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[PRELIMINARY] Course Catalog 2026-2027
East Asian Studies Major
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The major consists of a minimum of 10 full courses (or the equivalent).
Students must earn minimum grades of C- or P for all courses that apply toward the major.
 View the catalog page for the East Asian studies program.
This interdisciplinary major program combines language study with coursework in various disciplines.
Students choose courses to count toward the major according to one of the following pathways:
- Advanced language pathway
- Students aim at building advanced proficiency in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean language.
- Disciplinary pathway
- Students build depth in an academic discipline, such as literature, history, cinema, environmental studies, art history, religion, or politics. Students may also design interdisciplinary pathways.
- Korean studies pathway
- Students may complete this pathway through coursework at Oberlin and through study away at an approved institution.
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Transfer of Credit Toward the Major
The East Asian studies program will accept up to the equivalent of four full courses of transfer credit to count toward the East Asian studies major requirements. Two types of approval are needed. (1) Approval from the Office of the Registrar that the transfer course meets Oberlin’s transfer-of-credit eligibility standards and (2) approval from the department/program chair that the course(s) may count to the major. Current students taking post-matriculation credit must secure this approval before registering for course(s). Students who enter Oberlin as transfer students will have their pre-matriculation credit evaluated by the Office of the Registrar for elective credit, and they can later seek approval from the department/program for applying coursework to major requirements. Course of Study
Majors are strongly encouraged to take at least one EAST 100-level course early in the major in order to acquire foundational knowledge about East Asia. Majors should consult with their major advisor to design a coherent course of study that combines language study, interdisciplinary breadth, and disciplinary depth. Honors in East Asian Studies
Admission to the Honors Program in East Asian Studies will be by invitation of the program faculty at the end of the second semester of the junior year. Students interested in being considered for honors are encouraged to indicate their interest and discuss the details of the program with any member of the program faculty early in their junior year. By May 1 of the junior year, the candidate will submit a tentative written proposal and bibliography. Students admitted to honors will present a progress report at mid-year to the faculty. The final written project will be submitted in May of the senior year, when the oral examination will be scheduled. Both the thesis and the oral examination will figure in the awarding of honors. Detailed Major Requirements
Language Proficiency Requirement
Return to the summary of requirements. Students who have previous language training or exposure are still required to take a minimum of two full language courses at Oberlin 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. East Asian Studies Major Course Lists
Upper-Level Seminar Courses
Return to the summary of requirements. Notes: - One of the two required upper-level seminar courses must center on the society of the student’s language focus. An EAST course with a regional breadth that includes the student’s language focus may count to fulfill this requirement.
- Only one 400-level language upper-level seminar course may count toward the upper-level seminar course requirement.
East Asian Studies Major Elective Courses
Return to the summary of requirements. Notes: - Two of the six required elective courses must center outside of the society of the student’s language focus. An EAST course with regional breadth that includes the student’s language focus may count to fulfill this requirement.
- Only one 300- or 400-level language elective course may count toward the elective course requirement.
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