East Asia Studies Concentration

Director: Dr. A. Maria Toyoda
Office: 268 St. Augustine Center
Tel. (610) 519-5969
Website: http://www.villanova.edu/artsci/eastasian/

The East Asian Studies Concentration is an interdisciplinary program that is open to students in all degree programs and in all four undergraduate colleges. The main goals of the program are to equip students with basic competence in the history, politics, philosophies, languages, and cultures of the region, while also emphasizing a complex and connective understanding and appreciation of the region’s diversity; and the acquisition of basic research skills aimed at a deeper understanding of a particular problem, idea, or event in the region.

Academic Program Overview: Students are required to take a minimum of 24 credit hours in the following areas:
• Minimum of two semesters of an Asian language at the intermediate level;
• One of the core courses that provide an overview of the region;
• Five Elective courses (15 credits) (the list below is indicative of the course offered);
• Senior research capstone seminar paper on a topic related to the Asia/Pacific region.

Other courses, including those taken in approved overseas studies programs, may count towards the concentration at the discretion of the director.

Core Courses: One of the following
HIS 4320 Modern East Asia
PSC 4500 Contemporary East Asia

Language Courses: Two at the intermediate level
CHI 1111 Beginning Chinese I
CHI 1112 Beginning Chinese II
CHI 1121 Intermediate Chinese I
CHI 1122 Intermediate Chinese II
CHI 1131 Advanced Chinese I
CHI 1132 Advanced Chinese II

JPN 1111 Introductory Japanese I
JPN 1112 Introductory Japanese II
JPN 1121 Intermediate Japanese I
JPN 1122 Intermediate Japanese I
JPN 1131 Advanced Japanese I
JPN 1132 Advanced Japanese II

Electives: Five from the following
CHI 2143 Chinese Culture
CHI 2144 Chinese Literature in Translation
GEV 3900 Geography of Asia
HIS 4315 Introduction to the History of Chinese Civilization
HIS 4316 Introduction to the History of Japanese Civilization
HIS 4320 Modern East Asia
HIS 4330 China in the 20th Century
HIS 4335 Japan in the 20th Century
HIS 4395 Topics in Asian History
HIS 4850 The War in Vietnam
JPN 2100 Japanese Literature in Translation
JPN 2142 Japanese Culture and Civilization
PHI 4500 Asian Philosophies
PSC 5850 East Asia’s Political Economy
PSC 5875 India
THL 5260 Mysticism: East and West
THL 5270 Religion in India and Southeast Asia
THL 5280 Religion in China and Japan
THL 5285 Buddhist Tradition