Committee in Charge

Jingsong Chen, Ph.D. Chinese
Sabine Doran, Ph.D., European Literature/Comparative Literature
Michael D. Foster, Ph.D. Japanese/Comparative Literature
Yoshiko T. Hain, M.A. Japanese
John N. Kim, Ph.D. German/Japanese/Comparative Literature
Mariam Beevi Lam, Ph.D. Vietnamese/Vietnamese
Margherita Long , Ph.D. Japanese/Comparative Literature
Hendrik M.J. Maier, Ph.D. Southeast Asian Literature/Comparative Literature
Yenna Wu , Ph.D. Chinese/Civilizations/Comparative Literature
Yang Ye, Ph.D. Chinese/Civilizations/Comparative Literature

Joel W. Martin, Ph.D.
Dean (Interim), College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, ex officio

The Asian Literatures and Cultures Major offers a diverse and flexible program for students interested in the study of Asian languages, cultures, and literatures. While language proficiency and some courses in literature or culture are required, students have considerable freedom within the major to make course selections based on their own areas of interest. Students may either study a national literature in depth in the original language or focus more broadly on culture, history, and literature using texts in English translation. They may also choose between concentrating on one national literature and cultural tradition or including other Asian literatures and cultures. The major is flexibly interdisciplinary, giving students the opportunity to combine courses from different UCR departments (e.g., Art History, History, Religious Studies) as appropriate for their field of study.

Chinese Track (44 units)

1. Lower-division requirements (8 units plus language proficiency)
   1. Proficiency in Chinese through the intermediate level (CHN 006 or its equivalent)
      
      
   2. Eight (8) units from lower-division lecture courses on Chinese literature and culture: AST 030/CHN 030, AST 040/CHN 040, AST 046/CHN 046, AST 048/CHN 048. Four (4) units can be from other courses on Asian literature and culture from the department as well as China-related courses from other departments (with adviser's consent).
      
      
2. Upper-division requirements (36 units)
   1. Sixteen (16) units in Chinese language from CHN 101A, CHN 101B, CHN 101C, CHN 105, CHN 108, CHN 110 (E-Z), CHN 115 (E-Z)
      
      
   2. Twelve (12) units in Chinese literature and culture from CHN 104, CHN 105, AST 107/CHN 107/RLST 107, CHN 108, CHN 110 (E-Z), CHN 115 (E-Z), AST 135/CHN 135, AST 136/CHN 136, AST 142/CHN 142, CPLT 142E/WMST 142E, AST 148/CHN 148, AST 185/CHN 185, CHN 190
      
      
   3. Eight (8) units in Asian literatures and cultures: can be chosen from all the upper-division lecture courses on Asian literature and culture from the department as well as China-related upper-division courses from other departments (with adviser's consent), including the courses listed under (b).

Japanese Track (44 units)

The Japanese track develops students' skills in analysis, writing, and foreign languages by teaching the language and literature of a country with more than 1400 years' rich cultural tradition. The broad historical sweep of the courses examines narrative traditions as diverse as court poetry, folktales, sutras, kabuki plays, novels, films, manga, and animation.

1. Lower-division requirements (8 units plus language proficiency)
   1. Proficiency in Japanese through the intermediate level (JPN 006 or its equivalent)
      
      
   2. Eight (8) units from lower-division lecture courses on Japanese literature and culture: AST 022/JPN 022, AST 032/JPN 032, AST 034/JPN 034, JPN 035. Four (4) units can be from other lower-division lecture courses on Asian literature and culture from the department as well as Japan-related lower-division courses from other departments (with adviser's consent).
      
      
2. Upper-division requirements (36 units)
   1. Twelve (12) upper-division units in Japanese language from JPN 101A, JPN 101B, JPN 101C, JPN 110
      
      
   2. Twelve (12) units in upper-division Japanese literature and culture from JPN 110, CPLT 142J/WMST 142J, JPN 150, AST 151/JPN 151, AST 152 (E-Z)/JPN 152 (E-Z), AST 153 (E-Z)/JPN 153 (E-Z), AST 154 (E-Z)/JPN 154 (E-Z), AST 184/JPN 184, AST 190, JPN 190.
      
      
   3. Twelve (12) units in Asian literatures and cultures: can be chosen from all the upper-division lecture courses on Asian literature and culture from the department as well as Japan-related upper-division courses from other departments (with adviser's consent), including the courses listed under (b).

MINOR

The Asian Literatures and Cultures minor provides students with the opportunity to enhance their knowledge of Asian languages, cultures, and literatures.

Chinese Track (24 units)

1. Lower-division requirements (4 units plus language proficiency)
   1. Proficiency in Chinese through the intermediate level (second year)
      
      
   2. Four (4) units from lower-division lecture courses on Chinese literature and culture: AST 030/CHN 030, AST 040/CHN 040, AST 046/CHN 046, AST 048/CHN 048
      
      
2. Upper-division requirements (20 units)
   1. 8 upper-division units in Chinese language from CHN 101A, CHN 101B, CHN 101C, CHN 105, CHN 108, CHN 110 (E-Z), CHN 115 (E-Z)
      
      
   2. Eight (8) units in Chinese literature and culture from CHN 104, CHN 105, AST 107/CHN 107/RLST 107, CHN 108, CHN 110 (E-Z), CHN 115 (E-Z), AST 135/CHN 135, AST 136/CHN 136, AST 142/CHN 142, CPLT 142E/WMST 142E, AST 148/CHN 148, AST 185/CHN 185, CHN 190
      
      
   3. Four (4) units in Asian literatures and cultures: can be chosen from all the upper-division lecture courses on Asian literature and culture from the department as well as China-related upper- division courses from other departments (with adviser's consent), including the courses listed under (b).

Japanese Track (24 units)

1. Lower-division requirements (4 units plus language proficiency)
   1. Proficiency in Japanese through the intermediate level (JPN 006 or its equivalent)
      
      
   2. Four (4) units from lower-division lecture courses on Japanese literature and culture: AST 022/JPN 022, AST 032/JPN 032, AST 034/JPN 034, JPN 035
      
      
2. Upper-division requirements (20 units)
   1. Eight (8) upper-division units in Japanese language from: JPN 101A, JPN 101B, JPN 101C, JPN 110
      
      
   2. Eight (8) units in Japanese literature and culture from: JPN 110, CPLT 142J/WMST 142J, JPN 150, AST 151/JPN 151, AST 152 (E-Z)/JPN 152 (E-Z), AST 153 (E-Z)/JPN 153 (E-Z), AST 154 (E-Z)/JPN 154 (E-Z), AST 184/JPN 184, AST 190, JPN 190.
      
      
   3. Four (4) units in Asian literatures and cultures: can be chosen from all the upper-division lecture courses on Asian literature and culture from the department as well as Japan-related upper- division courses from other departments (with adviser's consent), including the courses listed under (b).

Southeast Asian Track (24 units)

1. Lower-division requirements (8 units plus language proficiency)
   1. Proficiency in one of the Southeast Asian languages (Vietnamese/Indonesian/Tagalog) through the first-year level
      
      
   2. Eight (8) units from lower-division lecture courses on Southeast Asian literature and culture: AST 062/CPLT 062, AST 063/CPLT 063, AST 064/VNM 064, AST 065
      
      
2. Upper-division requirements (16 units)
   1. Sixteen (16) units in Southeast Asian literature and culture from CPLT 142V/WMST 142V, AST 161, AST 162/VNM 162, AST 163/CPLT 163, AST 165 (E-Z)/VNM 165 (E-Z)/WMST 165(E-Z), AST 166/CPLT 166/VNM 166, AST 167/CPLT 167, AST 168/MUS 168, or graduate courses in Southeast Asian literature and culture (with consent of instructor) such as CPLT 200/SEAS 200 and CPLT 205/SEAS 205.