Provisional University Bulletin (2025-2026)

• Minor
• Major (BA)

The East Asian Studies Program (EAS) is an interdisciplinary program that seeks to give the student broad yet intimate knowledge of East Asian civilization. It can be taken either as a major or a minor.  A core element of the program is the requirement of an East Asian language, providing the basis for postgraduate study or careers relating to East Asia.

East Asian Studies promotes in-depth knowledge about the traditions, cultures, and contemporary societies of a diverse and dynamic region that plays an ever more prominent role on the global stage. The Major focuses particular attention on China and Japan, but Southeast Asia and Korea are also part of the Major’s coverage. Students are exposed to a wide range of disciplinary approaches to the study of East Asia, including Anthropology, Art History, Economics, History, Language and Literature, Philosophy, Politics, Religion, and Music History. Besides being interdisciplinary, EAS emphasizes a broad temporal scope, cultivating interests from ancient times to the present. Students completing the major are expected to become conversant about a wide range of topics related to East Asia and to attain basic competence in at least one East Asian language.

As a regional studies program, EAS encourages participation in global learning, offering non-Eurocentric approaches to the Creative Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Through exposure to East Asia, students sharpen their critical skills regarding insights and the production of knowledge beyond Western traditions. The objects of inquiry include poetic styles, artistic techniques, intellectual trends, gender constructs, political orders, and economic systems. While understanding East Asia in its own context is a primary goal, the Major also seeks to comprehend the particularities of East Asia in relation to European and American ideas and influences where relevant. The goal is to develop dynamic and nuanced concepts about the role of East Asia in the world.

Through the ages, many parts of East Asia have had varied and extensive contact. By offering courses on different geographic sites and cultures, sometimes in a comparative or interactive context, EAS cultivates a deep appreciation for trans-Asiatic and intra-Asiatic forms of knowledge and action. Cooperation, conflicts, and interdependencies are vital parts of the study of significant historical and evolving developments across the region.

Core Skills

A student choosing the EAS major is expected to achieve the following skills:

1. Master the terminology and methodology of the component disciplines,
2. Develop proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing at least one East Asian language,
3. Examine phenomena in specific historical, cultural, economic, and political contexts,
4. Use primary and secondary sources to produce original arguments and analyses,
5. Think critically about visual, literary, and intellectual artifacts and documents,
6. Readily make connections from comparative and transcultural perspectives.

Knowledge

An EAS major is expected to acquire the following types of knowledge (encompassing the range of disciplines):

1. Broad understanding of traditional and contemporary East Asia from local, international, and comparative perspectives,
2. East Asian experiences in History, Economics, Politics, and Culture,
3. Robust appreciation of the contribution and relationship of East Asia to the world.

Social Awareness

A Major in EAS should:

1. Appreciate cultural and ethnic tolerance and inclusiveness,
2. Cultivate relations with peers and faculty who come from diverse backgrounds.

Upon Graduating

A Brandeis EAS major will be prepared to:

1. Pursue professions where knowledge of East Asian languages and culture is valuable (e.g. education, diplomacy, international finance and business, journalism, museology, and translation),
2. Embark upon graduate study in a number of academic disciplines,
3. Build bridges between American and East Asian communities or between communities within East Asia.

To enroll in the program, either as a major or a minor, students must bring the declaration form to the UAH or program administrator. A faculty advisor will be assigned then.

Matthew Fraleigh, Chair, Undergraduate Advising Head, and Study Abroad Liaison
(German, Russian, and Asian Languages and Literature)

Hisae Fujiwara
(German, Russian, and Asian Languages and Literature)

Eun-Jo Lee
(German, Russian, and Asian Languages and Literature)

Xiwen Lu
(German, Russian, and Asian Languages and Literature)

Yukimi Nakano
(German, Russian, and Asian Languages and Literature)

Pu Wang
(German, Russian, and Asian Languages and Literature)

Jian Wei
(German, Russian, and Asian Languages and Literature)

Aida Yuen Wong
(Fine Arts)

Wen Yu
(History)

Five courses are generally required to complete the EAS minor. All courses used to fulfill the EAS minor degree requirements must be passed with a C- or higher.

1. Core Course: HIST 80a (Introduction to East Asian Civilization) or HIST 80b (East Asia: Nineteenth Century to the Present China and Japan).
2. Language Requirement: at least up to CHIN 20b, JAPN 20b, or KOR 20b, or by exemption. Students with demonstrated language skills at the 20-level or are native speakers may be exempted from this requirement by application and/or exam.
   
   A Foreign Language Credit form is used to apply for EAS language requirement exemption in East Asian languages offered at Brandeis; but for East Asian languages not offered at Brandeis a Foreign Language Exemption Petition is needed. Exams may be necessary in either case.
3. Electives: Generally three EAS electives from no fewer than two different departments are needed to complete this requirement; however students who are exempted from the language requirement must complete four electives. East Asian language courses at the 20-level or higher which are not used toward fulfilling the language requirement may be used as electives for the minor degree; however, at least one elective must be an EAS non-language course taken outside the GRALL Department.
4. No more than two courses (one, if language exemption is earned) taken outside of Brandeis may be counted for the minor.
5. No course taken pass/fail may count toward the minor requirements.

Ten courses are generally required to complete the EAS major. At least six courses are required to be taken in residence at Brandeis and all courses used to fulfill the EAS major degree requirements must be passed with a C- or higher.

1. Core Course: HIST 80a (Introduction to East Asian Civilization) or HIST 80b (East Asia: Nineteenth Century to the Present China and Japan).
2. Language Requirement: at least up to CHIN 40b, JAPN 40b, or KOR 40b, or by exemption. Students with demonstrated language skills at the 40 level or are native speakers may be exempted from this requirement by application and/or exam.
   
   The procedures for applying for language exemption for the major are the same as those for the minor.
3. Electives: Three EAS electives one from each of the creative arts, humanities, and the social science courses (see course listing).
   
   For humanities courses that are languages, only courses above the 40-level may be counted toward fulfilling this specific elective requirement.
4. Generally five additional EAS electives are required; however students who are exempted from the language requirement must complete six electives. East Asian language courses (such as in a second EAS language area) at the 20-level or higher which are not used toward fulfilling the language requirement may be used as electives for the major degree; however, at least one elective must be an EAS non-language course taken outside the GRALL Department.
5. Foundational Literacies: As part of completing the East Asian Studies major, students must:
   • Fulfill the writing intensive requirement by successfully completing one of the following: Any EAS cross-listed course approved for WI.
   • Fulfill the oral communication requirement by successfully completing one of the following: Any EAS cross-listed course approved for OC.
   • Fulfill the digital literacy requirement by successfully completing: HIST 80a, or any EAS cross-listed course approved for DL.
6. No more than four (three, if language exempt is earned) courses taken outside of Brandeis may be counted for the major
7. No course taken pass/fail may count toward the major requirements.

Senior Thesis

Students intending to write a senior thesis are required to register for EAS 99d (or for a 99 course in an appropriate department) and to prepare a substantial thesis on a topic relating to East Asia. If completed successfully, the 99 can be counted as two of the five (six) EAS electives needed for the major.

EAS 98a Independent Study

Usually offered every year.

EAS 98b Independent Study

Yields half-course credit. Usually offered every year.

EAS 99d Senior Research

Seniors who are candidates for degrees with honors in East Asian studies must register for this course and, under the direction of a faculty member, prepare an honors thesis on a suitable topic. Usually offered every year.

EAS 120b Southeast Asian Literature in English
[ djw hum ]

Explores a range of Southeast Asian literary productions presented in English from the late nineteenth century to the present day. Materials include influential texts by Western observers (W. Somerset Maugham, Marguerite Duras) during the colonial period as well as major works by prominent postcolonial writers (Tash Aw, Eka Kurniawan, Mai Der Vang). We will consider the complex questions of colonialism, postcoloniality, twentieth-century wars, and regional identity formation under late capitalism through intersectional textual analysis. Usually offered every third year.

CHIN 10a Beginning Chinese I
[ dl ]

Four class hours per week.

Mandarin is taught in this intensive course, intended for students with no previous knowledge of Chinese. Class meets four days per week plus one section of individual conversation. It offers training in basic Chinese grammar, speaking, aural comprehension, reading and writing. Chinese characters, and the "pinyin" phonetic system as a tool for learning Chinese. Usually offered every fall.

CHIN 20b Continuing Chinese
[ dl ]

Prerequisite: CHIN 10a. Four class hours per week.

Continuation of CHIN 10a. Usually offered every spring.

HIST 80a Introduction to East Asian Civilization
[ djw dl hum nw ss ]

A selective introduction to the development of forms of thought, social and political institutions, and distinctive cultural contributions of China and Japan from early times to the beginning of the nineteenth century. Usually offered every year.

IGS 173a Asian Gangsters: Contemporary Crime Cinema
[ djw dl ss ]

Studies contemporary crime films to examine modern Asian society and politics. Drawing upon film theory, cultural studies, historical and sociological research, this class considers the world's largest media market to understand the continent's rapidly changing socio-political milieu. Usually offered every second year.

IGS 175a Digital Asia: Democracy in the Internet Age
[ djw dl nw oc ss ]

Analyzes the transformative potential of the internet as an agent of development and as a mechanism for disrupting social and political orders in Asia, home to the world's largest democracy and also the world's largest authoritarian regime. Usually offered every second year.

ANTH 122a Chinese Diaspora: Anthropological Perspectives
[ djw oc ss ]

Provides an anthropological perspective into understanding the global Chinese diaspora. It explores diasporic Chinese and their communities within a holistic framework that takes into consideration complex historical, economic, socio-political, and cultural contexts. Through the lens of the Chinese diaspora, the course is aimed at engaging with broader contemporary themes and debates including identity politics, race and ethnicity, gender, nationalism and transnationalism, colonialism, capitalism, and globalization. Usually offered every fourth year.

CHIN 40b Advanced Intermediate Chinese
[ fl hum oc ]

Prerequisite: CHIN 30a or equivalent. Four class hours per week.

Continuation of CHIN 30a. Usually offered every spring.

CHIN 100a Introduction to Chinese Literature
[ hum nw oc ]

Taught in English. No Chinese language capabilities required.

Introduces Chinese literature, focusing primarily on Chinese "classical" literary traditions and their metamorphosis in modern times. Usually offered every second year.

CHIN 105a Advanced Conversation and Composition I
[ fl hum oc wi ]

Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in CHIN 40b or the equivalent.

Designed for advanced students who wish to enhance and improve their skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing through listening and reading authentic or slightly modified materials, discussing and writing on various topics of Chinese society and culture. Usually offered every fall.

CHIN 105b Advanced Conversation and Composition II
[ fl hum oc wi ]

Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in CHIN 105a or the equivalent.

Designed for advanced students who wish to enhance and improve their speaking proficiency and writing skills. Speaking skills will be developed through guided conversation, discussion of texts and films, and oral presentation. Exercises and essays will be used to improve students' writing skills. Usually offered every spring.

CHIN 126a Advanced Conversational Chinese
[ fl hum oc ]

Prerequisite: CHIN 105b or equivalent.

For advanced students of Chinese, this course further develops their Chinese speaking proficiency in both information and formal styles. The course is conducted entirely in Chinese and is designed for students who want to improve their communicative ability in Chinese. Focuses on significant expansion of vocabularies, grammars, and genuine expressions used by Chinese in their daily life, as well as enhancing students' understanding of Chinese society and culture. Usually offered every year.

CHIN 165a Chinese for Life Science: Study of Traditional Chinese Medicinal Herbs with Contemporary Science
[ fl oc ]

Prerequisite: CHIN 105b or equivalent. Does not meet the requirement in the school of humanities.

Helps students increase Chinese proficiency in the fields of life science such biology, biochemistry, neuroscience, and medicine, especially the skills of reading life science papers in Chinese; and widens and deepens students' knowledge of life science by learning the most important discoveries of Chinese scientists in applying contemporary western science to the studies of traditional medicinal herbs. Although this course is not just limited to biology, neuroscience, or chemistry majors, good knowledge of life science will be essential to success. Usually offered every year.

FA 178b Seminar on Chinese Calligraphy and Practice
[ ca nw oc ]

Prerequisite: Some knowledge of reading Chinese. May not be taken for credit by students who took FA 191a in prior years.

Introduces the major scripts and canonical works of Chinese calligraphy. Besides studying historical developments, students gain hands-on experience with producing their own works. The class combines theory and practice to advance understanding of the aesthetic, critical language, and the functions of this enduring art. Usually offered every second year.

FA 197a Studies in Asian Art
[ ca nw oc ]

Topics may vary from year to year; the course may be repeated for credit with permission of the instructor. Usually offered every third year.

IGS 175a Digital Asia: Democracy in the Internet Age
[ djw dl nw oc ss ]

Analyzes the transformative potential of the internet as an agent of development and as a mechanism for disrupting social and political orders in Asia, home to the world's largest democracy and also the world's largest authoritarian regime. Usually offered every second year.

JAPN 40b Advanced Intermediate Japanese
[ fl hum oc ]

Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in JAPN 30a or the equivalent. Meets four days per week for a total of four class hours per week and one half-hour tutoring session per week.

Continuation of JAPN 30a. Further refining of a student's four language skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing Japanese through various classroom activities, workbook, audio, video, and writing essays. Usually offered every spring.

JAPN 105a Advanced Conversation and Composition I
[ fl hum oc wi ]

Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in JAPN 40b or the equivalent. Four class hours per week.

Continuation of JAPN 40b. For advanced students of Japanese who wish to enhance and improve their speaking proficiency as well as reading and writing skills. Students will develop their proficiency in reading and speaking through texts, films, videos and discussions on current issues on Japanese society. Various forms of writing will be assigned to improve students' writing skills. Usually offered every year.

JAPN 105b Advanced Conversation and Composition II
[ fl hum oc wi ]

Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in JAPN 105a or the equivalent. Four class hours per week.

Continuation of JAPN 105a. For advanced students of Japanese who wish to enhance and improve their speaking proficiency as well as reading and writing skills. Students will develop their proficiency in reading and speaking through texts, films, videos and discussions on current issues on Japanese society. Various forms of writing will be assigned to improve students' writing skills. Usually offered every year.

JAPN 120a Topics in Contemporary Japanese Culture and Society
[ fl hum nw oc wi ]

Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in JAPN 105b or the equivalent. May be repeated for credit.

Further enhances advanced students’ proficiency in four skills through discussion, reading, writing, presentation, and group work. Usually offered every fall.

JAPN 120b Readings in Modern Japanese Literature
[ fl hum nw oc wi ]

Prerequisite: JAPN 120a or the equivalent.

Students read, analyze, discuss, and write about Japanese short fiction by a wide range of modern and contemporary authors. Screening of film adaptations and television programs complement class discussion, which is conducted in Japanese. Usually offered every year.

JAPN 165a The Tale of Genji
[ hum nw oc ]

Often called "the world's first novel," The Tale of Genji has captivated readers with its narrative of love, rivalry, friendship, and loss for centuries. This class explores what has given the text its prominent place in Japanese and world literature. Usually offered every third year.

KOR 105a Advanced Conversation and Composition I
[ fl hum oc ]

A continuation of Korean 40b (Advanced Intermediate Korean). Students who did not take Korean 40b at Brandeis are required to take a placement test prior to enrollment.

Students further develop the range of communicative language skills with advanced-level reading exercises involving complicated grammar patterns and vocabulary. Majority of class conversations and discussions as well as compositions are connected with in/outside classroom readings. By the end of the semester, students will be able to read and write a variety of advanced-level Korean texts, demonstrate the ability to narrate and describe autobiographical topics, and speak and write on the topics of current events and community interest. Designed to further develop students’ Korean proficiency with the integration of aspects of culture such as films, literature (e.g., poems, novels), and formal presentations and compositions. Usually offered evert year.

POL 166a Japan's Grand Strategy
[ oc ss ]

An overview of modern and contemporary Japanese foreign policy and the strategy behind its engagement with the world. Surveys Japan’s foreign policies toward key countries and regions and covers topics such as security alliances, nationalism, economic interdependence, and international organizations. Usually offered every year.

CHIN 105a Advanced Conversation and Composition I
[ fl hum oc wi ]

Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in CHIN 40b or the equivalent.

Designed for advanced students who wish to enhance and improve their skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing through listening and reading authentic or slightly modified materials, discussing and writing on various topics of Chinese society and culture. Usually offered every fall.

CHIN 105b Advanced Conversation and Composition II
[ fl hum oc wi ]

Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in CHIN 105a or the equivalent.

Designed for advanced students who wish to enhance and improve their speaking proficiency and writing skills. Speaking skills will be developed through guided conversation, discussion of texts and films, and oral presentation. Exercises and essays will be used to improve students' writing skills. Usually offered every spring.

CHIN 106b Business Chinese and Culture
[ fl nw wi ]

Prerequisite: CHIN 40b or equivalent. Does not meet the requirement in the school of humanities.

An advanced Chinese course where students develop their language proficiency and cultural knowledge in professional settings such as the workplace. The course is conducted entirely in Chinese and is designed for students who want to sharpen their language skills and reach a higher level of proficiency in which they are able to read newspapers, magazines, or professional documents, as well as to improve their communicative ability and enhance their self-confidence in Chinese workplaces. Usually offered every second spring.

CHIN 120a Readings in Contemporary Chinese Literature: Advanced Chinese Language
[ fl hum wi ]

Prerequisite: CHIN 105a or equivalent.

For advanced students of Chinese, an introduction to contemporary Chinese short stories from the 1990s and later. Focuses on significant expansion of vocabulary and grammar, and on providing students an opportunity to develop and polish both oral and written skills through class discussion, presentations, and writing assignments. Usually offered every fall.

CHIN 120b Readings in Contemporary Chinese Literature: Advanced Chinese Language II
[ fl hum wi ]

Prerequisite: CHIN 120a or equivalent.

Continuation of CHIN 120a. Study of contemporary Chinese short stories from the 1990s and later. These stories not only represent new literary themes and linguistic expressions, but also reflect the modernization, commercialization, and urbanization that is transforming China. The course improves students' knowledge of the language, as well as enhancing their understanding of Chinese society and culture. Usually offered every spring.

HIST 183a Empire at the Margins: Borderlands in Late Imperial China
[ djw nw ss wi ]

Explores Ming and Qing China's frontiers with Japan, Korea, Inner Asia, Vietnam, and the ocean from the fifteenth to nineteenth centuries, examining the role of borderlands in forging the present-day multiethnic Chinese state and East Asian national identities. Usually offered every third year.

HIST 184a Silk, Silver, and Slaves: China and the Industrial Revolution
[ djw nw ss wi ]

Examines why industrial capitalism, which underpins the current world order, first developed in Western Europe rather than China. Comparative treatment of commercialization, material culture, cities, political economies, and contingencies on both ends of Eurasia in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Usually offered every second year.

HIST 184b Swashbuckling Adventurers or Sea Bandits? The Chinese Pirate in Global Perspective
[ nw ss wi ]

Explores the commercial role, political economy, social structure, and national imaginations of the Chinese pirate situated in both world history and in comparison to "piracies" elsewhere. Usually offered every third year.

HIST 185a The China Outside China: Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Diaspora in the Making of Modern China
[ djw nw ss wi ]

Studies the history of Chinese outside Mainland China, from Hong Kong and Taiwan to Siberia and Africa, from fifteenth century to present day. Ambivalence to ancestral and adopted homelands made these communities valuable agents of transnational exchange and embodiments of Chinese modernity. Usually offered every third year.

HIST 187a Frenemy States: Identity and Integration in East Asia
[ ss wi ]

Examines the emergence and development of distinct national identities in East Asia. We focus upon key transformative moments and events in the histories of China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam from the dawn of time to the early twentieth century. Usually offered every third year.

JAPN 105a Advanced Conversation and Composition I
[ fl hum oc wi ]

Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in JAPN 40b or the equivalent. Four class hours per week.

Continuation of JAPN 40b. For advanced students of Japanese who wish to enhance and improve their speaking proficiency as well as reading and writing skills. Students will develop their proficiency in reading and speaking through texts, films, videos and discussions on current issues on Japanese society. Various forms of writing will be assigned to improve students' writing skills. Usually offered every year.

JAPN 105b Advanced Conversation and Composition II
[ fl hum oc wi ]

Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in JAPN 105a or the equivalent. Four class hours per week.

Continuation of JAPN 105a. For advanced students of Japanese who wish to enhance and improve their speaking proficiency as well as reading and writing skills. Students will develop their proficiency in reading and speaking through texts, films, videos and discussions on current issues on Japanese society. Various forms of writing will be assigned to improve students' writing skills. Usually offered every year.

JAPN 120a Topics in Contemporary Japanese Culture and Society
[ fl hum nw oc wi ]

Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in JAPN 105b or the equivalent. May be repeated for credit.

Further enhances advanced students’ proficiency in four skills through discussion, reading, writing, presentation, and group work. Usually offered every fall.

JAPN 120b Readings in Modern Japanese Literature
[ fl hum nw oc wi ]

Prerequisite: JAPN 120a or the equivalent.

Students read, analyze, discuss, and write about Japanese short fiction by a wide range of modern and contemporary authors. Screening of film adaptations and television programs complement class discussion, which is conducted in Japanese. Usually offered every year.

HIST 80a Introduction to East Asian Civilization
[ djw dl hum nw ss ]

A selective introduction to the development of forms of thought, social and political institutions, and distinctive cultural contributions of China and Japan from early times to the beginning of the nineteenth century. Usually offered every year.

HIST 80b East Asia in the Modern World
[ hum nw ss ]

Surveys East Asian history from the 1600 to the present. Compares Chinese, Korean, and Japanese encounters with forces of industrial capitalism, including colonialism, urbanization, and globalization, resulting in East Asia's distinctive cultural and social modernity. Usually offered every year.

CHIN 10a Beginning Chinese I
[ dl ]

Four class hours per week.

Mandarin is taught in this intensive course, intended for students with no previous knowledge of Chinese. Class meets four days per week plus one section of individual conversation. It offers training in basic Chinese grammar, speaking, aural comprehension, reading and writing. Chinese characters, and the "pinyin" phonetic system as a tool for learning Chinese. Usually offered every fall.

CHIN 20b Continuing Chinese
[ dl ]

Prerequisite: CHIN 10a. Four class hours per week.

Continuation of CHIN 10a. Usually offered every spring.

CHIN 29b Pathways for Chinese Literacy

For students who have significant bilingual background in Mandarin Chinese or a non-Mandarin dialect (e.g., Cantonese). Emphasizes reading and writing skills, but standard Mandarin pronunciation and grammatical structure are also stressed. Usually offered every spring.

CHIN 30a Intermediate Chinese
[ fl ]

Prerequisite: CHIN 20b or equivalent. Four class hours per week.

Development of skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, including the writing of short essays. Usually offered every fall.

CHIN 40b Advanced Intermediate Chinese
[ fl hum oc ]

Prerequisite: CHIN 30a or equivalent. Four class hours per week.

Continuation of CHIN 30a. Usually offered every spring.

JAPN 10a Beginning Japanese

Meets four days per week for a total of four class hours per week and one half-hour tutoring session per week.

Intended for students with little or no previous knowledge of Japanese. This course offers intensive training in the basics of Japanese grammar, listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Students acquire Japanese language proficiency through various interactive classroom activities, workbook, audio, video, and computer-assisted exercises. Usually offered every fall.

JAPN 20b Continuing Japanese

Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in JAPN 10a or the equivalent. Meets four days per week for a total of four class hours per week and one half-hour tutoring session per week.

Continuation of JAPN 10a. Further development of the basics of Japanese grammar, listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Students acquire Japanese language proficiency through various interactive classroom activities, workbook, audio, video, writing essays, and computer-assisted exercises. Usually offered every spring.

JAPN 30a Intermediate Japanese
[ fl ]

Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in JAPN 20b or the equivalent. Meets four days per week for a total of four class hours per week and one half-hour tutoring session per week.

Continuation of JAPN 20b. This course aims to further develop a student's four language skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing Japanese through various classroom activities, workbook, audio, video, and writing essays. Usually offered every fall.

JAPN 40b Advanced Intermediate Japanese
[ fl hum oc ]

Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in JAPN 30a or the equivalent. Meets four days per week for a total of four class hours per week and one half-hour tutoring session per week.

Continuation of JAPN 30a. Further refining of a student's four language skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing Japanese through various classroom activities, workbook, audio, video, and writing essays. Usually offered every spring.

KOR 10a Beginning Korean

Four class hours per week.

Intended for students with little or no previous knowledge of Korean. This course offers intensive training in basic Korean grammar, speaking, listening, reading and writing. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to communicate about everyday situations in simple Korean. Usually offered every fall.

KOR 20b Continuing Korean

Prerequisite: KOR 10a or the equivalent. Four class hours per week.

Continuation of KOR 10a. Further development of fundamental grammar, spoken and written language proficiency. By the end of the semester, students will be able to read and write short Korean paragraphs and conduct simple yet proper conversations about everyday situations. Usually offered every spring.

KOR 30a Intermediate Korean
[ fl ]

Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in KOR 20b or the equivalent. Four class hours per week.

Designed to further develop communicative language skills attained in the beginning level courses with intermediate-level reading and writing exercises involving more complicated grammar and vocabulary. Usually offered every fall.

KOR 40b Advanced Intermediate Korean
[ fl hum ]

Prerequisite: KOR 30a or permission of the instructor. Four class hours per week.

Continues the development of advanced-intermediate oral and literacy skills through formal presentations, discussion, and composition practices. A business Korean component will also be incorporated into the course to prepare students for job opportunities. Usually offered every spring.

KOR 105a Advanced Conversation and Composition I
[ fl hum oc ]

A continuation of Korean 40b (Advanced Intermediate Korean). Students who did not take Korean 40b at Brandeis are required to take a placement test prior to enrollment.

Students further develop the range of communicative language skills with advanced-level reading exercises involving complicated grammar patterns and vocabulary. Majority of class conversations and discussions as well as compositions are connected with in/outside classroom readings. By the end of the semester, students will be able to read and write a variety of advanced-level Korean texts, demonstrate the ability to narrate and describe autobiographical topics, and speak and write on the topics of current events and community interest. Designed to further develop students’ Korean proficiency with the integration of aspects of culture such as films, literature (e.g., poems, novels), and formal presentations and compositions. Usually offered evert year.

FA 34a History of Asian Art
[ ca nw ]

A selective survey of the art of the three major Asian areas: India, China, and Japan. Usually offered every second year.

FA 71b The Art of Japan
[ ca nw ]

A survey of Japanese art from antiquity to the modern period. Usually offered every second year.

FA 72b Introduction to Korean Art
[ ca nw ]

Surveys Korean and Korean American art, focusing on later historical periods from the Joseon dynasty to the present. We will examine art and social systems, material culture, and shifting artistic identities in the country’s transition to modernity. The latter part of the course will focus on modern and contemporary art of Korea as well as the works of Korean American artists. Usually offered every fourth year.

FA 171b Buddhist Art
[ ca nw ]

Surveys Buddhist art and architecture in different parts of the world. Primarily, religious buildings, artworks, and monuments from South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia will be examined within their historical, cultural, and social contexts. Usually offered every fourth year.

FA 176a Fashion History of China
[ ca ]

Examines the evolution of garments, ornaments, accessories, shoes, and other bodily adornments in China through the lens of art history. Ancient murals, tomb figurines, and representations in painting will be the primary materials of investigation. Students learn about the importance of dress and fashion (and their visual representations) in shaping identities through the ages. Usually offered every third year.

FA 177b French Connection in Modern East Asian Art
[ ca djw ]

Examines the encounter of East Asian artists with France, Paris in particular, since the late nineteenth century. It deals with a range of artistic expressions, focusing on painting, but also covering fashion design, architecture, and conceptual art. Usually offered every second year.

FA 178b Seminar on Chinese Calligraphy and Practice
[ ca nw oc ]

Prerequisite: Some knowledge of reading Chinese. May not be taken for credit by students who took FA 191a in prior years.

Introduces the major scripts and canonical works of Chinese calligraphy. Besides studying historical developments, students gain hands-on experience with producing their own works. The class combines theory and practice to advance understanding of the aesthetic, critical language, and the functions of this enduring art. Usually offered every second year.

FA 197a Studies in Asian Art
[ ca nw oc ]

Topics may vary from year to year; the course may be repeated for credit with permission of the instructor. Usually offered every third year.

THA 122b Butoh: Japanese Dance Theater
[ ca djw hwl2 pe-1 ]

Butoh began in 1960s Japan as a new dance-theater form created by collaborations between Tatsumi Hijikata and Kazuo Ohno and has since become a global phenomenon. This course draws from Butoh training through guided imagery, movement, and structured improvisation. The exercises pull from nature, the mythical, and the unconscious as sources of inspiration. As well as studying the practice of Butoh, students will also learn about the art form's cultural, historical, and philosophical aspects. The course will be a mixture of movement and performance exercises as well as weekly readings and discussions. Students will develop an in-depth understanding of the Butoh through both an academic and embodied approach. Usually offered every year.

THA 130a Suzuki
[ ca hwl2 pe-1 ]

Counts as one activity course toward the physical education requirement.

Developed by the Japanese theater artist Tadashi Suzuki, the Suzuki method of acting training develops physical strength, stamina, and agility while engaging the imagination and will of the actor. Through a series of walks, statues, and marches, students are taught to breathe and move from the core of their bodies. This training allows students to act from physical impulse, resulting in a deep and personal experience of language and the world of play. Usually offered every second year.

CHIN 100a Introduction to Chinese Literature
[ hum nw oc ]

Taught in English. No Chinese language capabilities required.

Introduces Chinese literature, focusing primarily on Chinese "classical" literary traditions and their metamorphosis in modern times. Usually offered every second year.

CHIN 105a Advanced Conversation and Composition I
[ fl hum oc wi ]

Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in CHIN 40b or the equivalent.

Designed for advanced students who wish to enhance and improve their skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing through listening and reading authentic or slightly modified materials, discussing and writing on various topics of Chinese society and culture. Usually offered every fall.

CHIN 105b Advanced Conversation and Composition II
[ fl hum oc wi ]

Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in CHIN 105a or the equivalent.

Designed for advanced students who wish to enhance and improve their speaking proficiency and writing skills. Speaking skills will be developed through guided conversation, discussion of texts and films, and oral presentation. Exercises and essays will be used to improve students' writing skills. Usually offered every spring.

CHIN 106b Business Chinese and Culture
[ fl nw wi ]

Prerequisite: CHIN 40b or equivalent. Does not meet the requirement in the school of humanities.

An advanced Chinese course where students develop their language proficiency and cultural knowledge in professional settings such as the workplace. The course is conducted entirely in Chinese and is designed for students who want to sharpen their language skills and reach a higher level of proficiency in which they are able to read newspapers, magazines, or professional documents, as well as to improve their communicative ability and enhance their self-confidence in Chinese workplaces. Usually offered every second spring.

CHIN 120a Readings in Contemporary Chinese Literature: Advanced Chinese Language
[ fl hum wi ]

Prerequisite: CHIN 105a or equivalent.

For advanced students of Chinese, an introduction to contemporary Chinese short stories from the 1990s and later. Focuses on significant expansion of vocabulary and grammar, and on providing students an opportunity to develop and polish both oral and written skills through class discussion, presentations, and writing assignments. Usually offered every fall.

CHIN 120b Readings in Contemporary Chinese Literature: Advanced Chinese Language II
[ fl hum wi ]

Prerequisite: CHIN 120a or equivalent.

Continuation of CHIN 120a. Study of contemporary Chinese short stories from the 1990s and later. These stories not only represent new literary themes and linguistic expressions, but also reflect the modernization, commercialization, and urbanization that is transforming China. The course improves students' knowledge of the language, as well as enhancing their understanding of Chinese society and culture. Usually offered every spring.

CHIN 126a Advanced Conversational Chinese
[ fl hum oc ]

Prerequisite: CHIN 105b or equivalent.

For advanced students of Chinese, this course further develops their Chinese speaking proficiency in both information and formal styles. The course is conducted entirely in Chinese and is designed for students who want to improve their communicative ability in Chinese. Focuses on significant expansion of vocabularies, grammars, and genuine expressions used by Chinese in their daily life, as well as enhancing students' understanding of Chinese society and culture. Usually offered every year.

CHIN 130b China on Film: The Changes of Chinese Culture
[ hum nw ]

Taught in English. All films viewed have English subtitles.

Focuses on the enormous changes under way in Chinese society, politics, and culture. Helps students to identify and understand these fundamental transformations through a representative, exciting selection of readings and films. Usually offered every second spring.

CHIN 136b Chinese Modernism in International Context
[ hum nw ]

Taught in English.

Examines the origins, recurrences, and metamorphosis of modernistic styles and movements in twentieth-century Chinese literature, film, fine art, and intellectual discourses. Usually offered every second year.

CHIN 140a Yin Yu Tang Documents, Decoding the Late Qing and Early Republic Writings (I)
[ fl hum nw ]

Prerequisites: CHIN 120a and 120b, or proficiency of a native Chinese speaker with advanced reading and writing skills.

Teaches fundamental skills to decode the late Qing and early Republic writings in print or in hand-writing by recognizing and translating the Yin Yu Tang documents. Students of this course will also gain knowledge of Chinese society and culture of this period. Usually offered every year.

CHIN 165a Chinese for Life Science: Study of Traditional Chinese Medicinal Herbs with Contemporary Science
[ fl oc ]

Prerequisite: CHIN 105b or equivalent. Does not meet the requirement in the school of humanities.

Helps students increase Chinese proficiency in the fields of life science such biology, biochemistry, neuroscience, and medicine, especially the skills of reading life science papers in Chinese; and widens and deepens students' knowledge of life science by learning the most important discoveries of Chinese scientists in applying contemporary western science to the studies of traditional medicinal herbs. Although this course is not just limited to biology, neuroscience, or chemistry majors, good knowledge of life science will be essential to success. Usually offered every year.

COML 114a World Literature and the Chinese Revolution
[ hum ]

Explores the mutual formation of World Literature as aesthetic-political commons and the Chinese Revolution as a long cultural revolution in the twentieth century. All Chinese, German, French, Russian, Japanese, and Spanish texts will be read in English translation.

COML 146b Classical East Asian Poetics
[ hum nw ]

An introduction to the classical poetic forms of China, Japan, and Korea. Special consideration is paid to issues of canonization, classical theories of literature, and the development of multilingual literary traditions. All readings are in English. Usually offered every third year.

EAS 120b Southeast Asian Literature in English
[ djw hum ]

Explores a range of Southeast Asian literary productions presented in English from the late nineteenth century to the present day. Materials include influential texts by Western observers (W. Somerset Maugham, Marguerite Duras) during the colonial period as well as major works by prominent postcolonial writers (Tash Aw, Eka Kurniawan, Mai Der Vang). We will consider the complex questions of colonialism, postcoloniality, twentieth-century wars, and regional identity formation under late capitalism through intersectional textual analysis. Usually offered every third year.

JAPN 105a Advanced Conversation and Composition I
[ fl hum oc wi ]

Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in JAPN 40b or the equivalent. Four class hours per week.

Continuation of JAPN 40b. For advanced students of Japanese who wish to enhance and improve their speaking proficiency as well as reading and writing skills. Students will develop their proficiency in reading and speaking through texts, films, videos and discussions on current issues on Japanese society. Various forms of writing will be assigned to improve students' writing skills. Usually offered every year.

JAPN 105b Advanced Conversation and Composition II
[ fl hum oc wi ]

Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in JAPN 105a or the equivalent. Four class hours per week.

Continuation of JAPN 105a. For advanced students of Japanese who wish to enhance and improve their speaking proficiency as well as reading and writing skills. Students will develop their proficiency in reading and speaking through texts, films, videos and discussions on current issues on Japanese society. Various forms of writing will be assigned to improve students' writing skills. Usually offered every year.

JAPN 120a Topics in Contemporary Japanese Culture and Society
[ fl hum nw oc wi ]

Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in JAPN 105b or the equivalent. May be repeated for credit.

Further enhances advanced students’ proficiency in four skills through discussion, reading, writing, presentation, and group work. Usually offered every fall.

JAPN 120b Readings in Modern Japanese Literature
[ fl hum nw oc wi ]

Prerequisite: JAPN 120a or the equivalent.

Students read, analyze, discuss, and write about Japanese short fiction by a wide range of modern and contemporary authors. Screening of film adaptations and television programs complement class discussion, which is conducted in Japanese. Usually offered every year.

JAPN 125b Putting Away Childish Things: Coming of Age in Modern Japanese Literature and Film
[ hum nw ]

Explores the ways in which modern Japanese writers and filmmakers have represented childhood, youth, and coming of age. A variety of short stories, novels, and memoirs from the 1890s to the present day are read, and several recent films are also screened. Usually offered every third year.

JAPN 130a The Literature of Multicultural Japan
[ djw hum nw ]

"Multicultural" may not be an adjective that many associate with Japan, but as we will find in this class, Japan's modern literary and cinematic tradition is rich with works by and about resident Koreans, Ainu, Okinawans, outcasts, and sexual and other marginalized minorities. Why then does the image of a monocultural Japan remain so resilient? Usually offered every third year.

JAPN 135a Screening National Images: Japanese Film and Anime in Global Context
[ hum nw ]

All films and readings are in English.

An introduction to some major directors and works of postwar Japanese film and anime with special attention to such issues as genre, medium, adaptation, narrative, and the circulation of national images in the global setting. Usually offered every third year.

JAPN 140a The World of Early Modern Japanese Literature
[ hum nw ]

A survey of the most celebrated works of literature from Japan's early modern period (1600-1868). Explores a wide range of genres, including fiction, travelogues, memoirs, dramatic forms such as the puppet theater and kabuki, as well as poetry in Japanese and Chinese. All readings are available in English translation; Japanese knowledge is not required. Usually offered every third year.

JAPN 145a The World of Classical Japanese Literature
[ djw hum nw ]

A survey of some of the most important works of Japanese literature from its origins to the late sixteenth century, including a wide range of genres: fiction, essays, travelogues, poetry, and drama. All readings are in English. Usually offered every third year.

JAPN 165a The Tale of Genji
[ hum nw oc ]

Often called "the world's first novel," The Tale of Genji has captivated readers with its narrative of love, rivalry, friendship, and loss for centuries. This class explores what has given the text its prominent place in Japanese and world literature. Usually offered every third year.

KOR 102b Advanced Korean Through Culture
[ fl hum ]

Prerequisite: KOR 30a.

Korean culture is becoming an increasingly popular area of study among college students in the U.S. because of its growing cultural, economic, and political importance. This course is designed to fulfill the students’ needs to explore Korean culture within today’s global climate, all the while further advancing their language skills. Lectures, readings, discussion, and films will prompt students to develop a growing awareness of Korean history, art, music, and food culture. Usually offered every year.

KOR 105a Advanced Conversation and Composition I
[ fl hum oc ]

A continuation of Korean 40b (Advanced Intermediate Korean). Students who did not take Korean 40b at Brandeis are required to take a placement test prior to enrollment.

Students further develop the range of communicative language skills with advanced-level reading exercises involving complicated grammar patterns and vocabulary. Majority of class conversations and discussions as well as compositions are connected with in/outside classroom readings. By the end of the semester, students will be able to read and write a variety of advanced-level Korean texts, demonstrate the ability to narrate and describe autobiographical topics, and speak and write on the topics of current events and community interest. Designed to further develop students’ Korean proficiency with the integration of aspects of culture such as films, literature (e.g., poems, novels), and formal presentations and compositions. Usually offered evert year.

REL 151a Introduction to Buddhism: Mind and Meditation
[ hum nw ]

Explores Buddhist teachings starting from the life of the Buddha and into the present day. Examines practical Buddhist methods for achieving transformation, inner freedom, and joy, and considers how different Buddhist traditions respond to the challenges of today’s world. Usually offered every year.

ANTH 122a Chinese Diaspora: Anthropological Perspectives
[ djw oc ss ]

Provides an anthropological perspective into understanding the global Chinese diaspora. It explores diasporic Chinese and their communities within a holistic framework that takes into consideration complex historical, economic, socio-political, and cultural contexts. Through the lens of the Chinese diaspora, the course is aimed at engaging with broader contemporary themes and debates including identity politics, race and ethnicity, gender, nationalism and transnationalism, colonialism, capitalism, and globalization. Usually offered every fourth year.

ANTH 178b Culture, Gender and Power in East Asia
[ nw ss wi ]

Examines the role of culture in changing gender power relations in East Asia by exploring how the historical legacy of Confucianism in the region influences the impact of changes such as the constitutional proclamation of gender equality and rapid industrialization. Usually offered every third year.

ECON 30a The Economy of China
[ nw ss ]

Prerequisite: ECON 2a or ECON 10a.

Analysis of China's economic transformation with particular emphasis on China's economic reforms since 1978, including the restructuring of its enterprise, fiscal, financial, and political systems and the roles of trade, foreign investment, and technology in driving China's economic advance. Usually offered every year.

HIST 127a Women and Gender in Modern China
[ ss ]

HIST 183a Empire at the Margins: Borderlands in Late Imperial China
[ djw nw ss wi ]

Explores Ming and Qing China's frontiers with Japan, Korea, Inner Asia, Vietnam, and the ocean from the fifteenth to nineteenth centuries, examining the role of borderlands in forging the present-day multiethnic Chinese state and East Asian national identities. Usually offered every third year.

HIST 184a Silk, Silver, and Slaves: China and the Industrial Revolution
[ djw nw ss wi ]

Examines why industrial capitalism, which underpins the current world order, first developed in Western Europe rather than China. Comparative treatment of commercialization, material culture, cities, political economies, and contingencies on both ends of Eurasia in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Usually offered every second year.

HIST 184b Swashbuckling Adventurers or Sea Bandits? The Chinese Pirate in Global Perspective
[ nw ss wi ]

Explores the commercial role, political economy, social structure, and national imaginations of the Chinese pirate situated in both world history and in comparison to "piracies" elsewhere. Usually offered every third year.

HIST 185a The China Outside China: Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Diaspora in the Making of Modern China
[ djw nw ss wi ]

Studies the history of Chinese outside Mainland China, from Hong Kong and Taiwan to Siberia and Africa, from fifteenth century to present day. Ambivalence to ancestral and adopted homelands made these communities valuable agents of transnational exchange and embodiments of Chinese modernity. Usually offered every third year.

HIST 187a Frenemy States: Identity and Integration in East Asia
[ ss wi ]

Examines the emergence and development of distinct national identities in East Asia. We focus upon key transformative moments and events in the histories of China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam from the dawn of time to the early twentieth century. Usually offered every third year.

IGS 136b Contemporary Chinese Society and Culture
[ djw nw ss wi ]

Introduces students to contemporary Chinese society, with a focus on the rapid transformations that have taken place during the post-Mao era with a focus on family, gender, sexuality, migration, ethnicity, and family planning. Usually offered every third year.

IGS 138a China in the World
[ djw ss wi ]

This course examines China's role on the world stage. Looking at the history of China's interaction with the world, both at home and abroad, we will examine how China has affected, and been affected by, other societies and cultures. Usually offered every second year.

IGS 171a The Asian Wave: Global Pop Culture and its Histories
[ djw ss ]

Asia is not only remaking itself but also exporting images and ideas across the world. This course explores how Asian pop culture shapes global modernity, as countries project their values and aspirations to a global audience through increasing connectivity. Usually offered every second year.

IGS 173a Asian Gangsters: Contemporary Crime Cinema
[ djw dl ss ]

Studies contemporary crime films to examine modern Asian society and politics. Drawing upon film theory, cultural studies, historical and sociological research, this class considers the world's largest media market to understand the continent's rapidly changing socio-political milieu. Usually offered every second year.

IGS 175a Digital Asia: Democracy in the Internet Age
[ djw dl nw oc ss ]

Analyzes the transformative potential of the internet as an agent of development and as a mechanism for disrupting social and political orders in Asia, home to the world's largest democracy and also the world's largest authoritarian regime. Usually offered every second year.

CHIN 98a Independent Study

Prerequisite: CHIN 40b or equivalent.

Usually offered every year.

CHIN 98b Independent Study

Prerequisite: CHIN 40b or equivalent. Yields half-course credit.

Usually offered every year.

CHIN 201a Chinese Pedagogy I

Required of all MCLC students.

Equips students with the most advanced and updated skills in teaching modern Chinese with an emphasis on beginning and intermediate levels. This course covers a great range of topics to ensure efficient and successful instruction. Usually offered every year.

CHIN 202b Chinese Pedagogy II

Prerequisite: CHIN 201a. Required of all MCLC students.

Continuation of CHIN 201a. Emphasizes the instruction of advanced Chinese. Two important sets of theories and practice will be introduced and discussed, the Four Subsystem Theory and Prosodic Theory. Task-based teaching on an advanced level, contents-centered textbook, and correction of advanced composition will also be discussed. Usually offered every year.

HIST 138b History of Korea and Japan Relations
[ ss ]

Explores Japan and Korea’s troubled yet intimately connected histories from the earliest times to the present. Delving into the often overlooked yet indispensable connections between the Japanese archipelago and the Korean peninsula, this course will also situate the multinational history of Korea-Japan relations within the broader currents of world history by also examining how they have responded to the challenges and opportunities coming from abroad. Usually offered every year.

HIST 182b Modern China
[ djw nw ss ]

Surveys Chinese history from the Ming to Mao, with an emphasis on political, social, cultural, and literary trends; and attention toward ethnic minorities and overseas communities and diaspora. Usually offered every year.

HIST 183a Empire at the Margins: Borderlands in Late Imperial China
[ djw nw ss wi ]

Explores Ming and Qing China's frontiers with Japan, Korea, Inner Asia, Vietnam, and the ocean from the fifteenth to nineteenth centuries, examining the role of borderlands in forging the present-day multiethnic Chinese state and East Asian national identities. Usually offered every third year.

HIST 184a Silk, Silver, and Slaves: China and the Industrial Revolution
[ djw nw ss wi ]

Examines why industrial capitalism, which underpins the current world order, first developed in Western Europe rather than China. Comparative treatment of commercialization, material culture, cities, political economies, and contingencies on both ends of Eurasia in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Usually offered every second year.

HIST 184b Swashbuckling Adventurers or Sea Bandits? The Chinese Pirate in Global Perspective
[ nw ss wi ]

Explores the commercial role, political economy, social structure, and national imaginations of the Chinese pirate situated in both world history and in comparison to "piracies" elsewhere. Usually offered every third year.

HIST 185a The China Outside China: Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Diaspora in the Making of Modern China
[ djw nw ss wi ]

Studies the history of Chinese outside Mainland China, from Hong Kong and Taiwan to Siberia and Africa, from fifteenth century to present day. Ambivalence to ancestral and adopted homelands made these communities valuable agents of transnational exchange and embodiments of Chinese modernity. Usually offered every third year.

IGS 173a Asian Gangsters: Contemporary Crime Cinema
[ djw dl ss ]

Studies contemporary crime films to examine modern Asian society and politics. Drawing upon film theory, cultural studies, historical and sociological research, this class considers the world's largest media market to understand the continent's rapidly changing socio-political milieu. Usually offered every second year.

JAPN 98a Independent Study

May be taken only with the permission of the Chair or the Undergraduate Advising Head.

Readings and reports under faculty supervision. Usually offered every year.

JAPN 98b Independent Study

Yields half-course credit. May be taken only with the permission of the Chair or the Undergraduate Advising Head.

Readings and reports under faculty supervision. Usually offered every year.

POL 166a Japan's Grand Strategy
[ oc ss ]

An overview of modern and contemporary Japanese foreign policy and the strategy behind its engagement with the world. Surveys Japan’s foreign policies toward key countries and regions and covers topics such as security alliances, nationalism, economic interdependence, and international organizations. Usually offered every year.