Students whose interest in East Asian civilizations is primarily historical in character should consider concentrating in East Asian History. East Asian History is a joint honors concentration co-sponsored by the History Department and the East Asian Studies concentration. It treats neither History nor East Asian Studies as a primary or secondary concentration, but aims to take advantage of the strengths of both. The goal of the program is to introduce students to the craft of historical study—the ways historians make sense of the past, and the skills of historical analysis, writing, and research—as well as to promote a critical understanding of the historical experience of East Asian societies. In addition to in-depth language study and substantial course work in the history of East Asia, students enrolling in this concentration will do one-half of their tutorial work in the History Department and the other half in the East Asian Studies concentration. HIST 97 introduces students to the analysis of historical writing in various genres, while EASTD 97 introduces the history, literature and intellectual traditions of China, Japan, and Korea. By taking a History Research Seminar in the sophomore or junior year, students are introduced to methods of historical research and writing and have the opportunity to conduct in-depth research projects. In the senior year, joint concentrators write an honors thesis, an original work in some aspect of East Asian history.
All East Asian History joint concentrators are required to take 14 half-courses, including either East Asian Studies 99 or History 99 (the senior thesis tutorial).
Concentration Requirements (14 half-courses)
East Asian Language Courses (4 half-courses)
1–4. Four half-courses of study of an East Asian language
Additional Coursework (8 half-courses)
5. History 97
6. East Asian Studies 97ab
Both 97 tutorials are offered in the spring term only; students may choose to either take both at the same time, or to take them in sequential academic years.
7. One Research Seminar focused on East Asian History
Must be completed by the end of the junior spring, in preparation for the senior thesis.
8. One half-course in Western History.
9. One half-course in Pre-modern East Asian History.
10. One half-course in Modern East Asian History.
11–12. Two additional electives within East Asian History.
Senior Thesis (2 half-courses)
14-15. Students who wish to pursue a joint concentration in East Asian History must write a Senior Thesis, which also requires enrollment in one of two year-long Senior Thesis Seminars: either HIST 99 or EASTD 99. Students may select either seminar. They are also required to participate in the EAS senior thesis writers' colloquium in February.
Please also note the following information:
For a comprehensive list of current and past course offerings counted toward the East Asian History concentration, please visit the History Department's requirements page. Two types of courses count automatically toward East Asian History concentration requirements:
(1) Courses listed in the course catalog’s “History” section (especially 1600-level courses) and “East Asian Languages and Civilizations” section (especially under “East Asian Studies” as well as “Japanese History,” “Chinese History,” and “Korean History”), including cross-listed courses;
and
(2) Courses taught in the General Education and/or Freshman Seminar Programs by full members of the History or East Asian Studies Department Faculty. Students wishing to count such courses toward their concentration requirements should consult the Undergraduate Office, as they may need to file a petition requiring approval by the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Students may also apply to do an independent study, or HIST 91r, with a member of the Department; History 91r can be used to fulfill one of the six elective course requirements.
The joint concentration also regularly accepts credit from both Study Abroad and Advanced Standing toward concentration requirements.
With the exception of certain First Year Seminars taught by History or East Asian Studies faculty (see above), courses taken on a Pass/Fail basis may not be counted for concentration credit.