East Asian Studies

Concentration

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Concentration

The concentration reflects the Department’s multi-disciplinary approach and eclectic interests.

We encourage the pursuit of competence in one or more of the languages the Department offers, as well as the development  - with the help of faculty advisors - of a plan of study that reflects a well-articulated theoretical, (multi)disciplinary, or thematic approach to the study of East Asia. Recent graduates of the concentration have gone on to employment in public service, the media industry,  - finance, and consulting. A significant percentage of our concentrators continue their studies in graduate and professional schools within a few years of graduation.

Concentration Checklist as of Fall 2024

Concentration Checklist before Spring 2022

(Only available to concentrators who declared prior to concentration changes)

Concentration Requirements

  • Language study through the level of 0600 or the equivalent of Chinese, Japanese, or Korean
  • Eight elective courses
    • EAST Requirement: At least three of the eight electives must be East Asian Studies (EAST) courses at any level; Chinese (CHIN),  Japanese (JAPN), or Korean (KREA) courses at the 1000-level and above may also count toward this requirement. 
    • Focus Requirement: In order to ensure intellectual coherence and focus in the concentration, at least three of the eight electives must focus on the geographic region associated with the student’s language study/expertise. For example, a concentrator studying Japanese language should take at least three courses focusing on Japan. Up to 3 advanced language courses can count for the focus requirement.
    • Breadth Requirement: At least one of the eight electives must focus on content in an East Asian country or culture other than those associated with the language the student is using to satisfy the concentration’s language requirement. A concentrator studying China, for example, would choose at least one course that focuses on Korea and/or Japan. 
    • Senior Seminar Requirement: At least one of the eight elective courses must be an advanced research seminar, taken in the senior year. Any course taught by voting EAS faculty above the 1000 level can be taken as a senior seminar if it has 1) has a research component and 2)  and produces a research paper or original annotated translation with introduction of around 15 pages in length, or (with instructor's permission) an alternative research project of similar magnitude. Relevant seminars taught by non-EAS faculty can be petitioned through the DUS with a syllabus provided.
  • For Honors candidates only: East 1980 (Senior Thesis, Semester 1) and 1981 (Senior Thesis, Semester 2). Taking both will count towards one course for the concentration requirement.

How to Declare

  1. Review all concentration requirements and compile a course plan.
  2. Find a time to meet with the DUS Kaijun Chen. Plan to bring a copy of your draft course plan. The DUS will help determine if your plan of study meets the requirements for the concentration and answer any questions you may have.
  3. Go to ASK (advising sidekick) to submit officially your concentration declaration.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q-n-PAXgHK4

Double Concentrating

Many East Asian Studies concentrators are double concentrators in other disciplines, from Applied Math and International Relations, to History, Modern Culture and Media, Comparative Literature, and beyond. Up to two courses (but only two) may be counted for both concentrations.

For questions about advising on your double concentration, please reach out to the DUS of East Asian Studies, Kaijun Chen. 

Additional Information

After Brown

Recent graduates of the concentration have gone on to employment in public service, the media industry, finance, and consulting. A significant percentage of our concentrators continue their studies in graduate and professional schools within a few years of graduation.

Honors

East Asian Studies offers qualified students, in their senior year, the opportunity to undertake a sustained research and writing project that, ideally, will result in a work of original scholarship.