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Funding Received for New Asian Studies Program at UWRF

By Laurel Kolkind
UWRF Public Affairs

MAY 21, 2008--The University of Wisconsin-River Falls recently received a grant to begin an Asian Studies Program. The program will enrich and enhance existing international education programs by incorporating the study of Asia into the university curriculum.

The grant was given to the university by the U.S. Department of Education Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language Program and totals $89,982 for each year given. It is anticipated that the grant will be for two years, beginning on July 1.

Terry Brown, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, says the the program will allow the university to expand and internationalize course offerings. "The grant will bring in $190,000 to support faculty development in the area of Asian studies. It will have a significant impact on our university's strategic goal to promote global literacy by internationalizing the curriculum."

The program will include an Asian Studies minor that consists of 27 credits total, including two year of Chinese or Japanese, core and distribution courses, a research project, study in Asia, and a senior capstone seminar.

The program will allow students to experience expanded Chinese and Japanese language instruction and also new and enhanced courses in Asian history, politics, arts, geography and philosophy.

There will also be faculty development opportunities to enable current instructors to infuse Asian Studies topics into new or existing courses, says Brown. Research and scholarship opportunities will also be available with an increase in extra-curricular activities focusing on Asian topics or issues such as performances, speakers, festivals and colloquia, she said.

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Last updated: Friday, 30-May-2008 12:14:34 CDT