To major in EAS, students must fulfill requirements in language studies, humanities, and history and social sciences.
Through this combination of breadth and depth, students learn about the historic links between East Asian societies and how ideas, cultures, and policies flow across and shape life in East Asia today.
Goals for the Major
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To familiarize students generally with arts, histories, languages, literatures, religions, and the social, political, and cultural systems of East Asia.
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To develop fuller expertise in a specific country through coursework in multiple disciplines.
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To ensure a firm foundation in Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, or Korean.
Requirements for the Major
Prospective East Asian Studies majors should begin study of an East Asian language as soon as possible in their first year. The program also recommends that students take one or more courses that explore East Asia (e.g., HIST 274, REL 108, and EALC 221) in their first two years to attain familiarity with the region. The program requires students to: 1) familiarize themselves with East Asian societies and cultures; and 2) choose a regional area of concentration (e.g., China, Japan, or Korea).
Prospective majors should consult with a member of the East Asian Studies faculty as early as possible to discuss their academic plans. Majors devise their own programs of study in consultation with an advisor from the student’s area of concentration. Both the major advisor and the program director must approve proposals for the major. Ten units are required for the major, consisting of the following:
I. Language Courses: Four Units
All students must complete at least four language courses above the 100-level in the language most appropriate to their area of concentration. (Students will not receive credit towards the major for the first year of language study.)
Students who have passed out of the language requirement or have native or near-native language proficiency may replace the 4-course language sequence with EALC 221 (Gateways to East Asia, required); two EALC courses; and one EAS course. Alternatively, they may elect to take four courses in a different East Asian language. Language study beyond what is required for the major is strongly recommended.
All majors are encouraged to spend at least one summer or one semester studying abroad in China, Japan, Korea, or Taiwan. The East Asian Languages and Cultures Department, through the Chair of EALC, must approve plans for language study taken away from Wellesley and to be applied towards the major.
II. Non-Language Courses: Six Units
All majors must take at least one non-language course on East Asia in each of the following categories, the availability of which varies from year to year depending on sabbaticals and short-term visitors in the relatively small East Asian Studies faculty: (A) Humanities, including Art History, Cinema, Literature, Music, and Philosophy; and (B) History and Social Sciences, including History, Linguistics, Political Science, Religion, and Women’s and Gender Studies.
· Courses taken must contribute to expertise in one East Asian country, but may also cultivate cross-cultural understanding across China, Japan, and/or Korea.
· Majors should declare their country concentration no later than the spring semester of the junior year.
· A minimum of three non-language courses are required to fulfill a selected concentration and two must be at the 300-level.
· A minimum of three non-language courses must be taken at Wellesley, including the required two units of 300-level courses. Of the two required 300-level courses, only one may be a 350, 360, or 370.
· A maximum of two non-language courses taken outside Wellesley can count toward the major.
· Some courses can count as a language or non-language course for the purpose of fulfilling requirements for the major. Each course unit can be credited only once toward the major. No double-counting—e.g., as a language course AND non-language—is permitted.
· One course in Asian American studies (e.g., AMST 212: Korean-American Literature and Culture) may be counted towards the major, provided that the course addresses a significant aspect of East Asian traditions, culture, or society in its global, cross-cultural contexts. Students should consult with their advisors about which courses count.
Transfer Credits
In order to obtain Wellesley credit for any EAS-related course taken at another institution during the academic year or summer, students must obtain approval from the College Registrar’s office and the EAS program director prior to enrolling in the course: first the Registrar’s office must award the appropriate college credit for each unit; and second, the approval of the course/s to be credited to the EAS major must be granted by the program director. Students should present relevant syllabi and other materials about the prospective course to the director. Students, especially those taking EAS courses abroad, may be required to contact the course instructor in order to obtain specific details about the course in cases where the online course description may be insufficient to make an informed decision.
Minor
There is no minor in East Asian Studies.