Alan Sponberg, 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.
Additional Asian Studies Courses
- DAN 435L Arts and Culture of Bali
- ECON 336 US-Asian Relations
- HIST 283H Islamic Civilization: Classical Era
- HIST 284H Islamic Civilization: Modern Era
- HIST 380H Modern China
- HIST 381H Modern Japan
- HIST 387 Iran Between Two Revolutions
- JPNS 411 Modern Japanese Writers and Thinkers
- JPNS 431L Post-War Japanese Literature
- MCLG/JPNS 311L Classical Japanese Literature in English
- MCLG/JPNS 312L Japanese Literature from Medieval to Modern in English Translation
- MCLG/JPNS 386 History of Japanese Language
- MCLG/LS 380L Chinese Folktales
- PSC 328H Politics of China
- PSC 329H Politics of Japan
- PSC 420 Comparative Legal Systems
- RELS 232H Introduction to Buddhism
- RELS 233 Traditions of Buddhist Meditation
- RELS 360 Classics of Buddhist Literature
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
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. Credits beyond this maximum do not count toward a degree.
Asian Studies (AS)
U 101H Introduction to Asian Studies3 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 JPNS, LS and MCLG 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 LS and MCLG 211H. A comprehensive study of Chinese culture and civilization in the manifold aspects of anthropology, sociology, economics, history, literature, religion, and philosophy.
U 212H Southeast Asian Culture and Civilization 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Same as LS and SOC 212H. Introduction to the history, geography, cultures, social organization, and contemporary events of Southeast Asia.
U 213S The Middle East 3 cr. Offered autumn odd-numbered years. Same as GEOG and LS 213S. A survey of the biophysical and cultural geography of Southwest Asia and North Africa. Emphasis on environmental change, pre-history, patterns of cultural and historical change, issues of socio-economic. religious, and political diversity, and the broader political significance of the region.
U 214 Central Asia: Peoples and Environments 3 cr. Offered autumn. Same as GEOG, HIST, LS 214. 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.
U 313L Classical Chinese Poetry in English Translation 3 cr. Offered intermittently in spring. Same as CHIN, LS and MCLG 313L. The works of major Chinese poets to 1300 A.D.
U 314L Traditional Chinese Literature in English Translation 3 cr. Offered intermittently in spring. Same as CHIN, LS and MCLG 314L. Highlights of Chinese literature to 1800; includes philosophy, poetry, prose, and fiction.
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 432L Twentieth Century Chinese Fiction in English Translation 3 cr. Offered intermittently in spring. Same as CHIN, LS 432L and MCLG 432L. A survey of the principal works of Chinese fiction circa 1910-1990
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
Professors
Rhea Ashmore, Ed.D., The University of Montana, 1981 (Curriculum and Instruction)
Timothy Bradstock, Ph.D., Harvard University, 1984 (Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures)
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)
Peter Koehn, Ph.D., University of Colorado, 1973
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 (Modern and Classical 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)
Ruth Vanita, Ph.D., Delhi University, 1992 (Liberal Studies)
Terry Weidner, Ph.D., University of California, 1980 (Mansfield Center)
Philip West, Ph.D., Harvard University, 1971 (Mansfield Center)
Associate Professors
Jill Belsky, Ph.D., Cornell University, 1991 (Bolle Center)
Timothy Bradstock, Ph.D., Harvard University, 1984 (Modern and Classical 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)
G.G. Weix, Ph.D., Cornell University, 1990 (Anthropology, Women = s Studies)
Assistant Professors
Charles Cabell, Ph.D., Harvard University, 1999 (Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures)
Fengru Li, Ph.D., University of Washington, 1996 (Business Administration, Communication Studies)
Yuka Tachibana, M.A., California State University, 1993 (Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures)
Adjunct Faculty
Zhen Cao, Ed.D., The University of Montana, 1997 (Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures)
Mark Johnson, M.A., George Washington University, 1964 (Mansfield Center)
Ardi Kia, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, 1988 (Art, Liberal Studies)
Margaret Mudd, M.A., Instituto Pio Dodicesimo, Florence, 1967 (Art)
Joanne Shelton, M.A., Johns Hopkins University, 1977 (Mansfield Center)
Emeritus Professors
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)
Darshan Kang, Ph.D., University of Nebraska, 1975 (Geography)
Rustem Medora, Ph.D., University of Rhode Island, 1965 (Pharmacy)