Pacific Asian Studies

College of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Dean: Joel Kassiola

Pacific Asian Studies Program
SCI 265A
415-338-7536
Director: Pi-Ching Hsu

Faculty

Professors—Banerjee, Goto, S. Guo, Hanami, G. Lee, McKeon, Minami, Pahl, Scott, Simeon, Soh, Wong

Associate Professors—Asano, Blanchard, Burke, Egan, Q. Guo, Hsu, Li, Modirzadeh

Assistant Professors—Domizio, Elkind, Jacobowitz, Kavuri-Bauer, M. Lee, Mahi, Tiwald, Wang

Lecturers—Chang, Cheng, Dupen, Kuo, Liou, Matsumoto, Mick, Muranaka, Yamaguchi, Yee

Program

Minor in Pacific Asian Studies


Program Scope

Pacific Asia refers to the regions of Asia bordering the Pacific Ocean, including East and Southeast Asia. Historically, East Asia has been under strong influences of Confucianism and Mahayana Buddhism, and Southeast Asia has been under strong influences of Islam and Theravada Buddhism. Diversity seems to be more characteristic than commonality in describing the cultures and societies of East and Southeast Asia. But East and Southeast Asia can be regarded as a meaningful unit of global studies when we consider the two regions’ commercial, cultural, and diplomatic interactions, as well as their common experiences with Western and Japanese imperialism. In the twenty-first century, an economic community that connects East and Southeast Asia has been taking shape with marked Chinese initiatives, making these two regions more closely integrated than ever. The Pacific Asian Studies Minor is designed to give students an introduction into the exuberantly rich and diverse cultures of East and Southeast Asia, their inter-regional relations, and their relations with the rest of the world. In what some are now calling the Asian century, the rising tide of immigration of people from Pacific Asia into the United States, the rapidly increasing trade and financial transfers with nations of the Pacific Rim, and the growing attention to Asian arts, literature, philosophy, medicine, environment, and human rights signal the need to study Pacific Asia in earnest. At a time when this part of the world has become increasingly important to Americans, the minor serves the need to gain better understanding of the complex Asian scene by offering an inviting opportunity for students to develop career and life enhancing academic experiences at the university.

The Pacific Asian Studies Minor is an interdisciplinary program designed for students seeking a more intensive and extensive knowledge and understanding of East and Southeast Asia than their major discipline would offer. The Pacific Asian Studies Minor will be useful to students interested in pursuing further study at the graduate level as well as those planning careers in education, foreign services, international organizations, overseas corporations, and banking. Participants in the Study Abroad program at SFSU are welcomed to join Pacific Asian Studies and bring their Asian experiences to SFSU classrooms.

 

PACIFIC ASIAN STUDIES MINOR

The curriculum of Pacific Asian Studies Minor emphasizes versatility in terms of both the regions and the subjects of study. China is the oldest continuous civilization in the world. Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia also have their distinctive civilizations. The curriculum is designed to give students exposure to all three distinctive civilization systems. The curriculum consists of a core of 12-15 units, plus 9 units of electives, totaling 21-24 units. Not more than nine units may be transferred from other campuses; no more than six units may be taken on a CR/NC basis.

Students considering the minor are advised to consult with Pacific Asian Studies faculty in order to create an individualized plan to take into account specific interests as well as to develop a strategy for taking courses to ensure timely completion of the minor. Students planning to take courses other than those listed in the curriculum are required to get prior approval of the program director.

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated. On-line course descriptions are available.

Core: Select one upper-division course (300-699) from each of the four sets: Category A, Group I; Category A, Group II; Category B; and Category C.

Catagory A: China/Hong Kong/Taiwan Studies
Group I—History, Social Sciences, Health, and Business
GEOG 575 Emerging China  
HH 381 Holistic Health: Eastern Perspectives
HH 383 Chinese Perspectives in Holistic Health
HH 420 Chinese Body-Mind Energetics
HH 530 Herbal and Nutritional Principles in Chinese Healing
HIST 569 Ancient Chinese Civilization
HIST 570 Imperial China
HIST 571 History of Modern China
IBUS 592 Doing Business in Greater China
IR/PLSI 325 Chinese Foreign Policy (4)
PLSI 404 Politics of China (4)
Group II—Humanities, Arts, and Literature
CHIN 401 Advanced Chinese  
CHIN 411 Media Chinese
CHIN 501 Introduction to Classical Chinese
CHIN 507 Traditional Chinese Culture
CHIN 521 Modern Chinese Literature (Taught in Chinese)
CHIN 580 Topics in Chinese Language and Literature (all topics)
CHIN 600 Topics in Chinese Language, Literature, and Culture in English (all topics)
CHIN 601 Chinese Literature in Translation: The Poetic Tradition
CHIN 602 Chinese Literature in Translation: The Narrative Tradition
HUM 375 Biography of a City (topic: Beijing)
HUM 530 Chinese Civilization
HUM 531 Images of Modern China
KIN 148 Elementary Kung Fu (1)
KIN 175 Elementary Tai-Chi Chuan (1)
KIN 275 Intermediate/Advanced Tai-Chi Chuan (1)
PHIL 511 Chinese Philosophy and Religion
Category B: Japan/Korea Studies
ANTH/IR 515 The Two Koreas  
ART 502 Japanese Art
HIST 578 History of Japan
IBUS 596 Doing Business in Japan
IR/PLSI 329 U.S.-Japan Politics (4)
JAPN 200 Art of Japanese Writing and Calligraphy
JAPN 302 Japanese Reading and Grammar
JAPN 309 Advanced Reading in Japanese
JAPN 390 Business Japanese
JAPN 395 Business Writing
JAPN 401 Topics in Japanese Culture (all topics)
JAPN 510 Modern Japanese Literature
JAPN 590 Topics in Japanese Literature (all topics)
HUM 375 Biography of a City (topics: Tokyo and Kyoto)
HUM 526 Japanese Culture before 1850
HUM 527 Japanese Culture and Modernity
KIN 106 Elementary Aikido (1)
KIN 142 Elementary Judo (1)
KIN 145 Elementary Karate (1)
KIN 242 Intermediate/Advanced Judo (I)
TH A 408 Asian Plays and Performance Styles (topic on Japan only)
Category C: SE Asia/Regional/Comparative Studies
ANTH 315 Regional Ethnography (topic course: Peoples and Cultures of East Asia)  
ANTH 415 Culture and Sex in East Asia
ANTH 481 Archaeology of the Far East
ART/HUM 205 Asian Art History
ART 502 Contemporary Asian Art
HIST/WOMS 575 Women in China and Japan
HIST 588 History of SE Asia
IBUS 594 Doing Business in Asia-Pacific Countries
IR 326 South and Southeast Asian Foreign Relations (4)
MUS 53 1 Musics of North and Southeast Asia
PHIL 510 Far Eastern Philosophy and Religion (all topics)
PLSI 411 East Asian Politics (4)
PLSI 418 Political Transitions in East and Southeast Asia (4)
PLSI 419 Comparative Political Economy (4)
Total for core: 12-15
Electives
Select 9 units (three or more courses) from at least two of the four sets of courses,
Category A, Group I; Category A, Group II; Category B; and Category C.
9
Foreign Language Requirement:
Students with no prior knowledge of a language other than English are required to take one semester of a language course, on advisement, that is relevant to their course of study and post-graduate goals. Students who wish to be exempted from this requirement must submit a written request to the director of Pacific Asian Studies.
Total for minor: 21-24