 151L. Hinduism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism are the primary traditions considered. Previously LS 161H.

U CHIN/JPN 201 and 202 (10 cr.)

Intermediate Chinese/Japanese I and II

U SSEA/RLST 232 H (RELS 232H) Buddhism (3 cr.)

Offered autumn. A historical introduction to the development of Buddhist thought and practice in the cultures of Asia and the West.

U RLST 233 (RELS 233) Traditions of Buddhist Meditation (3 cr.)

Offered autumn. Prereq. or coreq., RLST 232 H (RELS 232H). A critical and phenomenological introduction to meditation as the Buddhist method of systematic inquiry into the nature of the mind and its role in the construction of experience.

U RLST 236 (RELS 236) Chinese Religions (3 cr.)

An exploration of the development of thought and practice in and the interactions between the major religious movements of Chinese religion: Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, and fold religion/animism.

U RLST 238 (RELS 238) Japanese Religions (3 cr.)

Offered at least once every two years. An introductory exploration of Japan's unique religious synthesis of Buddhist, Shinto, Taoist, Confucian, and folk/shamanistic traditions.

U 195 and 295 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-6)

Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of instructor. Experimental offerings of new courses or one-time offerings of current topics.

UG JPNS 306 Japanese for Business and Tourism (3 cr.)

Prereq., JPNS 202 or equiv. Offered intermittently. Vocabulary and idiom of oral and written communication in business and tourism. Professional, ethical practices and special etiquette.

UG JPNS 311/MCLG 311L Classical Japanese Literature in English Translation (3 cr.)

Same as MCLG 311. Introduction to the classical literature of the Japanese court, ca. 7th to 14th century. Kojiki, Man'yoshu, Kokinshu, Genji Monogatari, and other major classics of the period.

UG JPNS 312 Japanese Literature Medieval to Modern Times (English Translation) (3 cr.)

Offered spring alternate years. Same as MCLG 312. Introduction to the literature of Japan from the 15th to the 20th century.

U CHIN 313L Classical Chinese Poetry in English Translation (3 cr.)

Offered intermittently. Same as AS, CHIN, and LS 313L. The works of major Chinese poets to 1300 A.D.

U CHIN 314L Traditional Chinese Literature in English Translation (3 cr.)

Offered intermittently. Same as AS, CHIN, and LS 314L. Highlights of Chinese literature to 1800; includes philosophy, poetry, prose, and fiction.

U PSCI 328 Politics of China (3 cr.)

After a brief look at historical forces shaping governance in China, this course gives special focus to the continuities and changes in Chinese Communist Party rule during the Maoist and current reform period.

U PSCI 324 Sustainable Climate Policies: China and the USA, (3 cr.)

Same as CCS 324. Prereq., CCS 203 or consent of instructor, not open to freshmen or sophomores. Explores historic, current, and future greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions of the United States and China, reasons why both are the two largest CO2 emitters, and prevailing national and subnational government policies and nongovernmental actions that affect emissions mitigation and adaptation.

U HSTR 343 (HIST 381H) Modern Japan (3 cr.)

Offered spring. A survey that focuses on Japan’s transformation from a feudal Shogunate to a modern state during the Meiji Restoration and subsequent Taisho period, including an examination of the political forces and social strains that led to Japan’s involvement in World War II.

U RLST 354 (RELS 354) Topics in East Asian Religions 3 cr. (R-6)

Offered at least once every three semesters, no prerequisites. This course will examine select topics of central importance with respect to the history of interaction between the major religions (Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, and folk animism and shamanism) of East Asia.

UG RLST 360 (RELS 360) Classics of Buddhist Literature 3 cr. (R-6)

Offered spring. Close reading of a selection of core Buddhist texts drawn from various Asian cultures and spanning the three main phases of the tradition.

U RLST 367 (RELS 367) Approaches to the Study of Zen Buddhism (3 cr.)

Offered at least once every two years; no prerequisites. An exploration of both key developments in the history of Zen Buddhist thought and practice and the variety of ways that Zen has been studied by Western popular and academic cultures.

U RLST 369 (RELS 369) Contemplative Tradition of Asia (3 cr.)

Offered at least once every two years. An exploration of the rich and diverse approaches to mental transformation and cultivation of gnosis as developed by several of Asia's major religious traditions, such as Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism, Taoism, and Confucianism.

U HSTR 345H (HIST 331H) Modern China (3 cr.)

Offered autumn. Survey of China’s 19th century efforts to confront internal rebellions and the threat of the West and the ensuing, tortured reform period. Includes an examination the Revolution of 1911, the rise of Chinese nationalism and the competition between the Nationalists and Communists. Previously HSTR 380.

U JPNS 371, Japanese Film and Anime (3 cr.)

U CHIN 380 Chinese Folktales (3 cr.)

Same as LS 311. Offered intermittently. The study of the aspirations, desires, loves, moral and aesthetic values of the Chinese people as expressed in their folk literature.

U 391 (395) Special Topics Variable cr. (R–12)

Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one–time offerings of current topics. Includes course currently taught on East Asian Civilizations, and a course on Japanese Samurai & Geisha in the Spring.

UG JPNS 386 History of the Japanese Language (3 cr.)

Offered intermittently. Prereq., JPNS 202. Overview of Japanese language history from earliest times to the modern day. Topics include the development of writing systems, changes in phonology, and issues concerning orthography and lexicon.

U 390 Supervised Internship (1–12 cr.)

Offered intermittently. Paid work experience in Japan, combined with language/culture course work by correspondence directed by UM department staff.

U 393 Omnibus Variable cr. (R-10)

Offered intermittently. University omnibus option for independent work. See index.

U 398 Internship Variable cr.

Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of department. Extended classroom experience which provides practical application of classroom learning during placements off campus. Prior approval must be obtained from the faculty supervisor and the Internship Services office. A maximum of 6 credits of Internship (198, 298, 398, 498) may count toward graduation.

U CHIN 301/302 3 cr Advanced Chinese

U JPN 301/302 4 cr Advanced Japanese

UG PSCI 330/430 Security Environment in East Asia (3 cr.)

An examination of the security environment during the Cold War and the fundamental changes spawned by China’s emergence in the Asian Pacific. Includes both thematic approach and an examination of key contemporary “hot spots” in the region.

UG JPNS 411 Modern Japanese Writers and Thinkers 3 cr. (R–6)

Offered autumn or spring. Prereq., JPNS 302. Introduction to the important writers, thinkers, and poets of the 19th and 20th centuries. Readings include a wide range of topics in the humanities, including philosophy, history, sociology, and the arts.

UG JPNS 412 Introduction to Classical Japanese (3 cr.)

Offered spring. Prereq., JPNS 302. Introduction to the language of the Japanese court, ca. 7th to 14th century. Essential features of grammar, sentence structure, vocabulary, and orthography.

UG JPNS 431L Postwar Japanese Literature (3 cr.)

Offered spring. Same as MCLG 431L. Introduction to issues, literature, and criticism of Japanese literature from the end of World War II (1945) through the contemporary period, using texts in English translation.

UG JPNS 415 Advanced Japanese for Professionals (3 cr.)

Offered spring even–numbered years. Prereq., JPNS 302. A high–level professional language course covering all coordinated reading, writing, and speaking skills. Intended for majors hoping to enter the Japanese job market and prepare for professional testing in Japan.

UG PSCI 422/HSTR 449 Revolution and Reform in China (3 cr.)

 Introduction to the history and politics of China since 1800. We will work through major debates in the field and contrast social-scientific and historical approaches to social and political history. Major themes include the gradual emergence of the modern Chinese state from the Qing empire, shifting concepts of nation and modernity, the status of women, and the causes of mass violence.

UG HSTR 448 Tradition and Reform in China (3 cr.)

Prereq., junior/senior or consent of instructor. Detailed discussion of the epochal changes that swept China between the mid-19th and the mid-20th century. After an initial discussion of some broad Chinese historical trends, focus will be on 19th century, when China’s last dynasty tried unsuccessfully to come to terms with massive economic dislocations, two great rebellions, and the entry of the west. Class will then turn to the vital 20th century reform movements that eventually spawned the Maoist revolution. Previously HSTR 432.

UG 495 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-9)

Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors—including Visitors from China and Vietnam brought in annually by the Mansfield Center-- experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

UG 491 (495) Special Topics 1–9 cr. (R–9)

Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one–time offerings of current topics.

UG 495: The East Asian Strategic Environment (3 cr.)

Examination of the complex strategic situation in contemporary times, including the nature and impact of the threat posed by North Korea, China’s rapidly changing military and strategic capabilities and intentions, and how Japan and Taiwan are calibrating their approaches in light of their perceptions of these forces.