Cultural Area
Studies at WoosterCultural Area
Studies at WoosterThe Cultural Area Studies (CAS) program includes programs in the following areas:
East Asia (China and Japan for example)
The Cultural Area Studies program enables students to cross disciplinary lines to study an area of the world from a variety of perspectives. It provides the opportunity to join cross-cultural and interdisciplinary approaches to study, perspectives that the College of Wooster has traditionally valued. Students combine a knowledge of the history and language of their area of focus with an understanding of its political, economic, religious, and cultural institutions. Appropriate courses are drawn from departments throughout the college.
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Courses for fall semester 1999-2000:
"The world is an interesting, and challenging, and often dangerous, place. It requires close attention and careful understanding. To meet challenges and avoid dangers, there must be many persons -- diplomats, analysts, scholars, journalists and others who can understand, question, decide and act when the international interest is to be served. There must be many who can appreciate the richness of cultures, the complexities of religion and ethnicity, the nuances of power and the forces at work in the long, complicated histories of many nations."
The oldest of Wooster's interdisciplinary programs, the CAS major is one of several majors at the college that help to train people "who can understand, question, decide and act" in an international framework.
The particular task of CAS is to bring understanding and knowledge about a region of the world that shares similar histories, traditions, art forms, religions and social systems. As it does so, it recognizes the nations and national cultures that comprise the region, while emphasizing their shared characteristics in the past as in the present. It seeks to show that the region is not an unchanging vestige of the past, but that it dynamic as it interacts with other regions of the world, variously embrac-ing, integrating, or resisting values and material things, that come from outside itself.
For example, in studying western Africa, a student will see that this region was during the European Middle Ages influenced by Islam and by trade with other African regions and with Europe; that it was profoundly destabilized by the slave trade and later by European colonization; that the ideas of W.E.B. Dubois and other American blacks inspired the Negritude movement; and that today, Africa's links to the world outside itself bring new conflicts, for example, with regard to the role of women in eco-nomic decision-making and development, or with regard to traditional cultural. The student may see that the region's distinctiveness is not erased, but reshaped by con-tacts with the outside; and that, as time passes, the region constructs and recon-structs its own past, that it re-imagines its future.
Learning at least one of the region's languages is central to knowing the region and to interacting with its people. Thus, a student will do as much language study as possible, both on campus and during study in the region, and use the language in interacting with people from the region.
Because it takes seriously the value of other cultures and the need to under-stand them, because it seeks to see cultures as deeply rooted, yet inter-related and adaptive, because it expects students to live and study in the region and to explore in depth one of its aspects, because it brings to the study of the region a multidisciplinary approach, the CAS major affirms the college's mission as a liberal arts college and to its standing among the "International 50".
The Cultural Area Studies major consists of twelve courses, a one-semester junior Independent Study and a two-semester Senior Independent study. Those interested in the major must consult with the Chair of the CAS Committee before declaring their major. Students generally find that early selection and planning of the major facilitates the development of a program that satisfactorily integrates all of the required components.
at least 6 courses in a core department
at least 6 courses in the cultural area
Six of the twelve courses must be selected from one academic core department. The purpose of this focus on one departmental program is to enable students to approach their chosen cultural area from the perspective of an academic discipline. A major, for example, who chooses Political Science as the core department, learns the analytical and research skills that a political scientist needs to study the politics of a cultural area. Someone interested in studying religion in South Asia should understand the questions, methodology, and research tools that scholars in Religious Studies bring to bear on the study of religion.
Students in CAS traditionally select one of the humanities or social science departments in which to take their core courses. Anthropology, Art, Economics, French, German, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Religious Studies, Russian, and Spanish all offer courses that provide valuable perspectives for the CAS major. A student who intends to study the economic situation in a developing African nation, for example, might take Economics 251, International Economics, and Economics 257, Economic Development, after completing the department prerequisites. Someone interested in the culture of Latin America will find intensive study of the Spanish language beyond the beginning level vital. Spanish 204, Latin American Civilizations and Cultures, and Spanish 212, Literature and Culture of the Spanish Caribbean, also enrich the student's general knowledge and skills
A student's CAS major must also include an area focus, such as Africa, East Asia, the Middle East and the Islamic World, Latin America, Russia, South Asia, and Modern Western Europe. To develop a program, a major, in consultation with the CAS Chair, selects six courses from any department or departments that relate to the area. For example, a student whose primary interest is in East Asia might study Intermediate Chinese and/or Topics in Chinese Literature and Culture from the Chinese curriculum; Western Travelers to China, Traditional China, Modern China, and/or Modern Japan, taught by faculty from the History Department; Chinese Philosophy, a Philosophy Department selection; Buddhism, offered by Religious Studies; or Peoples and Cultures: Japan taught by David McConnell in Anthropology.
CAS majors must fulfill Wooster's language requirement which requires successful completion of the first two courses in one foreign language taken at the College, demonstration of equivalent proficiency through a placement test, or participation in a departmentallyapproved off-campus language program. The CAS Committee strongly suggests, however, that majors demonstrate fluency in at least one language spoken in their cultural area, that students include at least some language courses among their six area courses, and that such courses start at the 200 or intermediate level. Students who begin the study of a language integral to their cultural area off campus, such as Arabic, Hebrew, Japanese, or Swahili, for example, may obtain credit for their work through CAS 400.
Cultural Area Studies majors are strongly encouraged to consider international programs that complement their area of interest. During the years that Wooster has offered the CAS program, very few students have completed the requirements for the major without participating in at least a one semester international experience. Students find that the foreign study component of the major enables them to take courses that supplement Wooster's offerings and to expand their knowledge of another cultural heritage. In fact, after spending six months to one year in India, several CAS majors chose to return to the country after graduation for additional study and for professional work.
Through the Great Lakes Colleges Association, the Institutes of European and Asian Studies, and Wooster-affiliated and sponsored programs, Wooster students have unusual opportunities for study abroad in programs designed to be an integral part of their undergraduate education. Recent CAS majors, for example, have studied in China, Hong Kong, India, Nepal, Singapore, Russia, Latin America and Africa. Students may obtain full information about off-campus study opportunities from the college's International Programs Office.
The newest Wooster program is focussed on public health policy in Kenya.
5. Junior and Senior Independent Study
Junior Independent Study (I.S.) must be completed before or in conjunction with overseas study and is supervised by the student's core department. One of the most important features of the CAS program, however, is its interdisciplinary character, and Senior Independent Study allows the student to work on a project that integrates the disciplinary work in the core department with knowledge obtained in the area courses. In other words, Senior I.S. projects, which involve two consecutive semesters of research, typically bring the core and the area together.
Recent majors have explored the cultural and economic impact of the "Maquiladora" factories in Border Mexico, joint economic ventures in China, Gandhi's theory of basic education for modern India, the awakening of Igbo (Nigeria) cultural identity, a comparison of non-violence East/West, and utopian themes in Latin American authors.
Over the years, CAS has attracted many students who are interested in comprehensive cultural study of an area. Majors like the interdisciplinary nature of the program, praise the flexibility that it gives them to explore and combinea variety of interests, and welcome the encouragement to pursue off-campus study. After graduation, recent majors have pursued a wide variety of interests. Some have entered graduate programs in South Asian, East Asian,and Latin American studies at the University of Pittsburgh and the Universityof Pennsylvania.
One recent CAS: East Asia major received a full four-year fellowship to pursue graduate work at Columbia University Business School.
Another student coordinates study abroad programs for a major university. Others work for travel agencies and for the United States Agency for International Development, teach elementary school Spanish, and are employed as social workers.
The CAS Program is administered by the Cultural Area Studies Curriculum Committee,whose Chair rotates among the faculty from the departments which contribute to the major. The 1999-2000 Chair is David McConnell (Anthropology). Other members of the committee are Mary Addis (Spanish), David Gedalecia (History), Rujie Wang (Chinese), David Wilkin (French) Carolee Taipale (International Programs), Ishwar Harris (Religious Studies), Elena Sokol (Russian) and Molly (CAS: Latin America major)
Endorsed off-campus programs
GLCA in Kenya and Senegal
ACM in Zimbabwe
Public Health Policy in KenyaFaculty
Richard Bell (Philosophy)
Alphine Jefferson (History)
David Wilkin (French)
Randy Quaye
Jenna Hayward
Boubacar N'DiayeCourses
Art 220 (African Art)
History 231 (Africa before 1900)
History 232 (Twentieth Century Africa)
Philosophy 228 (African Philosophy an Religions)
French 235 (Francophone Literature of Africa and the Caribbean)
Endorsed off-campus programs
GLCA in China, Hong Kong, and Japan
IAS in Bejing and TokyoFaculty
David Gedalecia (History)
Rujie Wang (Chinese)
David McConnell (Anthropology)
Ishwar Harris (Religious Studies)Courses
Anthropology 231 (Peoples and Cultures of Japan)
Chinese 201 & 202 (Intermediate Chinese)
Chinese 399 (Topics in Chinese Literature and Culture)
History 101 (Western Travelers to China)
History 200 (Traditional China)
History 201 (Modern China)
History 206 (Modern Japan)
Philosophy 226 (Chinese Philosophy)
Religious Studies 220 (Buddhism)
Faculty
John Gates (History)
Mary Addis (Spanish, on leave)
John Gabriele (Spanish, on leave)
Diane Uber (Spanish)Courses
Anthropology 231 (Peoples and Cultures: Latin America)
History 205 (Colonial Latin America)
History 208 (Modern Latin America)
Spanish 201 & 202 (Intermediate Spanish)
Spanish 204 (Latin American Civilizations and Cultures)
Spanish 208 (Twentieth-Century Spanish American Writers)
Spanish 211 (Topics in Hispanics Language, Literature, and Culture [with a Latin American topic])
Spanish 212 (Literature and Culture of the Spanish Caribbean)
Spanish 270 (Spanish Phonology)
Spanish 305 (The Contemporary Latin American Novel)
Spanish 309 (Trends in Spanish American Literature)
Spanish 310 (The Structure of Modern Spanish)
Endorsed off-campus programs
CIEE in St. Petersburg
GLCA in Czech Republic and Krasnodar.Faculty
Peter Pozefsky (History)
Adonica Sendelbach (Russian, first semester)
Elena Sokol (Russian)
Dijana Plestina (Political Science)Courses
Russian 201 & 202 (Intermediate Russian)
Russian 210 (Russia's Cultural Heritage)
Russian 220 (Topics in Modern Russian Society and Culture)
Russian 250 (Nineteenth-Century Russian Literature)
Russian 251 (Twentieth-Century Russian Literature)
Comparative Lit. 248 (Text and Context in Eastern Europe)
History 230 (Russia to 1900)
History 233 (Twentieth-Century Russia)
Political Science 240 (Politics of the "USSR")
Political Science 241 (East Europe in Transition)
Endorsed off-campus programs
GLCA in India & Nepal
Faculty
Ishwar Harris (Religious Studies)
Courses
CAS 201 (Introduction to the Civilizations of South Asia)
Religious Studies 227 (Indian Philosophy and Religious Thought)
Religious Studies 218 (Hinduism)
Religious Studies 220 (Buddhism)
Religious Studies 222 (Islam)
Endorsed off-campus programs (partial list)
IES in Paris, Nantes, Besançon, Berlin, Freiburg, Vienna, Madrid, Salamanca
PRESHCO in CordobaFaculty (partial list)
Carolyn Durham (French)
Sharon Shelly (French)
David Wilkin (French)
Richard Figge (German)
John Hondros (History)
Diane Uber (Spanish)
John Gabriele (Spanish, on leave)
Courses
Art 222 (Modern Art)
Art 224 (Modern Architecture)Comp.Lit. 232 (Modern Comparative Drama)
Fren 201 (Intermediate French for Spoken Comprehension and Communication)
Fren 202 (Intermediate French for Reading)
Fren 203 (Intermediate French for Written Comprehension and Communication)
Fren 216 (Advanced French)
Fren 220 (Introduction to Francophone Texts)
Fren 224 (Studies in Francophone Culture)
Fren 253 (Topics in Francophone Literature and Society)
Fren 328 (Studies in the Nineteenth Century)
Fren 328 (Studies in the Twentieth Century)Ger 201 Intermediate German--Level I
Ger 202 Intermediate German--Level II
Ger 227 German Literature in Translation
Ger 228 Topics in German Society and Culture
Ger 250 Advanced Composition and Conversation
Ger 260 Kulturkunde--Introduction to German Studies
Ger 300 Major Epochs of German Literature and Culture (when relevant)Hist 101 or 301 (when relevant)
Hist 208 Twentieth-Century Europe--1900-1945
Hist 209 Twentieth-Century Europe--Europe since 1945
Hist 210 Intellectual History of Modern Europe--1750-1914
Hist 211 Europe of the Revolutions
Hist 225 Modern GermanyPhil 252 Hegel, Kierkegaard and Nietzche
Phil 253 Twentieth Century Continental Philosophy
Phil 254 ExistentialismPol.Sci. 120 International Relations
Pol.Sci. 234 Contemporary Western Political Theory
Pol.Sci. 242 The Politics of West Europe
Pol.Sci. 247 Special Topics in Comparative Politics (when relevant)Span 201 Intermediate Spanish for Conversation and Composition
Span 202 Intermediate Spanish for Conversation, Composition and Style
Span 203 Peninsular Spanish Civilization and Culture
Span 211 Topics in Hispanic Language, Literature and Culture
Span 270 Spanish Phonology
Span 307 Modern Spanish Literature
Span 310 The Structure of Modern Spanish
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