This survey course describes the cultural and ethnic diversity of Asia, with specific emphasis on conflict of subcultures with the ruling culture. In addition, students learn about geography, ecology and resource limitations within the Asian continent context. No prerequisites.

This course is taught completely in English with no prerequisite. In this course students study a specific genre and motif, “gods, demons and the supernatural,” in Chinese traditional and contemporary literature. By reading this genre and motif, this course provides students a strong foundation to understand Chinese traditional cultures through Chinese traditional thoughts and religious beliefs, as well as to comprehend modern Chinese cultures which are influenced by both Chinese traditional cultures and Western ideologies. Cross-listed as CHIN 190.

This course introduces select aspects of 20th century East Asian popular cultures, such as popular music, film, television shows, cartoon and comics, Internet, etc. We discuss various issues that emerge in reference to popular culture, for example: what is popular culture; how do people respond to or “consume” it in their daily lives; and how gender, class, race and other kinds of social identities are imagined and contested in popular culture.

How does the world’s most populous continent meet the population’s nutritional needs? This course utilizes nutritional anthropology for a discussion on nutrition and malnutrition within Asian cultures’ diets and foodways. We discuss specific illnesses associated with nutritional insufficiency and factors that amplify or ameliorate those illnesses. This course discusses foodways as a holistic expression of culture, including ecology, religion and social structure. Students appreciate the innovative and delicious ways that Asian cultures have met nutritional needs within resource-limited areas and how those strategies are changing. Cross-listed as ANTH 205

A topics course in Chinese literature. This course explores various genres, movements, literary periods or topics in Chinese literature. This course can be repeated for additional credits as long as the section topics are different. Consult the online course schedule for information about the topics currently scheduled to be taught. Cross-listed as CHIN 295.

This course provides an overview of traditional medicine, specific to the Asian context. The course covers ethnomedicine and ethnopharmacology, epidemiology, Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Culture Bound Syndromes, mental health, shamanism, and the influence and role of biomedicine in Asia. We discuss the cultural and historical context specific to the medical traditions and changes in health seeking behavior due to globalization and culture change. Cross-listed as ANTH 305.

To understand the unique voice and literary tradition of Indian literature, novels and short stories are selected to provide an in-depth examination of social structure, cultural traditions, gender and sexuality, religion, and environment and ecology of India. Students also read academic journal articles to provide context and critique of the works of fiction. The role of fiction in documenting cultural traditions and instigating cultural change is considered. Includes exploration of colonial and post-colonial literature.

A seminar course whose topics utilize approaches from a range of disciplines, reflecting the interdisciplinary teaching and research interests of faculty. This course can be repeated for additional credits as long as the section topics are different. Consult the online course schedule for information about the topics currently scheduled to be taught.