Application Period
Students can apply for a minor in East Asian Studies beginning in the spring term of their sophomore year and up until the end of the spring term of their junior year. Late applications will require the approval of the Program Director and the student’s Residential College Dean.
Minor Requirements
Seven Courses
Two years of study in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean - four courses, at least two of which must be at the second-year level or higher.
Three East Asia content courses, one of them a 200-level course.
Independent Work
The standard way to meet the requirement for independent work is by writing a senior thesis on an East Asian topic. "East Asian topic" means the thesis is more than half about East Asia. Using East Asian language sources - Chinese, Japanese, or Korean - is strongly recommended. They can be either primary or secondary sources and can be written or, if appropriate, oral.
*Only senior theses using a significant amount of East Asian language sources will be eligible for the Leigh Buchanan Bienen and Henry S. Bienen Senior Thesis Prize awarded by the Program. While the work does not have to be based entirely on such sources, their use must not be trivial, i.e., it must be shown that something important was learned from the Asian language sources that reach beyond the insights gained from English language materials. The Bienen Prize is given to the student with the best senior thesis of the year on an East Asian topic from any department.
If students cannot write a senior thesis meeting these criteria, either a junior paper or an independent research paper can be substituted, assuming the criteria for an East Asian topic are met. The paper must be a substantial research paper that reports the results of an independent investigation of a scholarly question. Original essays, book reports, and papers submitted to satisfy course requirements are not acceptable but may form the basis of a longer and more substantial paper. A length of 20 pages or more is expected. The Program Director must approve of the proposed substitution.
Students can obtain an application form from the Program Office in 219 Frist Campus Center or download the application form below. Please email the completed form to [email protected].
Final Submission
Seniors in the class of 2025 must turn in by email to [email protected] by April 29, 2025:
- their most up-to-date application form
- their most recent transcript, detailing the courses being applied toward the minor
- a copy of their written work, as outlined above
Applications will then be reviewed and candidates notified regarding their minor application by mid-to-late May.
Frequently Asked Questions
Choice of Applicable Courses
Any departmental course and cognate course in related departments listed under “East Asian Studies” in the Undergraduate Announcement can be applied to the minor. Any other courses, including courses taken abroad or courses that are not cross listed, will have to be approved by the Program Director.
Earning both Program and Language Minors
Students seeking to earn the Program in East Asian Studies minor may also earn a Chinese, Japanese, or Korean minor, but they may not double-count course credits and independent work towards both minors.
Independent Paper
Students pursuing a major that prevents writing a long paper on an East Asian topic have the option of writing a paper independent of a course. Such students would need to find a faculty member with East Asia expertise to guide them in writing the paper. Students should be aware that they will not be awarded credit through the University for this independent work; it will count only towards attaining the East Asian Studies minor.
Is It Necessary to Take a 200-Level Content Course?
Yes. The 200-level course is a “gateway” that provides a solid framework of East Asian Studies upon which you can build.
Summer Language Courses / Courses Taken Abroad
Candidates should get pre-approval from the Program Director for language or content courses taken over the summer or during a semester abroad to be certain that they will count toward the attainment of the minor. Up to two of the seven required courses may be non-Princeton University courses. This does not apply to language courses taken with Princeton in Beijing (PIB), Princeton in Ishikawa (PII), or Princeton in Korea (PIK). PIB, PII, and PIK can each be considered equivalent to one year of language classes toward the East Asian Studies minor.
Heritage/Advanced Speakers and Course Requirements
Students with advanced language ability who are pursuing the East Asian Studies minor and placed into advanced language courses can meet the minor course requirement by taking content courses to replace the beginning-level language courses. In individual cases, it is possible to fulfill the course requirements with seven content courses, assuming proficiency, both oral and written, in the selected language is proven. Please consult with the Program coordinator on how to achieve this. If a second language is studied, two semesters of that language are a minimum requirement.
Heritage/Advanced Speakers and Written Work
It is acceptable, for instance, if an advanced speaker of Chinese studies Korean or Japanese to fulfill the minor language requirements but chooses to write a thesis concerning China and use Chinese language sources.
Advanced Language Courses Can Count as either a Language or Content Course.
Advanced language courses 400-level and above can be counted either as a language or content course.
Pass/Fail
Students may take only one course P/D/F toward minor requirements. In light of the shifting of classes online occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, there are no limits on courses taken P/D/F for courses during Spring 2020, Fall 2020, and Spring 2021. P/D/F grades from courses taken during these semesters will also count toward minor requirements.
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If you have any questions about the requirements or application process, please write to Program Coordinator Chao-Hui Jenny Liu at [email protected].
The Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Language Minors
The Chinese, Japanese, and Korean language minors are administered by the East Asian Studies Department Undergraduate Administrator. See https://eas.princeton.edu/undergraduate/language-minors.