ASIAN STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA

The Center for Asian Studies exists to nurture and guide academic programs and exchanges, primarily on Asia, for students, faculty, and appropriate staff members. While these programs focus on language and area studies, they also involve students and faculty from law, business, agriculture, education, journalism, veterinary medicine, as well as the arts and sciences. Specific purposes and programs focus on (1) curriculum planning, review, and development in modern Asian languages and related area studies; (2) a speakers’ and visitors’ program of distinguished Asianists to address and exchange ideas with students, faculty, and community on Asian topics; (3) student and faculty exchange agreements such educational institutions and government agencies in Asia and the Middle East; (4) development of library and related instructional and research facilities necessary for a credible academic program in Asian studies; (5) planning and application for external funding for Asian Studies at UGA; and (6) research and research collaboration on Asia and the Middle East.

The University of Georgia provides an extensive curriculum in Asian Studies and has for many years. Courses deal with a wide range of subjects and cultural areas of Asia and the Middle East. Many courses focus on China and adjacent states and territories of Taiwan; Mongolia, Hong Kong and Macao; Japan, and the Koreas. In response to the rapidly growing recognition in the last decade of the significance of Asia to the economy, politics, and security of our nation, the courses offered in Asian and Middle Eastern languages have expanded. These include three years of modern Chinese (Mandarin or Putonghua), four years of modern Japanese as well a specialized course in Japanese for students interested in business, and three years of Korean. Language training in East Asian languages, as well as new offerings in Hindi and Vietnamese provide students with a range of options when planning their career goals, as well as fulfilling university language requirements.

Most of the Asian language courses are taught in the Department of Comparative Literature which offers a major and minor in Japanese Language and Literature and is developing a similar major and minor for Chinese. Middle Eastern language courses are located in the Department of Religion. Students may even study the classical Sanskrit language of India.

There are many Asian courses in the humanities and social sciences within the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. Most of the area studies courses deal with subjects related to East Asia, although offerings in South Asia have been increasing in recent years. Courses may be found in the departments of anthropology, art and art history, comparative literature, drama and theatre, geography, history, music, political science, religion and textiles, merchandising and interiors. Examples are the three-course sequence on the History of China, Geography of China, and Japanese Religion. Others are comparative and broader in scope such as Introduction to Asian Civilizations (an honors course), Far Eastern Political Systems, and Religion in Asian Culture. Students may also consider taking courses that concern themselves with multicultural subject matter. Some of these courses consider the life and culture of Asian-Americans, as well as peoples who have settled in the USA from the Middle East. Not all multicultural courses have been included in our list.

Although there is not a graduate program specific only to Asian Studies, there is a broad and diverse set of course offerings available to both undergraduate and graduate students in Asian language and area studies. These basis courses are offered to students who wish to supplement their traditional disciplinary foci of studies with a good background in some region of East Asia. Many students have graduated with advanced degrees for the University of Georgia who have specialized in specific areas of Asia.

Study Abroad programs are also available in Asia and the Middle East. UGA conducts programs in India, Japan, Morocco, and South Korea. It participates with other institutions in the University System of Georgia in programs in China. Other institutions in the university system have programs in Hong Kong, Singapore, the Philippines, and Thailand. For full details concerning Study Abroad programs in Asia and the Middle East consult www.usg.edu/oie/catalog.

The University of Georgia has entered into various cooperative agreements with universities and foreign government agencies in China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the Phillipines, Taiwan, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. Typically, agreements are established to foster academic research, special projects of mutual interest to faculty and organizations of the University of Georgia and organizations in Asia and the Middle East. They often involve exploration of language and literature, agriculture, education, medical science, veterinary medicine, and food science, among other topics.

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