Spring 2026
All of these courses will provide an excellent introduction to incoming students to the field of Asian Studies:
Asian Languages & Cultures (ASIAN)
Asian Studies Course – Open to Freshman – Join us!
ASIAN 100: Gateway to Asia: Exploring Asia Through Sports, Professor Junko Mori (3 cr.) Level/Breadth: Elementary, Humanities
This course is required for the Asian Languages & Cultures majors including East Asian Studies, South Asian Studies, and Southeast Asian Studies majors.
ASIAN 212: Classical South Asian Literature, Dr. Jamal Jones (3 cr.) Level/Breadth: Elementary, Literature
Surveys the classical literatures of South Asia, from ancient origins to adaptations in the modern world. Includes poetry, prose, and drama translated into English from Persian, Prakrit, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi/Urdu, and other languages. Examines the relationship between literature in theory, in practice, and politics.
ASIAN 236: Asia Enchanted: Gods, Ghosts, and Monsters with Professor Rania Huntington (3 cr. ) Level/Breadth: Elementary, Humanities, Com B
Explores how different cultures in Asia conceive of and relate to the monstrous, ghostly, and divine, both in the past and in the contemporary world. These themes are approached from a range of different disciplinary perspectives, including religious studies, literature, anthropology, and history.
ASIAN 268: Tibetan Cultures & Traditions, Faculty Instructor, Jampa Khedup (3 cr. ) Level/Breadth: Elementary, Humanities
Introduction to a wide variety of ancient Tibetan cultural beliefs, practices and motifs that are practiced to this day. Examines topics such as: gender roles and stereotypes in Tibetan society; folk beliefs and practices; astrology, divination, dream interpretation and related issues; art, music and theater; traditional Tibetan medicine and healing practices; and finally, the varied and extensive religious traditions of Tibet in their cultural manifestations. Examines central themes and inquires into the ways it contributes to-or contests-a cultural universe that has direct impact on Tibetan lives.
LITTRANS 232: Anime, Dr. Steve Ridgely (3 cr.) Level/Breadth: Elementary, Humanities
Surveys anime (Japanese animation) from 1930s shorts through contemporary feature-length, experimental, and televised serial-form productions. Draws on critical writings on postmodernism, digital cinema, and visual culture.
Asian Languages & Cultures: Languages (ASIALANG)
Our department only offers first semester language class in the fall term. If you have prior experience in the language, you will need to complete a placement test for permission to join another level of language courses.