2024-2025 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog [In Progress]
East Asian Studies Minor
Requirements (21 to 22 credits)
Non-Honors Track
Students must complete the following three required courses plus four electives (or 11-12 credits):
- EAS 201 - East Asia in the Contemporary World (3 credits)
- EAS 210 - Reading East Asia (3 credits)
- EAS 351 - Asian American Experiences (3 credits)
Honors Track
Students must complete the following required courses plus two electives (or 6-7 credits):
- HNR 151, HNR 152, HNR 153, HNR 154 (East Asia in the World) (12 credits)
- EAS 351 - Asian American Experiences (3 credits)
Elective Courses
In addition to the required courses, Non-Honors Track students will choose 11-12 credit hours of elective courses from the following list. Honors Track students will choose 6-7 credit hours of elective courses. At least one elective course must be at the 300-level or higher:
- ART 420 - Asian Art (3 credits)
- CHI 101 - Beginning Chinese I: Language and Culture (4 credits)
- CHI 102 - Beginning Chinese II: Language and Culture (4 credits)
- CHI 236 - Popular Chinese Fiction (3 credits)
- CHI 321 - Ancient Chinese Culture (3 credits)
- CHI 322 - Classical Chinese Culture (3 credits)
- CHI 323 - Late Imperial Chinese Culture (3 credits)
- CHI 324 - Contemporary Chinese Culture (3 credits)
- CHI 380 - Special Topics in Chinese (3 credits)
- EAS 180 - Special Topics in East Asian Studies (1 to 4 credits)
- EAS 245 - Topics in East Asian Food Cultures (3 credits)
- EAS 280 - Special Topics in East Asian Studies (1 to 4 credits)
- EAS 333 - Study Abroad - East Asian Studies (1 to 6 credits)
- EAS 380 - Special Topics in East Asian Studies (1 to 4 credits)
- EAS 399 - Independent Studies (1 to 3 credits)
- EAS 480 - Special Topics in East Asian Studies (1 to 4 credits)
- GPY 354 - Geography and Globalization of Asia (3 credits)
- HST 240 - A History of East Asia to 1800 (3 credits)
- HST 241 - A History of East Asia since 1800 (3 credits)
- HST 333 - Modern China (3 credits)
- HST 342 - History of Buddhism and East Asian Religions (3 credits)
- JPN 101 - Beginning Japanese I: Language and Culture (4 credits)
- JPN 102 - Beginning Japanese II: Language and Culture (4 credits)
- JPN 221 - Pre-modern Japanese Literature and Culture (to 1600) (3 credits)
- JPN 222 - Early Modern Japanese Literature and Theatre (1600-1868) (3 credits)
- JPN 323 - Modern Japanese Literature and Film (to WWII) (3 credits)
- JPN 380 - Special Topics in Japanese (3 credits)
- JPN 386 - Traditional Japanese Theater (3 credits)
- PHI 210 - Eastern Philosophy (3 credits)
- PHI 400 - Wisdom of the East: Advanced Topics in Asian Philosophy (3 credits)
- PLS 283 - Chinese Politics and U.S.-China Relations (3 credits)
Additional Information
Current and potential special topics include classical Chinese poetry, classical Chinese prose, Japanese theater and cinema, Chinese theater and cinema, women in Chinese/Japanese literature, Japanese management and corporations, and strategic Japanese communications.
Current and past study abroad courses that are also acceptable for electives include Contemporary Chinese Culture and Society, Advanced Readings in Japanese, Modern Japanese Literature in English Translation, Modern Japanese International Relations, Introduction to Asian Religions, Japanese Linguistics, and Strategic Japanese Communications.
Students may choose one course for their elective requirement from comparative international courses taught at Grand Valley. These comparative courses must have a minimum of 25 percent of their content devoted to East Asia. Following are examples of some courses that may qualify. Check with the director of the East Asian studies program for a current list of acceptable courses.
- ANT 204 - Peoples and Cultures of the World (3 credits)
- ECO 365 - Comparative Economic Systems (3 credits)
- ENG 204 - World Mythology (3 credits)
- HST 310 - Cultural and Social Topics in Nonwestern History (3 credits)
- SOC 350 - Family and Gender in the Developing World (3 credits) Cross-listed with WGS 351.
New East Asian Studies courses in each of the two tracks (i.e., Honors and non-Honors) may count toward the minor as they become available. Please consult the program coordinator concerning the eligibility of any particular course. Students should be particularly alert to the presence of course offered through the vehicle of special topics courses.
Transfer Credits
Credits transferred from study abroad programs will be evaluated and applied where appropriate to the EAS minor. However, of the 21 to 22 credits required, a minimum of six credits must be taken in residence at Grand Valley.