East Asian Studies

专业详情

In the East Asian Studies major, students focus on a country or an area within East Asia and concentrate their work in the humanities or the social sciences. The major offers a liberal education that 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 (DUS).

Prerequisite

The prerequisite to the major is completion of study at the L2 level of an East Asian language taught at Yale or the equivalent. 

Requirements of the Major

Beyond the prerequisite, the major consists of thirteen course credits, which may include up to six taken in a preapproved program of study abroad. Six course credits must be taken in East Asian language courses, including a course at the L4 level and one year of advanced study (L5) with readings in the East Asian language.

Beyond the language requirement, the major includes seven course credits, six in the country or area of concentration and one outside it. Areas of concentration include: China, Korea, or Japan. Of the course credits in the area of concentration, one must be in the premodern period, at least two must be seminars, and one is the senior requirement. These courses are normally taken at Yale during the academic year, but with prior approval of the DUS the requirement may be fulfilled through successful course work undertaken elsewhere.

Credit/D/Fail A maximum of one course taken Credit/D/Fail may be counted toward the requirements of the major, with permission of the DUS.

Roadmap See visual roadmap of the requirements.

Senior Requirement 

During the senior year, all students must satisfy a senior requirement consisting of a major research project that uses Chinese-, Japanese-, or Korean-language materials, reflects an up-to-date understanding of the region, and demonstrates a strong command of written English. This requirement can be met in one of three ways. (1) Students may take a seminar that relates to the country or area of concentration, culminating in a senior thesis. Students who are unable to write a senior essay in a seminar may complete (2) a one-term senior essay in EAST 480 or (3) a one-credit, two-term senior research project in EAST 491, 492 culminating in an essay. The adviser for the senior project should be a faculty member associated with the Council on East Asian Studies with a reading knowledge of the target language materials consulted for the essay.

Advising

Selection of courses Upon entering the major, students are expected to draw up an intellectually coherent sequence of courses in consultation with the DUS. They must consult with the DUS each term concerning their course schedules. They should identify as soon as possible a faculty adviser in their area of specialization. As a multidisciplinary program, East Asian Studies draws on the resources of other departments and programs in the University. Students are encouraged to examine the offerings of other departments in both the humanities and the social sciences, as well as Residential College Seminars, for additional relevant courses. The stated area of concentration of each student determines the relevance and acceptability of other courses. For a complete listing of courses approved for the major, see the Council on East Asian Studies website.

Courses in the graduate and professional schools Qualified students may elect pertinent courses in the Graduate School and in some of the professional schools with permission of the instructor, the EAST DUS, and the director of graduate studies of the relevant department or the dean or registrar of the professional school.

Combined B.A./M.A. degree program Exceptionally able and well-prepared students may complete a course of study leading to the simultaneous award of the B.A. and M.A. degrees after eight terms of enrollment. See Academic Regulations, section L, Special Academic Arrangements, “Simultaneous Award of the Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees.” Interested students should consult the DUS prior to the fifth term of enrollment for specific requirements in East Asian Studies.