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Master Course Outline
HIST& 122
History of Modern East Asia
Course Description: This course is an introduction to the history, geography, culture, and sociology of
East Asia during the last two centuries. We will study the development of modern China and Japan,
Asian interaction with the West, the role of religions in East Asian societies, the varying political and
cultural systems, economics, and the challenges of the 20th and 21st centuries. 5 lecture hours. Satisfies
social science distribution area “A” requirement or specified elective for the AA degree.
Credits: 5
Prerequisites: none
Recommended Preparation: READ 090 or placement in college level reading; ENGL 095 or placement in
ENGL& 101 or instructor permission. Completion of or concurrent enrollment in ENGL& 101
recommended.
Co-requisites: none
Learning Outcomes:
A. To give students an understanding of the development of Modern East Asia and the changing
value systems, cultural traditions, social structures, religious traditions, and politics of the era
(mostly the last two hundred years). In other words, students will gain a basic “cultural literacy”
of China and Japan.
B. To compare the cultures of China and Japan and to compare them with other cultures. Chinese
and Japanese peoples have faced many of the same problems and issues that were faced by
European peoples. Students will learn how Chinese and Japanese solutions to these problems
help illustrate the wide variety of human experience, imagination, and history.
C. To understand aspects of “global history” and the tools used to integrate national histories into
the overall history of the world.
D. To explore the great personalities, works of art, and philosophies that have shaped East Asian
societies and come to some understanding of how they continue to shape the world today.
E. To understand the basic tools of the discipline of history. We will see how historians interpret
the past and will determine biases and historical perspectives. Students will literally learn how
historians think and process information. We will all practice our critical thinking.
F. To read newspaper accounts of contemporary events and be able to understand their historical
antecedents and their impact on the cultural matrix.
G. To explore some of the materials available over the Internet and to critically assess their value in
doing historical research.
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Textbook: Rhoads Murphey, East Asia, A New History, 2nded (2001)
Academic Integrity: All forms of cheating, falsification, and plagiarism are against the rules of this
course and of Grays Harbor College. Students who are unsure what constitutes academic dishonesty are
responsible for asking the instructor for clarification. Instances of intentional academic dishonesty will
be dealt with severely.
Disabilities: Students who have documented disabilities that require accommodations in compliance
with the Americans with Disabilities Act should contact the Disability Support Services coordinator as
well as the instructor of the course in order to ensure that together we create an optimal environment
for educational achievement.
W Day, the final day to officially withdraw from a course, is the Thursday of the seventh week (Thursday
of the fourth week for summer quarter). Students who do not withdraw by that date will receive the
grades they have earned, regardless of whether they are attending the course or completing the work.
Students who are considering withdrawal are strongly advised to consult with the instructor, advisor and
financial aid prior to withdrawing. The only withdrawals allowed after W Day are complete withdrawals
from all courses.
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