Asian Studies (AIST)

Song Yang
Director of Studies
479-575-3205
Email: yangwang@uark.edu

Students may pursue Asian studies as a second, dependent major to be taken alongside a primary major in Fulbright College. The program also offers two minors, one in Asian Studies and a second in East Asian History and Politics.

The Asian Studies Program draws on the strength of faculty both in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences and in other colleges on campus to provide resources and training in Asian languages, cultures, history, politics and economics. The program strives to provide students with a well-rounded education essential for careers in which knowledge of Asia is vital, promote interdisciplinary research on the Pacific region, and serve as a source of knowledge and expertise for the community.

Requirements for a Dependent Major in Asian Studies

Language Competence: Students must complete CHIN 20203 (or equivalent) or JAPN 20203 (or equivalent). Subject to the approval of the Director of Studies, students with language competence in one language (Chinese or Japanese) may receive some elective credit for competence level courses in the other language. Proficiency in other Asian languages may also satisfy this requirement.

In addition to the above language requirement, students must complete 21 credit hours in Asia-related courses, subject to the following conditions:

Colloquium (3-6 hours): Students must complete at least three credit hours in the interdisciplinary colloquium, AIST 40003/AIST 400H3. The AIST Colloquium may be repeated, provided the topic is different.

Electives (15-18 hours): In addition to the above requirements and the requirements for the departmental major, students must complete 15-18 credit hours of Asia-related courses (AIST-approved electives listed below) subject to the following conditions of distribution:

Students must complete 6 credit hours in history (HIST) courses.
Students must complete 6 credit hours in social science courses chosen from economics (ECON), political science (PLSC), or sociology (SOCI).
Courses must be selected from at least three different departments.
A maximum of 9 credit hours may be submitted from a single department.
In addition, the following may be applied toward the major:
1. Up to six credit hours in world language courses numbered at the 3000-level or higher (such as CHIN 30003, CHIN 30303, CHIN 31003, or JAPN 30303);
2. Up to 6 credit hours in an approved study-abroad program;
3. Up to 6 credit hours in CHIN 39803 or JAPN 39803 (Special Studies)
4. Other Asia-related courses with approval of the director of Asian Studies

Approved AIST Electives
AIST 3900V	Special Topics in Asian Studies	1-3
CHIN/AIST 31003	Chinese Culture through Film	3
CHIN 43103/AIST 43203	Culture and Society in China	3
ECON 39303	The Japanese Economic System	3
ECON 46303	International Trade	3
HIST 35203	Modern China	3
HIST/AIST 35303	World War II	3
HIST/AIST 36303	Modern Japan	3
HIST/AIST 44003	Islam in Asia	3
JAPN 43103	Language and Society of Japan	3
PLSC/AIST 35003	Governments and Politics of East Asia	3
PLSC/AIST 48203	Foreign Policy of East Asia	3
SOCI/AIST 32703	Sociology of China	3

Requirements for a Minor in Asian Studies

Students may earn a minor in Asian Studies by taking courses in art, anthropology, economics, geography, history, languages, sociology, political science, and literature of Asia. Students must fulfill the language requirement described below and complete 15 hours in Asia-related courses in order to earn the minor.

Language Requirement: Students must complete CHIN 20203 (or equivalent) or JAPN 20203 (or equivalent). At the discretion of the chair of studies, proficiency in other Asian languages may also satisfy this requirement.

Beyond the language requirement, students must complete 15 credit hours of approved courses, including at least three hours in the Asian Studies Colloquium (AIST 40003). The following courses may be taken in fulfillment of the elective requirements:

Approved AIST Electives
AIST 3900V	Special Topics in Asian Studies	1-3
CHIN/AIST 31003	Chinese Culture through Film	3
CHIN 43103/AIST 43203	Culture and Society in China	3
ECON 39303	The Japanese Economic System	3
ECON 46303	International Trade	3
HIST 35203	Modern China	3
HIST/AIST 35303	World War II	3
HIST/AIST 36303	Modern Japan	3
HIST/AIST 44003	Islam in Asia	3
JAPN 43103	Language and Society of Japan	3
PLSC/AIST 35003	Governments and Politics of East Asia	3
PLSC/AIST 48203	Foreign Policy of East Asia	3
SOCI/AIST 32703	Sociology of China	3

Students may also apply three hours of credit in an approved study-abroad program in an Asian country and three hours of upper-level Chinese or Japanese toward the minor.

Other courses that include Asia-specific content may be taken for credit toward the secondary major or minor with the approval of the Chair of Asian Studies.

Minor in East Asian History and Politics

The East Asian history and political science minor is designed to enhance students’ understanding of the historical and political development of East Asia, in particular China and Japan. Students must complete 15 hours in courses related to East Asian history and political science in order to earn the minor. The interdisciplinary nature of this degree will allow students to use a variety of courses on East Asia to develop their own B.A. degree and thus prepare for a career related to the region.

Students must complete 15 hours from the following:

Required Courses (6 hours)
PLSC 35003	Governments and Politics of East Asia	3
HIST 35203	Modern China	3
Electives		9
Choose any three courses
AIST 40003	Asian Studies Colloquium
or AIST 400H3	Honors Asian Studies Colloquium
CHIN 31003	Chinese Culture through Film
CHIN 43103	Culture and Society in China
HIST 44003	Islam in Asia
Students can apply up to 3 hours of upper level Chinese or Japanese language courses and 3 hours in an approved study abroad program toward the minor.
Total Hours		15

Courses

AIST 31003. Chinese Culture through Film. 3 Hours.

Explores Chinese culture through the lens of Chinese films with an emphasis on contemporary communicative culture. Designed to give students analytical insights into Chinese culture, especially how its language, history, philosophy, society, education, customs, family values, and gender roles shape contemporary culture and people's communication. (Typically offered: Fall and Spring)

AIST 32703. Sociology of China. 3 Hours.

This class offers a sociological account of China, including both its social ethos and the experience of Chinese Americans in the United States. (Typically offered: Fall)

AIST 35003. Government and Politics of East Asia. 3 Hours.

Comparative analysis of structures, processes, and problems of the political systems of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, Japan, and the Peoples Republic of China. Prerequisite: PLSC 20103. (Typically offered: Fall and Spring)

AIST 35303. World War II. 3 Hours.

This course explores broad themes such as imperialism, colonialism, nationalism, transnationalism, and racism by placing WWII in the context of the build-up of tensions between China, the Japanese Empire, and the United States starting in the nineteenth century. (Typically offered: Spring)

AIST 36303. Modern Japan. 3 Hours.

This course exposes students to the rapid transformations in Japan from the mid-nineteenth century through to their rise into an important player in global politics. Students will be familiarized with the narrative history of the Japanese home islands as well as the place of Japan in the context of world events and global currents. (Typically offered: Fall)

AIST 3900V. Special Topics in Asian Studies. 1-3 Hour.

Special topics in Asian Studies. May be repeated for degree credit. (Typically offered: Fall, Spring and Summer) May be repeated for up to 6 hours of degree credit.

AIST 40003. Asian Studies Colloquium. 3 Hours.

An interdepartmental colloquium with an annual change of subject, required of students in the Asian studies program. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing. (Typically offered: Fall) May be repeated for up to 6 hours of degree credit.

AIST 400H3. Honors Asian Studies Colloquium. 3 Hours.

AIST 43203. Culture and Society in China. 3 Hours.

Examines contemporary Chinese society and culture through the lens of language and with an emphasis on globalization. (Typically offered: Fall and Spring)

AIST 44003. Islam in Asia. 3 Hours.

This course will introduce students to the history and varieties of Muslim life in East Asia and Southeast Asia during the past 1,200 years. Through a comparative historical approach, it will examine themes of gender, imperialism and nationalism, religious education, pilgrimage, Islamic modernism, and religious extremism. (Typically offered: Fall)

AIST 48203. Foreign Policy of East Asia. 3 Hours.

This course provides an introduction to China's foreign policy at the undergraduate level. Key topics covered include the historical, domestic, and international contexts of Chinese foreign policy, China's relations with key partner countries, security strategies, foreign economic relations, and evolving role in global governance. (Typically offered: Fall)