BACHELOR’S DEGREE

In the East Asian Studies major, students concentrate on either China or Japan and organize their work in the humanities or the social sciences. Students also have the opportunity to take courses related to Korea, as CEAS continues to expand the study of Korea in the undergraduate curriculum. The major offers a liberal education by providing a degree of mastery of a significant field of learning. At the same time, it serves as excellent preparation for graduate study or for business and professional careers in which an understanding of East Asia is essential.

The major in East Asian Studies is interdisciplinary, and students typically select classes from a wide variety of disciplines. The proposed course of study must be approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Prerequisite to the major is Chinese 115 / Japanese 115 or the equivalent. Beyond the prerequisite, the major consists of thirteen term courses, which may include up to six taken in a pre-approved program of study abroad, normally Yale's Junior Year Abroad Program. Required courses are intermediate Chinese (CHNS 130) / Japanese (JAPN 140) and third-year Chinese / Japanese or their equivalents. Six term credits must be taken in East Asian language courses. 

Beyond the language requirement, the major consists of seven additional required courses: six in the country of concentration and one outside the country of concentration. Of the six courses in the country of concentration, one must be in the pre-modern period, at least two must be seminars, and one is the senior requirement (a senior seminar, two-term senior research project, or one-term senior essay). These courses are normally taken at Yale during the academic year, but with prior approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies, the requirement may be fulfilled through successful course work undertaken elsewhere.

Students focus their study on either China or Japan, but must take at least one term course (but not more than two for credit toward the major) that examines East Asia outside their country of concentration. One course on some aspect of the pre-modern era of the country of concentration is also required. Starting in their junior year, students will develop a disciplinary focus by taking two seminars concerning their country of concentration.

All students must satisfy a senior requirement undertaken during the senior year. This requirement can be met in one of three ways. Students may take one seminar in the country of concentration, culminating in a senior thesis. Alternatively, students who are unable to write a senior essay in a seminar may complete EAST 480 a or b (One-Term Senior Essay) with permission of the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Students may also undertake a two-term, one credit senior research project in EAST 491 culminating in an essay.

Upon entering the major, students are expected to draw up intellectually coherent sequences of courses in consultation with the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) in East Asian Studies. In 2007-2008, the DUS is Koichi Shinohara, Professor of Religious Studies and East Asian Languages & Literatures. Students should also identify as soon as possible a faculty advisor in their area of specialization. Students must consult with the DUS each term concerning their course schedules.

In order to keep track of courses taken for credit in the East Asian Studies Major, students are required to utilize a Yale College East Asian Studies Coursework Form. CLICK HERE for a PDF version of the form.

For more information on resources at Yale related to the study of East Asian languages and cultures, please visit the E-Assisted Planning Website for East Asian Studies.

Official Yale College program and course information is found in Yale College Programs of Study, available on line at http://www.yale.edu/yalecollege/publications/ycps.

For more information regarding Yale College Undergraduate Admissions, please visit http://www.yale.edu/admit/.

For more general information regarding admissions for international students and fellowship opportunities, please visit http://world.yale.edu/admissions/index.html. In addition, information regarding services for international students can be found at http://world.yale.edu/services/index.html.