The clocks have changed and the days are short, and the semester is continuing here at UMBC. In Seoul, the annual Lantern Festival is underway - a two-week celebration of lights and festivities which includes floating huge, colorful lanterns down Cheonggyecheon Stream through the center of the city. The 2021 festival is taking place now through November 21, and even if you can't get to Seoul in person, they have a variety of online events scheduled which you can check out! 

Reminder: Spring 2022 Advising and Registration!

Do you still need advising for Spring 2022? Asian Studies majors should fill out this Google Form to prepare for advising. Remember that you cannot add classes to your schedule without registration clearance, and you can't get registration clearance without making an advising appointment. For more information, visit our Advising Guide. 

There are hundreds of classes offered this Spring - how do you know which ones to choose? Your advisor (Dr. Oyen, if you're an Asian Studies major) can help you narrow things down. We also have a helpful guide to all the Spring 2022 courses that count towards Asian Studies, including their GEP designations! 

Event: Online Discussion with Angie Kim, Author of "Miracle Creek" - November 17

Join the Dresher Center, the Dept of Modern Languages, Linguistics, and Intercultural Communication, and Asian Studies next week in welcoming author Angie Kim to campus virtually to discuss her award-winning novel Miracle Creek! The online event will take place on Wednesday, November 17, at 4:30pm EST. For more information and to RSVP, visit MLLI's myUMBC page. 

Upcoming Dates and Deadlines

• Now - Spring 2022 Advising and Registration (see above)
• Now - Winter 2022 Registration
• Nov 10 (tomorrow) - deadline to drop an individual class with a "W"
• Nov 17, 4:30pm - online discussion of novel Miracle Creek with author Angie Kim (see above)
• Nov 25-26 - Thanksgiving Break, no classes
• Dec 2, 4pm - online Humanities Forum lecture "A Lord, A Pauper, and an Artist: Putting People Back Into Samurai History" with Dr. Vaporis

[thumbnail image description: A photograph taken at night of a river running through a crowded urban area. A stone bridge crosses the river near the top of the photograph. Several large, colorful lanterns on barges, in the shape of fairy tale characters such as a knight, Peter Pan, and others, glow warmly as they float on barges down the river.]

Spring 2022 Registration Starts on November 2!

Don't panic! Registration - adding classes to your schedule - is easy, and only takes a few minutes. We've set up a useful guide on our website with detailed information, and have also included it here for you: 

Step 1: Check your degree plan

In your myUMBC profile, click on your 'Degree Plan' tile and see what classes you might still need to take to fulfill your degree requirements. (Not sure where to find the planner? Here's a guide to help.)

Step 2: Check your student account

Also in your myUMBC profile, check your 'Billing' tile to make sure that you do not have a balance due or a hold on your account. Open balances and financial or other holds can prevent you from adding classes to your schedule! Student Business Services can answer any account-related questions you may have. 

Step 3: Make an advising appointment

Students must have registration clearance from their advisor before they can add classes to their schedule. Asian Studies students can be advised by Dr. Oyen - fill out the Google form on this page first. At your advising appointment, you and Dr. Oyen can discuss your plans for Spring 2022 and beyond. 

Step 3a: Identify classes you want or need to take

Check out the online schedule of classes for a list of all the classes that will be offered this spring, or visit the Asian Studies website for a list of classes that count towards Asian Studies program requirements. Dr. Oyen will ask about your plans at your advising appointment, so you should have an idea of possible options before you meet with her. 

Step 4: Check your registration time

Your registration time is based on the number of credits you've completed. Students who have completed more classes (for example, a senior) will have an earlier registration time than students who have completed fewer classes (for example, a sophomore). 

Step 5: Register!

Once your registration time arrives, you can add classes to your schedule. Classes often fill quickly, so it is to your advantage to register for classes as early as you can. You can make changes to your schedule any time before the semester begins - check the Registrar's site for specific add/drop deadlines and other useful dates. 

That's it - the only thing left after adding the classes is to get excited about your Spring 2022 schedule! 

If you have any questions about the registration and advising process, please contact us, and we'll be happy to assist you. 

[thumbnail image ID: a photo of the UMBC Administration building, taken on a sunny spring day, showing all of the trees and flowers with vibrant green foliage]

Winter 2022 Registration Opens Monday, October 18!

Winter 2022 classes meet January 3-28, and many will take place online. Students who enroll in Winter courses typically take one class (up to 4.5 credits). Winter can be a great opportunity to catch up or get ahead if you are planning to graduate in four years! 

Asian Studies students may be especially interested in the following electives which will be offered this winter: 

• HIST 381 - From Samurai to Salariman: Japanese History Through Film and Literature - Prof. Vaporis
  Meetings: asynchronous, online
  This course counts towards UMBC's GEP/GFR 'culture' requirements
• HIST 434 - The Vietnam Wars in International Context - Prof. Oyen 
  Meetings: asynchronous, online
  This course counts towards UMBC's GEP/GFR 'social science' requirements
• MUSC 230 - Musics of the World - Prof. Beck
  Meetings: synchronous (Tues/Thurs/Fri 9am-12:10pm), online
  This course counts towards UMBC's GEP/GFR 'arts and humanities' requirements and UMBC's GEP/GFR 'culture' requirements

For general information about Winter Session 2022, visit the Winter Session website.

We hope you enjoyed celebrating Homecoming 2021 last week and this past weekend! The semester continues, and so does the approach of autumn leaves and weather.

Advising is Coming!

We've set up a convenient Advising Guide on our website to help you with your planning. Take a look, and let us know if you have any questions. We're here to help! Spring 2022 registration begins on November 2, 2021. Start planning now so that you'll be ready when your registration time begins!

Winter Session 2022

Thinking about taking a class during the Winter Session? Winter session registration opens on Monday next week (Oct 18). Winter can be a great time to catch up on GEP requirements or to take an elective you couldn't quite fit into your fall or spring schedule! 

Most of the course offerings this winter will be online, but a few are available on-campus. If you aren't sure what classes might be an option for you and your degree plans, please email us, and we'll be happy to help!

Career Fair for Students with Advanced Japanese Skills

Do you have at least three years of Japanese language study? Thinking about plans for after you graduate? The Boston Career Forum's Virtual Booth Days event will take place on October 30 and 31 (Japan time) and will connect students with more than 160 companies around the world. Registration is free, but space is limited - if you're interested, you can sign up online, or check out the attached flyer for more information. 

ASCOM Meetings - Fridays at Noon

Want to get involved on campus? Interested in meeting fellow Asian Studies students? The Asian Studies Council of Majors (ASCOM) meets every Friday at noon this semester in Fine Arts 558! 

Upcoming Events and Deadlines

• ASCOM meeting: every Friday at noon, Fine Arts Building 558
• Winter Session registration opens Monday, Oct 18
• Spring 2022 Schedule of Classes available Monday, Oct 25

Is there something you'd like to see in these bulletins, or something you have a question about? Let us know! 

[thumbnail image ID: trees with brilliant autumn foliage line a hillside against a dramatic mountain backdrop in the Kashmir region]

October is here, bringing with it midterms, pumpkin patches and lattes, and fun seasonal events. It's an exciting time in Asian Studies, too - see below for all of the news and events coming up!

Spring 2022 Advising - Coming Soon

It's hard to believe that Spring 2022 advising is almost here! The list of Spring 2022 classes will be available online beginning on October 25, and Spring 2022 registration will begin on November 2. 

Don't wait! Get ready now in three easy steps:

1. Look at your Degree Plan in your myUMBC profile to learn what classes or requirements you still need to complete for your degree program. 
2. Look at your Student Account in your myUMBC profile - do you have an account hold? Holds can be placed for several reasons, but most of them will prevent you from being able to register for classes. Contact Student Business Services for more information about resolving an account hold. 
3. Sign up for an advising appointment with your advisor. For Asian Studies majors, Dr. Oyen is your advisor. More information about making an appointment is available on our website!
   
   If you are not an Asian Studies major, contact your major's department to learn more about their Spring 2022 advising plan and make an appointment; Dr. Oyen can also meet with students enrolled in the Asian Studies minor or certificate program to answer questions about your remaining requirements.

Critical Language Scholarship - Apply by November 16!

Have you completed at least one year of Korean classes at the university level, or at least two or three years of Chinese or Japanese? Maybe you're interested in learning an Asian language not offered here at UMBC? Applications for the Critical Language Scholarship, a prestigious eight-week summer intensive language program, are now open! More information, including available languages and eligibility requirements, can be found on their website. UMBC's Education Abroad team can help you with any questions you might have about applying. 

Homecoming This Week!

Celebrate UMBC's Homecoming this week, on campus and virtually. From the Carnival on Saturday to the Puppy Parade, from Grit-X talks to a community photo with Dr. Hrabowski, there's always something fun and festive to check out for Homecoming. See the full schedule here. 

Upcoming Events, Programs, and Deadlines At A Glance

• Advising appointments and registration clearance: starts this week
• Homecoming: all week and this weekend
• UMBC Library's Humanities/Social Science Literature Review Workshop: Oct 6 [tomorrow!], online 
• Online schedule of classes (Spring 2022) available: October 25
• Spring 2022 registration window opens: November 2
• Critical Language Scholarship Application Deadline: November 16

Questions about this newsletter? Want to see something included that we're overlooking? Let us know!