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
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
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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
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Professors
Rhea Ashmore, Ed.D., The University of Montana, 1981 (Curriculum and
Instruction)
William W. Bevis, Ph.D., University of California at 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)