Coursework

This page lists all of the courses I have taken for my Japanese major, Anthropology major, and Dance minor. Below these descriptions are samples of my coursework covering various topics in Japanese language, culture, and literature as well as anthropology.

このページは日本語専攻、人類学専攻とダンス副専攻の受けた授業を説明します。

下に、さまざまな話題（日本語、日本文化、日本文学、人類学など）についての作文やプロジェクトもあります。

Japanese Major Coursework

Language Instruction

JAPN 1010 & 1020 Elementary Japanese
Provided the fundamentals of Japanese with a focus on learning Hiragana, Katakana, basic kanji, and elementary grammar. JAPN 1020 places heavier emphasis on smooth communication and comfortably reading & writing basic Japanese.

JAPN 2010 & 2020 Intermediate Japanese
Intermediate-level course designed to continue developing reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. JAPN 2010 introduces writing short essays and presentations, while JAPN 2020 emphasizes using honorifics and constructing complex sentences. Builds on JAPN 1010 & 1020 by introducing intermediate grammar and complex vocabulary & kanji.

JAPN 3050 Japanese Conversation & Composition
Upper-level course focused on improving confidence when speaking in various social situations, comprehension of complex texts, understanding of nuance conveyed through grammar and particles, and composition of research-based essays. Instructed entirely in Japanese.

JAPN 3160 Japanese for International Business I
Course in progress. Language course focused on utilizing proper vocabulary, grammar, and behavior in business contexts. Involves creating Japanese résumés and participating in mock job interviews. Instructed entirely in Japanese.

JPN 225 Intensive Japanese 3A (Meiji Gakuin University)
Intermediate-level course that prioritized speaking natural Japanese, interacting with native speakers and crafting a presentation detailing their opinions on a topic, and reading and writing texts about Japanese culture. Instructed entirely in Japanese.

JPN 233 Practical Japanese Intermediate SA (Meiji Gakuin University)
Supplementary course designed to improve listening and speaking skills. Class activities included listening to and recreating everyday conversations, discussing interests and playing games with native speakers, and giving a presentation on an aspect of Japanese culture. Instructed entirely in Japanese.

Culture & Literature Coursework

JAPN 4010 Japanese Literature in Translation
Introduction to Japanese history, culture, and art through popular Japanese literature and folktales. Focus on analyzing contemporary issues such as modernization, identity crisis, isolation, and grief. Instructed in English.

JAPN 4060 Introduction to Japanese Literature
Course in progress. Centered around reading, analyzing and translating contemporary Japanese fiction and poetry in weekly discussions. Conducted in Japanese.

LANG 3100 East Asian Pop Culture
Overview of contemporary social, political, and economic developments in East Asian nations through analysis of popular culture, including television, film, music, and literature. Instructed in English.

SOC 205 Contemporary Japanese Society (Meiji Gakuin University)
Covered various topics and issues in modern Japanese society such as globalization, resistance to cultural traditions, work and leisure practices, and the influence of popular media. Instructed in English.

Other Major Required Courses

JAPN 4990 Selected Topics in Japanese Culture
Survey of Japanese linguistics with a focus on phonetics & phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics. Discussed unique Japanese dialects and stylization practices, particles, first-person pronouns, and honorifics through readings and individual research.

LANG 3000 Introductory Linguistics
Introduction to human language and the study of linguistics through examples from a wide variety of languages. Covered topics such as phonetics, morphology, syntax, semantics, sociolinguistics, language acquisition, and language change.

LANG 3710 JAPN Language and Culture
Course in progress. Focus on Japanese sociolinguistics and how language use relates to societal developments and individual identity. Major topics include language standardization, dialects, stylization, intersectionality, politeness, and globalization.

CUL 205 Modern East Asian History (Meiji Gakuin University)
Overview of premodern and modern social and political developments in China, Japan, and Korea. Examined relationships within East Asia and with Western nations, colonialism & nationalism, the impact of political conflicts, and how history is shaped and taught.

Anthropology Major Coursework

Core Anthropology Courses

ANTH 3010 Cultural Anthropology
Introduction to the development and organization of modern human societies through an anthropological lens. Compared and contrasted various cultures to display patterns in human behavior and culture.

ANTH 3310 Archaeology
Overview of various methods, theories, and case studies in the field of archaeology. Utilized laboratory exercises to introduce the basics of mapping sites, using total stations, analyzing artifacts, and conducting historical research.

ANTH 3510 Biological Anthropology
Survey of human evolution and variation through the application of anthropological methods & knowledge to archaeological, genetic, and other scientific data about human development.

Specialized Anthropology Courses

ANTH 3530 Forensic Anthropology
Course in progress. Introduction to the process of human remains identification in medical and legal contexts. Focus on human remains recovery, decomposition, and using bones to estimate various traits in individuals.

ANTH 4040 Anthropological Theories
Seminar course where students analyzed various anthropological theories and their applications to contemporary society. Class meetings involved student-led discussions about theoretical texts that culminated in team debates on major questions in anthropology.

ANTH 4270 Anthropology of Religion, Magic and Witchcraft
Overview of religious beliefs, practices, and myths across a wide variety of human cultures. Utilized anthropological tools to analyze the societal functions of and issues with sacred traditions.

ANTH 4410 Underwater Archaeology
Specialized course covering the methods and theories used in underwater archaeological excavation and research. Additional discussions of maritime law and ethical dilemmas associated with recovering submerged cultural heritage.

ANTH 4980 Independent Study
Independent completion of an internship with the Savannah River Archaeological Research Program and a reflection essay on the experience. Focus on surveying areas for possible archaeological sites to ensure SRS activities comply with historic preservation laws.

ANTH 4990 Human Rights
Exploration of international justice and human rights with an emphasis on human rights violations, related laws and cases, and vulnerable populations. Discussed the reasons for and consequences of international crimes.

ANTH 410 Food, People and the Planet (UofSC Aiken)
Cross-cultural study of the connection between food preparation, production, and consumption and human society. Explored how food relates to personal identity, group formation, and ideologies.

Other Major Required Courses & Relevant Electives

ANTH 2050 Professional Development
Designed to provide Anthropology majors with tools to apply knowledge and skills gained in classes to a future career. Included the creation of a job application portfolio and five-year plan.

REL 3110 African American Religion
Examined African American religious traditions beginning during the period of enslavement. Emphasis on uplifting African American voices and analyzing complex issues through multiple perspectives.

INT 243 Current Issues 3 (Meiji Gakuin University)
Focused on the relationship between media and identity, particularly gender, displayed in film. Discussed how the representation of gender roles in popular films has changed over time.

RELG 103 Comparative Religion (UofSC Aiken)
Introduction to the world’s largest religions and their primary beliefs, rituals, texts, and practices. Emphasis on comparative study to recognize trends among various organized religions.

SOCY 101 Introductory Sociology (UofSC Aiken)
General overview of the field of sociology and modern social groups and institutions. Introduces sociological research approaches and methods used to study subjects like social development and inequality.

Dance Minor Coursework

DANC 2300 Tap Dance II
Intermediate/advanced level studio class in tap dance technique and performance. Involved choreography and recording of a 3-minute group piece led by the professor.

DANC 2400 Jazz Dance II
Intermediate/advanced level studio class in jazz dance technique and performance. Final project involved student choreography and performance of a small group jazz piece.

DANC 2500 Contemporary Dance II
Intermediate/advanced level studio class in contemporary dance technique and performance. Final project involved student choreography and performance of a small group contemporary piece.

DANC 2600 Ballet Dance II
Intermediate/advanced level studio class in ballet technique and performance. Involved choreography and recording of a 3-minute group piece led by the professor.

DANC 3100 Dance and Society
Cross-cultural analysis of dance styles across the world and their unique histories and cultural significance. Designed to develop appreciation and knowledge of the artform through assigned readings and videos.

DANC 3110 Dance Composition I
Introduction to choreographic concepts and the dance composition process through improvisational and individual choreography exercises. Builds a set of tools and dance vocabulary to utilize in choreographing a wide variety of dance styles.

DANC 3120 Dance for Musical Theatre I
Studio class with a focus on learning, altering and staging choreography from popular American musicals. Developed skills in stylistic versatility, auditioning, and musicality along with knowledge of musical theatre choreographers and history.

DANC 3130 Dance Composition II
Continuation of DANC 3100 at the intermediate/advanced level. Expands on the tools provided in the previous semester while emphasizing collaboration with other dances to create longer pieces.

DANC 3140 Dance for Musical Theatre II
Continuation of DANC 3110 at the intermediate/advanced level. Further development of musical theatre choreography and staging strategies introduced in the previous semester.

Samples of Coursework

Japanese

Linguistic Proficiency

「文化が豊かな町：シカゴ」 (JAPN 3050)

Short essay written about my favorite city, Chicago, detailing its unique culture and how to learn about it.

「インタビュー報告:日本人学生2人のアメリカのイメージ」

(JPN 225)

Presentation of findings from two interviews with Japanese university students about their image of American culture. (Presentation script also attached.)

Cultural Competency

Japanese Folklore and Yōkai in the Pokémon Franchise (JAPN 4010)

Paper detailing the connections between figures and themes in Japanese folktales and the Pokémon franchise.

Tolerance and Invisibility: Lesbian Communities in Contemporary Japan (SOC 205)

Presentation discussing the history of the lesbian community in Japan and the social and legal issues they face in society.

Literature & Humanities Competency

Cats and Crows in Kafka on the Shore (JAPN 4010)

Paper discussing the symbolic significance of cats and crows in the novel Kafka on the Shore as guides to and bridges between the real and supernatural realms.

Usage of Self-Referential Expressions by LGBT Japanese Speakers (JAPN 4990)

Paper investigating the significance of how LGBT speakers of Japanese use first-person pronouns and various terminology to convey their sexuality and/or gender identity.

Anthropology

Papers

Religion and the Queer Community: A Cross-Cultural Survey (ANTH 4270)

Research paper examining the presence of queer figures in religious texts and imagery and acceptance of queer people in the belief systems of major world religions.

Independent Study (ANTH 4980)

Reflection essay detailing my activities and experiences during my internship with the Savannah River Archaeological Research Program at the Savannah River Site in Aiken, SC.

Cultural and Linguistic Hybridization in a Globalized

K-Pop Industry (LANG 3100)

Paper detailing how K-Pop artists combine Korean language and culture with aspects of other cultures to boost international popularity.

Feminism and Gender Performance in Charlie’s Angels (INT 243)

Analysis of gender in the film Charlie's Angels, including how the characters perform various kinds of femininity and how the film communicates feminist ideas.

Projects

Final Writing Assignment: Mapping and Analyzing a Site (ANTH 3310)

Survey of a chosen site, in this case an elementary school classroom in Warrenville, SC. Use of archaeological methods to map, describe and analyze the space.

Unessay: Black Women and Queer People in the Gospel Music Genre (REL 3110)

Curated playlist of songs with research-based commentary on the representation of black women and queer people's issues in gospel music from the 19th and 20th centuries.