B.A. in East Asian Studies

The East Asian studies major is interdisciplinary and interdepartmental. Its primary purpose is to introduce undergraduates to the knowledge, language skills, and research methods they will need to enter various specialized professional paths relating to China, Japan, and Korea, including but not limited to advanced academic research. There is no minor in East Asian studies. East Asian studies majors choose a focus area, selected from among three discipline-based focus areas—history, political science, or sociology—or they can also create an individualized focus area. In addition to solid language training and content courses about the region, EAS majors will now get training in the methods and theory of a particular academic discipline. If they choose, East Asian Studies majors can double major in international studies, as the requirements of each of the three focus areas overlap with those of international studies.Undergraduate Student Learning Objectives: Develop proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing at least one East Asian language; Demonstrate specialized knowledge of China, Japan, Korea, or multiple areas with a thematic concentration; Apply the approaches of one selected discipline to the study of China, Japan, and/or Korea; Acquire knowledge of historical developments and flows in the region; Develop the ability to conduct in-depth research on a humanities or social science-related original topic of the student’s choice, using both English and East Asian language research and primary source materials. Toward this end, East Asian studies majors have the option of capping their four years of study with a senior honors thesis, which must demonstrate original research drawing heavily on Chinese, Japanese, and/or Korean sources.