Requirements for the Major
The East Asian Studies Major requires nine courses, plus language, plus study abroad and a senior project. This breaks down into the following four required components:
PART ONE: Language
Satisfactory completion of the intermediate level of either Chinese or Japanese, or Korean if available. All
East Asian Studies majors are expected to complete at least one year
of language study in their field of concentration by the end of the
sophomore year with a minimum grade of C+ for both semesters. All students are strongly urged to go beyond this minimum. New majors who place higher than the third year of language are strongly urged to undertake more advanced language work, or to study another East Asian language with which they are less familiar, depending on the particular needs of the student.
- Questions about Chinese should be addressed to the Chinese Language Coordinator, Prof. Xiaomio Zhu.
- Questions about Japanese should be addressed to the Japanese Language Coordinator, Prof. Etsuko Takahashi.
- Please note that Intermediate level competence is not automatically satisfied by completion of second-year Korean, because of the non-intensive nature of our courses. Please contact the Chair if you have questions.
PART TWO: Core Classes
Completion of five East Asian Studies courses. These courses must include:
- EAST 201: Sophomore Colloquium. The aim of this course is to introduce prospective majors to a range of fields and methodologies that comprise East Asian Studies at Wesleyan. The material will be organized into several disciplinary modules, each contributing to a central theme. The modules will vary from year to year. Examples are: Art History, Economics, Government, History, Language and Linguistics, Literature, Music, Philosophy, and Religion.
The remaining four courses must satisfy the following criteria:
- A survey course on traditional China. To be chosen from history, literature, or philosophy, in consultation with the student's advisor.
- A survey course on traditional Japan. To be chosen from history, literature, or art history, in consultation with the student's advisor.
- A history course. Course must be cross-listed in History Department.
- A literature course. Course must be cross-listed in Asian Language and Literatures Department.
Please note that a single course may satisfy more than one of these criteria. For instance, a survey of traditional Japanese literature would satisfy two. Students still must take five courses in all (counting the Sophonore Colloquium), but if one course satisfies two criteria, then the fifth "core class" can be chosen from any EAST class, without restriction.
PART THREE: Concentration
Four courses in one of the concentrations listed below, or in a concentration designed through close consultation between the student and his or her academic advisor. Any new concentrations must have the approval of the Program Chair. Detailed descriptions of these concentrations can be found by selecting the appropriate link below. Concentrations currently offered are:
PART FOUR: Other requirements
- A senior project. All majors must complete a written or (with approval) creative project during their senior year. This should involve the use of East Asian language materials to the extent that the student's preparation permits. There are several ways in which this requirement can be fulfilled:
- Write an essay of fifteen or more pages, dealing substantially with East Asia, in the context of a regular class. If the class instructor is not an EAS faculty member, the essay must be approved by the student's EAS advisor. Please note that this class can simultaneously fulfull other requirements.
- Write a one-semester Senior Essay in a tutorial, preferably given by an EAS faculty member.
- Write a Senior Thesis, typically in a two-semester tutorial with an EAS faculty member.
- Study abroad. All majors should devote one, or preferably two semesters to study at an approved program in China, Japan, or Taiwan. For more information, please see this page. For information on Summer language study, which is encouraged but not required, please see this page.
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