East Asian Studies

Major

 This interdisciplinary major program combines language study with coursework in various disciplines. Students may choose a program which focuses on one of the following

1. East Asian regional studies,
2. China or Japan (Chinese or Japanese Studies),
3. a discipline (e.g. History, Religion), or
4. Chinese or Japanese language, literature, and film. Students who choose this option must complete two semesters of 400-level language courses and must take a minimum of four non-language courses, including at least two literature-in-translation and/or film courses.
5. Korean Studies: This concentration may be completed through coursework at Oberlin and study abroad at an approved institution.

All majors must complete:

 1.  Language Requirement:  The minimum language requirement is completion of CHIN302/JAPN302 or
      proficiency equivalent to CHIN302 or JAPN 302, based on assessment by EAS.

• All majors must complete at least two semesters of language at Oberlin College.
•  In the case of Korean language, the equivalent of four semesters taken at an approved institution will also meet this requirement.

2.  EAS Elective Courses: A minimum of six full courses offered through EAS and other departments that offer East Asian courses (such as ART, HIST, POLT, RELG), including:

• Courses in the student’s area of concentration
• At least two non-language courses that do not focus exclusively on their country of interest. Courses that examine East Asia from a regional perspective also count toward this requirement

At least one upper-level seminar.

A maximum of two language courses at the 400-level can count toward this elective requirement. FYSP seminars count toward the major if they are primarily East Asia content. Please consult the catalog for prerequisites to upper-level seminars and plan accordingly.

3.   A Capstone Project:

The Capstone Project is an opportunity to bring to bear on a focused intellectual project the various elements of one’s East Asian Studies training. Normally completed in the senior year, the Capstone Project may be done in one of three ways:
1) as a research project in addition to or more substantial than the regular assignments in a scheduled upper-level colloquium or seminar taught by an EAS faculty member, or
2) as a project in a 400-level Chinese or Japanese language course, or
3) as a Winter Term project overseen by an EAS faculty member.

In all cases, students need to consult individually and early in the term with the EAS faculty member. There is a separate form of registration for the Capstone Project. Students who study abroad should complete the capstone in residence at Oberlin. Successful completion of Honors fulfills the Capstone Project requirement.     

Students who enter the program with previous language training or exposure are still required to take a minimum of two full language courses to complete the major. Students with native or near-native proficiency in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean language must study another East Asian language to fulfill the requirements of the major.

Students must earn minimum grades of C- or P for all courses that apply toward the major.

Minor

The minor consists of a minimum of five courses. No more than two of the five can be language courses. Three of the five courses must be taken at Oberlin. At least one course must be beyond the introductory level. Students interested in a minor should consult with an EAS faculty member and/or the director in order to assure that the minor program is coherent.

Placement Tests

Study in China

The East Asian Studies Program offers the opportunity for study in China under the auspices of the following two programs. Students on financial aid should consult the Financial Aid Office before planning to participate in either of these programs. For more information and applications, contact the Chinese Studies Faculty and the Office of Study Away.

1. Associated Colleges in China (ACC). This program, based at the Capital University of Economics and Business at Beijing, offers intensive instruction in the Chinese language. Students may participate for a summer, one or two semesters, or for a full twelve months. Students are required to have completed a full year of Chinese to participate in this program.
2. CET Academic Programs (CET). This program offers intensive instruction in Chinese language at campuses in Beijing for one semester or one year. Housed at Capital Normal University, the Beijing Language Program focuses on language study at all levels and requires a language pledge. Beijing Chinese Studies is designed for beginners through intermediate level language students, and includes language and disciplinary courses taught in English.

Study in Japan

The East Asian Studies Program offers the opportunity for study in Japan under the auspices of the following two programs. Students on financial aid should consult the Financial Aid Office before planning to participate in either of these programs.

1. Associated Kyoto Program. This program, which offers the student a year abroad amidst the academic and cultural attractions of Japan’s ancient imperial capital, is based at Doshisha University, one of Japan’s leading private universities. Students can earn up to 32 hours of credit, which are subject to the transfer of credit fee. Prerequisites for admission include one full year of Japanese, EAST 131, a 3.0 GPA, a B average in Japanese, and an interview.
2. GLCA-ACM Japan Study Program. This program is based at Waseda University in Tokyo, one of Japan’s leading private universities, and includes language study and independent research. Students admitted to this program can earn up to 30 hours of credit. The transfer of credit fee is also applicable to this program. A minimum GPA of 3.0 and one semester of Japanese are required for admission. For more information about this program, contact the Office of Study Away.

Transfer of Credit

The transfer of credit is not automatic. Students wishing to apply transfer credit to the major should be advised that a minimum of 6 full courses must be completed at Oberlin, including at least one year of language study and the capstone project. For the minor, no less than half of the course work, including one full course in non-language course work, must be completed at Oberlin.

Honors

Newton Prize

DiCenzo Prize

Established by Ron DiCenzo, emeritus professor of East Asian Studies, in honor of his mother, the Margaret Ribovich DiCenzo Prize for Academic Excellence in East Asian Studies is awarded annually to qualified graduating majors by the EAS faculty on the basis of scholastic achievement. 

Asia House

Winter Term

The following faculty are willing to sponsor Winter Term projects as indicated.  Ms. Cheng: Chinese and Japanese Art.  Ms. Kondo: Japanese Language.  Mr. Li:  Chinese Language.  Ms. Liu:  Chinese Language.  Ms. O’Dwyer: Japanese History.  Ms. Sherif:  Japanese Language and Literature.

First-Year Seminars

• FYSP 179 - Digital Desire: Japan Through Pop Culture and Literature
• FYSP 184 - Japanese Performing Arts & Film
• FYSP 190 - Between Tradition and Modernity: Modern Chinese-language Fiction

Chinese Language Courses

• CHIN 101 - Elementary Chinese I
• CHIN 102 - Elementary Chinese II
• CHIN 201 - Intermediate Chinese I
• CHIN 202 - Intermediate Chinese II
• CHIN 301 - Advanced Chinese I
• CHIN 302 - Advanced Chinese II
• CHIN 401 - Readings in Chinese Literature
• CHIN 402 - Readings in Society, History and Contemporary Events
• CHIN 456 - Development of the Chinese Language
• CHIN 457 - Classical Chinese
• CHIN 458 - Traditional Chinese Culture

Chinese Capstone and Private Reading Courses

• CHIN 500 - Capstone Project
• CHIN 995F - Private Reading - Full
• CHIN 995H - Private Reading - Half

Japanese Language Courses

• JAPN 101 - Elementary Japanese I
• JAPN 102 - Elementary Japanese II
• JAPN 201 - Intermediate Japanese I
• JAPN 202 - Intermediate Japanese II
• JAPN 301 - Japanese Reading and Conversation I
• JAPN 302 - Japanese Reading and Conversation II
• JAPN 401 - Advanced Japanese I
• JAPN 402 - Advanced Japanese II
• JAPN 403 - Japanese Translation: Theory and Practice

Japanese Capstone and Private Reading Courses

• JAPN 500 - Capstone Project
• JAPN 995F - Private Reading - Full
• JAPN 995H - Private Reading - Half

East Asian Studies Courses

East Asian Studies Courses in Various Disciplines