The Major

The Major in East Asian Studies offers students an opportunity to develop a coherent and comprehensive understanding of the great civilizations of the Asia Pacific region. The study of East Asia should be considered an integral part of a liberal arts education. Through an interdisciplinary study of these diverse cultures, students engage in a comparative study of their own societies and values. The Major also reflects the emergence of East Asia politically, economically, and culturally onto the world scene especially during the last century, and anticipates the continued importance of the region in the future. It therefore helps prepare students for post-graduation endeavors ranging from graduate training to careers in both the public and private sectors dealing with East Asia.

Requirements
Study Away from Smith
Honors

Total Credits : 40

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Advisers: Marnie Anderson, Daniel K. Gardner, Peter Gregory, Jina Kim, Marylin Rhie, Dennis Yasutomo, Suzanne Gottschang.

Adviser for Study Abroad: Marnie Anderson.

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Requirements for the Major:

I.  Basis Courses:
1) An East Asian Language: The second year of an East Asian language, which can be fulfilled by Chinese 220 and 221, Japanese 220 and 221, or Korean 220 and 221, or higher level courses.  Extensive language study is encouraged, but only two courses at the second-year level or higher will count toward the Major. Normally, language courses will be taken at Smith. Students with native or near-native fluency in an East Asian language must take a second East Asian language.  Native and near-native fluency is defined as competence in the language above the fourth-year level.

II.  Survey Courses
1. One survey course on the pre-modern civilization of
an East Asian country: HST 211, HST 212, or HST 220 or EAS 215
2.  EAS 100 Introduction to Modern East Asia (normally by the second year)

3.  EAS 200 Colloquium: Topics in East Asian Studies open to sophomores and juniors (normally taken in the sophomore year).

III. Electives
1) Five elective courses, which shall normally be determined in consultation with the adviser from the list of approved courses.

a) Four of the elective courses shall constitute an area of concentration, which can be an emphasis on the civilization of one country (China, Japan, or Korea) or a thematic concentration (e.g., comparative modernization, religious traditions, women and gender, political economy, thought and art). Other concentrations may be formulated in consultation with an advisor.

b) Electives must include courses in both the Humanities and Social Sciences.

c) Electives must include courses on more than one East Asian country.

d) One of the elective courses must be a Smith seminar on East Asia.

e) At least half of the course credits toward the Major must be taken at Smith.

f) No more than one 100-level course shall count as an elective.

g)Courses in the major may not be taken pass/fail.

2) Smith courses not included on the approved list may count toward the Major under the following conditions:

    The student obtains the approval of her advisor.

• No more than one such course shall be applied toward the Major.

3) A student may honor in East Asian Studies (EAS 430d).  Honors require a 3.0 GPA overall and 3.3 GPA in the Major.  Four credits of Honors thesis work may substitute for the seminar requirement.

4) Junior Year Abroad programs are encouraged at College approved institutions in East Asia.  EAS recommends the Associated Kyoto Program for Japan, ACC for China, and Ewha Women's University for Korea.  Courses taken at JYA programs, as well as courses taken away from Smith at other institutions, may count toward the major under the following conditions:

a. The courses are reviewed and approved by the East Asian Studies Advisory Committee upon completion.

b. Courses taken away from Smith must not total more than half of the credits counted toward the Major.

Study Away from Smith:
Junior Year Abroad programs are encouraged at College approved institutions in East Asia. EAS recommends the Associated Kyoto Program for Japan, ACC for China, and Ewha Womans University in Korea (summer program). Courses taken at JYA programs, as well as courses taken away from Smith at other institutions, may count toward the major under the following conditions:

a) The courses are reviewed and approved by the East Asian Studies Advisory Committee upon completion.

b) Courses taken away from Smith must not total more than half of the credits counted toward the Major.

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Honors:

Director of the Honors Program:   Dennis Yasutomo, Fall 2008

Requirements of the Honors Program:
A student may honor in East Asian Studies (EAS 430d). Honors requires a 3.0 GPA overall and 3.3 GPA in the Major. The Honors thesis may substitute for the seminar requirement.