Last update: November 9, 2023

ARTH 2800 (801) JAPANESE GRAPHIC DESIGN HISTORY

This course covers the history of Japanese Graphic Design between 1900-2010s. It will arm students with the skills to critique visual work in the Japanese cultural and commercial context.

ARTH 2800 (802) 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 Foujita, Isamu Noguchi, 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.

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, illustration 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.

ASST 2000 (750) JAPANESE POPULAR CULTURE: DEBATES AND CONTROVERSIES

Over the past few decades, Japanese popular culture has attracted unprecedented notice around the world. Manga and anime, of course, but attention is also being paid to Japanese snacks, idols, television dramas, novels, and films—inspiring their fans to learn the Japanese language. In this course we will peer behind the scenes of popular culture while looking at contested creative and political issues that shape it. For example, is the term “otaku” pejorative? How has Japanese music been a battleground for linguistic discussions? Might Pikachu be able to bring regional peace in Asia? Should idols get to date? Does it make sense for the government to invest in kimono exports if the attire is protested abroad as cultural appropriation? Was The Tale of Genji really Japan’s first novel? Do Japanese color words make the country’s roads dangerous? Can comedians joke about the country’s politics on TV? Are “weird Japan” media portrayals an offshoot of the “Cool Japan” phenomenon? Does anime decrease the country’s birthrate? Should game designers adhere to social values of the West? How do words like “ai” or “love” that enter Japan’s lexicon from foreign translation continue to shape domestic culture?

ASST 2000 (801) / LGBT 2400 (801) LGBT LITERATURE AND FILM IN JAPAN

This course explores portrayals of LGBT in modern and contemporary Japanese literature and film. Topics for study and discussion include history of LGBT in premodern to contemporary Japan, definitions of gender, family roles, changing understandings of gender role and evolution of portrayals of LGBT within Japanese society. The works of Saikaku Ihara,Yukio Mishima, Mutsuo Takahashi, Nobuko Yoshiya, modern and contemporary manga, and various films will be examined. Class discussions and activities, readings, and written assignments aim at developing students' critical skills. Knowledge of Japanese is not required. Students may only receive credit for one of these courses: LGBT 2400 or ASST 2000 (or 2030).

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 organizations. 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.

CLA 1010 (750) KEYWORDS IN AMERICAN STUDIES

What does “American” mean? Who counts as "White" or "Asian" on the United States census? Which states belong to the “South”? What does the term “Neoliberal” mean today? Keywords in American Studies introduces students to historical and contemporary terms that mark sites of unresolved conflict and contestation in the United States. None of these terms are unfamiliar sounding as they appear in every dictionary. The purpose of this course is to emphasize how these meanings have been made and altered over time. In lecture and through reading and film viewing, students will learn about these terms, their histories, their contexts, and associated prominent scholars and figures. Students will make meaning about this information through in-class discussion and collaborative writing. Students will be assessed through quizzes, presentations, and creative scholarly projects such as archive building. This course encourages students to be self-reflexive, open-minded, and future-oriented in their inquiry and analysis of these terms. Note: This course is offered through the Undergraduate Bridge Program, a pre-matriculation language and academic skill-building program. Any interested undergraduate student may enroll. Please consult with the Bridge Program Academic Coordinator for details.

CLA 2020 (750, 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 & 802) 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.

HIST 3280 (801) TOPICS IN AMERICAN HISTORY: THE HISTORY OF ROCK & ROLL

In a 1970 Velvet Underground song, Lou Reed sang about Jenny who felt she was living a meaningless existence until one day her life was saved by rock and roll. For many musicians and fans, rock'n'roll did indeed save their lives. When and why did the powerful new music emerge? What impact did it have on American society—and, more broadly, the world? This course will use a social history framework. We will focus on the impact of social, cultural, economic, political, and technological factors on the evolution of rock’n'roll. As we examine rock'n'roll as a social/historical phenomenon we will listen to and study recorded examples to learn about its musical aspects: What are the musical roots of rock'n'roll, and what musics contributed to its early development? What characteristics of musical style have defined rock'n'roll music over the past half-century, and how have these changed through the years?

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 (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.

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) GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is a serious and common social and health problem worldwide. GBV was defined as any harmful threat or act based on biological sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, and lack of adherence to gender norms and includes intimate partner violence (IPV), sexual assault, child abuse, and stalking. GBV profoundly impacts survivors' psychological health, social engagement, and overall quality of life. The aim of this class is to deeply understand the concept, phenomenon, and types of GBV, and its impact on psychological health and recovery.

PSY 3620 (803) CLINICAL SEXOLOGY IN THE JAPANESE CONTEXT

This course introduces the topic of clinical sexology offering discussion about various sexuality phenomena, which shape contemporary Japanese society. Modern Japan is facing dramatic changes regarding sexual expressions, gender roles, and expectations, as well as sexual behaviors, which challenge the time-honored stereotypes about feminine and masculine sexuality in Japan. This course also offers a comprehensive analysis of Japanese sexuality from clinical, psychological, social, and cultural perspectives, and it introduces cross-cultural models of clinical interventions, applicable in the Japanese context. In addition, the clinical and counseling tools applicable to cross-cultural sexology will be discussed in order to offer the students an opportunity to enrich their psychological studies.