Pacific Asian Studies
College of Liberal & Creative Arts
Dean: Paul Sherwin
Pacific Asian Studies Program
SCI 265A
Phone: 415-338-7536
Director: Pi-Ching Hsu
Faculty
Professors: Banerjee, Burke, Goto, S. Guo, Hanami, Hsu, G. Lee, McKeon, Minami, Modirzadeh, Pahl, Scott, Simeon, Soh, Wong
Associate Professors: Asano, Blanchard, Q. Guo, Li
Assistant Professors: Domizio, Elkind, Jacobowitz, Kavuri-Bauer, M. Lee, Mahi, Tiwald, Wang
Lecturers: Chang, Cheng, Dupen, Kuo, Liou, Matsumoto, Mick, Muranaka, Yamaguchi, Yee
Program
Minor in Pacific Asian Studies
Program Scope
Pacific Asia refers to the regions of Asia bordering the Pacific Ocean, including East and Southeast Asia. Historically, East Asia has been under strong influences of Confucianism and Mahayana Buddhism, and Southeast Asia has been under strong influences of Islam and Theravada Buddhism. Diversity seems to be more characteristic than commonality in describing the cultures and societies of East and Southeast Asia. But East and Southeast Asia can be regarded as a meaningful unit of global studies when we consider the two regions’ commercial, cultural, and diplomatic interactions, as well as their common experiences with Western and Japanese imperialism. In the twenty-first century, an economic community that connects East and Southeast Asia has been taking shape with marked Chinese initiatives, making these two regions more closely integrated than ever. The Pacific Asian Studies Minor is designed to give students an introduction into the exuberantly rich and diverse cultures of East and Southeast Asia, their inter-regional relations, and their relations with the rest of the world. In what some are now calling the Asian century, the rising tide of immigration of people from Pacific Asia into the United States, the rapidly increasing trade and financial transfers with nations of the Pacific Rim, and the growing attention to Asian arts, literature, philosophy, medicine, environment, and human rights signal the need to study Pacific Asia in earnest. At a time when this part of the world has become increasingly important to Americans, the minor serves the need to gain better understanding of the complex Asian scene by offering an inviting opportunity for students to develop career and life enhancing academic experiences at the university.
The Pacific Asian Studies Minor is an interdisciplinary program designed for students seeking a more intensive and extensive knowledge and understanding of East and Southeast Asia than their major discipline would offer. The Pacific Asian Studies Minor will be useful to students interested in pursuing further study at the graduate level as well as those planning careers in education, foreign services, international organizations, overseas corporations, and banking. Participants in the Study Abroad program at SF State are welcomed to join Pacific Asian Studies and bring their Asian experiences to SF State classrooms.
Pacific Asian Studies Minor
The curriculum of Pacific Asian Studies Minor emphasizes versatility in terms of both the regions and the subjects of study. China is the oldest continuous civilization in the world. Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia also have their distinctive civilizations. The curriculum is designed to give students exposure to all three distinctive civilization systems. The curriculum consists of a core of 12-15 units, plus 9 units of electives, totaling 21-24 units. Not more than nine units may be transferred from other campuses; no more than six units may be taken on a CR/NC basis.
Students considering the minor are advised to consult with Pacific Asian Studies faculty in order to create an individualized plan to take into account specific interests as well as to develop a strategy for taking courses to ensure timely completion of the minor. Students planning to take courses other than those listed in the curriculum are required to get prior approval of the program director.
Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated. On-line course descriptions are available.
Core: Select one upper-division course (300-699) from each of the four sets: Category A, Group I; Category A, Group II; Category B; and Category C.
Category A: China/Hong Kong/Taiwan Studies
Group I—History, Social Sciences, Health, and Business
| Course | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| GEOG 575 | Emerging China | |
| HH 381 | Holistic Health: Eastern Perspectives | |
| HH 383 | Chinese Perspectives in Holistic Health | |
| HH 420 | Chinese Body-Mind Energetics | |
| HH 530 | Herbal and Nutritional Principles in Chinese Healing | |
| HIST 569 | Ancient Chinese Civilization | |
| HIST 570 | Imperial China | |
| HIST 571 | History of Modern China | |
| IBUS 592 | Doing Business in Greater China | |
| IR 325/ PLSI 325 |
Chinese Foreign Policy (4) | |
| PLSI 404 | Politics of China (4) |
Group II—Humanities, Arts, and Literature
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| CHIN 401 | Advanced Chinese |
| CHIN 411 | Media Chinese |
| CHIN 501 | Introduction to Classical Chinese |
| CHIN 507 | Traditional Chinese Culture |
| CHIN 521 | Chinese Modern Fiction |
| CHIN 580 | Topics in Chinese Language and Literature (all topics) |
| CHIN 600 | Topics in Chinese Language, Literature, and Culture in English (all topics) |
| CHIN 601 GW | The Poetic Tradition - GWAR |
| CHIN 602 | The Narrative Tradition in English |
| HUM 375 | Biography of a City (topic: Beijing) |
| HUM 530 | Chinese Civilization |
| HUM 531 | Images of Modern China |
| KIN 148 | Elementary Kung Fu (1) |
| KIN 175 | Elementary Tai-Chi Chuan (1) |
| KIN 275 | Intermediate/Advanced Tai-Chi Chuan (1) |
| PHIL 511 | Chinese Philosophy and Religion |
Category B: Japan/Korea Studies
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| ANTH 515/ IR 515 |
The Two Koreas |
| ART 502 | Japanese Art |
| HIST 578 | History of Japan |
| IBUS 596 | Doing Business in Japan |
| IR 329/ PLSI 329 |
U.S.-Japan Politics (4) |
| JAPN 200 | Art of Japanese Writing and Calligraphy |
| JAPN 302 | Japanese Reading and Grammar |
| JAPN 309 | Advanced Reading in Japanese |
| JAPN 390 | Business Japanese |
| JAPN 395 | Advanced Business Japanese: Business Writing |
| JAPN 401 | Topics in Japanese Culture (all topics) |
| JAPN 510 | Modern Japanese Literature |
| JAPN 590 | Topics in Japanese Literature (all topics) |
| HUM 375 | Biography of a City (topics: Tokyo and Kyoto) |
| HUM 526 | Japanese Culture before 1850 |
| HUM 527 | Japanese Culture and Modernity |
| KIN 142 | Elementary Judo (1) |
| KIN 145 | Elementary Karate (1) |
| KIN 242 | Intermediate/Advanced Judo (I) |
| TH A 408 | Asian Plays and Performance Styles (topic on Japan only) |
Category C: SE Asia/Regional/Comparative Studies
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| ANTH 315 | Regional Ethnography (topic course: Peoples and Cultures of East Asia) |
| ANTH 415 | Culture and Sex in East Asia |
| ANTH 481 | Archaeology of the Far East |
| ART 205/ HUM 205 |
Asian Art History |
| ART 502 | Contemporary Asian Art |
| HIST 575/ WGS 575 |
Women in China and Japan |
| HIST 588 | History of SE Asia |
| IBUS 594 | Doing Business in Asia-Pacific Countries |
| IR 326 | South and Southeast Asian Foreign Relations (4) |
| MUS 531 | Musics of North and Southeast Asia |
| PHIL 510 | Far Eastern Philosophy and Religion (all topics) |
| PLSI 411 | East Asian Politics (4) |
| PLSI 418 GW | Political Transitions in East and Southeast Asia - GWAR(4) |
| PLSI 419 | Comparative Political Economy (4) |
Total for core: 12 - 15 Units
Electives (9 units)
Select 9 units (three or more courses) from at least two of the four sets of courses, Category A, Group I; Category A, Group II; Category B; and Category C.
Foreign Language Requirement:
Students with no prior knowledge of a language other than English are required to take one semester of a language course, on advisement, that is relevant to their course of study and post-graduate goals. Students who wish to be exempted from this requirement must submit a written request to the director of Pacific Asian Studies.
Total for minor: 21 - 24
