Minor in East Asian Studies

The East Asian Studies (EAS) minor, offered by the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, is available to students enrolled in any of BU’s four-year undergraduate schools and colleges. The minor focuses on China, Japan, and Korea, with attention to Southeast Asia and the Pacific Rim. It provides an interdisciplinary and comparative perspective in an effort to deepen understanding of how, over time, these societies have dealt with problems common to all humanity, and how they view the world and themselves. The minor can combine courses in anthropology, archaeology, earth & environment, economics, history, history of art & architecture, international relations, political science, religion, sociology, as well as language & literature. Students with a minor in EAS achieve an understanding of the East Asian experience that prepares them for a professional life in or related to East Asia.

The minor consists of the following requirements: knowledge of written and spoken Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or Vietnamese (or, where appropriate, another Asian language) through the 212 level or its equivalent, as demonstrated through testing; and six courses in East Asian studies with a grade of C or higher. At least three of the non-language courses must be taken at Boston University.

Contact:

Prof. Min YE, Director of Undergraduate Studies, or the Undergraduate Academic Advising Office, The Frederick S. Pardee School undergraduate advising office, 156 Bay State Road.

Courses

Consult departmental listings for complete description of courses.

HUMANITIES: CENTRAL ASIA
  • CAS AH 314 After Genghis Khan: Art and Architecture in Central Asia and Iran
HUMANITIES: EAST ASIA
  • CAS AH 225 The Arts of Asia
  • CAS AH 326 Arts of Japan
  • CAS AH 327 Arts of China
  • CAS AH 328 Modern Japanese Architecture
  • CAS AH 425 Seminar: Topics in Asian Art (either China or Japan)
  • CAS AH 530 Chinese and Japanese Calligraphy: History, Theory, and Practice
  • CAS AH 531 Modern Asian Art in Global Context
  • CAS AH 532 Japanese Print Culture
  • CAS AR 240 Archaeology of Ancient China
  • CAS LC 250 Masterpieces of Classical Chinese Literature (in English translation)
  • CAS LC 251 Masterpieces of Modern Chinese Literature
  • CAS LC 280 The Chinese Classics
  • CAS LC 284 Introduction to Chinese Women’s Writing (in English translation)
  • CAS LC 285 Topics in Chinese Literature (in English translation)
  • CAS LC 286 Chinese Food Culture
  • CAS LC 287 Chinese Cinema
  • CAS LC 313 Chinese through Theater and Acting
  • CAS LC 314/LJ 314/LK 314 Classical Chinese for Students of East Asia
  • CAS LC 315 Classical Chinese
  • CAS LC 316 Topics in Classical Chinese
  • CAS LC 318 Touring in China
  • CAS LC 319 Chinese in Social Interaction
  • CAS LC 322 Business Chinese
  • CAS LC 420 Topics in Chinese through Media
  • CAS LC 440 Mass Media and Social Change in Modern China
  • CAS LC 470 Topics in Chinese Literature and Culture
  • CAS LC 486 Workshop in Translating and Interpreting Chinese
  • CAS LJ 250 Masterpieces of Japanese Literature (in English translation)
  • CAS LJ 251 Modern Japanese Literature
  • CAS LJ 281 Japanese Civilization English translation)
  • CAS LJ 282 The Culture of the Samurai (in English translation)
  • CAS LJ 283 Modern Japanese Culture in Cinema (in English translation)
  • CAS LJ 316 Classical Japanese
  • CAS LJ 350 Readings in Modern Japanese Fiction
  • CAS LJ 451 Topics in Japanese Literature
  • CAS LJ 480 Japanese Women Writers (in English translation)
  • CAS LJ 481 Topics in Japanese Literature (in English translation)
  • CAS LK 250 Introduction to Korean Literature (in English translation)
  • CAS LK 383 Modern Korean Culture through Cinema (in English translation)
  • CAS LK 450 Topics in Advanced Korean
  • CAS LK 470 Korean Literature and Culture
  • CAS PH 247 Introduction to Chinese Philosophy
  • CAS RN 103 Religions of the World: Eastern
  • CAS RN 210 Buddhism
  • CAS XL 224 Introduction to Comparative Literature: East Asia
  • CAS XL 260/LC 260/LJ 260/LK 260/LN 260 Gateway to Asian Cultures
HUMANITIES: SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST ASIA
  • CAS AH 313 Imperial Reflections: Early Modern Islamic Art and Architecture
  • CAS AH 428 Seminar: Islamic Art
  • CAS AH 531 Modern Asian Art in Global Context
  • CAS AN 326 Oral Tradition as Verbal Art (meets with CAS RN 388)
  • CAS LN 225 Tradition and Modernity in Indian Film and Literature
  • CAS PH 246 Indian Philosophy
  • CAS RN 103 Religions of the World: Eastern
  • CAS RN 210 Buddhism
  • CAS RN 213 Hinduism
  • CAS RN 341 Islamic Mysticism: Sufism
  • CAS RN 388 Oral Tradition as Verbal Art (meets with CAS AN 326)
  • CAS RN 425 Topics in South Asian Religions
  • CAS RN 429 Religion and Politics in South Asia
  • CAS RN 524 Topics in Religion and Literature (varies)
  • CAS XL 225 Introduction to Comparative Literature: South Asia
  • CAS XL 260/LC 260/LJ 260/LK 260/LN 260 Gateway to Asian Cultures
  • CAS XL 342 Travel Writing and the Muslim World
  • CAS XL 343 Alexander the Great in the East
  • CFA MH 431 Topics in World Music [if topical focus is on South and/or Southeast Asia]
  • CFA MH 561 World Music Ensemble [if topical focus is on South and/or Southeast Asia]
  • CFA MH 563 World Music and Culture [if topical focus is on South and/or Southeast Asia]
SOCIAL SCIENCES: CENTRAL ASIA
  • CAS AN 347 Afghanistan
  • CAS HI 382/IR 328 Turko-Persia in the Twentieth Century
SOCIAL SCIENCES: EAST ASIA
  • CAS AN 305 Comparative Family Systems in Asia
  • CAS AN 344 Modern Japanese Society: Family, School, and Workplace
  • CAS AN 379 China and Taiwan: Tradition and Transformation
  • CAS AN 505 Asian Development: The Case of Women
  • CAS HI 363 Introduction to Early Chinese History
  • CAS HI 364 Introduction to Modern Chinese History
  • CAS HI 369 Introduction to Modern Japanese History
  • CAS HI 487 The Making of Modern China, 1600 to present
  • CAS IR 370 China: From Revolution to Reform (meets with CAS PO 369)
  • CAS IR 365 The Rise of China (meets with CAS PO 352)
  • CAS IR 527 The Political Economy of China (meets with CAS PO 548)
  • CAS IR 441 Transnational Immigration and Development in Asia
  • CAS IR 501 Conflict and Cooperation in Asia (meets with PO 554)
  • CAS IR 520 The State and Public Purpose in Asia (meets with CAS PO 550)
  • CAS IR 570 Politics and Social Change in Postwar Japan (meets with CAS PO 551)
  • CAS IR 577 Foreign Policy of the People’s Republic of China (meets with CAS PO 576)
  • CAS IR 579 Japan in International Politics (meets with CAS PO 552)
  • CAS IR 585 Problems and Issues in Post-Mao China (meets with CAS PO 549)
SOCIAL SCIENCES: SOUTH ASIA
  • CAS AN 375 Culture, Society, and Religion in South Asia (meets with CAS RN 375)
  • CAS AN 505 Asian Development: The Case of Women
  • CAS HI 234 Introduction to India and South Asia
  • CAS IR 372 International Relations of South Asia (meets with CAS PO 355)
  • CAS IR 501 Conflict and Cooperation in Asia (meets with PO 554)
  • CAS IR 506 India & the World
  • CAS IR 520 The State and Public Purpose in Asia (meets with CAS PO 550)
  • CAS IR 586 Islam in South Asian Politics
  • CAS SO 328 Contemporary South Asian Societies
SOCIAL SCIENCES: SOUTHEAST ASIA
  • CAS AN 318 Southeast Asia: Tradition and Development
  • CAS AR 390 The Archaeology of Southeast Asia
  • CAS IR 369 Southeast Asia in World Politics (meets with CAS PO 354)

Note: Other courses not listed here may fulfill the East Asian Studies minor requirements with prior approval from the program director.