Mar 29, 2024  
Undergraduate Record 2013-2014 
    
Undergraduate Record 2013-2014 [ARCHIVED RECORD]

East Asian Languages, Literature and Culture


The Major in East Asian Studies


The East Asian Studies major is an interdisciplinary major featuring a language core in DEAL-LC and additional coursework in both DEAL-LC and other departments. Not all concentration courses must be from within DEAL-LC. For instance, a course on Buddhism in Religious Studies would count towards the major. Current lists of possible concentration courses are on the DEAL-LC website. Students are also encouraged to take DEAL-LC and related courses outside their country concentration.

Requirements for the Major in East Asian Studies


Prerequisites:

  • 2020/2060 level or above in a DEAL-LC language. A grade of C or higher must be earned each semester of language instruction.

Requirements:

  • 30 credits in DEAL-LC and related courses, including courses in the selected country concentration, with the

Following distribution:

  • 6 credits at the 3010 and 3020 level of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or Tibetan, with a grade of C or higher each semester; language courses above the 3000 level count toward the 30 credits in the major; language courses below the 3000 level count toward university language requirements;
  • 3 credits in EAST 1010;
  • 3 credits in an East Asian History (HIEA) course (a second course is also strongly recommended.);
  • 3 credits in an East Asian Humanities (Art History, Architectural History, Literature, Religious Studies) course;
  • 3 credits in an East Asian Social Sciences (Anthropology, Economics, Politics, Studies in Women and Gender) course;
  • 3 credits in a 4000- or 5000- level course in which a research paper is written using East Asian language materials;
  • 9 credits of elective courses with East Asian content;
  • Students who intend to double major are reminded that only 6 credits may be counted towards both majors;
  • for single majors, 9 of the 30 non-language credits must come from a single academic department
  • students are reminded that USEM credits do not count toward major requirements;
  • a maximum of 15 study abroad and domestic transfer credits are allowed, with the permission of the major advisor;
  • students in this major must maintain a satisfactory grade point in the major and related courses each semester;
  • satisfactory is defined as an average of C (i.e., 2.0);
  • students not maintaining this grade pointare subject to discontinuation from the major.

Requirements for the Minor in East Asian Studies


  • 1020/1060-level in a DEAL-LC language. A grade of C or higher must be earned each semester;
  •  at least 18 credits with the following distribution:
  •  3 credits in EAST 1010;
  •  3 credits in an East Asian History (HIEA) course;
  •  3 credits in an East Asian Humanities (Art History, Architectural History, Literature, Religion) course;
  •  3 credits in an East Asian Social Science (Anthropology, Economics, Politics, Studies in Women and Gender) course;
  •  6 credits of elective courses with East Asian content;
  •  a maximum of 6 transfer credits can be used to satisfy the 18 credit requirement; 
  •  students are reminded that credits applied toward a minor cannot count toward a major

The Major in East Asian Languages and Literatures


The Department offers a major in East Asian Languages and Literatures for students wanting to achieve proficiency in an DEAL-LC language and a deeper understanding of its literature and culture.

Requirements for the Major in East Asian Languages and Literatures


Prerequisites:

  • 2020 or 2060 level of a DEAL-LC language. A grade of C or higher must be earned in each semester.
  • EAST 1010 with a grade of C or higher. 

Requirements:

  • 30 credits in DEAL-LC courses, with the following distribution:
  • 18 credits must be in one DEAL-LC language beyond the 2020 or 2060 level; at the discretion of the student’s advisor, 6 of these credits may be in two non-survey courses on East Asian Literature in translation;
  • 6 credits consisting of two survey courses in East Asian literature from the following list: CHTR 3010, CHTR 3020, JPTR 3010, JPTR 3020, KRTR 3020, or KRTR 3030. One course must related to the student’s language of concentration;
  • 3 credits in one course introducing the classical form of an East Asian Language (CHIN 4853, CHIN 4854, or JAPN 4710);3
  • 3 credits in a DEAL-LC seminar at the 5000 level in which the student writes a research paper using East Asian language materials;
  • a maximum of 15 study abroad credits and domestic transfer credits are allowed at the discretion of the student’s advisor;
  • students in this major must maintain a satisfactory grade point in the major and related courses each semester; satisfactory is defined as an average of C (i.e., 2.0); students not maintaining this grade point are subject to discontinuation from the major.
  • students who wish to double major are reminded that only two courses may count towards both majors

It is crucial that language training begin early in the student’s career. Summer study and study abroad are also encouraged. (See the Study Abroad Programs section.)

The Distinguished Majors Program


As the final step in a student’s course of study, the Distinguished Majors Program is intended for students who want to work with tenure-stream faculty in their areas of scholarly expertise. Sources from the target language are an essential component. If a translation is the centerpiece of the thesis, it must be annotated and accompanied by extensive analysis. Theses cannot be counted towards a second major.

To qualify, students must have a grade point average of 3.4 or better, both cumulatively and in the major, at the time of graduation. They must also take a two-semester sequence in their final year: EAST 4998-4999 if they are an East Asian Studies major, or EALC 4998-4999 if they are a Chinese or Japanese major. Expectations for completing these courses are described in more detail below.

Application and Admission:

Admission to the DMP occurs in the spring semester of the student’s third year. Applications are submitted to the Chair of the Department by the end of March. Materials should include:

1. A page-long proposal for the project that includes:

  • a preliminary title;
  • a brief explanation of: the topic’s significance, how you came to be interested in it, the questions you want to apply to it, and the means by which you will try to answer them;
  • propose 2 readers for your thesis from faculty you have already taken courses with: a primary reader who will submit your final grade for both semesters, and a secondary reader who will participate in your defense of the thesis; be sure to justify your selection sufficiently, as approval is contingent upon the agreement of both readers;
  • a brief description of how the project fits with your post-graduation plans;

2. one writing sample in the form of a research paper from a course that the student has taken;

3. one copy of the student’s most recent transcript.

Commencement honors of Distinction, High Distinction and Highest Distinction require a minimum GPA of 3.4 as well as timely completion of the senior thesis. Honors are awarded on the basis of overall academic performance as well as at the recommendation of the first and second readers of the thesis.

Study Abroad Programs


Shanghai Chinese Language Program the UVA-in-Shanghai Intensive Chinese Language Program in the Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures at the University of Virginia is hosted by East China Normal University.  It is intended to enable students who are serious about studying Chinese language in a total immersion environment to cover a year’s worth of material and to earn 8 UVA credits.  This rigorous, demanding, and rewarding language program allows the student to have first-hand experience using Chinese in real world situations as well as studying and practicing it in the classroom.  For more information, use the “Find a Program” link at http://www.studyabroad.virginia.edu.

Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies the University of Virginia joins Harvard, Stanford, and about a dozen other top universities in running the Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies, a well-regarded study abroad program based in Japan’s historic capital city available for one semester or an entire academic year. The program requires students to have two full years of college-level Japanese language coursework as a prerequisite, and it works to improve students’ language abilities through small-group instruction tailored to each students ability level. Content courses on Japan in the social sciences and humanities are also offered and are typically taught in English. KCJS also facilitates daily use of the language outside the classroom by placing all students who want to take advantage of this opportunity with host families. For more information on the program, application deadlines, and financial aid opportunities, please visit   www.ogp.columbia.edu.   KCJS also runs a summer program in classical and advanced modern Japanese, details for which can be found on the same website.
                                              
In addition to study abroad programs administered by U.Va., students are encouraged to develop their language skills at the many other study-abroad programs that are available throughout East Asia. Please note that in order to receive transfer credit for language courses offered at such programs, students must first consult with our faculty and the International Studies Office in Minor Hall.

Scholarships


East Asia Center Scholarship A generous endowment from the Weedon family allows the East Asia Center to award travel grants to undergraduates enrolled in language programs in East Asia as well as research travel grants to graduate students and faculty. Applications are due in mid-March.

Mastercard Asian Studies Scholarship This scholarship is awarded annually to a rising fourth-year major in Asian Studies, be it in the East Asian concentration or the South Asian. To be competitive, students applying for this scholarship should also be applying for the Distinguished Majors Program. This scholarship is in the amount of approximately $4000 for tuition, and it carries with it the possibility to apply for a paid summer internship with Mastercard. Unless we are informed otherwise, we assume that all applicants for the DMP are also applying for this scholarship. Therefore, no specific application is required.

Centers and Programs


Arts and Sciences Center for Instructional Technology (ASCIT) A resource containing many audio-visual materials which are used to help bring the culture surrounding our different languages alive for students. It is conveniently located in Cabell Hall along with most DEAL-LC classrooms and offices. The language laboratory is used to help students practice and reinforce their speaking and listening skills.

East Asia Center For more than twenty years the East Asia Center has promoted activities and events that enhance the study of East Asia and Southeast Asia at the University of Virginia. The Center sponsors ten to fifteen lectures and other events each year. It also manages graduate programs granting an M.A., in Asian Studies as well as an MA/MBA in conjunction with the Darden School of Business.

For a comprehensive list of funding available for study abroad, please visit the East Asia Center website at www.virginia.edu/eastasia
 

Additional Information


For more information, contact deal-lc@virginia.edu; http://www.virginia.edu/deallc/.