Learning Goals
The Program in East Asian Studies sets the following goals for all its students:
Knowledge Areas
Develop a multidimensional understanding of the arts, beliefs, societies, and traditions,
including a historical dimension, of either one East Asian country or of a specific theme
across East Asia as a region
Achieve some awareness both of the particularity and the complexity of different East
Asian cultures and societies and of historical and contemporary continuities within the
region
Develop a basic understanding of one East Asian culture through the logic of its principal
language, as well as through a study of thought, history, society, and arts
Demonstrate a broader understanding of contemporary social, political, economic, and
cultural developments and themes that are shaping and defining the region
Achieve some experiential understanding of aspects of the culture and language of study
Achieve some acquaintance with the approaches and fundamentals of methodologies
associated with the social sciences and humanities
Skills of Expression and Communication
At a minimum, achieve conversational competence as well as ability to read and write at
the second-year level of an East Asian language
Be able to express complex ideas and articulate arguments clearly in English, orally and
in writing
Apprehend complex thoughts and arguments presented by others in English, both orally
and in writing
Communicate in relevant and respectful ways in an academic environment
Skills of Inquiry and Analysis
East Asian Studies majors should:
Explore analytically a text, argument, or social phenomenon in their field
Integrate general and specialized knowledge to ask productive questions and solve
problems in their field
Design and carry out an independent, thesis-driven research project (the seminar)
Locate and use secondary sources judiciously in research in their field