Degrees & Certificates:

• Undergraduate Certificate
• Undergraduate Concentration
  • Honors in the Major
  • Required Course Work for Undergraduate Major
• Graduate-level coursework in East Asian Studies
• East Asian Studies PhD minor for graduate students

Undergraduate Certificate in East Asian Studies

The Undergraduate Certificate in East Asian Studies is available to students working toward a baccalaureate degree in any of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s schools and colleges, and to Special Students. The Certificate is designed to address a strong and growing interest among UW-Madison students in study of the East Asian region (China, Korea, Japan and Tibet). This certificate meets the needs of students choosing to focus on the East Asian region within their primary major, but not wishing to commit to the rigorous language study required for the East Asian Major. Students are able to select coursework reflecting their interests from myriad classes cross-listed with many University departments, and can work toward a variety of undergraduate majors.

Upon earning the Certificate in East Asian Studies, this emphasis is noted on the student’s official transcript. The Certificate is of value to students wishing to demonstrate their knowledge of the East Asian region either to potential employers or graduate schools.

Requirements for the Certificate:

• Completion of 21 credits and 6 courses with an East Asian emphasis selected from at least 3 departments. East Asian 222 is required within these 21 credits, unless specific exception (per approval of the Center Director) is given. At least 3 courses must be at the 300 course level or higher. A complete list of currently eligible courses is available.

• A maximum of 3 credits of 699 or 698 (Directed Study) can be counted toward the Certificate requirements.

• Study of an East Asian language is strongly encouraged, but not required. Courses in elementary Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Tibetan are available enabling a solid introduction to the fundamentals of the languages, without necessarily requiring additional advanced language coursework.

For further information about the Undergraduate Certificate in East Asian Studies, please contact Dreux Montgomery, Student Coordinator.

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Undergraduate Concentration in East Asian Studies

The East Asian Studies concentration encompasses China, Japan, and Korea — Pacific Rim nations characterized by rich cultural heritages, critical geopolitical positions and rapidly expanding economies. East Asia plays a central role in world politics and the global economy, and the importance of this region will increase in the 21st century.

This concentration is for undergraduates who are interested in a wide range of careers (business, public service, law, teaching, research, etc.) and who seek a focused yet multidisciplinary education with solid grounding in East Asian language and civilization. Students interested in the major should begin language study as early as possible.

The East Asian Studies concentration is administered by the Center for East Asian Studies. The center coordinates courses offered in diverse departments of the university and maintains a roster of over sixty faculty members whose teaching and professional work focus on East Asia. Students who choose this major are strongly encouraged to participate in study abroad programs in China, Japan, or Korea, administered by the University of Wisconsin or other institutions.

• East Asian Studies Program Director: Louise Young

• Undergraduate advisor: Dreux Montgomery

• For a list of core faculty for the Concentration in East Asian Studies Major, please see our current Center and Faculty Resource List.

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Honors in the Major

Students who wish to graduate with Honors in the Concentration in East Asian Studies major may do so by fulfilling the following requirements:

• receive permission from the CEAS adviser to register as an honors major, no later than the beginning of the junior year. To be eligible, the student must have an overall GPA of at least 3.5.

• obtain the consent of a member of the EAS core or affiliated faculty to serve as adviser for the honors thesis. In general, the student should take a course with this faculty member before asking him or her to become the student's adviser.

• take at least three to six additional course credits at the intermediate to advanced level, selected in consultation with the EAS adviser, as preparation for senior thesis research.

• write an honors thesis, for two semesters of credit (EAS 681-682), under the supervision of the faculty adviser.

• achieve a GPA of at least 3.5 in EAS courses.

Students should check with the department honors adviser at least once a year to make sure that requirements have not been modified, as well as to seek guidance about planning the best possible Honors in the Major curriculum that reflects their special interests.

Required Course Work for Undergraduate Major

A minimum of 30 credits selected according to the guidelines below are required for the major. A complete list of currently approved courses for this major can be obtained from the center, or can be accessed online at the web site listed above. To assure familiarity with language, general breadth of knowledge about East Asia, and rigor in a single discipline, the following are required:

• Language: At least two years of an East Asian Language — Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or Tibetan. East Asian studies majors are required to take at least two semesters of work beyond first-year or elementary-level courses. The first- and second-semester courses in one foreign language do not count towards the 30-credit minimum for the major, but other East Asian language credits do count. (click here for a list of language courses).

• Humanities: At least 8 credits are required in East Asian civilization and the humanities: art history, Buddhist studies, film (communication arts), history, literature, music, philosophy, religion, theatre, etc. (click here for a list of humanities courses).

• Social science: At least 8 credits are required in East Asian social sciences: anthropology, business, economics, geography, history, law, political science, sociology, etc. (click here for a list of social science courses).

• Concentration: At least 8 credits (not including language credits) must be concentrated in a single discipline (i.e., department).

• Upper-level courses: All students must fulfill the L&S school requirement of at least 15 credits of upper-level work in the major. Any course numbered 300 or above (except Langasia 366, 367, 375, 376) will count toward this requirement. (click here for a list of eligible upper-level courses).

• Additional courses: Courses not listed here may also count towards degree requirements if the course content is at least 25% East Asian, or if a paper focusing on East Asia and worth at least 25% of the final semester grade is offered. Questions regarding these courses should be directed to the East Asian Studies advisor.

• Senior thesis: By the end of the junior year, a student choosing to do a two-semester senior thesis should have a faculty member agree in writing to supervise the thesis work. Students should register for East Asian Studies courses 291 and 292 to receive credit for thesis work.

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Graduate-level coursework in East Asian Studies

The University of Wisconsin does not offer a Masters or PhD degree in East Asian Studies; students interested in East Asian Area Studies topics should consult the courses offered in various departments at the University, including East Asian Languages and Literature, Art History, History, Political Science, Languages & Cultures of Asia (Buddhist studies), etc., for classes relevant to their interests. However, a PhD minor options is available and is discussed below.

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East Asian Studies PhD minor for graduate students

While the University of Wisconsin does not offer a PhD degree in East Asian Studies, students who are pursuing a PhD degree in another department or program may obtain an interdisciplinary minor in East Asian Area Studies by taking a minimum of 12 credits. Advanced degrees relating to East Asia are offered in several departments at the University, including East Asian Languages and Literature, Art History, History, Political Science, Languages & Cultures of Asia (Buddhist studies), etc. Please contact those departments directly for information about their graduate degree programs.

Students who are candidates for the Ph.D. degree in another department or program may obtain an interdisciplinary minor in East Asian studies by earning a minimum of 12 credits in East Asian area studies. The credits must be earned in at least three departments other than the major department. Graduate work in different aspects of East Asian studies is available in anthropology, art history, business, comparative literature, East Asian languages and literature, economics, engineering, dance, geography, history, journalism and mass communication, languages and cultures of Asia, law, linguisitics, music (ethnomusicology), political science, public affairs, religious studies, sociology, theatre, and other departments and programs..

• Please see our most recent course listing for details on courses offered this semester.