Asia Concentration

asian landscape

Asia

The concentration in Asia focuses on the religion, politics, history, art, and literature of South and East Asia.  This is a huge and diverse region encompassing the majority of the world’s population.  The region includes important industrialized economies such as Japan, newly prosperous states like Korea, and nations undergoing or poised for rapid economic growth such as China and India.  With such economic importance and potential, and a number of unresolved territorial disputes, US policy has recently begun to “pivot” towards a greater focus on Asia.

Language Requirement:

Students must demonstrate competency in Chinese.  (Competency means the equivalent of six semesters of Chinese. 

LSU Courses in the Asia Concentration:

  • ARTH 2411 – Survey of Asian Art (3) This is a General Education course. The arts of China, India and Japan in relation to religious and philosophical beliefs that affected their production.
  • ARTH 4441 – Chinese Painting (3) History of Chinese painting from prehistoric times through the 20th century.
  • ARTH 4442 – Japanese Art (3) History of Japanese painting, sculpture, architecture and ceramics from prehistoric times through the early 20th century.
  • ARTH 4443 – Indian Art (3) History of Indian painting, sculpture and architecture from prehistoric times through the 16th century.
  • CHIN 2070 – Chinese Cinema (3) This is a General Education course. Chinese cinema from 1896 to the present; emphasis on the New Chinese cinema since 1980s; screening and analysis of representative films; knowledge of Chinese not required.
  • CHIN 3101 – Advanced Chinese (3) Prerequisite:CHIN 2002 or equivalent. Introduction of authentic materials of increasing complexity on a variety of topics; emphasis on the use of relatively sophisticated structures of vocabulary in complex communication.
  • CHIN 3102 – Advanced Chinese (3) Prerequisite:CHIN 3101 or equivalent. Introduction of authentic materials of increasing complexity on a variety of topics; emphasis on the use of relatively sophisticated structures vocabulary in complex communication.
  • GEOG 4037 – Geography of China (3) Geographic survey of natural environment, population and economy of China and its relationships to the rest of the world.
  • HIST 2096 – East Asian Civilization Since 1800 (3) This is a General Education course. Modern Asian civilization; emphasis on contact with the West and the rise of nationalism and communism.
  • HIST 4078 – Asian-American History (3) History of Asian peoples in the United States; topics including immigration, community development, cultural conflict, racism and stereotypes.
  • HIST 4091 – China to 1600 (3) History and civilization, including a survey of religion and philosophy, language and literature, art and archaeology and popular culture.
  • HIST 4092 – China since 1600 (3) Western impact on civilization and the processes of revolution and modernization during the past century.
  • HIST 4093 – Pre-Modern Japan (3) Political and cultural history and civilization from the beginnings to the close of the Japanese middle ages.
  • HIST 4094 – Modern Japan (3) From 1600 to the present; emphasis on historical and cultural roots of Japan’s modernization in the late 19th century and quest for empire in the 20th century; cultural and intellectual developments in modern Japan.
  • HIST 4097 – History of South Asia (3) Social, political, economic and cultural evolution of South Asia from the Bronze Age to the creation of India and Pakistan in 1947.
  • HIST 4191/REL 4191 – Religions of China and Japan (3) Major religious traditions of East Asia; Confucianism, Taoism, Mahayana Buddhism, Shinto and Chinese and Japanese folk religion; religion in the context of Chinese and Japanese cultural history.
  • INTL 3993 – Study Abroad in Asia (1-6) May be repeated for up to 12 hours credit when topics vary.Studies in the history, culture, economics, politics or geography of Asia.
  • INTL 4002/ANTH 4002/GEOG 4002/REL 4001 – South Asian Society, Polity and Culture (3) Historical anthropology of South Asia examining the four major cultural traditions (Hindu/Buddhist, Islamic, British and nationalist) which currently shape the politics of nationalism, development, ethnicity, caste and gender in the region.
  • INTL 4033/GEOG 4033 – Geography of Central Asia and Afghanistan (3) Survey of the geography of Central Asia and Afghanistan; emphasis on geographic elements of the history, ecology, environment, economy and strategic importance of the region.
  • POLI 4067 – The Politics of Asia (3) Governments and politics of modern Asia, with a focus on China; contemporary nationalism, political development, revolution and impact of communism, democracy and capitalism on Asian states.
  • POLI 4079 – State, Society, and Citizenship in Contemporary China (3) Political events in contemporary China; emphasis on the state and the citizen in the Reform Era.
  • REL 2027 – Asian Religions (3) This is a General Education course. Credit will not be given for this course and REL 2031. Survey of the history, beliefs and practices of the major religions of Southern and Eastern Asia, focusing on Hinduism, Buddhism and the religions of China and Japan.
  • REL 4600 – Hinduism (3) Prerequisite:REL 2027 or consent of instructor. A survey of Hinduism from its origins to the present.
  • REL 4800- Buddhism (3) Prerequisite:REL 2027 or consent of the instructor. A survey of Buddhism from its origins to the present.


Note: Course offerings will vary from semester to semester, and there are invariably new courses or special topics classes which are applicable to this concentration but do not appear on the list below.  A scheduling guide listing course offerings will be circulated before scheduling begins for each semester.  Also students who study abroad can ask to count courses taken abroad toward their concentration.  Generally any course focusing on modern Asia (since 1500) can be applied to the concentration.

Study Abroad Options:

Study Abroad options for this concentration are very numerous and include semester and academic year exchange programs in India, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, and Korea, among others.   Instruction is in English for several of these programs, so for instance students need not be proficient in Thai to study in Thailand, or Malay to study in Malaysia.  Past LSU summer programs have visited Thailand and China.  Please visit the Academic Programs Abroad for more information.

 

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