Alan Sponberg, Academic Chair
The Asian Studies Program offers undergraduates at The University
of Montana-Missoula an opportunity to study Asian lands, peoples,
cultures and languages. The program encompasses the geographic
areas of East, Southeast, South, Central and Southwest Asia,
with particular emphasis on China and Japan.
The Asian Studies Program is administered by the Asian Studies
Executive Committee, an interdisciplinary group of faculty with
teaching and research interests in Asia. The Executive committee
works closely with the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
and the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center at The University
of Montana Missoula. The program draws its faculty from the
College of Arts and Sciences, professional schools and the Mansfield
Center.
Students may choose from two programs. The first is a major
in Liberal Studies with an option in Asian Studies . The second
is a major in another discipline with a minor in Asian Studies.
Students admitted to either of the two programs must register
with the chair of the Asian Studies program. Students are encouraged
to plan their course sequence at least one year in advance in
consultation with their assigned Asian Studies faculty advisor.
Special Degree Requirements
First Program: Major in Liberal Studies with an option in
Asian Studies
The following requirements must be met to complete this program.
1. Completion of the Liberal Studies core curriculum.
(See the Liberal Studies section of this catalog.)
2. Six credits in introductory Asian Studies courses
(100-level courses or Study Abroad in Asia) including AS 101H
or 102.
3. Twelve credits in foundational Asian Studies courses
(200-level courses), including Asian Studies 201H and 202S.
4. At least 30 credits in upper-level courses (300-level
courses and above), of which at least six credits must be in
the humanities and six in the social sciences.
5. Language Requirement: Two years (or equivalent proficiency)
in an Asian language appropriate to the student's academic goals
and approved by the academic advisor. Students who plan to pursue
graduate work are strongly advised to complete three years,
including at least one study abroad in Asia experience.
Requirements for a Minor
back to top
Second Program: Major in any discipline with a minor in Asian
Studies
1. Six credits in introductory Asian Studies courses
(100-level courses), including AS 101H or 102.
2. Twelve credits in foundational Asian Studies courses
(200-level courses).
3. Nine credits in upper-level courses (300-level courses
and above), of which at least three credits must be in humanities
and three in social sciences.
4. No language courses are required. Students are encouraged
to include at least one study abroad in Asia experience.
Courses back
to top
U=for undergraduate credit only, UG=for undergraduate or graduate
credit, G=for graduate credit. R after the credit indicates
the course may be repeated for credit to the maximum indicated
after the R.
U 101H Introduction to Asian Studies 3 cr. Offered autumn.
An introduction to Asia, its geography, cultures and ways of
thinking, presented in geographical and historical context,
with an emphasis on the modern period. A cultural-geographical
overview
followed by modules that focus on specific themes, each set
in a particular Asian region.
U 102H Introduction to Asian Studies 3 cr. Offered spring.
Continuation of AS 101H except with different thematic modules,
allowing a broader introduction to Asia's regions. The cultural-geographical
overview approached using different materials and emphases.
U 195 Special Topics 1-6 cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently.
Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental
offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.
U 201H East Asian Civilizations 3 cr. Offered autumn.
Same as HIST 201H. An interdisciplinary, pluralist, and exploratory
introduction to civilizations of East Asia. Primary focus on
China, Japan, and Korea, the relations among them and their
patterns of interaction with the outside world in pre-modern
and modern periods.
U 202S South Asia/Land and People 3 cr. Offered intermittently.
Same as GEOG 202S. The physical setting of South Asia, its history,
culture and socio-economic organization. Examines regional differences,
changing social patterns and the relationship between people
and the environment.
U 210H Japanese Culture and Civilization 3 cr. Offered
autumn. Same as FLLG, JPNS, and LS 210H. The historical religious,
artistic, literary and social developments in Japan from earliest
times to the present.
U 211H Chinese Culture and Civilization 3 cr. Offered
intermittently. Same as FLLG and LS 211H. A comprehensive study
of Chinese culture and civilization in the manifold aspects
of anthropology, sociology, economics, art, literature, religion,
and philosophy.
U 212S Southeast Asian Culture and Civilization 3 cr. Offered
intermittently. Same as LS and SOC 212S. Introduction to the
history, geography, cultures, social organization, and contemporary
events of Southeast Asia.
U 213S Southwest Asian Culture and Civilization 3 cr.
Offered intermittently. Same as GEOG and LS 213S. A survey of
the biophysical and cultural geography of Southwest Asia and
North Africa. Emphasis on environmental change, cultural-historical
development, socio-economic diversity, and the broader political
significance of the region.
U 214S Central Asian Culture and Civilization 3 cr. Offered
autumn. Same as GEOG, HIST, LS 214S. Introduction to Central
Asia's history, culture and ways of thinking. Focus on the political
and social organization of Central Asia and cultural changes
as expressed in art and interactions with China, India and the
Middle East.
U 295 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-12) Experimental
offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of
new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.
UG 340H Contemporary Issues of Southeast Asia 3 cr. Offered
autumn odd-numbered years. Same as ANTH 340H. Prereq., ANTH
220S or AS 101H or AS 102H. An examination of the major issues
that affect the contemporary experience of Southeast Asians.
U 365 South Asian Traditions: Hinduism 3 cr. Offered
spring even-numbered years. Same as LS and RELS 365. Critical
exploration of selected aspects of Hindu thought, narrative
and practice, both in contemporary and historical perspective.
Focus primarily on India, but with consideration of Hinduism's
transformation and impact beyond South Asia.
U 395 Special Topics Variable cr. (R 12) Experimental
offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of
new courses, or one time offerings of current topics.
UG 435L The Arts and Culture of Bali 3 cr. Same as DAN
435L. Three-week study abroad during intersession. Overview
lectures on Balinese culture, hands on lessons in art forms,
field trips to observe religious ceremonies and arts performances.
UG 495 Problems in Asian Studies Variable cr. (R 12) Seminar
designed for students with an option in Asian Studies. Regional
or temporal focus may vary, depending on the discipline and
expertise of the instructor.
Faculty
back to top
Professors
Rhea Ashmore, Ed.D., The University of Montana, 1981 (Curriculum
and Instruction)
William W. Bevis, Ph.D., University of California t Berkeley,
1969 (English; Emeritus)
Juliette T. Crump, M.A., George Washington University, 1975
(Drama/Dance)
Richard Dailey, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University, 1968 (Management)
Evan Denney, Ph.D., University of Washington, 1970 (Geography)
Roger Dunsmore, M.F.A., The University of Montana, 1971 (Liberal
Studies)
Maureen Fleming, Ph.D., Southern Illinois University, 1969 (Management)
Jeffrey Gritzner, Ph.D., University of Chicago, 1986 (Geography)
Louis D. Hayes, Ph.D., University of Arizona, 1966 (Political
Science)
Darshan Kang, Ph.D., University of Nebraska, 1975 (Geography)
Peter Koehn, Ph.D., University of Colorado, 1973
Steven Levine, Ph.D., Harvard University, 1972 (Mansfield Center)
Rustem Medora, Ph.D., University of Rhode Island, 1965 (Pharmacy)
Dennis O'Donnell, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University, 1974
(Economics)
Daniel Pletscher, Ph.D., Yale University, 1982 (Forestry)
Judith Rabinovitch, Ph.D, Harvard University, 1981 (Foreign
Languages and Literatures)
Nader Shooshtari, Ph.D., Arizona State University, 1983 (Business
Administration)
Alan Sponberg, Ph.D., University of British Columbia, 1979 (Liberal
Studies)
John Spores, Ph.D., University of Michigan, 1976 (Social Work)
James Todd, M.F.A., The University of Montana, 1970 (Art)
Philip West, Ph.D., Harvard University, 1971 (Mansfield Center)
Associate Professors
Jill Belsky, Ph.D., Cornell University, 1991 (Sociology)
Timothy Bradstock, Ph.D., Harvard University, 1984 (Foreign
Languages and Literatures)
Jim Burfeind, Ph.D., Portland State University, 1984 (Sociology)
Mehrdad Kia, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, 1986 (History)
Stephen Siebert, Ph.D., Cornell University, 1990 (Forestry)
Ruth Vanita, Ph.D., Delhi University, 1992 (Liberal Studies)
G.G. Weix, Ph.D., Cornell University, 1990 (Anthropology, Women's
Studies)
Assistant Professors
Charles Cabell, Ph.D., Harvard University, 1999 (Foreign Languages
and Literatures)
Fengru Li, Ph.D., University of Washington, 1996 (Business Administration,
Communication Studies)
Adjunct Faculty
Zhen Cao, Ed.D., The University of Montana, 1997 (Foreign Languages
and Literatures)
Mark Johnson, M.A., George Washington University, 1964 (Mansfield
Center)
Ardi Kia, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, 1988 (Art, Liberal
Studies)
Dorothy Morrison, M.A., University of Alaska, 1988 (Music)
Margaret Mudd, M.A., Instituto Pio Dodicesimo, Florence, 1967
(Art)
Yuka Tachibana, M.A., California State University, 1993 (Foreign
Languages and Literatures)
Anthony Tribe, Ph.D., Oxford University, 1995 (Liberal Studies)
Joanne Shelton, M.A., Johns Hopkins University, 1977 (Mansfield
Center)