Courses

ANTHRO 1691: Mobility in Asia
Ping-hsiu Alice Lin
Fall 2026
How does movement reshape our understanding of contemporary Asia? What happens when we shift our gaze from fixed places to flows of people, ideas, and things? In this introductory-level class in sociocultural anthropology, we explore how mobility creates new social landscapes across the region. Through anthropological methods—especially immersive fieldwork and ethnographic writing—we will examine how historical patterns of migration and present-day movements are shaped by structural dynamics of colonialism, imperialism, late capitalism, labor markets, trade networks, and supply chains.

HAA 81: Art of Monsoon Asia: Interconnected Histories
Jinah Kim 
Fall 2026
Monsoon Asia refers to the area of the globe where climates are determined or profoundly affected by the monsoon, from the Himalayas, to the islands of Indian Ocean, all the way to the Japanese archipelago. Focusing on the impact of monsoons in South and Southeast Asia, the course explores the common patterns and traits of the art of Monsoon Asia. How was the monsoon and its impact conceptualized in art?

IGA 260: Asia in the World - Regional Security, Integration and Ideology
Rana Mitter
Fall 2026
This course examines contemporary Asia's political, economic, and historical dynamics, exploring the complex forces that unify or divide the region. It covers major trade agreements (CPTPP, RCEP), diverse political systems, demographic shifts, and regional security flashpoints like the Korean peninsula. Additionally, it analyzes historical legacies (from World War II to cold war communism and partition) to provide essential context for Asia's modern international relations.

PRO 7453: Designers of Mountain and Water: Alternative Landscapes for a Changing Climate
Jung Yoon Kim
Fall 2026
This seminar explores contemporary landscape architecture in Northeast and Southeast Asia to envision the future of sustainable design. The central question of the course is: when a designer stands before a site, “mountain and water,” charged with accommodating programs and pressures, in the changing climate, how do they respond? Students are invited to understand landscape architecture as the materialization of such a response. The class will meet with field- leading practitioners and scholars every week and learn from their methodologies.

EMR 157: Techno-Orientalism: Asia, Technology, Futurity
Leslie Fernandez
Fall 2026
Contemporary understandings of Asia often view it as a hub of global futurity, reinforcing the "techno-Orientalist" stereotype of Asians as hyper-technological or machine-like. This course introduces analysis and critiques of techno-Orientalism, tracing its evolution from early "Yellow Peril" narratives to Cyberpunk and modern geopolitics. We will examine how these discourses drive anti-Asian violence, fuel Model Minority myths, and shape both domestic and international policies. Through theoretical readings, literature, film, and media, students will analyze how Asian American creators actively subvert and complicate these tropes.

HIST 36: Modern South Asia
Sugata Bose
Fall 2026
This course provides the historical depth in which to understand modern and contemporary South Asia in broad Indian Ocean and global contexts. It explores the history, culture, and political economy of the subcontinent which provides a fascinating laboratory to study such themes as colonialism, nationalism, partition, the modern state, democracy development, religious identities, and relations between Asia and the West. Significant use of primary written sources (in English) and multi-media presentations.

GENED 1119: Law, Politics, and Trade Policy: Lessons from East Asia
Christina Davis
Spring 2027
East Asia’s economic rise highlights how trade policy drives development, from 19th-century "unequal treaties" to modern WTO rules. By tracing Japan's post-samurai expansion, Korea's conglomerate-led growth, and China's market integration, this course examines how trade creates both national wealth and international conflict. Ultimately, these countries provide crucial models for navigating the opportunities and challenges of globalization.

China and the International Legal Order
Mark Wu 
Spring 2027
In the Xi era, China has started to cast aside the long-standing maxim of “keeping a low profile and biding one’s time” in international affairs. What does China’s rise portend for the international legal order? In what ways is China seeking to reshape global norms versus uphold a status quo order exhibiting increasing fragility? This seminar examines this question for various domains of international law, including climate change, economics, sovereignty, human rights, and development. It will consider the ways in which history, geostrategic competition, domestic politics, and economic interests impact these questions.

Writing Group: Comparative Law, International Law, or Legal History Involving East Asia
William P. Alford
Spring 2027
Analytical Paper Required: Per the specification of the writing group, all enrolled students complete a research paper of one credit (at least 20-25 pages) or two credits (50 or more pages), with faculty and peer review of a substantially complete draft. This paper can be used to satisfy the analytical paper requirement for J.D. students.