College of East Asian Studies Major
Major Description
The East Asian Studies Major (CEAS) is designed to give students a broad knowledge of East Asian cultures with a deeper focus on a single country—China, Japan, or Korea. Cultural studies are grounded in one of four concentrations: Archaeology and History, Literature and Culture, Philosophy and Religion, or Political Economy. Students are expected to develop fluency in an East Asian language and are highly encouraged to study abroad to experience living in an East Asian country while practicing the language in its appropriate cultural context.
Students interested in this major bring an open-minded, interdisciplinary mindset and a global perspective. They are culturally curious and eager to hone their critical thinking, reading, writing, and language skills. Adaptability, patience, and dedication are key traits to apply to studying languages and complex cultural nuances.
CEAS majors gain strong language acquisition abilities, wide-ranging knowledge about East Asian cultures, and an area of expertise through engagement with both historical and contemporary issues in the region. These skills prepare students for careers in international relations, business, academia, translation, and cultural exchange.
Admission to the Major
Prospective majors are urged to start their language and Foundations core courses early in their Wesleyan careers. This will leave more time for study abroad and for more meaningful work in the concentration of the student's choice. To help students chart their way, the college faculty members have designed the concentrations listed below. Admission to the college is most commonly requested during the spring semester of a student’s first year, although students may join the major at any time, so long as they have a viable path towards completing the major’s requirements.
In order for us to learn a bit more about you and to help us match you with an advisor, we ask all students to fill out and submit the new major student information form prior to submitting your major declaration form via WesPortal.
Major Requirements
Majoring in the College of East Asian Studies (CEAS) requires seven courses. These include two core courses, four in a concentration, and one elective taken outside of the student's major concentration.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CEAS201 | Proseminar | 1 |
| CEAS207 | Introduction to History: Foundations of East Asian Cultures | 1 |
| Concentration (4 courses in one concentration area) | 4 | |
| Archaeology and History | ||
| Literature and Culture | ||
| Philosophy and Religion | ||
| Political Economy | ||
| Elective | 1 | |
| Senior Capstone | ||
| Total Hours | 7 | |
Other requirements include language courses and a senior capstone project. In addition, although not required, there is an expectation that students will study abroad, which for most students forms a vital part of their learning experience. Up to one full credit of CLAC courses may be counted toward major credit. All other courses counting toward the major (unless only offered as Cr/U) must be taken for a grade. Please note that courses taken C/U during 2020 may also count towards the major in recognition of the difficulties that many students face as a result of the pandemic.
Core courses. Each CEAS major is expected to take an introductory "Foundations of East Asian Culture" course (usually taken in the spring semester of the first year) and our interdisciplinary Proseminar (CEAS201) (usually taken in the fall of the sophomore year). The goal is to ensure that each CEAS major is firmly anchored in the classical texts and key events that shaped the development of East Asian cultures before the 19th century as well as the basic methodologies and main areas of scholarship within East Asian studies. Details on the courses that count for the core courses are available at wesleyan.edu/ceas/majoring/core.html.
Concentrations. Each CEAS major must choose one of the four concentrations listed below. Our goal is to ensure that each major’s course of study has methodological coherence in a specific area of study. Course offerings for each concentration may vary in some years according to faculty on campus. Details on the courses that count for the concentrations are available at wesleyan.edu/ceas/majoring/concentrations.html.
- Archaeology and History
- Literature and Culture
- Philosophy and Religion
- Political Economy
Student Learning Goals
The College of East Asian Studies (CEAS) has two mutually reinforcing core missions: to cultivate an outstanding group of students with strong language abilities, wide-ranging knowledge about East Asia, and an area of particular expertise; and to promote knowledge of and engagement with the histories, cultures, and contemporary significances of East Asia across the campus, curriculum, and broader community.
Study Abroad
Experience living in East Asia and use of language in its appropriate cultural context is viewed as a vital component of East Asian studies. Accordingly, although not required, CEAS majors are expected to study abroad to develop their language competency and acquire a more concrete grasp of a specific East Asian cultural context. This expectation may be fulfilled through a semester or one year in an approved program.
For more information, see wesleyan.edu/ceas/majoring/studyabroad.html.
Questions about study abroad should be addressed to Prof. Wei Gong (China), Prof. Naho Maruta (Japan), or Prof. Hyejoo Back (Korea).
Language Requirement
Students Majoring in CEAS must attain, at minimum, advanced-level proficiency in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean. Advanced-level proficiency is demonstrated by the successful completion of CHIN 218, JAPN 218, or KREA 218 (third-year level courses), or its equivalent as determined by the respective Language Coordinator. All students must achieve a minimum grade of B in their respective 218-level language course to demonstrate advanced-level proficiency. All students must take a minimum of four semesters of East Asian language courses at Wesleyan; this may mean being required to take language classes beyond the advanced level. Pre-approved language credit earned through CEAS-approved study abroad programs may count toward this semester minimum requirement, at the discretion of the respective Language Coordinator.
Students with pre-existing proficiency in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean must disclose this ability to the respective Language Coordinator before commencing language study at Wesleyan or before declaring the CEAS Major, whichever is earlier. Evaluation of any student’s pre-existing language proficiency will be undertaken by the respective Coordinator, with course level placement determined accordingly. Majors who are deemed to be “native speakers” of Chinese, Japanese, or Korean will be required to study another East Asian language.
As is the case with CEAS courses generally, all language courses taken to fulfill CEAS Major requirements must be taken for a grade (unless said courses are only offered CR/U, such as CLAC and other specific courses). Questions about Chinese should be addressed to the Chinese Language Coordinator, Prof. Wei Gong. Questions about Japanese should be addressed to the Japanese Language Coordinator, Prof. Naho Maruta. Questions about Korean should be addressed to the Korean Language Coordinator, Prof. Hyejoo Back.
Capstone Experience
All majors must complete a written or (with approval) creative project during their senior year. This should involve the use of East Asian language materials to the extent that the student's preparation permits. There are several ways in which this requirement can be fulfilled:
- Write a substantial essay, focusing on East Asia, as assigned in a regular class. The instructor must approve of this project and may suggest revisions as needed. Similarly, faculty approval is required also for a creative project done in the context of a class or as a tutorial. If the class instructor is not a CEAS faculty member, the essay or the creative arts project must be approved by the student’s CEAS advisor. Please note that this class can simultaneously fulfill other requirements.
- Write a one-semester senior essay in a tutorial, preferably given by a CEAS faculty member. The tutorial may be for a full credit or for 0.5 credit.
- Write a senior thesis, typically in a two-semester tutorial with a CEAS faculty member.
- Furthermore, each student will be expected to present his or her research at a poster presentation toward the end of the spring semester of the senior year. This presentation is in addition to and apart from the actual research project.
Criteria for Honors
To qualify for Departmental Honors the student must complete a written or creative thesis, under the supervision of a faculty member, preferably in CEAS. If the thesis is supervised by non-CEAS faculty, then the student must consult regularly with a suitable CEAS faculty member as a secondary, informal tutor. Conversations with potential tutor(s) should be started before submitting the online application (link below).
CEAS expects students to make reasonable use of their language(s) of study (Chinese, Japanese, and/or Korean) in the research and analysis grounding the thesis. The specific nature and extent of this use should be determined in discussion with the CEAS thesis tutor, or with the secondary CEAS tutor. In the case a creative thesis includes ephemeral events like concerts, plays, exhibits, or dance performances, the student should inform the tutor of the date well in advance, so that the tutor and the other members of the evaluation committee can arrange to be present. Further, in such creative theses, students must include at least one written chapter of at least thirty pages, framing and explaining the research and ideas underpinning the project. This chapter must appeal to relevant sources and adhere to established scholarly conventions.