If you are a currently enrolled UMBC undergraduate or graduate student interested in a year of research, study, or teaching in more than 140 countries around the world, attend this special Fulbright U.S. Student Program information session during International Education Week.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program, funded by the U.S. State Department, allows graduating seniors, currently enrolled graduate students, and recent alumni to study, research, or teach for a year throughout the world. For more information on the program, check out the Fulbright website at <us.fulbrightonline.org>.

You can email Dr. Brian Souders, UMBC's Fulbright Program Advisor, with questions at <souders@umbc.edu>.

To register for this special information session, co-sponsored by UMBC and the U.S. Student Fulbright Program, head to the link below:

Tuesday, November 19, 2024 at 5:00 PM-6:15 PM EST

https://apply.iie.org/register/GPS1

**This information has been cross-posted from the Global Studies myUMBC page.

The days are shorter now, and a bit colder, but campus remains lively and exciting as ever for Asian Studies students. Here are a few events, dates, and deadlines of interest for you in the coming weeks: 

Spring 2025 Advising and Registration

Did you forget to sign up for advising for Spring 2025, and you still need your registration clearance? Never fear - Dr. Vaporis and Dr. Kim can meet with you during their normal office hours to assist you with any questions you might have! You can reach them by email (click their names above) to schedule an appointment. 

New Spring 2025 Course - ASIA 300: Asia Pacific Worlds

Still looking for an elective for the coming Spring semester? Consider signing up for Dr. Thornburg's ASIA 300: Asia Pacific Worlds! 

Explore the histories, experiences, representations, and contemporary issues of the islands and archipelagos connected by the Pacific Ocean—from Hawaiʻi, the Philippines, and Japan to Vietnam, the Marianas, and Indonesia.  Using a variety of texts and genres—such as graphic novels, memoirs, and guidebooks—we will think about the connections, exchanges, and movements between that knit this region together from a "Global Asias" perspective, examining migration, diaspora, identity, colonialisms, popular culture, and tourism. 

The class is filling up fast - register today, don't miss your chance!

International Education Week is Coming!

Study abroad and other international experiences can provide life-changing opportunities for you to connect your interests with people and places around the world. International Education Week brings many of those experiences and opportunities to campus for you in a whirlwind of events ranging from information sessions to table fairs and guest speakers. 

You can learn more about International Education Week on the Center for Global Engagement's website. A few events may be of particular interest for ASIA students and may require pre-registration: 

• Monday, Nov 18, 4:30pm: Meet Maryland's Director of International Affairs
• Monday, Nov 18, 7:30pm: Fulbright English Teaching Program/English Language Fellows Program Virtual Info Session
• Tuesday, Nov 19, 5pm: Fulbright Hays Info Session
• Wednesday, Nov 20, 7pm: The English Program in Korea (EPIK) Info Session

Additional details about these programs are available on the CGE website as well as the attached flier. 

Upcoming Dates and Deadlines

Today is Election Day! If you haven't voted yet, polls are open now until 8pm tonight. Maryland has same-day voter registration, so even if you aren't already registered, you may be able to cast a ballot today! Find your polling place on the state's Voting Location Lookup site here. 

Last Chance for Advising!

Remember that you cannot register for your Spring 2025 classes until you get clearance from your advisor, and you can't get clearance from your advisor until you have an advising appointment with them. 

Have you signed up for an advising appointment with Dr. Vaporis or Dr. Kim? They've emailed an advising sign-up sheet a few times. This week is the last opportunity to meet with them during special extended office hours. If you haven't received the sign-up sheet, or are unsure how to complete it, please contact us as soon as possible. 

Registration for Spring 2025 is happening now, and we anticipate that many classes will fill up quickly. Don't miss your chance to sign up for the courses you need and want - get advised today! 

New Spring 2025 Course Offering: ASIA 330/ART 355 - The Dao of Intermedia

Prof. Chan is offering her popular "Dao of Intermedia" class again this spring. The course, crosslisted as ASIA 330 and ART 355, explores the connection between art and the everyday through lectures, and readings of Asian philosophy. The course consists of discussions about the philosophy and how traditional and contemporary artists/craftspeople have related the philosophy to their work. Students learn traditional arts/crafts such as brush-painting, papermaking, paper/textile decorative arts as well as creating art that is both physical material and performative. Seats are extremely limited - sign up today! 

Winter Session Registration Continues

Are you interested in taking a class during the Winter 2025 session this coming January, but aren't sure which one is the best option? Consider an asynchronous class that will count towards your Asian Studies requirements!  

ASIA 300 - Modern East Asia 
HIST 381 - From Samurai to Salariman: Japanese History Through Film and Literature

Unlike the Spring and Fall semesters, you do not need advising clearance to register for Winter Session classes. For more information about Winter Session, visit their website. 

Don't Forget: Guest Lecture with Dr. Anita Mannur on Monday, Nov 11!

We hope to see many of you in the Library Gallery on Monday afternoon, Nov. 11, for Dr. Mannur's lecture "From Pandan Donuts to Masala Chai Ice Cream." Dr. Mannur will explore the ways that a new generation of chefs is bringing the cuisine of Asia to a global audience - and we'll have refreshments for the lecture attendees, as well! 

Upcoming Dates and Deadlines

• Ongoing: Winter 2025 Registration
• Ongoing: Spring 2025 Advising & Registration
• Tomorrow (November 6): Last Day to Withdraw from Individual Courses with a "W" 
• Monday, Nov 11: Guest Lecture, Dr. Anita Mannur (see above)
• Thursday, Nov 28: Thanksgiving (UMBC closed)
  
• Friday, Nov 29: American Indian Heritage Day (UMBC closed)

Halloween is here! Will you be dressing up on Thursday? In Japan, 2024 is the 10th anniversary of "Mundane Halloween," where people dress up not as witches or zombies or ghosts but as everyday people, places, or things you might encounter across Japan. This blog has a rundown of some of the best offerings this year, as well as archived posts of highlights from previous years. Be sure to check it out! 

New Process: Spring 2025 Advising and Registration

Don't miss your chance to register for popular classes! Spring 2025 advising is happening now, and as of this week, we've modified the process! 

You no longer need to make an appointment via Calendly. Dr. Vaporis has distributed a Google Doc with appointment times - virtual and in-person - for students to select. If you did not receive this message yesterday (Monday, Oct 28) afternoon, please let us know as soon as possible (m.power@umbc.edu). 

Don't wait to sign up - registration began yesterday and we expect many classes to fill up quickly. You can't register for classes until you've received your advising clearance. 

Upcoming Events, Dates, and Deadlines

Asian Studies Students,

A virtual information session on the 77th Japan-America Student Conference will be held next Tuesday, October 29th, at 8:30 PM.! The conference in 2025 will be held in Japan in Kyoto/Osaka (July 31-August 7), Kumamoto (August 8-13), Tokyo (August 14-21). 

This session will be a great way to learn more about the program, getting to meet the team, and to answer any questions you may have.  Here is the link to sign up for the information Session: https://forms.gle/9CsFJCyKYb92LCydA

Remember, scholarships are available!

For general information on the conference, please go to: https://iscdc.org/jasc/
Prof. Vaporis (vaporis@umbc.edu), director of Asian Studies, is also available to answer your questions about the program.

Seasonally chilly weather isn't the only thing happening on campus lately. Keep reading to learn more about upcoming events, deadlines, and other news of interest for Asian Studies students! 

Winter Session 2025 Registration Now Available

Registration for Winter 2025 began on Monday! The session takes place in January 2025. Asian Studies students may be especially interested in the following classes, which count towards your ASIA requirements: 

• ASIA 300: Modern East Asia - Prof. Kim - online/asynchronous
• HIST 381: From Samurai to Salariman: Japanese History Through Film and Literature - Prof. Vaporis - online/asynchronous
• MUSC 230: Musics of the World - Prof. Purdy - hybrid (main campus

Note that HIST 381 counts towards your Culture GEP requirements, and MUSC 230 counts toward both Arts & Humanities and Culture GEP requirements. 

Have You Signed Up for Spring 2025 Advising?

The schedule of classes for Spring 2025 will be available next week (Oct 21), and registration appointments begin as soon as October 29. You can sign up for an advising appointment now! Visit our website for more information! 

Only students with clearance from their advisor - Dr. Vaporis or Dr. Kim, for Asian Studies students - can register for classes. Sign up early! 

Save the Date: Anita Mannur Lecture, Nov 11 1pm

Asian Studies is pleased to welcome Dr. Anita Mannur, Director of American University's Asia, Pacific, and Diaspora Program, to campus for a guest lecture on Monday, November 11 at 1pm! Join us in the Library Gallery for Dr. Mannur's talk, "From Pandan Donuts To Masala Chai Ice Cream: Infusing Asian Tastes Into the Ethno-Culinary Imaginary." We'll have more information about this event here on myUMBC, and on our website, soon - stay tuned! 

Upcoming Dates and Deadlines

Asian Studies Students,

I'm happy to inform you that applications for the Japan-America Student Conference are now open. The conference will take place next summer in Japan! Scholarships are available. UMBC has not sent a student in a number of years, so the time is ripe. See Dr. Vaporis, Founding and Interim Director of Asian Studies, (vaporis@umbc.edu) for more details. Here below is the official announcement from the organization.

Greetings from the Executive Committee of the 77th Japan-America Student Conference!

We are contacting you about a unique conference opportunity in the summer of 2025: The 77th Japan-America Student Conference!  We are excited to announce that JASC 77 applications are now open!  We would greatly appreciate it if you could share the enclosed information with your students at University of Maryland Baltimore Country!

What is JASC?:  The Japan-America Student Conference (JASC) is a student-led exchange program, initiated in 1934 by university students concerned by the breakdown of bilateral relations prior to the Second World War. Today, an equal number of students from the U.S. and Japan are competitively selected each year to spend three weeks together, studying and analyzing Japan-U.S. relations while visiting three to four diverse regions in the host country. JASC alternates its host country every year, emphasizing the personal connections between two distinct cultures gathered together in one place.

Where Will JASC77 Take Place?: This year is JASC’s Japan year. We will be visiting the following sites: Osaka, Kyoto, Kumamoto, and Tokyo.

When: July 31 to August 21, 2025

Who can Apply?: 36 American and 36 Japanese undergraduate and graduate university students enrolled at any accredited university who are 18 years old or older at the start of the conference. All majors of study are accepted. Japanese language is not required.

JASC 77 Application:https://iscdc.org/jasc/77th-jasc-applications/

As the leaves begin to change here on campus and the weather finally gets a bit cooler, we're highlighting some of the upcoming deadlines, important dates, and other things happening in Asian Studies!

Spring 2025 Advising: Soon!

Spring 2025 advising and registration is coming soon! Dr. Vaporis and Dr. Kim are looking forward to meeting with Asian Studies majors and have set up Calendly schedules for advising appointments later this month. 

The Spring 2025 schedule will be available online on Oct 21 (two weeks from now), and students can register for classes as early as Oct 29. Get ready for your registration window now with three easy steps:

1. Look at your Degree Plan on myUMBC to determine what classes you still need to complete for your degree program. 
2. Do you have an account hold? Holds can be placed for many reasons, and will often prevent you from registering for classes. You can check your student account status on myUMBC; if you do have a hold, contact Student Business Services for assistance with resolving it so that you can register! 
3. Sign up for an advising appointment! Our website has all the details you'll need. 

Winter 2025 Registration Begins Oct 14!

January will be here before you know it. Consider signing up to take a Winter Session course! Many are offered online or in a hybrid format, and this year, three of them are of particular interest for Asian Studies students: 

• ASIA 300: Modern East Asia - Prof. Kim - online/asynchronous
• HIST 381: From Samurai to Salariman: Japanese History Through Film and Literature - Prof. Vaporis - online/asynchronous
• MUSC 230: Musics of the World - Prof. Purdy - hybrid (main campus)

Study Abroad Scholarships Available!

Are you planning to study abroad in Asia in 2025? Asian Studies has a limited number of $1000 scholarships to help offset some of those costs! 

This opportunity is available to Asian Studies majors and minors. 

Apply by Nov 1 for Spring 2025, or February 10 for Summer/Fall 2025. More information, including the application form, is available on our website. 

Upcoming Dates and Deadlines