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ASIAN

Asian Languages and Cultures

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The department at a glance

All recorded grades
average GPA
A / AB grades
letter grades

How grades break down

Grades over time

Red: department · Gray: UW–Madison

About these statistics

GPA and percentages are weighted by recorded letter grades. UW comparisons use the same terms. Cross-listed courses count once within this department and once across UW; department totals should not be added together. Grade counts are not unique students. Offering counts reflect captured records, not a complete historical schedule.

Fall 2026

Recorded this term
courses with offerings
instructors recorded

Grades have not been recorded for this term. Historical results remain in the overview above.

Find your next class

35 courses

Historical grades cover up to five years through the selected term. Grade sorting prioritizes courses with at least 100 letter grades.

ASIAN 100 provides a comparative and interdisciplinary introduction to multiple cultures of Asia.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of Adam Kern, Charo D'Etcheverry: The workload is generally light, featuring online quizzes and group projects. However, one reviewer reports an absurd amount of required reading, up to 600 pages weekly, despite the class being considered easy overall.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Spring 2026

ANIMAL ETHICS IN ASIA examines human-animal relationships across Asia through cultural, moral, and religious lenses.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

No recorded grade history

ASIAN 299 is a directed study course allowing undergraduates to conduct projects arranged with a faculty member.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sample

ASIAN 300 covers selected topics in the study of Asian Languages and Cultures.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews for Hieyoon Kim report minimal weekly homework, typically one movie and one reading, with only three writing assignments and no exams.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Spring 2026

ASIAN 301 explores interdisciplinary approaches to social science topics within Asian studies.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

A critical introduction to Chinese literature from early texts through the late imperial period.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2023–Fall 2025 · limited sample

Examines social factors influencing Japanese language use, including policy, dialects, and media discourse.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2023–Fall 2024 · limited sample

ASIAN 360 explores specific themes, works, or genres in Asian literature and culture through the study of translations.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of Anatoly Detwyler: Students should prepare to read for every discussion to stay engaged in the literature course.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2024–Fall 2025

Surveys manga history and subgenres using critical visual and literary analysis.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2024–Spring 2024 · limited sample

Introduction to Chinese Linguistics covers contemporary Chinese phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and pragmatics.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2023–Spring 2025 · limited sample

Covers general and Japanese-specific language teaching methods, focusing on challenges in the US context.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2024–Fall 2024 · limited sample

Extensive readings in modern Japanese literature and discussion of literary content.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of Adam Kern: The course requires a decent amount of reading and effort, specifically focusing on theory and translation.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026 · limited sample

A capstone seminar examining methodological and theoretical issues in Asian humanities, focusing on literary, religious, and cultural studies.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of Tyrell Haberkorn: The reading load is heavy, but the engaging discussions motivate students to complete the work.

No recorded grade history

This proseminar covers advanced topics in Asian studies, focusing on the cultures of Asia.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

ASIAN 655 explores ethnographic theory and practice through studies of Asian contexts, focusing on writing, photography, and film.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Spring 2024 · limited sample

ASIAN 691 is a senior thesis course where non-honors students conduct research in collaboration with a faculty member.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

No recorded grade history

ASIAN 699 is a directed study course allowing students to work with a faculty member on an individual study program.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sample

ASIAN 799: READING FOR RESEARCH involves compiling reading lists and reading essential sources for preliminary exam fields under advisor guidance.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sample

Explore perspectives on human flourishing from sciences and humanities, investigating themes like resilience and compassion to sustain meaningful engagement.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

The final is easy, but weekly quizzes and journals can be annoying or frequent.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Spring 2026

Introduction to East Asian History: China surveys major developments in Chinese history from 1500 B.C. to 1949, emphasizing patterns, themes, and equal time for classical/traditional and modern eras.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of Zhaoshen Wang: Workload consists of a few straightforward research assignments, an easy midterm, and a final project, with extra credit available.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2025

INTRODUCTION TO EAST ASIAN HISTORY: JAPAN surveys major cultural, social, political, and economic developments in Japanese history from ancient to recent times.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

The course relies on exams and a term paper rather than homework, with heavy reading and significant participation weight. Grading is described as tough, with some noting high standards for top grades.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Fall 2024

Explores the prolonged cycle of wars in Vietnam and its neighbors from 1940 to the present, examining both local and U.S. perspectives.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

The course includes one midterm, one final, and a 15-page paper, with fast-paced lectures delivered without PowerPoint slides.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2025

Covers the social and intellectual history of China from 589 AD to 1919, focusing on literati culture, Neo-Confucianism, and the modern intelligentsia.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Fall 2024 · limited sample

Introduction to East Asian civilizations covering China, Japan, Korea, Tibet, and Mongolia from prehistory to the present.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of Anatoly Detwyler: Workload involves mandatory attendance and substantial reading, with straightforward quizzes based on those readings rather than complex exams.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Spring 2026

INTRODUCTION TO BUDDHISM covers the basic thought, practices and history of Buddhism.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2023–Fall 2025

Across course levels

Recorded this term

No released grades for this term.

Recorded offerings over time

Offering snapshots currently cover Fall 2026. Earlier grade records do not provide a complete offering history.