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This archived information is dated to the 2008-09 academic year only and may no longer be current.

For currently applicable policies and information, see the current Stanford Bulletin.

Bachelor of Arts in East Asian Studies

Up one level:

Undergraduate Programs in East Asian Studies

The undergraduate major in East Asian Studies enables students to obtain a comprehensive understanding of East Asia broadly conceived, which is the vast area stretching from Japan through Korea and China to the contiguous areas of the Central Asian land mass. Majors in East Asian Studies begin or continue the mastery of Chinese, Japanese, or Korean. Within the humanities or social sciences, they may focus on a particular sub-region, for example, Japan; South China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan; or western China and Central Asia; or a substantive issue involving the region as a whole, such as environmental protection, public health, rural development, historiography, cultural expression, or religious beliefs. The major seeks to reduce the complexity of a region to intellectually manageable proportions and illuminate the interrelationships among the various facets of a society.

Potential majors must submit a Student Proposal for a Major in East Asian Studies form not later than the end of the first quarter of the junior year for approval by the East Asian Studies undergraduate committee.

Majors must complete at least 75 units of course work on China, Japan, and/or Korea. Courses to be credited toward major requirements must be completed with a grade of 'C' or better. Requirements are:

  1. Language: proficiency in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean language at the second-year level or above, to be met either by course work or examination. Students who meet the requirement through examination are still expected to take an additional 15 units of language at a higher level, or literature courses taught in the language, or the first year in an additional Asian language. No more than 30 units of language courses are counted toward the major.
  2. Gateway Courses: a minimum of three gateway courses, one in each area. The gateway courses are:
    1. Art, Literature and Religion

      CHINGEN 91. Traditional East Asian Civilization: China

      JAPANGEN 92. Traditional East Asian Civilization: Japan

      RELIGST 14. Introduction to Buddhism

      RELIGST 18. Introduction to Zen Buddhism

    2. History

      HISTORY 194B. Japan in the Age of the Samurai

      HISTORY 198. The History of Modern China

      HISTORY 193. Late Imperial China

      HISTORY 195. Modern Korean History

      HISTORY 256. U.S.-China Relations: From the Opium War to Tiananmen

    3. Contemporary Social Sciences

      EASTASN 185C. Economic Development of Greater China

      HUMBIO 147. Population and Environment in China

      POLISCI 140L. China in World Politics

      POLISCI 117. Political Economy of East Asia

      SOC 117A. China Under Mao

  3. Substantive Concentration: additional courses on East Asia, one of which must be a seminar.
  4. Capstone Essay: completion of a paper of approximately 7,500 words, written either in a directed reading course or for one of the courses in item 3 above, which should be built upon the student's thematic interest. EASTASN 198, Senior Colloquium (1 unit), is required of majors.
  5. At least one quarter overseas in the country of focus.

Majors are encouraged to distribute their course work among at least three disciplines and two subregions in Asia. The subregions need not be traditionally defined. Examples include China, Japan, or Korea; or, in recognition of the new subregions which are emerging, South China and Taiwan, or Central Asia. At least four courses must have a thematic coherence built around a topic such as:

East Asian religions and philosophies

Culture and society of modern Japan

Ethnic identities in East Asia

Arts and literature in late imperial China

Foreign policy in East Asia

Social transformation of modern Korea

China's political economy

An East Asian Studies course that satisfies the University Writing in the Major requirement (WIM) should be completed before beginning the senior essay. This year, CHINGEN 133, JAPANGEN 138, and HISTORY 256 satisfy the WIM requirement.

The courses for the major must add up to at least 75 units and all must be taken for a letter grade.

HONORS PROGRAM

Majors with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 or better in all courses related to East Asia may apply for the honors program no later than the final quarter of the junior year. Application entails submitting an honors prospectus to the student's adviser for approval. Admission is granted by the CEAS undergraduate committee, acting on the adviser's recommendation.

Honors requirements are satisfactory completion of:

  1. An honors thesis of high quality of approximately 10,000 words to be submitted in lieu of the senior capstone essay.
  2. 5 to 10 units of directed individual study in connection with the thesis project.
  3. One advanced level colloquium or seminar dealing with China, Japan, or Korea.

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