Program of Study (CAS Bulletin)


DEPARTMENTAL OBJECTIVES

The program has two objectives: (1) to develop a high level of competence in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean and (2) to introduce students to Asian cultures through the study of translated literary and cultural documents (literature, history, religion, film, and philosophy) created within those societies. Ongoing study of those cultures is encouraged as a means of acquiring a broad comparative perspective. The courses are offered in conjunction with various departments, underscoring the multidisciplinary nature of the program.



MAJOR

Prerequisite: All East Asian Studies (EAS) majors—as well as students planning to major in EAS—must complete one of the following courses in fulfillment of MAP Cultures and Contexts requirements. This is a prerequisite to the major and is best fulfilled at the beginning of the major. The Cultures and Contexts prerequisite does not count in the credit total for the major.

  • Cultures and Contexts: The Chinese and Japanese Traditions (MAP-UA 506)
  • Cultures and Contexts: Japan—A Cultural History (MAP-UA 507)
  • Cultures and Contexts: China (MAP-UA 512)
  • Cultures and Contexts: Korea (MAP-UA 543)

No other Cultures and Contexts courses will be considered as fulfilling this prerequisite, including Eastern Civilization or equivalent in the Liberal Studies Program (LS). Transfers from LS must take one of the above-listed courses.
The major consists of 32 credits. The program leads to a Department of East Asian Studies humanities major in one of two ways:

LANGUAGE MAJOR: Students must complete one language (Chinese, Korean, or Japanese) through the Advanced II level; major credits begin to count with the Intermediate I level. (Elementary I and II do not count in the major credit total.) In addition to the fulfillment of the language component, students also must take nonlanguage courses from among the Department of East Asian Studies offerings. Normally, the program consists of Intermediate I and II, Advanced I and II in the language, plus four nonlanguage courses. Limited flexibility is permitted, although no compromise on language levels will be permitted.

NONLANGUAGE MAJOR: Students may take 32 credits of nonlanguage East Asian Studies courses. In this version, no language courses will count toward the major.

NOTES:

  • Asian/Pacific/American Studies cross-lists courses with the Department of East Asian Studies. Only those cross-listed courses will count toward the EAS major.
  • An upper limit of 16 credits can be transferred from outside NYU. This includes non-NYU study abroad credits, as well as credits from other universities in the United States.
  • Cantonese, Vietnamese, and Tibetan languages may not be counted toward either major or minor requirements.
  • NYU in Shanghai and Beijing courses are counted toward the major only contingently. Students must contact the director of undergraduate studies to discuss the courses before or during the process of applying. The director gives final approval for major or minor credit after the course has been successfully completed and the student’s work is reviewed.
  • At least 8 of the 16 nonlanguage credits must be taken at the New York NYU campus.
  • Courses listed as “electives” do not count toward the major; freshman honors seminars may count toward the major, although the specific seminar must be approved by the director of undergraduate studies.
  • No double-counting of courses will be permitted. Courses to be counted toward the EAS major must be exclusive to the EAS major, whether or not they are cross-listed with another department.


MINOR

The minor consists of 16 credits. The program leads to a Department of East Asian Studies humanities minor in one of two ways:

1. Four nonlanguage courses in the Department of East Asian Studies alone.
2. A language minor can be obtained by taking one language (Chinese, Korean, or Japanese) through the Advanced II level. Elementary I and II do not count toward fulfilling the minor requirements.

NOTES:

  • If the Advanced II level of the target language is reached prior to fulfilling the 16 credits, post-Advanced language courses must be taken to fulfill the remaining credits.
  • Transfer credits are not accepted for the minor.
  • NYU in Shanghai and Beijing courses are counted toward the minor only contingently. Students must contact the director of undergraduate studies to discuss the courses before or during the process of applying. The director gives final approval for major or minor credit after the course has been successfully completed and the student’s work is reviewed.


HONORS PROGRAM

ELIGIBILITY: Students must spend at least two full years in residence at the College of Arts and Science, completing at least 64 points of graded work in the College. Students must maintain a general GPA of 3.65 and a major average of 3.7.

REQUIREMENTS: (1) Substantial completion of the major requirements (24 to 28 points), (2) GPA of 3.7 or better, and (3) the student must register in his or her senior year for two semesters of independent study, at 4 points per semester (a total of 8 points), under the supervision of a departmental faculty member (or affiliate). This total of 8 points is in addition to the 32 points of the major. The 8-point honors sequence must result in a substantively researched thesis, normally 30 to 50 typed pages. The faculty supervisor and the subject of the honors thesis are chosen by the student in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies, who must approve the topic/adviser in the first semester of the honors sequence.