Last update: November 2, 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 2800 (801) Japanese Graphic Design History

Japanese Graphic Design History explores the rise and development of commercial art and advertising art into graphic design in the Japanese context from the Meiji Restoration to the contemporary moment. This course examines the aesthetic, market-based and sociopolitical milestones that have influenced design while simultaneously exploring the pantheon of both renowned and underexplored Japanese graphic designers. Students will read relevant slices of design theory—the history, criticism and literature—from Asia, Europe and the Americas in order to contextualize Japanese Graphic Design History and the localized developments of Modernism, Postmodernism and the current Neoliberal Era. This course approaches the analysis of graphic design from an all-encompassing perspective, examining the design of everyday commercially designed objects such as matchbooks to posters for cinema and theater to the design of Japanese typefaces to the design of corporate identities. Students will gain a nuanced understanding of why and how our designed world looks the way it does through history-rich talks, graphic design studio visits with famous graphic designers, and trips to graphic design exhibitions. This class is the lone course offered globally that explores the robust history of Japanese Graphic Design in total.

ARTH 2800 (750) Introduction to Japanese Architectural History

Japan’s architecture and its cityscapes evoke endless fascination: how to understand the Zen teahouse next to the neon Seven-Eleven or an elegant Shinto shrine in the midst of Shibuya Crossing? Japan’s contemporary built environment is a result of a rich and complex history. This class will introduce the student to the history of Japanese architecture and urbanism. We will examine individual buildings and urban landscapes, considering the historic, economic, socio-political, geographic and technological forces that have shaped the built environment of Japan from the earliest structures to the seismic resistant skyscrapers of today. The course will proceed chronologically with a focus on certain themes such as the aesthetics of Zen, issues of craftsmanship, traditional materials and ecology, the legacy of Meiji era “westernization,” and Modernist interpretations of traditional architecture and urban forms. The course will examine the varied international influences on, and of, Japanese architecture, from Imperial China to Frank Lloyd Wright to the many “star” architects (Maki, Ito, SANAA, Ban, Kuma etc.) working internationally today. The course will consist of lectures, group discussion and on-site classes in and around Tokyo.

ARTH 2800 (803) 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.

ARTU 2400 (750) Creative Coding and Generative Art

Creative and artistic coding for beginners. Get to grips with Javascript and Java through the MIT authored artists’ coding languages P5JS and Processing, to create your own generative artworks and understand the fundamentals behind some of the technologies seen at TeamLab as well as interactive design implementations for the web. This course assumes no prior coding knowledge.

ARTU 3000 (801) Advanced Artist Books

This course emphasizes the craft and conceptual development of bookmaking as an art form by refining bookbinding skills and further developing personal artistic themes. Throughout the semester students will learn in depth about advanced bookbinding and DIY independent publishing. Students will bind sample books, and experience producing items related to bookmaking such as box-making. llustration processes and some printmaking techniques will be covered, as well as further developing students’ knowledge of historical and contemporary bookmaking practices. As an end goal students will create a conceptual artist’s book or portfolio using processes learned throughout the course.

ARTU 3000 (802) Post-Studio Practice

This topical course investigates post-studio practice with an emphasis on time-based, spatial, social and conceptual practices. Traditional notions of the studio became antiquated with the emergence of conceptual art in the 1960s. The role of the studio has been questioned and critiqued by the artists who experimented with other sites for the production and presentation of artworks. Newer forms of practice, including installation and performance, stepped out of the gallery and museum, and incorporate more the world outside, leading to the idea of “post-studio practice.” Today the idea and role of the studio are continually reinvented corresponding to new realities. Offering instruction in the composition of works ranging from time-based and text-based works to performance and installation, this course also looks at ways artists have developed their own practices outside of, or in opposition to, conventional understandings of artistic media. Each student will produce a proposal-based final project, and complete several short assignments. The basic course structure includes a critique of student work, hands-on workshops on the use of various digital tools, programs, and sculpture methods. The course will also provide studio time in and outside of class to further develop students’ vision, concerns, and execution of artworks. Basic knowledge of Adobe Creative Suites on a Macintosh platform and prior studio art experience are recommended.

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)/SOC 2130 (802) Japanese Education

A key aspect of the country’s Post-War economic miracle, Japan’s education system has served as a model for emerging economies not only in Asia but also globally. Japan’s learners regularly score high on international measures of math and science literacy. However, in recent years the education system has withered criticism for pedagogic and systemic failings that have led to declines in quality. Like many countries, growing income inequality and insufficient public financing have affected education opportunity and outcomes. Education policymaking has also been slow to respond to changes in labor demand. Finally, the system has been accused of producing apathetic adults with little sense of community or national pride. This course examines the historical circumstances that gave rise to modern education practice in Japan as well as current practice. The course explores related issues as way to reflect not only on solutions but also on the role that education plays in all societies. A mixture of lecture and discussion, the course will also provide practical opportunities for students to research topics on their own.

ASST 3030 (801)/POLS 4310 (801) Chinese Foreign Policy

What does the rise of China mean for international society? What are the major challenges for China’s relations with major powers in the world? What factors drive or constrain Chinese foreign policy? These questions are of significant importance for our understanding of international relations. This course explores modern Chinese foreign policy in a historical and sociological perspective. It aims to help students understand the domestic and international contexts of Chinese foreign relations by examining a variety of aspects, such as the history of modern Chinese foreign policy (from mid-19th century to the present), the institutions and process of Chinese foreign policy making, political culture and Chinese foreign relations, China and major powers (the US, Japan, EU, and Russia), and China’s role in global governance. As a 4000-level research seminar, beside building up the knowledge about Chinese foreign policy, students are expected to participate in class discussion and develop their research interests on specific topics in this field.

ASST 3030 (802)/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) Self, Culture, and Illness in Japan

Who are we? How is our understanding of our ‘self’ related to our physical and/ or psychological well-being? And to what extent do our cultural backgrounds affect our conceptions of well-being? This capstone writing course (for Asian Studies major) will aim at answering these questions through critically exploring the cross-cultural conceptions of self, health, and illness with particular focus on Japanese society. The topics to be covered in this course will include anthropological perspectives on conceptions of the self/ personhood, health/ illness/ disease, body/ mind, mental health & therapy, as well as critical perspectives on medical and healing systems. Students registered for this course will read works on these topics and will be encouraged to reflect on their own everyday practices so that they can engage deeply with the topics in the Japanese context and critically assess previous writings. They will also conduct independent research on a topic of their choice for the final research paper (upon consultation with the instructor) and will make a presentation on the topic. In the writing process, students will deepen their skills in choosing bibliographic tools, in finding and evaluating authoritative sources, and organizing and properly formatting a research paper.

ASST 4096 (802) Environmental History of Modern East Asia

In this writing intensive course, we will explore the changing relationships between human beings and “nature” in East Asia from the late-sixteenth century to the present day. Even for students with a strong background in early modern and modern East Asian history will find that the historical terrain we will look at will appear different. This is because the methods we are going to use in this course are different that what are used in a typical history course. Using many different disciplinary perspectives, this class will take a look at the historical interactions between the human world (culture) and the nonhuman world (nature). You will find that distinguishing between where culture begins and where nature ends can be quite difficult. Some of the questions that we will be thinking about as we move along are: How has the land and ocean limited or enabled human settlement and development of Japan, China, and Korea? How have human relationships with terrestrial and maritime worlds changed over time? How do the relationships differ from place-to-place? Who – or what – has flourished or suffered as human beings have altered the world around them? How have valuations of “nature” changed over time?

CLA 1010 (750) Entrepreneurship and Creativity

This practical course introduces students to the first steps necessary in developing artistic, creative or social projects. Specifically, this course helps develop skills in communication, critical thinking, and lifelong learning. By analyzing the ideas and works of artists, economists, and psychologists through the testimonials and advice of successful entrepreneurs and coaches, students will gain a clearer understanding of abstract concepts such as "success" and "passion." Students will be asked to provide feedback and support to other students in their own endeavors and submit self-reflection assignments. Students will conceptualize and work on a final project in consultation with the instructor that will give students the beginning of their own artistic, creative, or social project upon completion of the course.

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) The Metaverse: Roblox, TikTok, Facebook, Esports, Video Games and the Desire for Human Co-Experience

There is a new category of business/technology evolving that many are calling the “metaverse”.  Entertainment companies, content providers, brands, IP holders, technology companies, and others are all thinking through how best to position themselves during and for this evolution. This course will explore the different approaches companies are taking and the competing visions, business strategies, technologies, marketing, and other points of view.  We will look at Roblox’s mission to reimagine how people come together, and how they see this as a human co-experience category that supports people coming together to socialize, to learn, to play, someday to work, and to experience entertainment and brands of all types.  We will look at how and why Facebook became Meta and what they are trying to achieve.  We will examine the approaches being taken by TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Google/YouTube, Apple, Netflix, Amazon, Warner/HBO, Disney/Marvel, video game companies, Esports, etc. 
 

JPNS 2000 (801 & 802) 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 (750) 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.

JPNS 3010 (801) Japanese for Job Hunting

Seeking employment (job-hunting) after university graduation in Japan is very unique process which requires long and careful preparation. Japanese for Job-Hunting is a Japanese language course that will focus on preparing students to purse careers in Japan after graduation, and the course has three main objectives. The first objective is to master the words and expressions, including the formal keigo phrases and conjugations, used in the job-hunting process. Students will come to understand what questions are typically asked in job interviews and what expression are appropriately used in answering these questions. Through becoming familiar with these expressions, students will build confidence in speaking Japanese in front of Japanese natives in formal situations. The second objective is to develop an application-ready resume and other preparation for job interviews. Students will explore career options based on self-analysis and try to strategically assess their talents and employment potential. Through frequent casual discussion practice, assessed group discussion, and mock interviews, students will develop the skills necessary to success in their job interviews. The third objective is to build networks both inside and outside of the university. Students will be required to talk to Career Office staff members and outside experts, conduct interviews, and attend career fairs for both experience and the formation of personal networks. Upon successful completion of this course, students should be both physically and mentally prepared to begin actual job-hunting in Japan.

JPNS 4196 (801) Japanese Society and Culture through Newspaper

Seminar in Japanese and Japan is a capstone course that builds on the solid foundation of advanced linguistics skills, socio-cultural knowledge, and critical thinking that students have acquired. It also marks their final stage of Japanese language learning. Three topics (Topic I: Socio-cultural, Topic II: Business, Topic III: Literature) are offered alternately and designed to allow students to select and pursue a topic of their interest. In the courses, students will learn to read critically and properly appreciate the original texts of a selected topic. While reading about socio-cultural aspects, topics/issues in business, or literature, students will further their understanding of Japanese language. This course focuses on reading on socio-cultural aspects of Japan by reading newspapers. Newspapers are one of the main sources of information to learn about the society’s present status, social and political problems, and perspectives for future. In this course, students will learn the most up-to-date information of Japanese society and develop their reading skills and comprehension by reading newspapers. To achieve those goals, the course is divided into two parts. The first half of the course will be devoted to developing reading skills and building lexicon necessary to understand newspaper articles as well as the stylistics and format characteristic of newspapers (e.g., the use of abbreviations and technical terms in the headlines and leads). In order to increase readiness for reading newspapers, students will read 5-7 short passages a day (with a complete vocabulary list) on a variety of topics. Students’ acquisition of new vocabulary and expressions will be tested on a daily basis. In the second half of the semester, students will read Japanese newspaper articles weekly. Each week, two articles will be chosen for a class reading followed by discussions. In addition, each student will choose an article for a weekly oral report. Through reading and class discussions, students are expected to gain in-depth understanding and analytical views of contemporary Japanese society and culture.

KINS 1001 (801) Cardiovascular Fitness for a Healthy Lifestyle

“Cardiovascular Fitness for a Healthy Lifestyle” is a course focused on the promotion of health through physical activity. Physical activity is defined as any bodily movement that results in energy expenditure. Through activities designed for the development and maintenance of the circulatory and respiratory systems aerobic capacity, participants engage in activities that increase muscular strength and flexibility through exercise. Additionally, participants will acquire information on developing and assessing aerobic fitness and the benefits of regular exercises on combating cardiovascular risk factors.

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) Contentious Politics and Social Movements

This seminar examines how ordinary citizens attempt to influence political decision-making in national and global politics. Citizens may organize street demonstrations, join political strikes, occupy buildings, and start hunger strikes. They also can use more contentious and violent forms of protest and resistance such as insurgencies and armed rebellions. In this seminar, students will study different modes of protest, passive or active, collective or individual, through a discussion of theories of contentious politics and social movements. Students will be exposed to various case studies ranging from revolutions in the 20th century to the Arab Spring in the 21st century. By the end of the semester, students will write a research paper on a specific case of contentious politics or social movements.

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) Psychology of Extremism

Extremism comes in many forms and we will consider recent psychological theory and research on extreme attitudes, extremist groups, violent extremism, greed, extreme sports, and moral extremism among other forms and aspects of extremism. We will consider the conditions that promote its growth, and consider how it might be thwarted.  Class meetings will center around  instructor- and student-led discussion of the research and issues, weekly writings, and presentation of an APA Style research proposal to the class at the end of the term.

PSY 3620 (802) Survey Design: From Theory to Practice

Surveys are often used in different kinds of research methodologies, either as research methods or as tools to collect data. Their popularity as data gathering tools highlights the importance of learning and applying the best possible practices to survey design. In this course, students will learn the best practices in survey design and will utilize this knowledge to either evaluate existing surveys or develop their own survey on a topic of their interest. Topics discussed will include the fundamentals of writing and ordering different types of survey questions, online surveys vs paper-based survey, and assessing the validity and reliability of surveys, among others.

PSY 4696 (801) Cross-Cultural Themes in Psychology

The main focus of this capstone is a timely topic important to many fields in psychology, addressing a need for academic analysis of rapidly changing social and cultural interactions in the global context. The course will allow students to see and analyze the linkages between concepts, theories, research findings and professional applications from the cross-cultural perspective with special emphasis put on the contemporary psychological phenomena in Japan. This course also offers a comprehensive analysis of various clinical, social and cultural perspectives, related to globalization, international mobility, human relationships in public and private spheres, online psychology/virtual reality, cross-cultural psychopathology, etc. This capstone is particularly useful for students planning graduate work in psychology or considering studying/working overseas, and those who would like to develop the deeper understanding of multi-layered mechanisms, which underlie the cross-cultural phenomena in psychology. This is a writing-intensive course and students are required to explore relevant literature, critically analyze academic sources and findings, raise questions, and prepare an academic paper on their particular topic of interest. NOTE: This course is limited to psychology majors in their senior year.