East Asian History

Requirements for Joint Concentration in East Asian History
Students whose interest in East Asian civilization is primarily historical in character should consider concentrating in East Asian History. East Asian History is a joint honors concentration co-sponsored by the History Department and Department of East Asian Studies Languages and Civilizations. It aims to take advantage of the strengths of both concentrations though students will need to decide at the beginning of their senior year which of the two concentrations will be the lead concentration (the evaluations stemming from that concentration will be weighted more in case of disagreement). The goal of the program is to introduce students to the craft of historical study—the ways historians make sense of the past, and the skills of historical analysis, writing, and research—as well as to promote a critical understanding of the historical experience of East Asian societies. In addition to in-depth language study and substantial course work in the history of East Asia, students enrolling in this concentration will do one-half of their tutorial work in the History Department and the other half in the East Asian Studies concentration. The sophomore tutorial in History introduces students to the analysis of historical writing in various genres, while the EAS sophomore tutorial introduces the history, literature and intellectual traditions of China, Japan, and Korea. By taking a History Seminar in the sophomore or junior year, students are introduced to methods of historical research and writing and have the opportunity to conduct in-depth research projects. In the senior year, joint concentrators write an honors thesis, an original work in some aspect of East Asian history.

 

For more information on the Joint Concentration, students should contact the EAS Coordinator or the Undergraduate Office in History.