Asian and Asian American Studies Department
The Department of Asian and Asian American Studies (DAAAS) at Binghamton University
supports the study of Asia and transoceanic, transnational Asian diasporas of the
world. Many of the department's courses are cross-listed with other departments, allowing
students to fulfill credit requirements across a variety of academic disciplines.
The department places emphasis on the studies of Asian histories, languages, and cultures
within Asia as geographically defined, and studies of Asian diasporas, with particular
focus on Asians of the Americas.
Our faculty have expertise in a variety of disciplines and fields, geographic areas, and languages
while also conducting interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research, with particular
strengths in history, literature, film, linguistics, pedagogy, popular culture, media,
nations and nationalisms, empire, and more.
Department graduates have gone on to PhD and law programs and pursued careers in education,
public policy, non-profit community organizations, and arts and culture.
Degrees Offered
Areas of Study
Students enrolled in one of our many undergraduate and graduate programs will have
an opportunity to learn the languages of China, Japan, and Korea. They will also learn
about the diverse historical, cultural, societal, and political dimensions of East
Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Asian Diaspora, including Asian America. The
department houses six interrelated programs: Asian American and Diaspora Studies,
Asian Comparative Studies, South Asian Studies, Chinese Studies, Japanese Studies,
and Korean Studies.
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Asian American and Diaspora Studies
The Asian American and Diaspora Studies program offers students an interdisciplinary
approach to the study of Asian diasporic communities. The program's intellectual purview
includes the study of Asian communities situated outside Asia, as well as communities
that reside as minorities within the continent, with special interest in studies of
majority-minority relations. Particular focus is paid to Asians in the Americas, which
includes those in the United States, Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The
course offerings are wide-ranging and rigorous, consisting of lower- and upper-division
undergraduate courses and advanced-level graduate courses.
Through its diverse curriculum and sponsorship of Asian American- and Asian diaspora-related
events, the program provides students with an invaluable education into the historical,
cultural, and political dimensions of diasporic and minority experiences. The program
endeavors to not only build bridges between but amalgamate distinct but related scholarly
arenas, including ethnic studies with area studies; Asian American Studies with African
American, Latino, Caribbean, and Native American Studies; and Asian and Asian American
scholarship with global, transnational, and diasporic approaches.
The program is also committed to the important task of narrowing the traditional gaps
that have hindered beneficial relationships between academy and community, faculty
and students, and knowledge and experience.
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Asian Comparative Studies
The department encourages work that is interdisciplinary, comparative or global in
methodology and theory, as well as work that is specialized locally or regionally.
It also supports the study of Asia and Asian diasporas as complex nexuses of sociological,
geographical and political regions, and traces their economies, histories and ideas
across national and oceanic boundaries.
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South Asian Studies
The department offers students the opportunity to study the social, cultural and intellectual
history of the nations of South Asia, a region often defined to include India, Pakistan,
Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Students can learn about the teachings and historical
development of South Asian religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism. They can also
develop a greater understanding of the lived experience of South Asian peoples through
pre-modern and modern times, including the experience of women and of socially marginalized
groups.
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Chinese Studies
The Chinese Studies program offers students a diverse curriculum centered on Chinese
language, literature, culture and society. Its rigorous language curriculum stresses
verbal and textual mastery, cultural competency, and includes courses in Chinese linguistics
and language pedagogy. Content courses explore both ancient and modern Chinese literature,
visual arts, society, history, philosophy, and economics.
The Chinese Studies faculty stress both global/transnational perspectives and area/regional
knowledge and linguistic skills, in order to best prepare students for a broad spectrum
of future educational and career goals and opportunities.
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Japanese Studies
The Japanese Studies program fosters detailed, nuanced knowledge and understanding
of various aspects of premodern, modern and contemporary Japanese culture and society,
including history, language, literature, visual culture, society, politics and economics.
It provides a solid foundation of Japanese language skills, including reading, writing,
speaking and listening comprehension.
The courses offered are ideal for students wishing to gain practical communicative
skills, those planning to further specialize in Japanese Studies and those pursuing
careers in areas such as education, business, government and NGOs.
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Korean Studies
The Korean Studies program provides students with a solid foundation in Korean language
skills and knowledge of Korea's history, literature, culture, and religions. The program
is based on the premise that both contemporary and historic understanding of Korea,
its interrelations with larger East Asia and its global importance today cannot not
be fully grasped without a deep understanding of its language, history, social systems
and culture.
Hence, the program aims to provide students with not only language training, but also
a solid understanding of how Korean societies and people actually functioned and interacted
with other cultures in both the premodern and contemporary periods. The wide range
of courses is designed to introduce various aspects of Korean Studies and provide
students with the knowledge necessary for business, professional or academic endeavors.