Program Website: Asian Studies – Hiram College
Introduction
Asian studies contributes to developing a fuller and more accurate account of world cultures, societies, national and ethnic identity formation. It also examines the particular ways Asian political, historical, and cultural developments help to articulate their local interests and our interrelated global citizenry.
This minor is an excellent springboard from which to launch a meaningful vocation in fields where in-depth knowledge of the socio-historical and cultural contexts of Asian ideas and institutions are essential. This program will offer students analytical paradigms, interpretative tools, and critical thinking skills; encourage a lifelong pursuit of strategies for community empowerment, engagement, and social change; create the foundation for vocations in the peace corps, health and medicine, business, law, social work, public policy, government, the arts, or academics. This will ultimately create truly “global citizens.”
Students will integrate both social scientific and humanistic disciplines, gaining both breadth and depth as they engage in the study of particular Asian areas. The Asian studies minor is a cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary minor program led by a program coordinator and advisory committee. The primary areas of study will be Korea, China, Japan, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The program also boasts a broad range of additional associated faculty members in disciplines ranging from performing arts, communication, business management, and English.
Program Learning Goals
While students pursuing the minor will fulfill learning goals in inquiry and analysis, critical and creative thinking, information literacy, and written and oral communication, this minor will go beyond these goals by pursuing two disciplinary approaches and substantive empirical topics on two areas of Asia. Assessment will be embedded into the minor in the form of exit interviews, job placement, graduate school placement, and related indicators.
Advisory Committee
Jugdep S Chima, (2012) Associate Professor of Political Science; Coordinator of International Studies Program
B.A., University of California, Berkeley;
Ph.D., University of Missouri, Columbia
chimajs@hiram.edu
Merose Hwang, (2012) Associate Professor of History; Coordinator of Asian Studies Minor; Coordinator of Peace Corps Preparatory Program
B.A., University of Colorado at Boulder;
M.A., Yonsei University, South Korea;
Ph.D., University of Toronto
hwangm@hiram.edu
Kirsten L Parkinson, (2001) Professor of English; Director of Lindsay-Crane Center for Writing and Literature; Co-Coordinator of Gender Studies Minor; Co-Coordinator of Film Studies Minor
A.B., Harvard University;
M.A., Ph.D., University of Southern California;
Graduate Certificate in Gender Studies, University of Southern California
parkinsonkl@hiram.edu
Xinlu Yu, (2002) Associate Professor of Communication; Chair
B.A., Beijing Foreign Studies University;
M.S., Ph.D., The E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University
yux@hiram.edu