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East Asian Studies

Undergraduate

One of four interdisciplinary majors within the Asian Studies program, East Asian studies allows students to specialize in the history, languages, cultures, and politics of East Asia. Complementing course work at ÓûÂþɬ are extracurricular activities and study abroad programs that broaden and deepen students’ understanding of Asia.

Program Overview

Language study is the core component of the major. We offer four levels of instruction in Chinese, three in Japanese, and two in Korean. As a student of East Asian Studies, you are expected to incorporate the humanities and the social sciences fully into your studies with classes at ÓûÂþɬ and the other colleges in the Five College Consortium.

On campus, you will experience regional culture at many levels, including language tables and clubs, guest lectures, performing and visual arts, film, festivals, and regional cuisine. These activities are often initiated by and benefit greatly from the diverse student population of ÓûÂþɬ and particularly the large numbers of students from Asian countries or with an Asian background.

Most of our students spend a semester or a summer in study abroad programs. ÓûÂþɬ has affiliated programs or exchanges in China at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, Peking University (summer), and University of Hong Kong; in Japan at the Associated Kyoto Program (year) and the Japan Women’s University; and in South Korea at the Ewha Womans University and the Sookmyung Women’s University.

East Asian Studies majors and minors graduate to pursue graduate studies and careers in fields as varied as law, education, business, NGOs, journalism, the arts, and government service.

Community Voices

Spotlight on East Asian Studies students and alums

Liz Sevigny ’23

Launching a career path from my first year at ÓûÂþɬ

Liz Sevigny ’23

they/them

Savvy Harcum

Supported locally, learning globally

Savvy Harcum ’22

South Korea Reflections at Yonsei University

From One Home to the Next: Reflections on Studying Abroad in South Korea

Clare Ysabella Heywood ’21

EXPLORE MORE STORIES

Learning Goals

By majoring in East Asian Studies, students should:

  • Develop proficiency in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean. By "proficiency" we mean the ability to:
    • Read newspapers, magazines, and popular literature.
    • Converse with a native speaker on non-technical subjects.
    • Write coherent paragraphs on non-technical subjects.
  • Develop knowledge of the history of premodern and modern East Asia.
  • Develop knowledge of the arts, literature, religions, and philosophies of East Asia.
  • Develop knowledge of the geography, politics, economics, and societies of East Asia.

Requirements for the Major

A minimum of 40 credits:

Four courses (16 credits) in, equivalent to two years of college-level study of, an East Asian language: Chinese, Japanese, or Korean 116
HIST-137Modern East Asia, 1600-20004
or POLIT-228 East Asian Politics
At least three non-language courses (12 credits) on East Asia, including at least one from each of the following two groups: 212
Group One: Humanities (literature, art, history, philosophy, and religion and interdisciplinary courses in these areas) 3, 4
Group Two: Social Sciences (anthropology, economics, geography, international relations, linguistics, politics, and sociology interdisciplinary courses in these areas)
Two additional courses (8 credits) to complete the major 28
At least three courses (12 credits) must be at the 300 level. One of the three 300-level courses must be a non-language and non-independent study course. 5
Total Credits40
1

Japanese, Chinese, and Korean are taught at ÓûÂþɬ and elsewhere in the Five Colleges. A maximum of 16 lower-level language credits and a total of 24 language credits can be counted toward the major.

2

A full list of the approved courses for the major appears at the end of the East Asian Studies Courses section.

3

Language courses are not included in this group

4

In order to count toward the major, Studio Art or performance courses must be supplemented with analytical written work

5

A course that is taught outside of ÓûÂþɬ must be approved by the chair of the Asian Studies program to count as a 300-level course.

Additional Specifications

  • Any course that devotes 50 percent or more of its substance to East Asian countries, peoples, or issues may be included in the major.
  • One course on East Asian diasporas (e.g., Asian American studies) may count toward the major.
  • Students who declare an East Asian studies major automatically fulfill the College's "outside the major" requirement.

Related Courses Counting toward the East Asian Studies Major

Most East Asian studies courses at ÓûÂþɬ are listed below, but students should also consult the catalog entries or websites of other departments, including art history, history, international relations, politics, and religion. East Asian Studies majors should also plan to use the rich resources of the Five College Consortium in selecting their courses (listings are available through the or individual college websites).

Please consult the chair of Asian Studies for guidelines regarding Asian languages not taught in the Five Colleges.

Anthropology
ANTHR-204Anthropology of Modern Japan4
Asian Studies
ASIAN-110First Year Chinese I4
ASIAN-111First Year Chinese II4
ASIAN-120First Year Japanese I6
ASIAN-121First Year Japanese II6