MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies at Yale
Council on East Asian Studies

Degree Requirements

The East Asian Studies graduate program is designed to be completed in either a one-year or a two-year track. The two-year track requires the preparation of a master’s thesis and is therefore ideal for students who are keen to pursue focused, independent research under the guidance of a faculty member. It also provides students with an opportunity to pursue additional disciplinary and language training. Students who enter the two-year track with a strong command of one East Asian language will be encouraged to consider beginning a second (or third) language.

In general, students focus their course work on the study of China, Japan, Korea, or transnational East Asia. Some students may prefer to focus their course work on one or two disciplines, in addition to language study and courses focused on East Asia. Others may create a highly interdisciplinary program, taking courses in traditional disciplines such as history, literature, political science, art history, or anthropology, as well as in Yale’s professional schools.

Applicants to the East Asian Studies graduate program must indicate on their application whether they are applying to the one-year or the two-year track.

Prerequisite to the Program

Students who wish to complete the EAS Master’s Degree must show evidence of having completed at least two years of intensive Chinese, Japanese, or Korean language study or the equivalent at the time of matriculation.

Requirements for the M.A. Degree: One-Year Track

Language proficiency in one’s primary East Asian research language equivalent to Yale’s 3rd-year level, demonstrated by:

  • native fluency;

  • completion of the language placement and proficiency exam offered by the Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures; or

  • completion of two semesters of language courses at the 3rd-year level at Yale.

Eight courses

With the exception of East Asian language classes, all classes must be at the graduate level (either a code 500 or above class, or an undergraduate class approved for graduate credit).

A maximum of 4 East Asian language classes can be counted toward degree requirements.

4 of the 8 courses must be East Asian Studies classes. These 4 classes may include:

  • A maximum of 1 independent study class on an East Asian Studies topic.

  • graduate-level courses that appear on the East Asian Studies course list

  • With DGS approval, 1 non-East Asian Studies class for which a final paper or project is written on an East Asian Studies topic. The final paper must be submitted to the DGS at the end of the semester. In exceptional cases the DGS may approve, in consultation with the academic mentor, additional non-EA classes (with a final EA paper/project).

Special Requirements

Students must earn two Honors grades (“H”) over the course of their two terms at Yale. Honors grades earned in any language course cannot be counted toward satisfying this requirement, except with the permission of the DGS.

The course of study must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS).

Requirements for the M.A. Degree: Two-Year Track

Language proficiency in one’s primary East Asian research language equivalent to Yale’s 4th-year level, demonstrated by:

  • native fluency;

  • completion of the language placement and proficiency exam offered by the Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures;

  • completion of two semester of the 4th-year level language course at Yale.

Sixteen courses

With the exception of East Asian language classes, all classes must be at the graduate level (either a code 500 or above class, or an undergraduate class approved for graduate credit).

A maximum of 8 East Asian language classes can be counted toward degree requirements.

1 of the 16 courses is EAST 900: Master’s Thesis.

8 of the 16 courses must be East Asian Studies classes. These 8 classes may include:

  • A maximum of 2 independent study class on an East Asian Studies topic.

  • graduate-level courses that appear on the East Asian Studies course list

  • With DGS approval, 2 non-East Asian Studies classes for which a final paper or project is written on an East Asian Studies topic. The final paper must be submitted to the DGS at the end of the semester. In exceptional cases the DGS may approve, in consultation with the academic mentor, additional non-EA classes (with a final EA paper/project).

Master's Thesis

A master’s thesis is required of students enrolled in the two-year degree program. The master’s thesis is based on research in a topic approved by the DGS and advised by a faculty member with specialized competence in the chosen topic. M.A. students must register for EAST 900, which may count toward the sixteen required courses. EAST 900 may not be taken for audit. Students may register for an additional independent study to prepare topics and begin research. The master’s thesis must be prepared according to CEAS guidelines and is due in the student’s second year on a mid-December date (if completed in the fall term) or an early-May date (if completed in the spring term) as specified by CEAS.

Guidelines and deadlines for the master’s thesis can be found here.

Special Requirements

Students must earn four Honors grades (“H”) over the course of their four terms at Yale. Honors grades earned in any language course cannot be counted toward satisfying this requirement, except with the permission of the DGS. 

A master’s thesis is also required.

The course of study must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS).

General degree requirements, which apply to all degree-seeking students in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, including those petitioning for degrees, are available here.

Students are reminded that the policies of the Graduate School must be followed.  Any questions regarding these policies should be addressed to GSASadministrativedean@yale.edu.