Liberal Arts and Professional Studies – East Asian Studies

Department of Humanities

For purposes of meeting program requirements, all nine-credit general education (foundation) courses will count as six credits towards the major or minor.

The East Asian Studies program offers a number of undergraduate degree programs, the requirements for which are described in detail in the following sections. These degree programs have certain characteristics in common:

The focus of the degree programs is on the modern period. However, it is emphasized that students should also learn to appreciate the cultural traditions behind developments during the 19th and 20th centuries.
East Asian studies is an interdisciplinary program. Students are trained to use the concepts, skills and information of at least two academic disciplines.
Competence in an East Asian language (usually Chinese or Japanese or Korean) is a feature of all the degree programs except the Honours Minor.

Within the general guidelines and requirements, a student could choose from a rich array of course offerings every year to create a combination which best serves their academic interests and career aspirations. Students should consult the coordinator when designing their programs of study.

Program Distribution Requirements

A student must complete courses in East Asian studies from at least two departments or divisions.
A student must complete at least one course which is concerned mainly with pre-modern East Asia.
Students concentrate in either Chinese or Japanese or Korean studies, but must also study other East Asian cultures outside their area of concentration:
1. a student who concentrates in Chinese studies must complete at least 12 credits in non-Chinese subjects within East Asian studies;
2. a student who concentrates in Japanese studies must complete at least 12 credits in non-Japanese subjects within East Asian studies;
3. a student who concentrates in Korean studies must complete at least 12 credits in non-Korean subjects within East Asian studies;
4. language/translation courses will not meet program distribution requirements.
All students must complete at least one of the following core courses: AP/HUMA 1400 9.00 or AP/HIST 2710 6.00. Also, students must in Specialized Honours or Honours programs must meet language requirements specific to their degree programs (refer below).

Specialized Honours BA: 120 Credits

Residency requirement: a minimum of 30 course credits and at least half (50 per cent) of the course credits required in each undergraduate degree program major/minor must be taken at York University.

Graduation requirement: students must successfully complete (pass) at least 120 credits which meet the Faculty's degree and program requirements with a cumulative grade point average of at least 5.00.

General education: 24 credits of general education chosen from approved courses in humanities, modes of reasoning, natural science and social science, including a minimum of six credits in each of humanities, natural science and social science.

Major credits: students will take at least 54 credits in from the East Asian studies list of courses, including:

at least one core course (AP/HUMA 1400 9.00 or AP/HIST 2710 6.00);
at least 12 credits (other than language/translation courses) at the 4000 level. Demonstrated competence in an East Asian language (usually Chinese, Japanese or Korean) at the advanced level is required. This requirement would normally be met by successful completion of AP/CH 3000 6.00 or AP/JP 3000 6.00 or AP/KOR 3000 6.00. It may also be met by passing a competency test or by successful completion of another course recognized for the purpose.

Note: at least 12 credits in the major must be at the 4000 level.

Upper-level credits: at least 36 credits at the 3000 or 4000 level, including at least 18 credits at the 4000 level.

Credits outside the major: at least 18 credits.

Honours BA: 120 Credits

Major credits: students will take at least 42 credits from the East Asian studies list of courses, including:

at least one core course (AP/HUMA 1400 9.00 or AP/HIST 2710 6.00);
at least 12 credits (other than language/translation courses) at the 4000 level. Demonstrated competence in an East Asian language (usually Chinese, Japanese or Korean) at the intermediate level is required. This requirement will normally be met by successful completion of AP/CH 2000 6.00 or AP/JP 2000 6.00 or AP/KOR 2000 6.00. It may also be met by passing a competency test or by successful completion of another course recognized for the purpose.

Note: at least 12 credits in the major must be at the 4000 level.

Upper-level credits: at least 36 credits at the 3000 or 4000 level, including at least 18 credits at the 4000 level.

Credits outside the major: at least 18 credits. (Note: students who are completing a double major or major/minor are deemed to have fulfilled this requirement.)

Honours Double Major BA

The Honours BA program described above may be pursued jointly with approved Honours Double Major degree programs in the Faculties of Environmental Studies, Fine Arts, Health, Liberal Arts and Professional Studies or Science and Engineering. For further details on requirements, refer to the listings for specific Honours programs that may be pursued jointly with other Faculties.

Note: in a double major program, a course may count only once toward major credit.

Honours Double Major Interdisciplinary (Linked) BA

East Asian studies may be linked with any Honours Double Major Interdisciplinary BA program in the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies.

Major credits: students must take at least 36 credits from the East Asian studies list of courses and at least 36 credits in the interdisciplinary program. Courses taken to meet East Asian studies requirements cannot also be used to meet the requirements of the interdisciplinary program. Students in these interdisciplinary programs must take a total of at least 18 credits at the 4000 level, including at least 12 credits from the East Asian studies list of courses and six credits in the interdisciplinary program. For further details of requirements, refer to the listings for specific Honours Double Major Interdisciplinary BA programs.

Note: in a double major program, a course may count only once toward major credit.

Honours Major/Minor BA

The Honours BA program described above may be pursued jointly with approved Honours Minor degree programs in the Faculties of Environmental Studies, Fine Arts, Health, Liberal Arts and Professional Studies or Science and Engineering. For further details on requirements, refer to the listings for specific Honours programs that may be pursued jointly with other Faculties.

Note: in a major/minor program, a course may count only once toward major credit or minor credit.

Honours Minor BA

The Honours Minor BA program described may be combined with any approved Honours BA program that offers a major/minor option in the Faculties of Environmental Studies, Fine Arts, Health, Liberal Arts and Professional Studies or Science and Engineering. For further details on requirements, refer to the listings for specific Honours programs that may be pursued jointly with other Faculties.

Note: in a major/minor program, a course may count only once toward major credit or minor credit.

Minor credits: the Honours Minor in East Asian studies comprises at least 30 credits from the East Asian studies list of courses (other than language/translation courses), including:

at least one core course (AP/HUMA 1400 9.00 or AP/HIST 2710 6.00);
six credits at the 4000 level;
18 of the 30 credits must be above the 2000 level.

Note: at least six credits in the minor must be at the 4000 level.

East Asian Studies Courses

Not all of the courses listed below will necessarily be offered in any given year.

With the approval of the program coordinator, and subject to course exclusion and residency requirements, students may complete other courses for program credit in East Asian studies.

Rules and regulations in the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies
Other programs offered in the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies