Kenyon College


The Concentration in Asian Studies

Requirements and Curriculum | Beginning Asian Studies
Senior Seminar
| Related Majors

Concentration Requirements and Curriculum

1. Language Study

One year of instruction in a relevant Asian language is required. This requirement can be met by taking two semesters of Modern Chinese (CHNS), Japanese, or Sanskrit at Kenyon, or three semesters of Classical Chinese (CHIN). The equivalent of one year of approved college-level Asian language instruction at another accredited academic institution will also meet the requirement, as will some intensive summer programs, or a semester of language study abroad when paired with language immersion. In the case of transfer students, credit will be accepted for a year of Asian language study with a grade of C+ or better pursued at another institution. If the program committee determines that a student possesses native proficiency in an Asian language, it will waive the requirement.

The program committee strongly recommends that students continue their language study beyond the first year.

 
2. Area and disciplinary coursework

Students are required to take 2 units (four semester courses) about Asia outside of the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures. These courses must be from the list of courses offered under Asian Studies at Kenyon but may also include relevant courses taken in study abroad programs. Students are strongly encouraged to build comparison into their curricular choices by taking at least one course representing a region of Asia different from that of the student's language study.

Courses not specifically focused on Asia will not be counted toward the concentration. Where any doubt arises, please ask a member of the Asian Studies faculty. Double-counting for the major and the concentration is permitted.


3. Senior Seminar: Asia in Comparative Perspective (
see below)

This 1/2-unit course is required for students fulfilling the requirements for the Asian Studies Concentration and open to other students on a permission basis. The course will be offered every spring under the direction of a selected Asian studies faculty member and will meet in a seminar format.

Course content will be organized around a common theme that integrates the various disciplines and regions of Asia that students have been studying at Kenyon. Through readings, films, guest lectures by other Kenyon Asian studies faculty members and outside speakers, etc., the course will lead students to synthesize their academic and personal (e.g., off-campus) experiences in a broader comparative perspective. Students will produce work that examines one or more topics of their own special interest within the comparative Asian framework.


Beginning Asian Studies

First- and second-year students may begin almost anywhere. See the list of all the Asian studies courses offered in the current year.

Students hoping to spend all or part of their junior year in China or Japan should certainly begin to study the appropriate language in their first two years at Kenyon. New students interested in Asia who have not yet declared a major or a concentration are welcome to seek specific advice from any of the Asian studies faculty members.

 


Senior Seminar
Asia in Comparative Perspective
ASIA 490 (1/2 unit)


This 1/2-unit course is required for students fulfilling the requirements for the Asian Studies Concentration and is open to other students on a permission basis. The course will be offered every spring under the direction of a selected Asian-studies faculty member and will meet in a seminar format.

Course content will be organized around a common theme that integrates the various disciplines and regions of Asia that students have been studying at Kenyon. Through readings, films, guest lectures by other Kenyon Asian-studies faculty members and outside speakers, and other activities, the course will lead students to synthesize their academic and personal (e.g., off-campus) experiences in a broader comparative perspective. Students will produce work that examines one or more topics of their own special interest within the comparative Asian framework.

Some Past syllabi:


Related Majors

The Asian Studies Concentration can, in theory, be paired with any major. Given your career plans or interests, it may make perfect sense to combine the study of Asia with economics, drama, or chemistry.

Certain majors, however, combine especially easily with the Asian Studies Concentration. Students majoring in history, for example, will have two faculty members in their major department who teach about Asia (Professors Dunnell and Singer), so fulfilling their major requirements and the concentration's requirements can easily overlap. Similarly, there are two Asian Studies faculty who teach in the Religious Studies Department, Professors Adler and Schubel. Another natural combination of this type exists for those who major in Modern Languages and Literatures with a focus on Chinese or Japanese.

Finally, those who major in International Studies must focus on a particular area of the world, and Asia is in the list of these area options. Again, by fulfilling the requirements for an International Studies major with an Asia focus, a student will be close to fulfilling a concentration as well. Note that International Studies majors are required to study abroad, and that several of these each year usually study in locations in Asia. It is possible to take both the senior seminar in International Studies (in the fall) and the senior seminar in Asian Studies (in the spring).

Comments to: Joseph Adler
Last Edited: 10/6/05


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