College Catalog: 2015-2016
Salameno School of Humanities and Global Studies (SSHGS): East Asian Studies
Website: Salameno School of Humanities and Global Studies
In recent years, the center of the global economy has shifted to the Pacific Basin. The United States is on one side of this vast area, and the Asia Pacific region is on the other. East Asia, with the world’s greatest concentration of population and its most volatile economies, comprise the epicenter of Asia Pacific. It has, therefore become imperative for Americans to understand an area that includes China, Japan, the two Koreas, Hong Kong, Taiwan Mongolia, Southeast Asia and Far Eastern Russia.
America’s role in the world, its economic competitiveness, and its ability to meet the challenges of the new millennium – all rely on a clear perception of the history, politics, economics, sociology, culture and languages of East Asia. Learning about East Asia is in fact learning about those forces that affect our country, our jobs, our businesses, our households and indeed ourselves.
The East Asian Studies minor, totaling 20 credits, is offered by a faculty with various disciplines in anthropology/sociology, political science, business/ economics, psychology, and languages. Its two interdisciplinary foundation courses of three credits each are: East Asia: History and Politics of China, Japan, and Korea, and peoples and cultures of Asia. These basic courses provide the student with a broad historical, political and cultural background to the region as a whole. One 200-level course and two additional 300-level courses also are required from an approved list
of course offerings. An East Asian language course of the appropriate level may be substituted for these requirements. Many other upper division courses on the politics and history of specific East Asian countries, courses in law, religion, immigration, business, sociology, and others, are offered each year.
The growing demand for knowledge of East Asia as well as for skills in its languages has paralleled the region’s growth of importance in the global economy. Careers in international business, international studies, government, communications, journalism, education, East Asian affiliate companies all have put a premium on knowledge about East Asia. Credentials with a specialization in the area have opened up numerous options for career applicants.
Ramapo College has established study abroad programs with educational institutions in East Asia. Our students have studied in Wuhan, China,
Ramapo’s last summer program in China has drawn many students who wish to study in Shanghai or in Hong Kong. We regularly have visiting professors from China who teach the language and culture of their country. Visiting scholars from Japan have also enriched our courses. More individualized programs of study in conjunction with other programs in East Asia, such as the New Jersey State Consortium for International Studies, have been arranged for Ramapo students.
- Students are required to take 5 courses (20 credits) to complete this minor.
- At least 1/2 of the courses fulfilling a minor must be distinct from the student’s major. That is, three of the five courses required for a minor cannot be used towards fulfillment of major requirements. A school core does not need to be completed for a minor. Minors are open to students regardless of school affiliation.
EAST ASIAN STUDIES MINOR
- Subject & Course # – Title & Course Description
- REQUIRED:
- HIST 277 - INTRODUCTION TO EAST ASIAN CIVILIZATIONS
- POLI 233 - EAST ASIA: HISTORY AND POLITICS
- 200 LEVEL COURSES: SELECT ONE
- HIST 278 - THE UNITED STATES AND EAST ASIA
- HIST 279 - JAPAN: EARLY CIVILIZATION TO MODERN REVOLUTION
- INTL 204 - PEOPLES AND CULTURES OF ASIA
- INTL 230 - CONTEMPORARY SOUTH ASIA (was ANTH 230)
- INTL 235 - CHINESE CULTURE AND CIVILIZATION
- MUSI 240 - MUSIC IN ASIA
- POLI 253 - ASIA-PACIFIC POLITCAL SYTEMS
- 300/400 LEVEL COURSES: SELECT TWO
- HIST 307 - MODERN CHINA AND THE WORLD
- HIST 308 - KOREAN CINEMA & MODERN SOCIETY
- HIST 309 - THE KOREAN WAR AND THE INDOCHINA WARS
- HIST 310 - MODERN KOREA AND THE WORLD
- IBUS 321 - CHINA AND OTHER BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTS IN ASIA
- INTL 312 - CHINESE CINEMA: HISTORY AND POLITICS
- POLI 301 - CHINA: HISTORY, POLITICS, AND CULTURE
- POLI 305 - JAPAN: HISTORY, POLITICS, AND CULTURE
- POLI 366 - U.S. - CHINA RELATIONS
- EAST ASIAN LANGUAGE COURSE *
- * Four semesters of an East Asian language (Foundations I and II and Intermediate I and II) may be substituted for the minor’s three course elective requirement. Testing or language placement may not be used to fulfill this requirement.
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