ASIAN AND ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES

Major in Asian and Asian American Studies

The department offers a major in Asian and Asian American Studies organized along four different tracks. Students wishing to major in Asian and Asian American Studies must choose from one of the following:

Asian American and Diaspora Studies, with particular focus on the social, cultural, and historical aspects of Asians in the U.S. and, more broadly, Asians in the Americas.
Asian Comparative, with particular focus on comparative studies of Asia that encompass two or more Asian countries.
Asian Specialization, with particular focus on the language, culture, and historical aspects of one of the following East Asian areas: Chinese, Japanese or Korean. (Note: This track will no longer be available beginning in the fall of 2011).
South Asia, with particular focus on the study of the diverse cultures, peoples and regions of South Asia.

All four tracks of the major consist of 11 courses and mandate the following:

At least six courses must be at the 300 or 400 level.
At least six courses must be taken at Binghamton University.
No more than one course may be an independent study.
No more than one course may be taken Pass/Fail.
Although the department considers D a passing grade, a grade of C or better is necessary for a course to count toward the major.

All majors, regardless of track, must fulfill three common core course requirements:

One of the following core Asian American and Diaspora Studies courses: AAAS 220 (Asian American Cultural Representations), 267 (Asian American History), or 371 (Asian Americas).
One of the following core Asian Studies Regional/Continental courses: AAAS 104 (Introduction to Asian Art and Architecture), 105 (Introduction to Asian Philosophy), 106 (Introduction to Asian Civilizations), or 135 (Introduction to the Cultures of China, Japan, and Korea).
AAAS 496 (Majors Seminar).

In addition, students must complete courses required by the particular track they choose, as well as Asian and Asian American Studies elective courses.

Asian American and Diaspora Studies Track

In addition to the three common core courses, students must complete four courses designated as Asian American and Diaspora Studies, meaning courses on the Asian diaspora, including Asians in the United States and the Americas. The list of these courses changes semester to semester and may include the following examples: AAAS 220 (Asian American Cultural Representation), 221 (Korea Beyond the Peninsula), 280E (Asian American History), 320 (Asian Food, Culture, Politics) and 371 (Asian Americas).

Students must also complete four additional elective courses. These courses may be from either Asian Studies or Asian American and Diaspora Studies, and may include language courses.

Asian Comparative Track

In addition to the three common core courses, students must complete four courses designated as Asian Comparative, meaning courses that examine more than one Asian country. The list of these courses changes semester to semester and may include the following examples: AAAS 238 (Science and Technology in the Modern World), 259 (Eastern Asia: Land and People), 341 (China and the West), 375 (Negotiating Contemporary Asia), 414 (Economic Development: East Asia), 430 (War Crime Trials & Justice) and 473 (Imperialism in East Asia).

Students must also complete four additional elective courses. These courses may be from either Asian Studies or Asian American and Diaspora Studies, and may include language courses.

Asian Specialization Track

Please note: This track will no longer be available beginning in the fall of 2011. In addition to the three common core courses, students must complete two intermediate Chinese, Japanese or Korean language courses (203 and 204) or demonstrate language proficiency at the 204 level. If the language proficiency requirement is met without taking the intermediate language courses, additional electives must be taken to reach the 11-course requirement for the major.

Students must also complete four courses designated as Asian Specialization, meaning courses relating to the culture or society of their choice, specifically Chinese, Japanese or Korean. The list of these courses changes semester to semester and may include the following examples: AAAS 210 (Introduction to Japanese Culture), 211 (Korean Civilization), 218 (Structure of Korean), 219 (Structure of Japanese), 240 (Korean Literature and Culture, Pre 20th C), 241 (Classical Chinese Literature in Translation), 251 (Classical Japanese Literature and Culture), 271 (Japan to 1600), 273 (Chinese Civilization), 274 (Modern China), 313 (Religions and Cultures of Korea), 341 (China and the West), 350 (Modern Japanese Literature in Translation), 361 (Korea in the Age of Empire), 372 (20th Century Japan), 431 (Confucianism and Korea), 449 (Pedagogy of East Asian Languages: Korean), 472 (Chinese Women and the Family), CHIN 305 (Advanced Chinese I), CHIN 306 (Advanced Chinese II), JPN 305 (Advanced Reading and Comprehension I), JPN 306 (Advanced Reading and Comprehension II), KOR 305 (Advanced Reading and Comprehension I) and KOR 306 (Advanced Reading and Comprehension II).

Students must also complete four additional elective courses. These courses may be from either Asian Studies or Asian American and Diaspora Studies, and may include language courses.

South Asia Track

In addition to the three common core courses, students must complete four courses designated as South Asia, meaning courses on (but not limited to) Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Tibet. The list of these courses changes semester to semester and may include the following examples: AAAS 111 (Music Cultures of Asia), 277 (Modern South Asian History), 336 (Buddhist Metaphysics) and 344 (Buddhist Ethics).

Students must complete four additional elective courses. These courses may be from either Asian Studies or Asian American and Diaspora Studies, and may include language courses.

Minor in Asian and Asian American Studies

The minor in Asian and Asian American Studies allows students to supplement their major through participation in a cross-disciplinary program. The requirements include a total of six courses in Asian and Asian American Studies, from which:

At least two courses must at the 100 or 200 level.
At least two courses must be at the 300 or 400 level.
At least one course must be at the 400 level.
At least one course must be considered Asian Studies.
At least one course must be considered Asian American and Diaspora Studies.
Up to two Asian language courses may be applied toward the minor.

In addition:

Only one course may be taken as an independent study.
Only one course may be taken Pass/Fail.
At least four courses must be taken at Binghamton University.
Although the department considers D as a passing grade, a grade of C or better is necessary for a course to count toward the minor.