Spring 2019 Course Offerings

ASIA

ASIA 200 INTRODUCTION TO ASIAN STUDIES, TR, 8:20, CSB
This course introduces Asian Studies majors and minors to the range of disciplines within the field of Asian Studies through four units taught by four different Asian Studies faculty. In addition to examining a variety of themes focusing on Japan, China, and South Asia, students will also engage in career-preparation and experiential activities. At the beginning of the course, students will write a focus statement describing their planned Asian Studies concentration topic (thematic, geographical or chronological). The coursework will culminate in a final paper that explores an issue based on each student's concentration topic.

ASIA 399 SENIOR CAPSTONE, MWF, 11:30, SJU
Dr. Carol Brash
In this Asian Studies capstone, students will write a paper that showcases their understanding of the Asian Studies field by focusing in-depth on one topic selected in consultation with the course instructor and others.

ART

ART 300 MODERN & CONTEMPORARY ART, TR 2:20, SJU (FA)
Dr. Carol Brash
A survey course tracing the principle movements and theories of art in the US, Europe, and Asia from 1850 to the present. This is a discussion- and writing-intensive course. There is a required field trip (an additional fee will be charged to your student account for this). Open to non-art majors with a prerequisite of FYS 101 or 201.

ART 309D EAST ASIAN GARDENS, TR 11:10, SJU (FA)
Dr. Carol Brash
In the areas now called China and Japan, people have been creating gardens for thousands of years. Each generation links itself to the past through visual and literary (as well as the edible) fruits of their gardens. Today reinterpretations of some of these early ideas appear in diverse sites ranging from the reconstructed garden at the Minneapolis Institute of Art to the Lucky Bamboo sold at Home Depot. Some of the topics we will investigate include the shift from the garden as a site of agricultural production to a site of aesthetic/cultural production, the complicated relationship of nature and artifice, gardens as repositories of memory, and the relationship of gardens to the other arts. We will read recent scholarship and examine example paintings, poems, prose, plans, maps, and garden reconstructions. Chinese gardens that we may consider include painted versions of the Garden of Solitary Delight and the Garden of the Artless Administrator: reconstructions of the Garden of the Artless Administrator and The Garden of the Master Fishing Nets; and contemporary constructions based on historic models such as the Garden of Awakening Orchids in Portland, Oregon. Japanese gardens that we may consider include Temple of the Gold Pavilion, Temple of the Silver Pavilion, Temple of the Peaceful Dragon, tea gardens, and the painted gardens of the Tales of the Genji. Our exploration will include a field trip to one Chinese and one Japanese garden in the Twin Cities area (an additional fee will be charged to your student account for this).

COMMUNICATION

COMM 350 INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION, MWF 10:20, SJU
Dr. Jennifer Kramer
Examines the relationship between communication and culture. Communication theory is used to identify and explore barriers and opportunities in communicating with individuals from different cultures and co-cultures. Skills necessary for communication across cultures are identified and developed. Special attention is placed on communicating cross culturally within the U.S.A., including across race, socio-economic class, etc. In addition, the course also explores communicating internationally. Note: Most semesters of this course have a required experiential learning component and a course fee.

ECONOMICS

ECON 316 ASIAN ECONOMIES, MWF 10:40, CSB
Dr. Sucharita Mukherjee
Examines the rise of the Asia-Pacific as an important economic, cultural, and geopolitical region. Concentrates primarily on the post World War II growth performance of the "Asian Tigers" in East and Southeast Asia. Studies how these countries transformed themselves from peasant societies into global industrial powerhouses within their regional and international contexts.

GEOGRAPHY

GEOG 230 World Regional Geography, W, 6:15pm, CSB
Luke Feierabend
Themes in this course include location, place, human/environment interaction, movement, and regions.  Asian regions such as Russia and Central Asia, Southwest Asia, South Asia, East Asia, South East Asia will be discussed. 

GLOBAL BUSINESS LEADERSHIP

GBUS 300 GLOBAL ENTERPRISE, TR 12:45 & 2:20, SJU
Dr. Sanford Moskowitz
This course covers the fundamental concepts, issues, and structure of 21st century global business. It explores the historical, cultural, economic, and political underpinnings of the basic themes of, and critical actors operating within international business today. The student learns about the nature of and relationships between the major components (or systems) that make up the international business system as a whole. Prerequisite GBUS 210, 220, 230, 240 or permission of instructor.

HISTORY

HIST 114 Introduction to Pre-modern East Asia (HM)
Dr. Elisheva Perelman, MWF, 10:40, CSB
This introductory survey of East Asia examines the political, cultural, and social history of China, Japan, and Korea to the 17th century.  Students will analyze primary texts, literary works, and documents to find issues of continuity and change over time and across borders.

HIST 319 Japanese History Through Horror: Monsters and
Modernity (GE,HM)
Dr. Elisheva Perelman, MWF, 1:00, CSB
This course examines horror in its myriad forms in the history and formation of modern Japan, from the 17th century to the present.  By exploring the historical context in which various literary, political, religious, and cultural sources are produced (and in turn, reflect) and what the works represent, students will gain a broader understanding of how, why, and what fears helped to shape the historical development of modern Japanese culture and society, and how these fears changed over time. This course is suitable for students of any major, including those who have not taken a previous history course.

LANGUAGES AND CULTURES

CHIN 112 ELEM CHINESE II, MWF 1:50, SJU
Limei Danzeisen
Introduction to the basic elements of the Chinese language. Practice in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, including work with grammar, pronunciation, and culture.

CHIN 212 INTERMED CHINESE II, TR 1:05, CSB
Dr. Sophia Geng
Review and continued study of grammar together with additional training in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. 211 and 212 emphasize Chinese culture and civilization. Satisfactory completion of CHIN 212 fulfills the global language proficiency requirement.

CHIN 312 CHIN CONVERSATION & COMP II, TR 2:40, CSB
Dr. Sophia Geng
Designed to help students solidify and further their communicative and writing ability in Chinese through contact with various written styles of modern Chinese. Advanced Chinese also provides a basic introduction to contemporary Chinese literature and culture. 311 and 312 may be taken in either order.

CHIN 321B CHIN FOLKLORE/MYTHS/LEGENDS, T 6:15pm, CSB (HM)
Dr. Sophia Geng
In this class, we read the English translations of popular Chinese folklore. These include the tale of Mulan, the story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Goddess, and the legend of Caiji. We analyze how the stories evolved throughout history and how they were told differently in mainstream and vernacular cultures. We also examine a number of adaptations of these stories in film, story-telling and writings by Chinese American authors, and compare the differences in terms of language, theme and function. Taught in English.

JAPN 112 ELEM JAPANESE II, MWF 10:40, CSB
Masami Limpert
Continued study of the basic structure of the Japanese language. Practice in speaking, listening, reading and writing, with a focus on an accurate command of grammar and culturally appropriate communication skills.

JAPN 212 INTERMEDIATE JAPN II, MWF 9:30, CSB
Dr. Jeff Dubois
Review and continued study of grammar together with additional training in speaking, listening, reading and writing.

JAPN 312 ADVANCED JAPNESE LANGUAGE II, MWF 9:30, CSB
Masami Limpert
Review and continued development of grammar together with development of skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing. Prerequisite: JAPN 311 or 315

JAPN 330B JAPANESE FOLKLORE, MWF 10:40, CSB
Dr. Jeff Dubois
A study of specific elements or issues in Japanese culture. Topics include: Transnational Japan. Taught in English.

JAPN 330C Nuclear Japan: Bombs/Energy , MWF 3:00, CSB (ES)
Dr. Jeff Dubois
This course explores literary, film, and artistic representations of Japan’s nuclear past from Hiroshima to Fukushima and today. While we consider the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on one hand, and the nuclear meltdown in Fukushima following the triple disaster of March 11, 2011 on the other in their respective specificities, the class also looks for points of convergence and divergence between the understanding of atomic weapons and atomic energy in the imagination of Japan and the world. We look at witness narratives in short story and novel form; dramatic films depicting nuclear issues from Godzilla to recent dramatic and documentary films; we traverse through manga, anime, photography, painting, children’s books, poetry, digital art and more to gain insight into the possibilities for expression and representation in the atomic age. We will discuss and debate the ethical arguments behind the decision to drop the atomic bombs, the ethical dilemmas posed by nuclear energy, and the ethics of representing the victimhood of others in art. Taught in English.

PEACE STUDIES

PCST 333 THEOLOGY VIOLENCE/NONVIOLENCE, TR 8:20, CSB
Dr. Jon Armajani
This course examines theological perspectives on violence and nonviolence ranging from absolute pacifism to just war theory to the celebration of “redemptive violence.” Prerequisite: THEO 111 or HONR 240A

PHILOSOPHY

PHIL 339 CHINESE PHILOSOPHY, TR 11:10, SJU (HM)
Dr. Chuck Wright
An introduction to the foundational texts of the South Asian and Chinese philosophical traditions. Texts originating in South Asia (i.e., the Indian subcontinent) will include selections from the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, and early sutras from the Theravada Buddhist tradition. The Chinese traditions of Confucianism and Taoism will be approached through study of the Lao Tzu (a.k.a. the Tao Te Ching) and the Analects of Confucius.

POLITICAL SCIENCE

POLS 121 INTRODUCTION TO INT’L RELATIONS, MWF 12:40, SJU (SS)
Dr. Christi Siver
Students learn about global issues through different theoretical lenses, including realism and liberalism. Using these lenses, students investigate international security, civil conflict, economic interactions, and the influence of globalization. They also examine the influence of important actors in the international arena, including states, intergovernmental organizations, and nongovernmental organizations. Students examine their understandings of culture and how it shapes understanding of concepts like human rights. This broad overview helps students have a better understanding of the world around them and how their worldview shapes their perceptions of international events.

POLS 211 POLITICS & POLITICAL LIFE, TR 11:10, SJU
Dr. Christi Siver
This is an intensive discussion and writing-oriented course that explores perennial issues of political life (such as freedom and justice, the individual and community, race and ethnicity, and gender and sexuality) through literature, drama, film, and essays. Students write a Political Autobiography reflecting upon their own political experiences and the formation of their own political perspective. The course carries a Gender designation, is required for political science majors, and open to students from all other majors.

POLS 223 COMPARATIVE POLITICS, MWF 1:50, SJU
Dr. Christi Siver
In this course students learn about different political and economic systems throughout the world. They also learn about the field of Comparative Politics, which examines the institutional structures and cultural influences that lead to different approaches to similar problems. Finally, students are also introduced to advanced research skills and produce a research design which presents a plan for conducting original data collection.

THEOLOGY

THEO 339F SONGS OF LOVE & FREEDOM, MWF 1:00, CSB
Dr. Chris Conway
Songs of Love and Freedom will survey the spiritual practices and devotional traditions of Christianity and Hinduism as well as their transformative impact upon individuals and communities. Practices like yoga, meditation, lectio divina, and the Spiritual Exercises will be examined in both practice and theory. Devotional traditions embodied in the poems and songs of these traditions' mystics will be explored to see how experiences beyond words are nevertheless communicated. Finally, the class will highlight the transformative impact of these spiritual and devotional traditions as they are made manifest in the lives and communities of modern figures who strove and strive to live lives of love and freedom. Prerequisite THEO 111 or HONR 240A.

THEO 345 THEOL/VIOLENCE/NONVIOL, TR 8:20, CSB
Dr. Jon Armajani
After providing an introduction to the beliefs, practices, and history of Islam, this course will examine several theologies of violence and non-violence in that religion. At the same time, using students’ knowledge from Theology 111:  The Biblical Tradition as a basis, the course will give some attention to theologies of violence and non-violence in the Israelite, Jewish, and Christian traditions. One working definition of a theology of non-violence is that such a religious and political worldview can be comprised of a set of ideas and/or practices which encourage a person or persons (1) to act in peaceful ways and/or (2) to attempt to make changes to society using peaceful means. One working definition of a theology of violence is that such a religious and political worldview can be comprised of a set of ideas and/or practices, which encourage a religious person or persons to act in physical ways, which may be physically harmful to others, as that religious person or those persons may attempt to make changes to society.

THEO 369C ISLAM AND GENDER, TR 1:05 & 2:40, CSB (TU)
Dr. Jon Armajani
This course will focus on the various ways in which relations between Muslim women and men have been appropriated, interpreted, and concretized in a variety of real-life situations throughout the early, medieval, and modern periods in Islam with a regional focus on Islam and gender in the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, Europe, and/or North America. This course will use gender as a primary lens of analysis for examining course content by examining the, at times static and at other times dynamic, roles of women and men in societies where Muslims are in the majority and others where they are the minority in order to gain an understanding of the relationship between appropriations of gender with respect to Islam and its corresponding cultural contexts. The course will also give serious consideration to scholarly literature on Islam and its relationship to lesbians, gays, bigendered (i.e., bisexual), and transgendered (i.e., transexual) persons. Prerequisite: THEO 111 or HONR 240A