The East Asian Studies named option offers a multidisciplinary range of courses that explore the diverse and vibrant cultures, arts, histories, political systems, and literatures of China, Japan, Korea, and Tibet. Students in the East Asian option can study Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or Tibetan language and linguistics; and explore Chinese ghost stories and classical Chinese literature or poetry; Korean cinema and pop culture; classical Japanese fiction; early modern comedic narratives, manga, anime, and counterculture. ALC faculty and instructors offering courses in this option include C. D’Etcheverry, A. Detwyler, N. Geyer, R. Huntington, A. Kern, H. Kim, B. Lim, J. Mori, T. Nakakubo, S. Ridgely, H. Zhang, W. Zhu.
To take advantage of the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures’ many relationships with other departments and program units across campus, students may choose to double major or enhance their studies in ALC with one of the certificates offered at the university, such as the global health certificate, the certificate in health and the humanities, or those offered by the area studies centers: Center for East Asian Studies; Center for South Asia; and Center for Southeast Asian Studies.
This major is interdisciplinary and offers a wealth of options. Careful planning and consultation with the ALC advisor is especially important.
Requirements for the East Asian Option
32 credits to include the Introductory and Residence and Quality of Work requirements of the general major, plus these requirements specific to the East Asian Option:
Gateway Course
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Course: | ||
| ASIAN 100 | Gateway to Asia: Special Topics | 3-4 |
Required Language Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete Second Year East Asian Language Courses: | ||
| ASIALANG 201 & ASIALANG 202 | Third Semester Chinese and Fourth Semester Chinese | 8 |
| ASIALANG 203 & ASIALANG 204 | Third Semester Japanese and Fourth Semester Japanese | 8 |
| ASIALANG 205 & ASIALANG 206 | Third Semester Korean and Fourth Semester Korean | 8 |
East Asian Studies Course
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one course from the following options (at least 3 credits): | ||
| ASIAN 203 | Lost in Translation: Western Experience in Asia | 3 |
| ASIAN/RELIG ST 236 | Asia Enchanted: Ghosts, Gods, and Monsters | 3 |
| ASIAN/HISTORY/POLI SCI 255 | Introduction to East Asian Civilizations | 3-4 |
| ASIAN/HISTORY/RELIG ST 267 | Asian Religions in Global Perspective | 3-4 |
| ASIAN 433 | Topics in East Asian Visual Cultures | 3 |
| ART HIST 203 | Survey of Asian Art | 3-4 |
| ED POL 245 | Education in East Asia | 3 |
| HISTORY/INTL ST 332 | East Asia & The U.S. Since 1899 | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 328 | Politics of East and Southeast Asia | 3-4 |
Chinese Studies Course
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one course from the following options (at least 3 credits): | ||
| ASIAN/HISTORY 103 | Introduction to East Asian History: China | 3-4 |
| ASIAN/HISTORY 337 | Social and Intellectual History of China, 589 AD-1919 | 3-4 |
| ASIAN/HISTORY 341 | History of Modern China, 1800-1949 | 3-4 |
| ASIAN/HISTORY 342 | History of the Peoples Republic of China, 1949 to the Present | 3-4 |
| ASIAN/RELIG ST 350 | Introduction to Taoism | 3-4 |
| ASIAN 351 | Survey of Classical Chinese Literature | 3 |
| ASIAN 352 | Survey of Modern Chinese Literature | 3 |
| ASIAN/HISTORY 363 | China and World War II in Asia | 3-4 |
| ASIAN 371 | Topics in Chinese Literature | 2-3 |
| ASIAN 375 | Survey of Chinese Film | 3 |
| ASIAN 432 | Introduction to Chinese Linguistics | 3 |
| ART HIST 307 | From Tomb to Temple: Ancient Chinese Art and Religion in Transition | 3 |
| ART HIST 308 | The Tastes of Scholars and Emperors: Chinese Art in the Later Periods | 3 |
| HISTORY 145 | America and China, 1776-Today | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 336 | Chinese Economic and Business History: From Silk to iPhones | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/ASIAN 337 | Social and Intellectual History of China, 589 AD-1919 | 3-4 |
| LITTRANS 261 | Survey of Chinese Literature in Translation | 3 |
| LITTRANS 262 | 3 | |
| POLI SCI 324 | Chinese Politics | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 346 | China in World Politics | 3-4 |
| SOC 225 | Contemporary Chinese Society | 3 |
Japanese Studies Course
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one course from the following options (at least 3 credits): | ||
| ASIAN/HISTORY 104 | Introduction to East Asian History: Japan | 3-4 |
| ASIAN 253 | Japanese Popular Culture | 3 |
| ASIAN 277 | Kendo: Integration of Martial Arts and Liberal Arts | 2 |
| ASIAN 353 | Lovers, Warriors and Monks: Survey of Japanese Literature | 3 |
| ASIAN 354 | Early Modern Japanese Literature | 3 |
| ASIAN 355 | Modern Japanese Literature | 3 |
| ASIAN 357 | Japanese Ghost Stories | 3 |
| ASIAN 358 | Language in Japanese Society | 3 |
| ASIAN 361 | Love and Politics: The Tale of Genji | 3 |
| ASIAN 367 | Haiku | 3 |
| ASIAN 376 | Manga | 3 |
| ASIAN 378 | Anime | 3 |
| ASIAN 434 | Introduction to Japanese Linguistics | 3 |
| ASIAN/HISTORY 454 | Samurai: History and Image | 3-4 |
| ASIAN/HISTORY 456 | Pearl Harbor & Hiroshima: Japan, the US & The Crisis in Asia | 3-4 |
| ANTHRO 357 | Introduction to the Anthropology of Japan | 3-4 |
| ART HIST 475 | Japanese Ceramics and Allied Arts | 3 |
| ART HIST/RELIG ST 478 | Art and Religious Practice in Medieval Japan | 3 |
| LITTRANS 231 | Manga | 3 |
| LITTRANS 232 | Anime | 3 |
| LITTRANS 263 | Survey of Japanese Literature in Translation | 3 |
| LITTRANS 264 | Survey of Japanese Literature in Translation | 3 |
| LITTRANS 368 | Modern Japanese Fiction | 3 |
| LITTRANS 373 | Topics in Japanese Literature | 3 |
Korean Studies Course
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one course from the following options (at least 3 credits): | ||
| ASIAN/HISTORY 108 | Introduction to East Asian History - Korea | 3-4 |
| ASIAN/HISTORY 335 | The Koreas: Korean War to the 21st Century | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 340 | Cultural History of Korea | 3-4 |
| LITTRANS 374 | Topics in Korean Literature | 3 |
Additional Coursework in the Major
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete two courses from the following options (at least 6 credits): | ||
| ASIAN/HISTORY 103 | Introduction to East Asian History: China | 3-4 |
| ASIAN/HISTORY 104 | Introduction to East Asian History: Japan | 3-4 |
| ASIAN/HISTORY 108 | Introduction to East Asian History - Korea | 3-4 |
| ASIAN 203 | Lost in Translation: Western Experience in Asia | 3 |
| ASIAN/RELIG ST 236 | Asia Enchanted: Ghosts, Gods, and Monsters | 3 |
| ASIAN 253 | Japanese Popular Culture | 3 |
| ASIAN/HISTORY/POLI SCI 255 | Introduction to East Asian Civilizations | 3-4 |
| ASIAN/HISTORY/RELIG ST 267 | Asian Religions in Global Perspective | 3-4 |
| ASIAN 301 | Social Studies Topics in East Asian Studies | 1-3 |
| ASIAN/HISTORY 335 | The Koreas: Korean War to the 21st Century | 3-4 |
| ASIAN/HISTORY 337 | Social and Intellectual History of China, 589 AD-1919 | 3-4 |
| ASIAN/HISTORY 341 | History of Modern China, 1800-1949 | 3-4 |
| ASIAN/HISTORY 342 | History of the Peoples Republic of China, 1949 to the Present | 3-4 |
| ASIAN/RELIG ST 350 | Introduction to Taoism | 3-4 |
| ASIAN 351 | Survey of Classical Chinese Literature | 3 |
| ASIAN 352 | Survey of Modern Chinese Literature | 3 |
| ASIAN 353 | Lovers, Warriors and Monks: Survey of Japanese Literature | 3 |
| ASIAN 354 | Early Modern Japanese Literature | 3 |
| ASIAN 355 | Modern Japanese Literature | 3 |
| ASIAN 357 | Japanese Ghost Stories | 3 |
| ASIAN 358 | Language in Japanese Society | 3 |
| ASIAN 361 | Love and Politics: The Tale of Genji | 3 |
| ASIAN/HISTORY 363 | China and World War II in Asia | 3-4 |
| ASIAN 367 | Haiku | 3 |
| ASIAN 371 | Topics in Chinese Literature | 2-3 |
| ASIAN 372 | Topics in Chinese: Study Abroad | 1-6 |
| ASIAN 373 | Topics in Japanese: Study Abroad | 1-6 |
| ASIAN 375 | Survey of Chinese Film | 3 |
| ASIAN 376 | Manga | 3 |
| ASIAN 378 | Anime | 3 |
| ASIAN/ART HIST 379 | Cities of Asia | 3 |
| ASIAN 432 | Introduction to Chinese Linguistics | 3 |
| ASIAN 433 | Topics in East Asian Visual Cultures | 3 |
| ASIAN 434 | Introduction to Japanese Linguistics | 3 |
| ASIAN/HISTORY 454 | Samurai: History and Image | 3-4 |
| ASIAN/HISTORY 456 | Pearl Harbor & Hiroshima: Japan, the US & The Crisis in Asia | 3-4 |
| ANTHRO 357 | Introduction to the Anthropology of Japan | 3-4 |
| ART HIST 203 | Survey of Asian Art | 3-4 |
| ART HIST 307 | From Tomb to Temple: Ancient Chinese Art and Religion in Transition | 3 |
| ART HIST 308 | The Tastes of Scholars and Emperors: Chinese Art in the Later Periods | 3 |
| ART HIST/ASIAN 379 | Cities of Asia | 3 |
| ART HIST 411 | Topics in Asian Art | 3-4 |
| ART HIST 475 | Japanese Ceramics and Allied Arts | 3 |
| ART HIST/RELIG ST 478 | Art and Religious Practice in Medieval Japan | 3 |
| ED POL 245 | Education in East Asia | 3 |
| GEOG 340 | World Regions in Global Context | 3 |
| HISTORY 145 | America and China, 1776-Today | 3-4 |
| HISTORY/INTL ST 332 | East Asia & The U.S. Since 1899 | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 336 | Chinese Economic and Business History: From Silk to iPhones | 3-4 |
| HISTORY 340 | Cultural History of Korea | 3-4 |
| LITTRANS 231 | Manga | 3 |
| LITTRANS 232 | Anime | 3 |
| LITTRANS 261 | Survey of Chinese Literature in Translation | 3 |
| LITTRANS 262 | 3 | |
| LITTRANS 263 | Survey of Japanese Literature in Translation | 3 |
| LITTRANS 264 | Survey of Japanese Literature in Translation | 3 |
| LITTRANS 368 | Modern Japanese Fiction | 3 |
| LITTRANS 373 | Topics in Japanese Literature | 3 |
| LITTRANS 374 | Topics in Korean Literature | 3 |
| POLI SCI 324 | Chinese Politics | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 328 | Politics of East and Southeast Asia | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 346 | China in World Politics | 3-4 |
| SOC 225 | Contemporary Chinese Society | 3 |
Capstone Course
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one Course (at least 3 credits): | ||
| ASIAN/RELIG ST 505 | The Perfectible Body in Religions, Medicines, and Politics | 3 |
| ASIAN 600 | Capstone Seminar in Asian Humanities | 3 |
| ASIAN/ART HIST 621 | Mapping, Making, and Representing Colonial Spaces | 3 |
| ASIAN 630 | Proseminar: Studies in Cultures of Asia | 3 |
| ASIAN/RELIG ST 650 | Proseminar in Buddhist Thought | 2-3 |
| ASIAN 655 | Ethnography in Asia | 3 |
| ASIAN 682 | Senior Honors Thesis (must be enrolled in the Honors in the Major) | 3 |
| ASIAN 692 | Senior Thesis (must have permission from faculty) | 3 |
| ASIAN 699 | Directed Study (must have permission from faculty) | 2-3 |
Four-Year Plan
This Four-Year Plan is only one way a student may complete an L&S degree with this major. Many factors can affect student degree planning, including placement scores, credit for transferred courses, credits earned by examination, and individual scholarly interests. In addition, many students have commitments (e.g., athletics, honors, research, student organizations, study abroad, work and volunteer experiences) that necessitate they adjust their plans accordingly. Informed students engage in their own unique Wisconsin Experience by consulting their academic advisors, Guide, DARS, and Course Search & Enroll for assistance making and adjusting their plan.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Communication A Course | 4 | Intermediate/Advanced COMP SCI, MATH, or STAT (if BS) or Electives (Intermediate/Advanced level) | 4 |
| East Asian Language Course | 4 | Science Breadth | 4 |
| ASIAN 100 | 4 | Ethnic Studies Course | 3 |
| Social Science Breadth | 3 | East Asian Language Course | 4 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Intermediate/Advanced COMP SCI, MATH, or STAT (if BS) or Electives (Intermediate/Advanced level) | 4 | Science Breadth | 4 |
| Science Breadth | 4 | East Asian Language Course | 4 |
| East Asian Language Course | 4 | Communication B | 3 |
| INTER-LS 210 | 1 | Japanese Studies Elective | 3 |
| INTL ST 275 | 1 | ||
| 13 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Science Breadth | 3 | INTER-LS 215 | 3 |
| Chinese Studies Elective | 3 | Electives (Intermediate/Advanced level) | 6 |
| East Asian Studies Elective | 3 | Japanese Studies Elective | 3 |
| Korean Studies Elective | 3 | Literature Breadth | 3 |
| Literature Breadth | 3 | ASIAN 699 (optional, may be required for Honors in the Major) | 3 |
| 15 | 18 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Electives (Intermediate/Advanced level) | 8 | ASIAN 630 | 3 |
| ASIAN 681 or 691 | 3 | Electives (Intermediate/Advanced level) | 6 |
| Advanced East Asian Language Course (Optional) | 3 | ASIAN 682 or 692 | 3 |
| Advanced East Asian Language Course (Optional) | 3 | ||
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||