East Asian Studies Major Requirements
(See also Requirements of a Bachelor's Degree.)
The curriculum of the East Asian Studies major consists of a balanced mixture of language and area studies. All majors must study an East Asian language during their time at Hopkins. They also have the opportunity to choose from a rich menu of content courses dealing with East Asia.
In addition to solid language training and content courses about the region, EAS majors receive training in the methods and theory of the particular academic discipline they select as a focus area. Students select from among four discipline-based focus areas - history, political science, history of science and technology, or sociology - or create an individualized focus area. Possible individualized focus areas include art history, archaeology, or business. The individualized focus area requires consultation and approval of the program director.
If they choose, East Asian Studies majors may double major in International Studies, as the requirements of each of the four focus areas overlap with those of International Studies. Students may also find it convenient to double major in history, political science, sociology, or history of science, medicine and technology.
No major requirements may be taken satisfactory/unsatisfactory. All courses required for the major must be passed with a grade of C- or higher. Students must complete at least 15 credits in the major at the 300 level or higher. The University encourages students enrolled in this program to take advantage of foreign study options. Courses and programs must be pre-approved by the program director. Seven of the 14 courses required for the major are required to be taken at JHU.
Writing and Communication in the Major
Students must complete at least 6 credits of Writing and Communication foundational ability coursework in one major. For this major, students would be able to fulfill this requirement by selecting 6 credits of elective courses in the major that are designated as Writing and Communications courses.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| East Asian Survey Course 1 | ||
| AS.100.243 | China: Neolithic to Song | 3 |
| or AS.100.165 | Japan in the World | |
| or AS.100.347 | Early Modern China | |
| or AS.100.348 | 20th-Century China | |
| or AS.310.106 | Introduction to Korean History and Culture | |
| or AS.310.107 | Introduction to Korean Studies | |
| Additional East Asian Studies Courses 2 | ||
| Two East Asian Studies courses at any level | 6 | |
| One East Asian Studies course at the 300- or 400-level | 3 | |
| East Asian Foreign Language | ||
| Six courses in an East Asian Language 3 | 24-26 | |
| Focus Area - History, Political Science, Sociology, or History of Science, Medicine, and Technology | ||
| Select one of the following focus areas: | 12-13 | |
| History focus area | ||
| Three East Asian history courses at any level 4 | ||
| One East Asian history course at the 300- or 400-level 4 | ||
| Political Science focus area | ||
| Two core courses at the 100- or 200-level in two of the following subfields - American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, or Political Theory. | ||
| One East Asian political science or sociology courses at any level 4 | ||
| One East Asian political science or sociology course at the 300- or 400-level 4 | ||
| Sociology focus area | ||
| Select two of the following: | ||
| Introduction to Sociology | ||
| Research Methods for the Social Sciences | ||
| Introduction to Social Statistics | ||
| Social Theory | ||
| One East Asian sociology or political science course at any level 4 | ||
| One East Asian sociology or political science course at the 300- or 400-level 4 | ||
| History of Science, Medicine, and Technology focus area 5 | ||
| Select two survey courses of the following list: | ||
| History of Medicine | ||
| History of Modern Medicine | ||
| History of Science: Antiquity To Renaissance | ||
| Rise Of Modern Science | ||
| One East Asian history of science, medicine, and technology course at any level 4 | ||
| One East Asian history of science, medicine, and technology course at the 300- or 400-level 4 | ||
| Individualized focus | ||
Requires approval of the EAS director. Focus requirements to be determined in consultation with the director. | ||
| Total Credits | 48-51 | |
- 1
Or students may take another East Asian survey course as approved by the program director.
- 2
East Asian Studies courses are either offered by the department (AS.310.xxx) or cross-listed with the department.
- 3
Students must complete 6 courses in East Asian languages (Korean, Japanese, and/or Chinese) after high school graduation and while the student is in college working towards their degree. Students can use at most two different languages towards the 6 course requirement (they can count courses in a third language as electives). If using one East Asian language, students must demonstrate proficiency through the advanced level (as indicated by proficiency through the Third Year, semester two). If using two East Asian Languages, the minimum proficiency demonstrated must be through the intermediate level (as indicated by proficiency through the Second Year, semester two). In those instances where a student is proficient through the advanced level in one language and proficient through the intermediate level in a second language, they may waive two semesters of this requirement. These classes must be replaced by two other East Asian Studies courses at any level. In all other circumstances, language waivers are not allowed.
- 4
AS.310.xxx courses cross-listed with History, Sociology, Political Science, or History of Science, Medicine, and Technology can be used to fulfill focus area requirements in the discipline for which they are cross-listed. For example, an AS.310.xxx course cross-listed in Sociology is equivalent to a course in the Sociology Department for purposes of fulfilling focus area requirements in the Sociology or Political Science tracks. Courses cross-listed with History or History of Science, Medicine, and Technology can be counted toward the History or History of Science, Medicine, and Technology tracks respectively.
- 5
Courses taught by professors Yulia Frumer, Lijing Jiang, Lan Li, and Hayang Yumi Kim may be applicable even if not coded AS.140.xxx, pending permission.
Sample Program of Study
The plan below assumes the student begins language study in Chinese at JHU. Note: Students must complete at least 15 credits in the major at the 300 level or higher.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits |
| AS.373.115 | 5 | AS.373.116 | 5 |
| East Asian Studies course at any level | 3 | ||
| 8 | 5 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits |
| AS.373.215 | 5 | AS.373.216 | 5 |
| Focus area requirement | 3 | Required survey course | 3 |
| Focus area requirement | 3 | ||
| 8 | 11 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits |
| AS.373.315 | 3 | AS.373.316 | 3 |
| Focus area requirement | 3 | East Asian Studies course at 300-400 level | 3 |
| 6 | 6 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits |
| East Asian Studies course at any level | 3 | Focus area requirement | 3 |
| Additional language study (optional) | Additional language study (optional) | ||
| 3 | 3 | ||
| Total Credits 50 | |||
Honors in East Asian Studies
- Honors in the major may be earned by maintaining a GPA of 3.7 in the major and writing a senior honors thesis by taking a two-semester seminar, AS.310.431 Senior Thesis Seminar: East Asian Studies and AS.310.432 Senior Thesis Seminar: East Asian Studies. The thesis seminar is a total of six credits and may count toward two of the required EAS courses.