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Undergraduate: Asian and Asian American Studies

  • Program Overview

    Asian and Asian American Studies

    The interdisciplinary major in Asian and Asian American Studies combines analytical perspectives and research methods of the social sciences and humanities in an integrated curriculum that is based on area studies and ethnic studies scholarship. Students acquire in-depth knowledge of particular regions of Asia, enhanced appreciation of Asian cultures and societies, greater awareness of contemporary issues of global concern facing both Asia and the United States, and a better understanding of the histories, struggles, and contributions of Asian Americans.

    The major includes training in a relevant Asian language, a concentration in a specific region of Asia, and courses in various disciplines that converge on an identified theme of study. It complements minors in China Studies, Japanese Studies, Korean Studies, and South Asian Studies, as well as the major and minor in Religious Studies.

    Students are encouraged to gain a first-hand experience of living in and studying Asian cultures by participating in Study Abroad programs. Stony Brook offers a summer program in China, Japan and India and academic year programs in China, Japan, and Korea. Similar programs are being planned in other countries.

    The academic offerings of the department are complemented by the rich array of resources and programming at the program in China Studies, Center for India Studies, Center for Japan Studies, the Center for Korean Studies,, the Asian American Center Bridge, and the Charles B. Wang Center, which collaborate with various academic departments, student groups, community organizations, and individuals to promote a better understanding of Asia and Asian Americans today.

    The Department of Asian and Asian American Studies has strong ties with selected academic and cultural organizations in Asia, and Asian and Asian American institutions on Long Island and in the greater New York area. Stony Brook's proximity to the New York City metropolitan area, with its Asian ethnic communities, offers rich opportunities for cultural and intellectual enrichment.

    A major in Asian and Asian American Studies will open attractive opportunities for students who plan to pursue a wide range of careers, including the arts, business, education, economics, government, journalism, law, literature, and media. Many students increase their employment opportunities by pursuing a double major. In addition, Asian and Asian American Studies offers challenging opportunities at the graduate and professional school level as well.

     

     

     

     

  • Degrees and Requirements

    Requirements for the Major and Minor in Asian and Asian American Studies

    The major in Asian and Asian American Studies leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree. All courses taken for the major must be taken for a letter grade and passed with a grade of C or higher. Completion of the major requires 39 credits, including at least 21 upper-division credits.

    A. Language Proficiency (6 credits)

    Majors are required to take at least six credits (or the equivalent of one year) of college study of an Asian language at the intermediate level or above. Students who already have a pre-established language proficiency in an Asian language can be exempt from this requirement with approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies, and in that case, they should take two additional AAS courses at 200-level or above.

    B. Core Courses to Asian and Asian American Studies (9 credits)

    Majors are required to take three of the core courses to AAS major:

    • AAS 102 Eastern Religions
    • AAS 201 Introduction to the Civilization of the Indian Subcontinent
    • AAS 216 Introduction to Japanese Studies
    • AAS 217 Introduction to Korean Culture
    • AAS 220 China: Language and Culture
    • AAS 232 Introduction to Asian American Fiction and Film

    Students may substitute courses not listed, with Director of Undergraduate Studies approval.

    C. Areas of Focus (15 credits)

    Majors are required to take fifteen credits from one area of focus , including at least nine credits from upper-division courses. Students are encouraged to construct their own analytic focus within the major in consultation with the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Note: Students may substitute courses not listed under their chosen Area of Focus with Director of
    Undergraduate Studies approval.

    1) Asian Philosophy and Religions

     Courses in this area of focus include but are not limited to:

    •  AAS 212 Asian and Asian American Studies Topics in the Humanities
    •  AAS 236 Korean Religions
    •  AAS 240 Confucianism and Daoism
    •  AAS 256 Hinduism
    •  AAS 260 Buddhism
    •  AAS 280 Islam
    •  AAS 300 Intellectual History of East Asia
    •  AAS 326 Indian Mythology
    •  AAS 366 Feminine Spirituality
    •  AAS 367 Meditation and Enlightenment
    •  AAS 368 Yoga: Theory and Praxis
    •  AAS 380 Islamic Classics
    •  AAS 382 Japanese Buddhism
    •  AAS 387 Islam and Confucianism
    •  AAS 391 Humanities Topics in Asian and Asian American Studies
    •  AAS 472 Topics and Asian Philosophy

    2) Literature, Arts, and Culture of Asia

     Courses in this area of focus include but are not limited to:

    •  AAS 110 Appreciating Indian Music
    •  AAS 212 Asian and Asian American Studies Topics in the Humanities
    •  AAS 232 Introduction to Asian American Fiction and Film
    •  AAS 237 Introduction to Japanese Literature
    •  AAS 247 Modern Korea through Visual Culture
    •  AAS 320 Literature of India
    •  AAS 321 Korean Literature
    •  AAS 322 Literature of Japan
    •  AAS 327 Great Epics of India: Ramayana and Mahabharata
    •  AAS 391 Humanities Topics in Asian and Asian American Studies
    •  AAS 394 Topics in Asian Art
    •  AAS 440 Inter-Asia Cultural Studies

    3) Society and Contemporary Issues

     Courses in this area of focus include but are not limited to:

    •  AAS 211 Asian and Asian American Studies Topics in the Social Sciences
    •  AAS 219 Japan in the Age of Courtier and Samurai 
    •  AAS 223 China: Society and Civilization
    •  AAS 232 Introduction to Asian American Fiction and Film
    •  AAS 247 Modern Korea through Visual Culture
    •  AAS 328 Race, Humor and Asian America
    •  AAS 338 Contemporary India: History, Politics, and Diplomacy
    •  AAS 339 Contemporary China: History, Politics, and Diplomacy
    •  AAS 343 Modern Japan
    •  AAS 351 Revolutionary China: Politics, Culture, and Power
    •  AAS 352 Environmental History of China
    •  AAS 353 Postwar Japan
    •  AAS 357 India's Foreign Policy
    •  AAS 370 Intercultural Communication
    •  AAS 372 Family, Marriage, and Kinship in China
    •  AAS 379 Ethnicity and Ecology in China
    •  AAS 392 Social Science Topics in Asian and Asian American Studies

    4) Region and Language

    Courses in this area of focus include but are not limited to:

    •  AAS 211 Asian and Asian American Studies Topics in the Social Sciences
    •  AAS 212 Asian and Asian American Studies Topics in the Humanities
    •  AAS 219 Japan in the Age of Courtier and Samurai
    •  AAS 237 Introduction to Japanese Literature
    •  AAS 247 Modern Korea through Visual Culture
    •  AAS 320 Literature of India
    •  AAS 321 Korean Literature
    •  AAS 322 Literature of Japan
    •  AAS 323 Language and Society in South Korea
    •  AAS 324 Language and Society in North Korea
    •  AAS 326 Indian Mythology
    •  AAS 327 Great Epics of India: Ramayana and Mahabharata
    •  AAS 330 Language and Society in South Asia
    •  AAS 337 History of Korea
    •  AAS 338 Contemporary India: History, Politics, and Diplomacy
    •  AAS 339 Contemporary China: History, Politics, and Diplomacy
    •  AAS 343 Modern Japan
    •  AAS 344 Learning of Asian Languages
    •  AAS 351 Revolutionary China: Politics, Culture, and Power
    •  AAS 352 Environmental History of China
    •  AAS 353 Postwar Japan
    •  AAS 370 Intercultural Communication
    •  AAS 371 Ancient China
    •  AAS 372 Family, Marriage, and Kinship in China
    •  AAS 379 Cultural Diversity of China
    •  AAS 385 Translation Studies of Asian Languages
    •  AAS 391 Humanities Topics in Asian and Asian American Studies
    •  AAS 392 Social Science Topics in Asian and Asian American Studies
    •  AAS 400 Seminar in Korean Studies
    •  CHI 426 Structure of Chinese
    •  JPN 426 Structure of Japanese
    •  KOR 426 Structure of Korean

    D. Asian and Asian American Studies Electives (6 credits)

    Majors are required to take two electives in AAS to meet the total credit and upper-division credit requirements.

    E. Senior Seminar (3 credits)

    Majors are required to take the following course as a capstone requirement:

    • AAS 401 Senior Seminar in Asian and Asian American Studies

    F. Upper-Division Writing Requirement

    By the end of their junior year, students must register for the 0-credit AAS 459: Write Effectively in Asian and
    Asian American Studies, and complete one upper-division course from requirements C that includes a minimum of ten pages of written English work. Written assignments for the course must be submitted to the Director of Undergraduate Studies for assessment of advanced writing skills appropriate to the major. This review is separate from the evaluation made by the course instructor and has no effect on the course grade.

    Students should consult with the department advisor to ensure that their plan for completing the Upper Division Writing Requirement is consistent with university graduation requirements for General Education.  Students completing the Stony Brook Curriculum (SBC) must complete a course that satisfies the "Write Effectively within One's Discipline" (WRTD) learning objective to graduate.  The Upper Division Writing Requirement is consistent in most cases with the SBC learning outcomes for WRTD.

    Notes:

    1. A course is used to satisfy only one requirement category. 

    2. At least 12 of the upper-division credits must be taken at Stony Brook University. 

    3. Acceptable courses may include, but are not limited to courses with the following designators: ANT, ARH, CCS, CHI, CLT, ENG, HIN, HIS, JPN, KOR, LIN, PHI, POL, RLS, SKT, SOC, THR. 

    The Honors Program in Asian & Asian American Studies (AAS)

    To be eligible to participate in the honors program, majors must have an overall g.p.a. of 3.00 and an average g.p.a. of 3.50 in AAS through their junior year. An eligible student wishing to write a senior thesis must find a faculty member to act as thesis advisor. The student, with the approval of this advisor, must submit a proposal of a project in writing to the Director of Undergraduate Studies. The deadline for submission of the proposal is April 30 for the spring semester, and November 30 for the fall semester. Selection of candidates and topics is made by a committee within the Department. Students in the honors program must enroll in AAS 495 for the semester in which the thesis is written. The thesis is evaluated by the thesis advisor, and approved by two additional faculty. For further information consult the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

    Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Secondary Teacher Education Program

    See the Education and Teacher Certification entry in the alphabetical listings of Approved Majors, Minors, and Programs.

    Requirements for the Minor in Asian and Asian American Studies (AAS)

    The Minor in Asian and Asian American Studies encourages students of any academic major to enhance their knowledge and understanding of Asian cultures, societies, and histories. Students with a minor in Asian and Asian American Studies consult with the Undergraduate Director of Asian and Asian American Studies to select a curriculum of interdisciplinary comparative study that speaks to their particular interests and career goals. All courses for the minor must be taken for a letter grade and passed with a grade of C or higher.

    Completion of the minor requires 18 credits, including at least 9 upper-division credits.

    A. AAS minors are required to take six credits from the core courses.

    • AAS 102 Eastern Religions
    • AAS 201 Introduction to the Civilization of the Indian Subcontinent
    • AAS 216 Introduction to Japanese Studies
    • AAS 217 Introduction to Korean Culture
    • AAS 220 China: Language and Culture
    • AAS 232 Introduction to Asian American Fiction and Film

    The choice of core courses may be changed with the approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies as long as the choice ensures the diversity within AAS and appropriate core knowledge needed for completing the minor in AAS.

    B. AAS minors are required to take nine credits from one area of concentration, including at least six credits from upper-division courses. For available courses, refer to the AAS major requirement C.

    1. Asian Philosophy and Religions
    2. Literature, Arts, and Culture of Asia
    3. Society and Contemporary Issues
    4. Region and Language

    C. Asian and Asian American Studies Elective

    Minors are required to take one elective in AAS to meet the total credit and upper-division credit requirements.

     

     

  • Sequence

    Sample Course Sequence for the Major in Asian and Asian American Studies

    For more information about SBC courses that fulfill major requirements, click here.

    FRESHMAN

    FALL Credits
    First Year Seminar 101 1
     WRT 101 3
     Elementary Asian language I  4
     Core courses: 1st course   3
     SBC  3
     SBC  3
     Total  17
     
    SPRING Credits
    First Year Seminar 102 1
     WRT 102 3
    Elementary Asian language II   4
     Core courses: 2nd course   3
     SBC  3
     SBC  3
     Total  17
     
    SOPHOMORE

    FALL Credits
    Intermediate Asian language I  3
     Core courses: 3rd course   3
     SBC  3
     SBC  3
     Elective  3
       
     Total  15
     
    SPRING Credits
    Intermediate Asian language II  3
    SBC   3 
    SBC  3
    Elective  3
    Elective  3
       
     Total  15
     
    JUNIOR

    FALL Credits
    Concentration: 1st course   3
    Concentration: 2nd course  3
    SBC  3
    Elective  3
    Elective  3
       
     Total  15
     
    SPRING Credits
    Concentration: 3rd course 
    Concentration: 4th course  3
    SBC  3
    Elective  3
    Elective  3
       
     Total  15
     
    SENIOR

    FALL Credits
    AAS 401 
    Concentration: 5th course
    One upper-division elective in AAS
    Elective
    Elective 3
       
     Total 15 
     
    SPRING Credits
    One upper-division elective in AAS  3 
    Elective  3 
    Elective  3
    Elective   3 
    Elective  3
       
     Total 15 
  • Contact

    Asian and Asian American Studies (AAS)

    Major and Minor in Asian and Asian American Studies

    Department of Asian and Asian American Studies, College of Arts and Sciences

    Chair: EK Tan

    Interim Director of Undergraduate Studies:Eva Nagase

    Assistant to the Chair: Corey Fortcher

    Administrative Assistant:  Lynne Foerster

    Office: 1046 Humanities

    Phone: (631) 632-4030

    Website: http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/asian/

    Minors of particular interest to students majoring in Asian and Asian American Studies: Anthropology (ANT), China Studies (CNS), Japanese Studies (JNS), Korean Studies (KOR), Linguistics (LIN), Sociology (SOC), South Asian Studies (SOA)

     

     

     

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