Course Offerings

For a complete list of departmental course offerings, please refer to the Undergraduate Bulletin.
How To Request a Prerequisite Override: (pdf)

Fall 2026 Courses (pdf)

Chinese Language Courses (CHI)

CHI 101. First-year Chinese I: Start Your Global Journey. (4 h)

First half of a year-long sequence designed to develop students’ elementary Chinese communication skills in simple daily life contexts. Reading, writing, listening, and speaking are given equal weight, with emphasis on listening and speaking skills in class.

CHI 153. Second-year Chinese I: Unlock Connections and Opportunities. (4 h)

First half of a year-long sequence designed to develop students’ Chinese communication skills in a wide range of daily life contexts, including some work scenarios. Students will gain a basic appreciation of cultural differences. P – CHI 102 or equivalent.

CHI 220. Third-year Chinese I: Thrive in Global Societies. (4 h)

First half of a year-long sequence designed to enhance students’ Chinese communication skills, with emphasis on accuracy and fluency on various topics at more abstract levels. Students will deepen their understanding of cultural differences. P – CHI 201.

CHI 231. Fourth-year Chinese: Lead in Global Communities. (3h)

Continuation of CHI 230, with emphasis on developing intercultural awareness and competence when encountering people and cultures from the Chinese-speaking communities through experiential learning. P – CHI 230 or prerequisite override required.

Japanese Language Courses (JPN)

JPN 101. First-year Japanese I. (4 h)

First half of a year-long sequence designed to develop students’ elementary Japanese communication skills in simple daily life contexts. Focuses on developing proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

JPN 153. Second-year Japanese I. (4 h)

First half of a year-long sequence at the intermediate level. Continues to focus on developing proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Expands students’ ability to communicate with a broader range of vocabulary and grammar. P-JPN 102 or equivalent.

JPN 220. Third-year Japanese I. (4 h)

Two-semester sequence that enhances students’ reading, speaking, writing, and listening skills by dealing with a variety of topics at an advanced linguistic level. Integrates conversation, discussion, and presentation with emphasis on written and multimedia sources. P-JPN 201 or prerequisite override required.

JPN 231. Fourth-year Japanese (3h)

Two-semester sequence that enhances students’ reading, speaking, writing, and listening skills by dealing with a variety of topics at an advanced linguistic level. Integrates conversation, discussion, and presentation with emphasis on written and multimedia sources. P-JPN 230 or equivalent.

East Asian Cultural Electives (EAL)

EAL 219. Major Works of Japanese Literature I. (3 h)

Surveys major works of Japanese and Japanophone literatures from the late-19th century to the present with special attention to their cultural and socio-historical contexts. (CD, D, POR, SWC)

EAL 221. Themes in Chinese Literature I. (3 h)

Examines selected themes in Chinese fiction, drama, and poetry with an emphasis on the modern and early modern periods. (CD, D)

EAL 231. Experiments in Modern Chinese Literature and Visual Culture (3h)

Explores experiments in modern Chinese literature, photography, art, architecture and design. (CD, D)

EAL 253. Japanese Film: Themes and Methods (3h)

Explores themes, artistic visions, and techniques in a variety of film genres, from historical dramas to contemporary comedies and from realism to fantasy and science fiction. Special focus is given to the films’ historical and political context. (CD, SWC)

EAL 260. Global Work and Life: A Chinese Linguistics Approach.  (3 h)

Explores how Chinese language and applied linguistics interact with global life and work (food, business, politics). Applies quantitative and qualitative methods to an interdisciplinary inquiry in students’ interest. No Chinese language background is required. Also listed as LIN 260. (CD, SWC)

EAL 290. Chinese Characters (1 h) (Fall First Half of Term)

This course is designed for students who have learned Chinese primarily through typing and would like extra practice to build a strong foundation in Chinese character writing. It is open to students enrolled in CHI 101, CHI 102, or CHI 153, with instructor permission. The course aims to foster both confidence and enjoyment in character learning. Through engaging activities, students will explore the stories of character origins, master strokes and radicals, and develop effective learning strategies. The course also offers hands-on practice, including 3D character lego activities and brush and pen calligraphy, helping students build accuracy, fluency, and an appreciation for the art of Chinese writing. P-Prerequisite override required.

EAL 375. Senior Research Seminar. (3 h)

Provides a critical and practical foundation for developing students’ capstone research projects in the field of East Asian cultural studies.

Non-EALC courses that count for the Chinese and/or Japanese major

ART 238 Art and Culture of China. (3 h)

Explores the history of Chinese art through visual, historical, social, religious, and political perspectives from prehistoric times to the avant-garde. Students will have hands-on experience studying artworks and are encouraged to expand their intellectual experience as modern global citizens. (CD, D, SWC)

HST 245 Modern China since 1850. (3 h)

Study of modern China from 1850 to the present, focusing on the major political, economic, and cultural transformations occurring in China during this period within the context of modernization, imperialism and (semi) colonialism, world wars and civil wars, revolution and reform, and the ongoing processes of globalization. (CD)

HST 246 Japan Before 1600. (3 h)

A survey of Japan from earliest times to the coming of Western imperialism, with emphasis on regional ecologies, economic institutions, cultural practice, military organization, political ideology, and foreign relations. (CD, SWC)

POL 252 China and the Global South. (3 h)

China has emerged as a major player in global politics. It has the world’s largest population, its second largest economy, and its influence globally is increasing in a wide array of international arenas: trade, investment, development finance, technology, soft power, and more. This course will examine China’s increasing influence in the Global South and what it means for global politics.