Simultaneous B.A./M.A. Degree

It is possible to complete a simultaneous B.A./M.A. degree in East Asian Studies, but it is a very demanding process. By pursuing a simultaneous bachelor’s and master’s degrees in East Asian Studies, a student is extending his or her undergraduate program into the graduate level of study. Study at this level requires significant preparation before entering the program and a high degree of dedication on the part of students, who must be able to complete advanced courses while meeting the general requirements for graduation from Yale College.

Students who apply to this program should note that their work toward the master's degree will likely limit the opportunities for a wider distribution of studies over different subjects. For this reason, students who are accepted into candidacy and have a second major should strongly consider dropping their second major.

To succeed in the program, students must progress steadily from undergraduate- to graduate- level research and writing. Thus, while students should not concentrate all of their graduate-level coursework in the final year, they are expected to complete certain foundational work before enrolling in classes at the graduate level. For the same reason, students’ work in graduate-level classes is expected to display more sophistication in linguistic and analytical skills than expected for undergraduate courses. Only those students who have reached advanced levels of language study in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean early in their careers at Yale and have completed coursework that qualifies them to gain admission to graduate courses in the area(s) of their disciplinary concentration within East Asian Studies (e.g., Chinese, Japanese, or Korean literature, History, History of Art, Anthropology, Economics, Political Science, or Sociology) by the junior year should consider applying for the simultaneous degree.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the simultaneous award of the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in East Asian Studies, applicants must by the end of their fifth term of enrollment have achieved at least two-thirds A or A– grades in all of their course credits, as well as in all of the course credits directly relating to the East Asian Studies major.

Applicants must also have completed the equivalent of the third year of study of modern Chinese, Japanese, or Korean by the end of the summer of their sophomore year.

Application

While the formal proposal to pursue simultaneous degrees is due by the last day of classes in their fifth term of enrollment in Yale College, he or she should begin consulting with the East Asian Studies Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) and the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) during the sophomore year and must begin developing a proposal during the fall of the junior year. The proposal must include a statement of purpose, EAST Simultaneous Degree Worksheet, and a writing sample (such as a course paper).

If the DUS and DGS approve the proposal, the student submits the online application for formal consideration. If the application is approved by the director of undergraduate studies and the director of graduate studies, it is forwarded to the joint committee of Yale College and the Graduate School for review. If the joint committee admits the student to candidacy, the associate dean of academic affairs for Yale College will notify the student. Because the joint committee must review all fifth-term grades of all applicants across the participating departments, this notification may not be sent until after the add/drop period of the sixth term. Students should therefore select their sixth-term courses with the understanding that they may not be admitted to candidacy.

Proposals must meet all of the requirements outlined in YCPS regarding academic achievement and the pattern of enrollment in graduate courses.

General requirements

Graduate work should not be entirely concentrated in the final two terms.

Students may not enroll in Yale College for more than eight terms in order to qualify for the simultaneous award of both degrees. It is possible to earn both degrees in fewer than eight terms, but not by the use of acceleration credits. Upon acceptance into the program, a student who has accelerated by the use of acceleration credits will automatically be decelerated, and may not, so long as the student remains in the simultaneous degree program, subsequently employ the credits to accelerate.

Number of courses required

In addition to the normal requirements for the B.A. in East Asian Studies published in Yale College Programs of Study (YCPS), students must complete eight graduate-level courses and earn qualitative grades of Honors, High Pass, or Pass. At least two grades of Honors are required, and all grades must average High Pass in order to fulfill requirements for the master’s degree.

Prior to admission to the program, students enrolling in a course that carries both an undergraduate and a graduate number must enroll under the graduate number if they wish to apply that course toward the graduate school requirements. The University Registrar's Office cannot change the course number on student records after the last day of classes in the corresponding term of enrollment.

Approval of course schedules

Following notification that they have been accepted into the Program for the Simultaneous Award of the Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees, students should consult each term with the director of undergraduate studies and the director of graduate studies.

Courses counted toward both the B.A. and M.A. degrees

With the exception of the senior year requirement (more information below), students may not count any courses toward both the undergraduate and graduate requirements of the simultaneous degree.

Up to two term courses in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean language numbered above 1500 may be counted toward the eight graduate courses required

This includes literary Chinese or Japanese.

Independent Study

Independent Study courses are not intended to substitute for graduate seminars in meeting the graduate portion of the requirements. These courses may only be used to fulfill the graduate requirements when staffing conditions, such as faculty leaves, limit the number (not the topic) of graduate seminars available to students pursuing the simultaneous degree.

The Senior Year Requirement in East Asian Studies

Students electing to fulfill the requirements of the simultaneous B.A./M.A. degree in East Asian Studies are required to fulfill the senior year requirement for the major by completion of a one-credit, two term senior project culminating in an essay via EAST 4910 and EAST 9920 (if graduating in May) or EAST 4920 and EAST 9910 (if graduating in December).  Credit for the senior year requirement will count toward both the undergraduate and graduate requirements of the simultaneous degree.