Last update: April 22, 2022

ARTH 2096 (801) Eurasia: Connecting European and Asian Art and Culture

Even though we are living in a globalizing world, our common knowledge of cultures other than our own is limited. Since every culture has its own uniqueness, it can often cause misunderstandings during interpretation. Located on the eastern side of Eurasia, Japan can be seen as a reflection of Europe itself in many ways. By comparing the cultures and historical incidents of these parts of Eurasia, they echo resounding similarities. This class connects European and Asian cultures into the singular continental culture of Eurasia - through cross cultural comparisons of significant moments in history and places of significance. Upon completion of this course, you will be able to compare the social and historical contexts of Europe and Japan, while being able to create your own critical analysis’s on this area of study. Although, not required, it is recommended to take “Japanese Culture” course before taking this course.

ARTH 2300 (801) Community Arts and Cultural Development Practice (Joint Class with Showa Women’s University)

This course will explore the relationships between collective art-making and community engagement. The class will be introduced to the history and ethics of community art and cultural development practices. We will visit local places to research the arts and communities specific to Setagaya. Then, we will propose and conduct community art projects. By collaborating with SWU and sharing resources with locals, we hope to positively influence dynamics between the schools and our neighbors.

ARTH 2680 (801) Global Renaissance

Our image of the Renaissance is deeply connected to Italy. But the early modern era is one of growing global connectedness, and thus opens up the idea of a Global Renaissance(s).  This course will examine the artistic world of the Renaissance (14th-16th century) in relation to its global interconnectedness. Mixing ideas from art history, post-colonial studies and the evolving world of global studies, this class examines the role of cross-cultural exchange, travel, trade, diplomacy, conquest and patronage in shaping artistic production and reception of artworks in Italy and beyond. We will consider artworks from various perspectives, including geographic/cultural (e.g., Europe, Asia, the Islamic World, etc.) and individual (e.g., gender, ethnicity, sexuality, etc.). Topics include itinerant artists from Madrid to Constantinople to Nagasaki; depicting foreignness in Renaissance art; women artists; sexuality in art; global trade in art; the Americas in Renaissance art.

ARTH 2800 (801) Japanese Art Before and After WWII: National Identities in Modernization

This course introduces Japanese art from the early 20th century to present day, focusing on traditional aspects of Japanese cultures. Through this course you will study Japan’s relationship with modernization and its influence on arts and cultures such as; painting, sculpture, manga, movie, animation, performance art, and more. The artists who will be discussed in these courses will be; Hayao Miyazaki, Osamu Tezuka, Leonard Tsuguharu Fujita, Yasujiro Ozu, Yoko Ono, Yukio Mishima, and Yasumasa Morimura. Special attention will be paid to the historical context of Japan’s modernization, World War II, and their influences on Japanese contemporary art. The aim of this course is to help you develop literacy on Japanese modern/contemporary art and culture. Upon completion of this course, you will be able to understand the social and historical context of Japanese art and culture. Enabling you to create your own critical analysis’s on this particular field of study. Previous knowledge of Japan’s history or art is not required for this course.

ASST 2000 (801)/SOC 2130 (801) Risk Culture: The Politics of Pandemics, Natural Disasters and Nuclear Energy

As a global viral pandemic is transforming the world, the ways in which cultures institutionalize what constitutes acceptable parameters of risk has become increasingly evident. The COVID-19 pandemic is a transformative crisis, but it is only one instance of a larger process of how we calibrate perceived threat and attempt to impose a sense of normalcy in an increasingly precarious world. In Japan this was especially evident in the Tohoku disasters of 2011, when the largest earthquake ever recorded in Japan, a tsunami that took almost 20,000 lives and 3 nuclear reactors in meltdown in the Fukushima nuclear crisis grew to become the most expensive conjoined disasters in world history. This course examines major disasters such as the Chernobyl, Three Mile Island and Fukushima nuclear accidents, global climate change and its associated effects (the Katrina Hurricane in New Orleans, flooding, wildfires, impact on vulnerable populations) and episodic but impactful disasters such as the Challenger Space Shuttle Explosion and the British Petroleum Deep Water Horizon oil spill as case studies to illustrate how risk is socially constructed and politically contended, and makes its way through public policy into institutional structures to profoundly affect our lives.

ASST 2000 (802) Photography Theories and Practices: Photographic Culture in Japan and the US (Joint Class with Showa Women’s University)

This course aims at acquiring basic theories and practices of photographic media through understanding the historical transformation of photographic culture and technologies in Japan and US, as well as the significance of recent photographic trends. This course is a joint course with Japanese (Showa Women’s) University. Segments of the course will be used for group work. Some parts of the course will cover the practical ability of photography such as shooting and editing photos on a smartphone and/or a computer. Additional goals of this course will be to develop communication skills, as such, a portion of class is reserved to help you build vocabulary. This will give you the tools needed to discuss culture through understanding the similarities and differences between Japanese and American photographic culture.

ASST 3000 (801)/POLS 3520 (801) KOREAN POLITICS

This course is about the government and politics in South Korea. We will first take a look at the historical processes from the liberation and division of the Korean peninsula to the democratization and economic development of the South Korea and nuclear and economic challenges of North Korea. We will then survey the political institutions and groups that shape politics and policy making in South Korea. We will analyze how mechanisms of delegation, representation, and accountability work, and what authorities and constraints decision makers possess and face. We will also analyze the politics and political economy of policy reforms by focusing on several areas of policy making. Lastly, we will look at the current state and prospects of Japan-Korea relations with a special attention to the ways in which history and present-day political institutions shape the incentives and thus, behaviors of the major decision makers in each of the respective countries.

ASST 3030 (801)/POLS 3510 (801) Japan's International Relations

The Senkakus, “comfort women”, TPP, and the Ospreys, these are just some of the most pressing issues in Japan's international relations. This course aims to facilitate a deeper understanding of such problems by providing a broad overview of Japan's most important international relationships. Particular emphasis is placed on the country's dealings with the United States, China, the two Koreas, and Russia, though attention is also drawn to relations with other regions and international organisations. In so doing, the topics of the regional balance of power, historical memory, and global trade patterns are all brought to the fore. As the focus of international politics continues to shift towards the Asia-Pacific region, this subject of Japan's place in the world is becoming of ever greater significance.

ASST 4096 (801) The Japanese Occupation of Southeast Asia

A focus on Japan's occupation of Southeast Asia between 1942 and 1945 and related topics. Designed primarily for history majors, this course emphasizes research and writing skills. Seminar presentations and a research paper are required.

CLA 2020 (801 & 802) International Career Strategies

The aim of this course is to help students develop a professional mindset. It is designed to explore the career competencies and strategies that are necessary to confidently and successfully transition from college life to the workplace or graduate school. Emphasis is placed on developing the skills necessary in an international career. Participants will use these skills throughout their working life as professionals, managers, executives, or entrepreneurs. This is not a lecture course. It is an interactive workshop giving business majors, in particular, a chance to develop and realize their career potential through exploring career options, preparing a strategy to launch a fulfilling career and improving written and oral presentation skills. The course should increase the student’s ability to: Present professionally (in writing and in person), realistically assess talent and job potential, think critically and creatively about career options and start an international or domestic career search.

CLA 2030 (801) Technology in International Business

Explore the role of information technology as a business enabler and take a look at management information systems' impact on business models and society. Evaluate the organizational fit and suitability of various technologies and interpret the interaction between information technology, customers, processes, data, human resources, and the overall internal and external environment of international businesses. Understand the ethical challenges of information technology and explain the evolving role of management information systems in the organization, and the role and careers of MIS professionals.

CLA 2030 (802) Emerging Leaders

In a digitally connect world, understanding the perspective of leaders and followers is key. Throughout this course you should reflect on how you view leadership—both as a member of the team and as a team leader. The emphasis of this course is on application of leadership concepts in the TUJ community and globally. You will meet leaders from various fields, and you will exercise your own leadership in a student-run project. This course assumes that leadership can be learned. Anyone can be a leader at any point in their life. Leadership is not confined to titles and positions. Leadership is a relationship and a commitment.

JPNS 2000 (801) Practical Japanese for Study Abroad Students

This course is designed to give Temple Study Abroad Program students the essential conversational and written Japanese necessary to negotiate their time in Japan. Lectures, assignments, field trips, and other activities will be designed with practical, day-to-day life in Japan in mind. This course is not part of the Japanese Language and Literature major, and students pursuing this major or more rigorous study of the language should register for the formal course sequence, beginning with 1001.

JPNS 3000 (701) Introduction to Translating Japanese to/from English for Non-Native Speakers of Japanese

This introductory translation course is designed for advanced learners of Japanese whose language proficiency level falls somewhere between JLPT Level 2 and Level 1 or equivalent. In this course, students will be provided with translation exercises whose themes are categorized to be non-academic materials. "Non-academic" in this course ranges from magazine articles, comics, advertisements, and instructional manuals to movie/animation subtitles. These non-academic genres are omnipresent in our daily life in Japan, which require our in-depth understanding of complex nuances of the Japanese language. The ultimate goal of this course, therefore, is to deepen as well as to broaden students' understanding of Japanese language structures and shades of meanings by translating and exploring different genres.

LGLS 3580 (801) Law: Cross-Border Negotiation Strategies (Summer-Fall Intersession)

In today’s global marketplace, negotiations conducted by individuals in the context of international business, government matters, and dispute resolution are increasingly important. Negotiation is the process by which two or more parties overcome competing interests, needs, and desires to resolve a particular problem. For example, in the fields of business and law, negotiations occur whether it relates to commercial agreements, business relationships, real estate transactions, employment concerns, intellectual property, finance, dispute resolution, governmental affairs, or other matters. Many people negotiate on a daily basis including company workers, contract managers, lawyers, governmental workers, and others. AT the same time, however, many negotiate though without sufficiently understanding the skills, strategies, approaches, and choices necessary to succeed. This course is designed to enhance your understanding of negotiations in an international context. More specifically, it is intended to teach you about the theory and practice of (1) international business negotiations, (2) international contracting, and (3) dispute settlement.

POLS 4320 (801) Eurasian Politics: The International Affairs of Russia, Central Asia, and the Caucasus

The Soviet Union may be long gone, but the countries that emerged from its collapse in 1991 remain highly significant in international affairs. This course traces the political and economic development of these independent states and highlights their continued difficulties in managing relations amongst themselves and with the world more generally. Inevitably, most attention in this regard goes to Russia. The largest country in the world, Russia dominates the Eurasian landmass and, via its veto in the UN Security Council and enormous nuclear arsenal, it retains a leading role in international politics. In discussing its global standing, this course places particular emphasis on Russia's status as an "energy superpower", its perception in the West as an unscrupulous spoiler, and its recent decision to reorient the country towards the Asia-Pacific. A further key topic is Russia's plan to create a Eurasian Union, a project condemned by the US as "a move to re-Sovietise the region". Away from Russia, this course has three further areas of focus. The first is Central Asia, where vast natural resources have encouraged the West and China to challenge Russia's hegemony. The second is the Caucasus where the 2008 Georgia-Russian war and the frozen conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan have left an explosive legacy. Lastly, there is Eurasia's western fringe where the people of dictatorial Belarus and politically unstable Ukraine struggle to determine whether their future lies with Europe or Russia.

POLS 4896 (801) Foreign Policy Analysis

Whether ordering military strikes, funding opposition groups, or seeking to sign new trade deals, foreign policy decisions are some of the most momentous choices facing national leaders. However, what are the processes that cause decision makers to select one course of action over another? This is the key subject matter of Foreign Policy Analysis. This course introduces students to this sub-discipline of International Relations. It teaches them the field’s history, as well as its main theories and distinctive “levels of analysis” approach. Having learned these basics in the abstract, students are then required to apply the methods of Foreign Policy Analysis to specific case studies to determine which causal factors were most important in the making of each decision. The case studies selected cover a range of time periods and geographical regions, including the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam War, the atomic bombings of Japan, the 2003 invasion of Iraq, North Korean nuclear brinkmanship, and Russia’ s annexation of Crimea.
 

POLS 4896 (802) China as a Global Actor

Once quite an outsider to the international institutional order, now, China is very visible on the world stage and is more than just a mere participant in world affairs. China has been increasingly seeking a more proactive role in shaping agendas and rules of international institutions and global governance in general. Scholars and policymakers are having heated discussions about whether China’s such efforts will challenge and transform the existing international order. This course will examine China’s involvement in global governance by looking at changes in its attitudes, contributions, and influences regarding various areas of global governance such as the global economy, environmental issues, human rights, security, etc. In addition, with China’s efforts to even create new international institutions, for example, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, we will discuss how these institutions have been brought about, what China has learned from the process, who supports or opposes Chinese efforts and leadership, and whether China really challenges the current international order. Overall, this course will assess China’s behavior as a global actor and the implications of it for the future international order.

PSY 1110 (801) What's Happening in Japan - From Foundation of Mental health to Career

To learn about the similarities and differences of mental health across different counties is essential for developing a better understanding of mental health. In this course, a wide range of topics related to mental health will be covered with a focus on what is happening in Japan. This includes the history of mental care in Japan, the Japanese mentality, striking issues, unique treatment, and career in Japan as a clinical psychologist/non- psychologist. Main activity of this course will be peer discussion and a final group presentation. Peer discussion will require you to share your opinions with classmates and take part in active discussions after each lecture. These discussions will help develop your thoughts and attitude toward each topic. In the final group presentation, you will present a topic with your group about a topic of your choice related to Japanese mental health.

PSY 3620 (801) Intercultural Marriage

This is an introduction to the major social and psychological aspects of Japanese-Western intercultural marriage. A brief historical introduction covers relevant aspects of general Japanese-Western interaction in history, as well as present-day Japanese attitudes towards Westerners (and vice versa). Different phases of reciprocal adjustment will be discussed, as well as the salient social and psychological reasons for potential conflicts in an intercultural marriage. Major factors are: differences in customs and values, male and female role expectations, living conditions, the role of the in-laws, medical matters, language, religion, politics, communication problems, need for friends, finances, social class. When raising their children, interculturally married parents may be challenged by differing attitudes towards being a father and a mother, education; and the children's feeling that they are "different" from other children. Despite many problems, intercultural marriage can be a tremendous positive challenge, which offers many chances for greater personal growth and deeper human and cultural understanding.

PSY 4696 (801) Self-Regulation

The topic of this course will be Self-Regulation - an important and overarching psychological construct which is rooted in theories of motivation and has been found to play a significant role in explaining individual differences in human behavior. The course will allow students to examine the influence and application of self-regulation research to different domains including child-development, cognition, academic achievement, learning disabilities, addiction, body image, culture, and counseling, among others. Students will also learn how self-regulation is conceptually defined across the disciplines by examining and responding to scales that assess self-regulation in children and adults. Through reading and evaluating research on self-regulation across multiple domains, students will expand their understanding of the multidimensional nature of self-regulation and will be better prepared to select an area of interest for their capstone research project. To successfully complete their research project, students will be required to extensively read, discuss, and critically evaluate the literature on self-regulation and to adhere to APA Style (7e)'s guidelines for scholarly writing. To complete your studies at TUJ, you will create a Senior Portfolio representing the best and most meaningful works and accomplishments from your TUJ experiences.  Finally, and for the Senior Portfolio, you will develop or update your curriculum vitae (CV) and résumé and prepare a checklist for requesting letters of recommendation in the future.