Objectives
The objectives of the Bachelor of Arts are to provide students with an outstanding education in the humanities, social sciences and languages as well as a broad understanding of selected fields of study outside these areas. The degree is designed so that a Bachelor of Arts graduate should be able to: * Demonstrate a detailed knowledge and understanding of selected fields of study in core disciplines in the humanities, social sciences and languages. * Reflect a general understanding of the concepts and principles of selected areas of study outside core disciplines of the humanities, social sciences and languages. * Access and appreciate national and international debates in their specialised areas of study. * Demonstrate an independent approach to knowledge that uses rigorous methods of inquiry and appropriate theories and methodologies that are applied with intellectual honesty and a * respect for ethical values. * Apply critical and analytical skills and methods to the identification and resolution of problems within complex changing social contexts. * Act as informed and critically discriminating participants within the community of scholars, as citizens and in the work force. * Communicate effectively and, in the case of those students undertaking a language major, to read, write and speak another language with fluency and appreciate its cultural context. * Qualify for employment in a wide range of occupations. * Commit to continuous learning. * Be proficient in the use of appropriate modern technologies, such as the computer and otherinformation technology systems, for the acquisition, processing and interpretation of data.
Course description
Asian Studies can be undertaken as either a major or minor sequence in the BA.
A major in Asian Studies comprises:
Level 1
* One Arts subject in any discipline; and
* Language & Power in Asian Societies; or
* An Asia-focused Arts Foundational lnterdisciplinary Subject; or
* A level 1 Asia-focused subject.
Level 2
* Two Asian Studies subjects (a minimum of one from the core list); and
* The level 2 intra-regional subject
Level 3
* 2 Asian Studies subjects (a minimum of 1 from the core list); and
* The capstone subject.
A minor in Asian Studies comprises:
Level 1
* 110-118 Language & Power in Asian Societies
* One Arts Foundational lnterdisciplinary Asia-focused subject
Level 2
* Two level 2 subjects from the core subjects listed in the Asian Studies major.
Level 3
* Any two subjects from the core subjects listed in the Asian Studies.
The capstone subject is not available in the minor or as breadth studies outside the BA.
Overseas study
Students on overseas exchange can select up to four Asia-focus subjects from those offered by overseas institutions for inclusion in their Asian Studies major.
Asian Studies: Level 1 Subject
Subject Semester Credit Points
110-118 Language and Power in Asian Societies
This subject examines the intimate relationship between language and society in the historical and contemporary contexts of three internationally strategic regions: East Asia, insular Southeast Asia, and the Arabic world. It will explore recurring th... Semester 1 12.50
Asian Studies: Level 2 Compulsory Intra-regional Subject
Subject Semester Credit Points
110-228 The Politics of Gender in China
This subject focuses on the influence of traditions and ideologies on gender issues in China and the East Asia (Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and Singapore). Students will be encouraged to explore how "tradition" continues to shape notion... Semester 2 12.50
Asian Studies: Level 2 Core Subjects
Subject Semester Credit Points
110-202 Chinese Studies: Culture and Empire
This introductory subject examines Chinese society and culture by looking at the relationship between cultural systems and imperial power. It addresses the long-term development of social and intellectual structures in China in relation to empire as ... Semester 1 12.50
110-203 China Since Mao
This subject examines cultural and social tendencies in contemporary China, and shows how they have developed from the socialist system. It analyses the culture of China's different social groups - men, women, young people, workers, farmers, the... Semester 2 12.50
110-229 Contemporary Japan
This subject will not be available in 2009 12.50
110-243 Asian Performing Arts: Global and Local
This subject investigates the political, social and cultural significance of performing arts in contemporary East, Southeast and South Asia, with particular attention to Japan, China, Indonesia, and India. Throughout this region, performance function... Semester 1 12.50
110-244 Islam and the State in Indonesia
This subject will not be available in 2009 12.50
131-039 The Rise of Modern Japan 1850s-1990sJapan´s rapid and remarkable transformation from a semi-feudal, isolated island nation to that of a centralized nation state, empire, and eventual global power has had a profound impact on its people, its Asian and Pacific ne... Summer 12.50
Asian Studies: Level 3 Core Subjects
Subject Semester Credit Points
110-052 Classic Chinese Civilisation
In this subject students will be introduced to the distinctive characteristics of Chinese civilization from a comparative East-West framework. The focus will be on how the ancient Chinese found solutions to universal human problems, such as how to se... Semester 2 12.50
110-053 Taiwan & Beyond: Chinese Settler Culture
This subject introduces students to migration and settlement as major processes in Chinese cultural history. it examines the expansion of Chinese culture beyond its traditional heartlands, taking Taiwan as a key example. Taiwan will be examined along... Semester 1 12.50
110-312 Popular Cultures in Indonesia
This subject will not be available in 2009 12.50
110-315 Literature & the Making of Indonesia
This subject will not be available in 2009 12.50
110-317 Social Problems in Japan
This subject aims to prepare students for more specialised studies in Japanese society and culture. The subject offers interdisciplinary views of the political, economic, religious and cultural ideologies which foster inequality between different soc... Semester 2 12.50
Asian Studies: Level 2 Elective Subjects
Subject Semester Credit Points
121-023 China in Transition
This subject is about the changing geography of 'Red Capitalist' China. The focus of the subject is the ongoing social, economic and political transformation and the impacts of the reforms on China's people and environment. The subject... Semester 1 12.50
131-046 Great Empires of Islamic Civilisation
This subject examines the growth of Islamic civilisation in the period between the revelation of the Quran and the end of Muslim rule in Spain in 1492. The study focuses on the Arabic and Turkish-speaking areas of western Asia, North Africa and the I... Semester 2 12.50
131-062 Making China Modern
This subject will not be available in 2009 12.50
131-066 The Modern Middle East
This subject will not be available in 2009 12.50
131-210 Total War: Asia & the Pacific 1931-1952
This subject will not be available in 2009 12.50
131-217 Modern Southeast Asia
From the growing influence of Islam in Indonesia to tourist industries in Vietnam and Cambodia, built on war time experiences this subject explores the history and lasting legacies of political, social and cultural change in modern Southeast Asia. Us... Semester 1 12.50
136-211 Asian Civilisations and Science
This subject examines the development of science as a cultural phenomenon in Asian contexts. It is taught through contemporary and historical case studies. We examine ways sciences 'came to life' in particular places at particular times as ... Semester 1 12.50
161-035 Philosophy of Buddhism
This subject will not be available in 2009 12.50
166-018 Chinese Politics and Society
This subject will not be available in 2009 12.50
166-217 Gender and Politics in Southeast Asia
This subject will not be available in 2009 12.50
110-219 Media and Everyday Life in Asia
This subject examines the media and everyday life in transnational Asian context. This year, the focus of the subject is on how Japanese popular culture has, via a variety of media, become part of everyday life in China, Hong Kong, Korea and Singapor... Semester 1 12.50
Asian Studies: Level 3 Elective Subjects
Subject Semester Credit Points
106-370 Asian Screen Cultures
This subject will not be available in 2009 12.50
671-374 The Rise of Modern Japan 1850s-1990s
Japan´s rapid and remarkable transformation from a semi-feudal, isolated island nation to that of a centralized nation state, empire, and eventual global power has had a profound impact on its people, its Asian and Pacific ne... Summer 12.50
671-378 Great Empires of Islamic Civilisation
This subject will not be available in 2009 12.50
671-383 Making China Modern
The history of 20th century China is explored via a study of major events linked to modernizing and nation-building projects. Changes in political organisation, material culture and understandings of self and community are traced from the end of the ... Semester 2 12.50
671-384 The Modern Middle East
This subject is a historical survey of the major events, movements and relationships that have participated in the making of the modern Islamic and Arab Middle East since the onset of European penetration and colonialism. The subject enables students... Semester 1 12.50
671-394 Total War: Asia & the Pacific 1931-1952
This subject will not be available in 2009 12.50
671-396 Modern Southeast Asia
This subject will not be available in 2009 12.50
672-330 Asian Civilisations and Science
This subject examines the development of science as a cultural phenomenon in Asian contexts. It is taught through contemporary and historical case studies. We examine ways sciences 'came to life' in particular places at particular times as ... Semester 1 12.50
672-350 Philosophy of Buddhism
This subject will not be available in 2009 12.50
672-369 Chinese Politics and Society
This is a broad, historically-based survey course of Chinese politics. It is designed to offer an overview of and background to, contemporary Mainland Chinese politics and society. It is more historically oriented than many of the other survey course... Semester 1 12.50
672-389 Gender and Politics in Southeast Asia
This subject will not be available in 2009 12.50
