202 Japanese Literature
This course is an introduction to Japanese literature from the earliest times to the present. While introducing great works and important genres of Japanese literature (in English translation), the course will explore various issues central to this literature, such as love, death, national identity, nature, gender and literary genre, while placing the works in their historical and cultural contexts.
East Asia: China and Japan
An introduction to the classical order in China and Japan followed by a consideration of the impact of Western intervention and internal change from the 18th century to the present. Special emphasis on the interaction between China and Japan in this period.
Japanese Society and Culture
This course is an introduction to contemporary Japanese society. The course examines what everyday life is like in Japan from anthropological and historical perspectives. It explores such major social institutions as families, gender, communities, workplaces, and belief systems. The course focuses as well on the ways in which modernization has affected these institutions and the identities of Japanese people.
Asian Urban Ecology
Asian cities are among the most economically productive in the world, and also number some of the most polluted and environmentally challenged urban centers on the planet. Further complicating this picture is the fact that many Asian cities are also on the cutting edge of policies associated with “ecological modernization,” the effort to balance and manage competing economic and environmental interests and values. This course will examine a range of Asian cities, including, for example, Beijing, Singapore, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Seoul, and a range of issues like resource management, urban sprawl and congestion, environmental protection, green space and urban design, biodiversity and environmental justice with a view to better understanding the evolving interdependence among political, economic, social and natural systems in urban Asia.
Environmental Degradation of the Yellow River, China
The Yellow River, central to the rise of the Chinese civilization, is the most turbid river in the modern world; however, its water was clear 1000 years ago. What has happened to this river? This interdisciplinary introductory-level course focuses on the environmental degradation of the Yellow River beginning 5000 years ago. This course is aimed at both science and non-science students alike. There are no prerequisites. Topics covered will include the climate change in the Yellow River drainage basin, the impacts of deforestation and human reclamation on the Yellow River and its significance to fluvial and sediment discharge, the frequent river course shifts and their relationship to environmental degradation and human activities, the fluvial and sediment budget and sedimentation in the lower reaches and offshore area, and the socio-economic impacts of the historical river course shifts and their significance to regional sustainability development.
The following are some examples of courses offered by the East Asian Studies department at Dickinson College:
Japanese Cinema
This course provides a survey of Japanese cinema from its early days to the present and places that development in its historical context. Within the overarching frame of history we will examine how Japanese cinema became a “national cinema” and what that means; how genre theory helps us approach “Japanese” genres such as samurai, yakuza and giant monster movies; how auteur theory was applied to the work of directors like Kurosawa and Ozu; and the role of Japanese cinema in the world.
Contemporary Japanese Society
This course is an introduction to the society and culture of modern Japan. We will examine such major social institutions in Japan as families, communities, workplaces, and belief systems. The impact of modernity on these institutions, the evolving relationship between roles, and popular culture will also be covered.
Samurai and Geisha: Fact and Fiction
There are perhaps no more iconic figures in Japanese culture than the samurai and geisha. Popular as they are, many misconceptions remain about their roles throughout Japanese history. This course explores the lived experiences of samurai and geisha in Japan as well as the myths that have developed around them. Course materials draw on historical texts, ethnographic studies, and fictional depictions of samurai and geisha in film and media.
History of East Asia: China and Japan
An introduction to the classical order in China and Japan followed by a consideration of the impact of Western intervention and internal change from the 18th century to the present. Special emphasis on the interaction between China and Japan in this period.
Nature and the Environment in Japanese Literature and Film
This course explores the relationship between humanity and nature in Japanese literature and film. Though we will draw from earlier examples, the majority of the course will be focused on the modern era (post 1868). Some topics for exploration include: the role of animals in Japanese culture, nature as a reflection of the self, natural and industrial disasters, and nature in the imagination.
Japanese
202 Japanese Literature
This course is an introduction to Japanese literature from the earliest times to the present. While introducing great works and important genres of Japanese literature (in English translation), the course will explore various issues central to this literature, such as love, death, national identity, nature, gender and literary genre, while placing the works in their historical and cultural contexts.
203 Topics in East Asian Literature
Selected topics in East Asian Literature; e.g., Chinese Women in Literature, Modern Japanese Literature, Pre-Modern Japanese Literature.
204 Topics in East Asian Cinema
This course will introduce students to the cinematic traditions of China, Japan, Korea or a combination of the above. Possible topics may include: surveys of film in these countries, adaptation, women in East Asian film, and genre films.
205 Topics in East Asian Humanities
Selected topics in East Asian humanities: e.g., Japanese Women, Modern China through Film, Women’s Images in Chinese Film, Japanese Architecture.
206 Topics in East Asian Society
Selected topics in East Asian society: e.g., Modern Japanese Culture, Chinese Society, Chinese Emperors, The Chinese City.
236 Japanese Society
This course is an introduction to contemporary Japanese society. The course examines what everyday life is like in Japan from anthropological and historical perspectives. It explores such major social institutions as families, gender, communities, workplaces, and belief systems. The course focuses as well on the ways in which modernization has affected these institutions and the identities of Japanese people.
259 Law, Politics, and Society in Asia
This course examines the interaction between law, legal institutions and citizens in China, Japan and India. Covering history and the contemporary scene, the course focuses on how law works in practice and is understood and used by ordinary people in Asia. It covers areas such as marriage and divorce, the legal profession, lost property, civil rights, the environment, sexuality, mediation, land development and property, among others. Comparisons between the United States and Asia, as well as between Asian countries, will be emphasized.
305 Colloquium in East Asian Humanities
Intensive discussion of topics in East Asian Humanities. Designed for majors and for non-majors who have taken courses in related fields. This course satisfies the Comparative Civilizations and, depending on the topic, Division I.A. or Division I.C. distribution requirement. Topics include: Chinese Culture in “The Dream of the Red Chamber”, Strange Stories from a Chinese studio, Issues of Identity among Asian-Americans, the films of Akira Kurosawa, Images of Japan in the West, Issues of Love and Gender in Modern Japanese Literature, Kyoto School Philosophy, Japanese Landscape Architecture.
306 Colloquium on East Asian Society
Intensive discussion of topics on East Asian Society. Designed for majors and for non-majors who have taken courses in related fields. This course satisfies the Division II and Comparative Civilizations distribution requirements. Topics include: Beijing and Shanghai: A Tale of Two Cities, Sino-Japanese Wars, Chinese Emperors, the Chinese Diaspora, Marriage Laws in Modern China, Meiji Restoration, Aristocracy in Ancient Japan, Samurai Culture, Japanese Constitutions.
208 Japan Practicum
An intensive in-country introduction to Japanese culture and society. The course is particularly suited to students who have not had a chance to take two years of Japanese language instruction and/or are not able to take advantage of the College’s semester or year-long program in Japan. The course will introduce students to various aspects of Japanese society and culture and will link classroom study to outside-the-classroom and on-site experiences. The latter will include academic excursions to places of historical and cultural interest as well as to institutions like factories, schools, businesses, community organizations, and recreation areas that exemplify contemporary Japanese life. Course content will vary with the particular expertise and interests of the instructor(s) and curricular needs.
This course fulfills the DIV II social sciences and Comparative Civilizations distribution requirements.
Minor
Five courses: Four Japanese language courses beyond Intermediate JPNS 212. One additional, 300-level (or higher) Japanese language course or one non-language East Asian course on Japan.
NOTE: The Japanese minor is open to non-East Asian Studies majors only.
The East Asian Studies major with a focus on Japan requires 11 courses.
Required Courses:
1. Japanese 211, 212 (or equivalent)
2. East Asian Studies 101
3. One course that focuses on an East Asian country that is not the focus of language study
4. One East Asian Studies 300-level Colloquium
5. East Asian Studies 490 (senior research)
Electives:
1. Three humanities courses focusing on East Asia (including one literature course)
East Asian Studies 201
East Asian Studies 202
East Asian Studies 203
East Asian Studies 205
East Asian Studies 305
Art and Art History 208
Art and Art History 210
Religion 130
Religion 230
Religion 330
Philosophy 246
2. Three social science courses focusing on East Asia
East Asian Studies 206
East Asian Studies 207
East Asian Studies 208
East Asian Studies 306
East Asian Studies 259
Anthropology 232
Comparative Civilizations 105 (when topic is relevant)
History 120
History 361
History 215 (when topic is relevant
History 404 (when topic is relevant)
International Business & Management 200
International Business & Management 300 (when topic is relevant)
Law and Policy 259
Political Science 190 (when topic is relevant)
Political Science 254
Political Science 255
Political Science 259
Political Science 290 (when topic is relevant)
Other courses on Asia with departmental consent
NOTE: Two upper-level language courses (JPNS 231/232; CHIN 231/232) may be substituted for one elective from the humanities (but not literature) and one elective from the social sciences.
Japanese
208 Japan Practicum
An intensive in-country introduction to Japanese culture and society. The course is particularly suited to students who have not had a chance to take two years of Japanese language instruction and/or are not able to take advantage of the College’s semester or year-long program in Japan. The course will introduce students to various aspects of Japanese society and culture and will link classroom study to outside-the-classroom and on-site experiences. The latter will include academic excursions to places of historical and cultural interest as well as to institutions like factories, schools, businesses, community organizations, and recreation areas that exemplify contemporary Japanese life. Course content will vary with the particular expertise and interests of the instructor(s) and curricular needs.
This course fulfills the DIV II social sciences and Comparative Civilizations distribution requirements.
Minor
Five courses: Four Japanese language courses beyond Intermediate JPNS 212. One additional, 300-level (or higher) Japanese language course or one non-language East Asian course on Japan.
NOTE: The Japanese minor is open to non-East Asian Studies majors only.
Akita International is a one of a kind university in Japan; a perfect union of the old and the new. As an International Business and Management and East Asian Studies double major, Akita International University was able to provide me with a study abroad experience that perfectly coincided with my academic interests! The small school environment allowed for constant interaction with the full-time students as well as the other exchange students. I was welcomed with open arms and fully accepted as a member of the AIU family. The integration of the exchange students and full-time students allows for an immense amount of language exchange. I do not believe I would have been able to improve as much as I have in my second language, Japanese, anywhere else. As a Posse Scholar from Los Angeles, this experience has allowed me to see diversity from a global perspective. I was welcomed not only by the AIU community but also by the local Akita community. AIU fosters year round interaction between the student body and the local community to allow for greater understanding and a greater appreciation for the people of Japan.
ブレイズ明美
Akita International University is a small liberal arts institution whose goal is to produce future leaders who can effectively conduct business and lead international organizations in the 21st Century. The University offers degrees in Global Business, Global Studies, Japan Studies, Japanese Language and Liberal Arts. Students enjoy small class sizes with a mix of Japanese and international students with content classes taught in English.
Akita (City) is located in the Tohoku region of Japan on the Sea of Japan, approximately 280 miles north of Tokyo. Akita-shi is a city where traditional and contemporary Japan coexists. Although the local industry includes rice-farming and mining, there is a rapidly developing technology and tourism industry. Akita-shi is also known for its many outdoor activities including hiking, skiing/snowboarding, canoeing and cycling. Although a haven for local culture and outdoor enthusiasts, Akita is just four hours from Tokyo by Shinkansen and a short flight from Hokkaido’s vibrant capital, Sapporo.
Dickinson students studying at Akita choose four classes, two Japanese language courses and two content courses in English. Academic year students will also enroll in an additional language course over the winter to earn a total of 9 Dickinson credits. Spring semester students please note: due to the difference in the Japanese academic calendar, spring classes begin in April and end in late July.
This Partner program requires students to have:
All students must have a declared major at the time of application.
As a part of the review process students’ conduct records and account status are also reviewed. Students and their parents should note that the review process takes all elements of the student’s academic record into consideration and that even if a student has the required minimum GPA and language prerequisites, he or she may not be admitted.
Students who have questions about the review process or their particular candidacy for a program should come into the Center for Global Study and Engagement for advising.
Center staff will not discuss students’ applications with parents, friends or any other party without the student’s consent and presence in the conversation.
Last Spring I studied abroad at Nanzan University, Nagoya, Japan. From January to May I was fortunate enough to be placed with a wonderful host-family in Nagoya, not too far from the university. At Nanzan I studied 5 courses consisting of communication, reading and writing, translation, Japanese culture and art, and Japanese business. Out of all the courses I took at Nanzan, I would say that translation class was the most enjoyable. The pieces that we translated consisted of the grammar patterns and vocabulary from the Intensive Japanese courses, so this class was an extremely good way to solidify the new knowledge. Additionally, we translated fun exerts such as Harry Potter, and popular Japanese songs and poems. My favorite part of this class was the translation project. I translated Japanese recipes, such as “daifuku mochi,” so that I could make authentic dishes once I returned home.
I am especially grateful to have had the experience of staying with such a kind host family while in Japan. Everyday I would come home from school, and rather than returning to bedroom, I would sit around the dining table with my host mother. We would talk, go shopping, karaoke, and make dinner together. She took me to such great places to enjoy Japanese cuisine, and of course, Nagoya’s specialty dishes. On top of that, she took me to Japanese hot-springs, hiking, try “mochitsuki,” and a wonderful night cherry blossom viewing. The experience was really made unforgettable thanks to my vibrant, and extremely generous host-mother.
A study abroad experience would not be complete without travel, and when I was in Japan I got to make the most of the airline sales, and make a trip to beautiful Okinawa, as well as Tokyo. I especially enjoyed my experience in Okinawa. It was interesting to have a trip to a place of such historical significance, natural beauty, and a different lifestyle to the city-dwelling stereotype.
It was satisfying to put my Japanese I have learned in college to use in day-to-day natural conversation and make Japanese friends. A lot of the friends I made are very interested in learning English, so it was so much fun to teach them a little English, and learn so much from them about their language, and culture. The language became so much more important to me after using it outside of the classroom to form friendships that I will treasure for many years to come.
Majors: EAS and Political Science
My first experience studying in Japan was when I was fifteen and I spent my sophomore year of high school studying in Fukuoka, Japan. Then, last summer (2012), I went back to Japan for the first time since high school. I received two scholarships to fund my study abroad experience. One was the Bridging scholarship, and the other was the Pasona Internship Program Scholarship.
Through the Pasona Program, I had the opportunity to complete a summer-long internship at a well-known toy company in Tokyo, Japan. I learned about Japanese business-manners, work-culture, and business in general.
From Tokyo I went straight to Nagoya, Japan, where I studied for two semesters at Nanzan University, which is one of Dickinson’s programs. Actually, hearing about this program as a prospective student influenced my decision to choose Dickinson College. While I was there, I made the best of my experience. I entered the most challenging Japanese language classes, took a seminar with Japanese students, tried Japanese culture classes such as tea ceremony, and dabbled in club activities.
Instead of a homestay, I was placed into one of the dorms located next to campus. I was afraid that living in a dorm would give me less opportunity to speak Japanese, and more to speak English. As it turns out, I lived in a close community of foreign and Japanese students, who taught me a lot about how young Japanese people live. My roommates were Korean and Japanese, and we made dinner and spoke Japanese together every day. I could not be more thankful that I had the chance to live there.
While studying abroad at Nanzan, I also worked a part-time job a few days each week. I was ecstatic because the café I worked at was a place where I could work closely with Japanese people in a professional environment while challenging my own language ability. Furthermore, chatting with the local customers was my way of engaging the community.
The 12 months I spent in Japan taught me innumerable life lessons and skills. The key to study abroad is: always staying open to trying new things, realize that there are amazing opportunities for those who go looking for them, and to immerse oneself completely in the culture.
Here is a link to the student blog from the summer program in 2010:
http://blogs.dickinson.edu/japan2010/