East Asian Studies
Overview
The East Asian Languages and Cultures Department provides three majors for students interested in the study of China or Japan. The Chinese Studies major is intended for students primarily interested in Chinese language and literature. The Japanese Studies major is intended for students primarily interested in Japanese language and literature. These majors both aim to help students attain a high degree of fluency, and much of the coursework is done in Chinese or Japanese. The East Asian Studies major is intended for students who wish to focus on a particular disciplinary issue in East Asian Studies -- art history, history, politics, religion, sociology, or a transnational issue.
The department encourages students in all three majors to choose from a number of study-abroad options, providing the opportunity to experience East Asian languages and cultures first-hand.
Chinese Studies Requirements
COURSEWORK
Major Coordinator: Professor Chen
Language Component:
Five courses total.
Students must select four additional language courses (301 and above):
| CHIN 301 | Expository Essays and Short Narratives I | 4 units |
| CHIN 310 | Expository Essays and Short Narratives II | 4 units |
| CHIN 330 | Topics in Fiction and Film | 4 units |
| CHIN 350 | Classical Chinese Texts | 4 units |
| CHIN 460 | Translating Chinese I | 4 units |
One literature in translation course:
| CHIN 272 | The Rise of the Martial Arts Novel | 4 units |
| CHIN 273 | Contemporary Chinese Writers in Exile | 4 units |
| CHIN 274 | Ghost and Love Stories | 4 units |
One methods or theory course:
| CHIN 272 | The Rise of the Martial Arts Novel | 4 units |
| CHIN 273 | Contemporary Chinese Writers in Exile | 4 units |
| CHIN 274 | Ghost and Love Stories | 4 units |
| CHIN 460 | Translating Chinese I | 4 units |
| ENGL 290 | Introduction to Literary Methods | 4 units |
| ENGL 370 | Literary Criticism | 4 units |
| LING 301 | Introduction to Linguistics | 4 units |
Three additional China-related courses:
| AMST 270 | Asian American Literature | 4 units |
| AMST 272/EASN 272 | Asian Immigrants in American Society | 4 units |
| AMST 280/DWA 246 | The United States and East Asia | 4 units |
| ARTH 160 | Introduction to East Asian Art | 4 units |
| DWA 237 | Cuba, Vietnam, China: Communism in a Post-Communist World | 4 units |
| DWA 245/HIST 245 | China and the World | 4 units |
| HIST 141 | East Asian Survey | 4 units |
| HIST 242 | Imperial China | 4 units |
| HIST 243 | Modern China: Colonialism, Nationalism, and Revolution | 4 units |
| POLS 226 | Contemporary Chinese Politics | 4 units |
| POLS 227 | East Asian Politics: China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan | 4 units |
| RELS 160 | How to Live and Die Well in Buddhist Traditions | 4 units |
| RELS 260 | Buddhist Thought From India to Japan | 4 units |
| RELS 266 | Sexuality and Gender in Buddhism | 4 units |
| RELS 276 | Empire and Religion in Asia and the Pacific | 4 units |
| RELS 365 | Buddhist Ethics | 4 units |
| SOC 340 | China's Environmental Challenges: A Sociological Perspective | 4 units |
SECOND-STAGE WRITING REQUIREMENT
Students will satisfy the second-stage writing requirement by submitting a paper in English from a 300 level or seminar course (in any subject) in the fall semester of the senior year, which will be evaluated by the appropriate major coordinator.
COMPREHENSIVE REQUIREMENT
This requirement is fulfilled through either a seminar course (
CHIN 272,
CHIN 273,
CHIN 274, or
CHIN 460) or a 2-unit Independent Study in the fall semester of the senior year, in which the student will produce: either (1) a 20-page paper written in English on Chinese language or literature, including source texts written in Chinese; or (2) an annotated translation, with commentary, of a Chinese language text into English. In the spring semester, the student will make any required revisions and prepare an oral presentation to be given in Chinese.
HONORS
Students with an overall GPA of 3.25 and a major GPA of 3.50 may submit an honors research proposal at the end of the fall semester of the senior year. If the proposal is supported by two faculty advisors, the student will enroll in a 2 unit Independent Study in the spring to expand the fall semester senior comprehensive paper into a distinguished 40 page paper.
Japanese Studies Requirements
COURSEWORK
Major Coordinator: Professor Ezaki
Language Component:
Five courses total
Students must select four additional language courses (301 and above):
One literature in translation course:
| JAPN 271 | Fiction in Japanese Literature and Film | 4 units |
| JAPN 273 | Popular Culture and Literary Traditions of Tokugawa Japan | 4 units |
One methods or theory course:
| JAPN 271 | Fiction in Japanese Literature and Film | 4 units |
| JAPN 273 | Popular Culture and Literary Traditions of Tokugawa Japan | 4 units |
| JAPN 460 | Translating Texts | 4 units |
| ENGL 290 | Introduction to Literary Methods | 4 units |
| ENGL 370 | Literary Criticism | 4 units |
| LING 301 | Introduction to Linguistics | 4 units |
Three additional Japan-related courses:
| AMST 270 | Asian American Literature | 4 units |
| AMST 272/EASN 272 | Asian Immigrants in American Society | 4 units |
| AMST 280/DWA 246 | The United States and East Asia | 4 units |
| ARTH 160 | Introduction to East Asian Art | 4 units |
| ARTH 266 | The Arts of Japan | 4 units |
| ARTH 368 | Japanese Painting | 4 units |
| HIST 141 | East Asian Survey | 4 units |
| HIST 247 | Pre-Modern Japan | 4 units |
| POLS 227 | East Asian Politics: China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan | 4 units |
| RELS 160 | How to Live and Die Well in Buddhist Traditions | 4 units |
| RELS 260 | Buddhist Thought From India to Japan | 4 units |
| RELS 266 | Sexuality and Gender in Buddhism | 4 units |
| RELS 276 | Empire and Religion in Asia and the Pacific | 4 units |
| RELS 365 | Buddhist Ethics | 4 units |
SECOND-STAGE WRITING REQUIREMENT
Students will satisfy the second-stage writing requirement by submitting a paper in English from a 300 level or seminar course (in any subject) in the fall semester of the senior year, which will be evaluated by the appropriate major coordinator.
COMPREHENSIVE REQUIREMENT
This requirement is fulfilled through either a seminar course (
JAPN 271 or
JAPN 273) or a 2-unit Independent Study in the fall semester of the senior year, in which the student will produce: either (1) a 20-page paper written in English on Japanese language or literature, including source texts written in Japanese; or (2) an annotated translation, with commentary, of a Japanese language text into English. In the spring semester, the student will make any required revisions and prepare an oral presentation to be given in Japanese.
HONORS
Students with an overall GPA of 3.25 and a major GPA of 3.50 may submit an honors research proposal at the end of the fall semester of the senior year. If the proposal is supported by two faculty advisors, the student will enroll in a 2 unit Independent Study in the spring to expand the fall semester senior comprehensive paper into a distinguished 40 page paper.
East Asian Studies Requirements
COURSEWORK
Major Coordinator: Professor Chi
A minimum of 10 courses (To be selected from a pre-approved list of East Asia related courses, and not including the 2 units of senior comps work).
Survey Course
Students must select one course from the list below:
| AMST 280/DWA 246 | The United States and East Asia | 4 units |
| ARTH 160 | Introduction to East Asian Art | 4 units |
| DWA 253 | Security in Asia | 4 units |
| HIST 141 | East Asian Survey | 4 units |
| POLS 227 | East Asian Politics: China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan | 4 units |
| RELS 160 | How to Live and Die Well in Buddhist Traditions | 4 units |
Language:
At least two semesters of Chinese or Japanese (one of which must be either 202 or above)
Seminar:
To be chosen in consultation with the Major Coordinator.
Electives:
Students must select six additional courses.
In addition to CHIN and JAPN courses numbered 201 and above, students may select electives from the list below:
| AMST 270 | Asian American Literature | 4 units |
| AMST 272/EASN 272 | Asian Immigrants in American Society | 4 units |
| AMST 280/DWA 246 | The United States and East Asia | 4 units |
| ARTH 160 | Introduction to East Asian Art | 4 units |
| ARTH 266 | The Arts of Japan | 4 units |
| DWA 237 | Cuba, Vietnam, China: Communism in a Post-Communist World | 4 units |
| DWA 245/HIST 245 | China and the World | 4 units |
| DWA 342 | Junior Seminar: Transnational Identity and International Relations | 4 units |
| HIST 141 | East Asian Survey | 4 units |
| HIST 242 | Imperial China | 4 units |
| HIST 243 | Modern China: Colonialism, Nationalism, and Revolution | 4 units |
| HIST 245/DWA 245 | China and the World | 4 units |
| HIST 246 | Pre-Modern Korea | 4 units |
| HIST 247 | Pre-Modern Japan | 4 units |
| HIST 248 | Modern Japan | 4 units |
| HIST 249 | Modern Korea | 4 units |
| POLS 226 | Contemporary Chinese Politics | 4 units |
| POLS 227 | East Asian Politics: China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan | 4 units |
| RELS 160 | How to Live and Die Well in Buddhist Traditions | 4 units |
| RELS 260 | Buddhist Thought From India to Japan | 4 units |
| RELS 261 | Contemporary Buddhist Thought | 4 units |
| RELS 266 | Sexuality and Gender in Buddhism | 4 units |
| RELS 276 | Empire and Religion in Asia and the Pacific | 4 units |
| RELS 365 | Buddhist Ethics | 4 units |
| SOC 340 | China's Environmental Challenges: A Sociological Perspective | 4 units |
SECOND-STAGE WRITING REQUIREMENT
Students will satisfy the second-stage writing requirement by submitting a paper in English from a 300 level or seminar course (in any subject) in the fall semester of the senior year, which will be evaluated by the appropriate major coordinator.
COMPREHENSIVE REQUIREMENT
Students will fulfill this requirement by completing a seminar course or a 2-unit Independent Study in the fall semester of the senior year, in which the student will produce a 20-page paper written in English on China, Japan, or an East Asian comparative/transnational topic; in the spring semester, the student will make any required revisions and prepare an oral presentation to be given in English.
HONORS
Students with an overall GPA of 3.25 and a major GPA of 3.50 may submit an honors research proposal at the end of the fall semester of the senior year. If the proposal is supported by two faculty advisors, the student will enroll in a 2 unit Independent Study in the spring to expand the fall semester senior comprehensive paper into a distinguished 40 page paper.
Additional Electives
Additional courses from outside the EALC Department
The following courses may count toward the major in Chinese Studies (Methods/Theory requirement), Japanese Studies (Methods/Theory requirement), and East Asian Studies (Seminar requirement).
| AMST 272/EASN 272 | Asian Immigrants in American Society | 4 units |
| ARTH 395 | Special Topics in Art History | 4 units |
| CSLC 200 | Literature, Culture, Self: Being in the Wor(l)d | 4 units |
| DWA 235 | Nationalism and Ethnicity | 4 units |
| DWA 337 | Junior Seminar: International Relations Theory | 4 units |
| DWA 342 | Junior Seminar: Transnational Identity and International Relations | 4 units |
| HIST 300 | History Colloquium | 4 units |
| SOC 200 | Classical Sociological Theory: Marx, Weber, Durkheim | 4 units |
| SOC 205 | Contemporary Sociological Theory | 4 units |
| SOC 304 | Sociological Inquiry | 4 units |
| SOC 305 | Quantitative Research Methods | 4 units |
| SOC 310 | Sociological Field Methods | 4 units |
| UEP 301/POLS 301 | Urban Policy and Politics | 4 units |
| UEP 303 | Sustainable Development | 4 units |
| UEP 304 | Research Methods for Urban and Environmental Policy | 4 units |
Group Language
Students may combine Chinese with French, German, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, or Linguistics to form a Group Language major. Please see the
Group Language entry in this catalog for details.
Minor Requirements
Chinese Studies:
Five courses (20 units) numbered Chinese 202 and above. Linguistics 301 may fulfill one of these courses. Three of the five courses must be completed as Occidental courses (one of the three MUST be taken at the Eagle Rock campus. The other two may be taken at an Occidental-in-China campus).
Japanese Studies:
Five courses (20 units) numbered JAPN 202 and above. LING 301 may fulfill one of these course requirements. Three of the five courses must be completed as Occidental courses (one of the three MUST be taken at the Eagle Rock campus. The other two may be taken at an Occidental-in-Japan campus).
East Asian Studies:
Five courses (20 units) from the East Asian Studies course list. CHIN 201 and JAPN 201 or above may be counted toward the minor. At least two of these courses must be taken at Occidental.
Courses
East Asian Studies Courses
Chinese Courses
Japanese Courses
Faculty
Regular Faculty
Tsung Chi, chair
Professor, Politics
B.A., National Chengchi University; M.A., Ph.D., Michigan State University
Sarah Chen
Professor, East Asian Studies; Advisory Committee, Group Language
B.A., Rutgers University; M.A., Ph.D., Stanford University
On Special Appointment
Motoko Ezaki
Non-Tenure Track Professor, East Asian Studies; Advisory Committee, Group Language
B.A., M.A., Seinan Gakuin University; M.A., Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
Swee Fong Lee
Non-Tenure Track Professor, East Asian Studies
B.A., Tokyo Gakugei University; M.A., Hitotsubashi University; M.A., California State University, Long Beach
Andrew Miller
Non-Tenure Track Instructor, East Asian Studies
B.A., Princeton University; M.A., University of California, Los Angeles
Yuki Taylor
Part-time Non-Tenure Track Associate Professor, East Asian Studies
B.A., M.A., Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
Affiliated Faculty
Alexander F. Day
Associate Professor, History
B.A., Colby College; M.A., Ph.D., University of California, Santa Cruz
John Chung-En Liu
Assistant Professor, Sociology
B.S., National Taiwan University; M.A., M.E.M, Yale University; Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison
Xiao-huang Yin
Professor, American Studies; Affiliated Faculty, History
B.A., Nanjing University; M.A., Ph.D., Harvard University