Minor Requirements

The Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures offers minor degrees in the following:

The undergraduate minors in East Asian Studies have been designed to give students majoring in other departments an opportunity to gain a substantial introduction to an East Asian language, as well as an introduction to the culture and civilization of East Asia.

Declaring the Minor

Potential minors should declare by winter quarter of the senior year on Axess, and must meet with the Assistant Director of Student Services (SSO) or Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) to discuss and submit a proposal to complete the East Asian Studies minor. The minor declaration request will not be approved on Axess until a proposal has been submitted and approved. Minors must complete at least 20 units of coursework on China, Japan, and/or Korea. Courses to be credited toward minor degree requirements must be completed with a 3-unit minimum and a letter grade of 'C' (GPA of 2.0) or better.

Language Proficiency Notation

Students who demonstrate levels of achievement equivalent to those expected at the end of the third quarter of the third year of study in a language may apply for the Proficiency Notation, which is a notation of “Proficiency in [that language]" on the official transcript. Successful candidates tend to have completed the third year or beyond of language study at Stanford and spent considerable time studying abroad in the foreign language.

In order to receive the proficiency notation, the student must complete the following oral and written requirements. The notation is available only for languages where external assessment is offered through Language Testing International. Successful completion of the oral component is required before proceeding with the writing component. This certification process is conducted through the Stanford Language Center, and more information can be found on the Language Center website, including a helpful timetable.

The goal of the minor in East Asian Studies is to provide the student with a broad background in East Asian culture as a whole, while allowing the student to focus on a geographical or temporal aspect of East Asia. The minor may be designed from the following, for a total of six courses and a minimum of 20 units. All courses should be taken for a letter grade.

The Division of Literatures, Cultures, and Languages (DLCL) offers a "Minor in Translation Studies" which may be of interest to students in East Asian Languages and Cultures. The DLCL, in cooperation with EALC and the English Department, teaches undergraduates to develop and apply their foreign language knowledge to the production and analysis of translations. The minor is designed to give students majoring in a variety of fields the tools to consider the practical and theoretical issues brought up by translation as an aesthetic, cultural, and ethical practice. Please see the Stanford Bulletin for more information on the Minor in Translation Studies.

Minor in East Asian Studies

The goal of the minor in East Asian Studies is to provide the student with a broad background in East Asian culture as a whole, while allowing the student to focus on a geographical or temporal aspect of East Asia. The minor may be designed from the following, for a total of six courses and a minimum of 20 units. All courses should be taken for a letter grade.

East Asian Studies Minor Requirements

  1. Three area courses, one in each category (see East Asian Studies List of Area Courses).
  2. One undergraduate seminar above the 100 level and two other courses from among those listed as approved for East Asian Studies undergraduates, including literature courses but excluding language courses (see East Asian Studies List of Gateway Courses).

Applications for the minor should be submitted online through Axess and are due no later than the second quarter of the junior year.

Minor in East Asian Studies, China Subplan

The EALC department offers a minor in East Asian Studies, China Subplan. The "China Subplan" minor has been designed to give students majoring in other departments an opportunity to gain a substantial introduction to the Chinese language, as well as an introduction to the culture and civilization of East Asia. 

Minor in East Asian Studies, China Subplan

The minors consist of a minimum of 20 units from the following requirements (see below). All courses for the minor must be taken for a letter grade and completed with a GPA of 2.0 or better. Consult with the department to potentially count one of the BOSP courses taught by a Stanford home campus faculty member toward the minor:

  1. Proficiency of the modern Chinese language, at the second year level: Students study two years of modern Chinese. Students who already have a competence at the second-year level may fulfill the language component of the minor by taking three courses in the department using materials in Chinese. These courses may be language courses such as the third-year sequence mentioned above, the fourth-year language sequence, or they may be advanced literature and linguistics courses, depending on the capabilities and interests of the student.
  2. Gateway courses: Complete two gateway courses offered by the EALC department; students may take courses from the “East Asian Gateway Course Cluster” and/or the “Gateway Course Cluster for China Subplan." At least one of the two gateway courses chosen must be taught by a member in the EALC department. List of Approved Gateway Courses. Please note that courses listed are not exhaustive; you can take these courses, but the list should give you an idea of what courses should and should not count. All students should check with the department SSO or DUS regarding fulfilling course requirements. If the courses that you have taken or are planning to take are not on the list, please consult with our Assistant Director of Student Services to see whether or not they will meet the requirement.
  3. Additional content courses: Three courses selected from among the department's other offerings in the literature, linguistics, and civilization of the relevant minor area. Courses should be offered by the EALC department at the 100-level or above, or approved by SSO and/or DUS.
Minor in East Asian Studies, Japan Subplan

The EALC department offers the minor in East Asian Studies, Japan Subplan. The "Japan Subplan" minor has been designed to give students majoring in other departments an opportunity to gain a substantial introduction to the Japanese language, as well as an introduction to the culture and civilization of East Asia. 

Minor in East Asian Studies, Japan Subplan

The minors consist of a minimum of 20 units from the following requirements (see below). All courses for the minor must be taken for a letter grade and completed with a GPA of 2.0 or better. Consult with the department to potentially count one of the BOSP courses taught by a Stanford home campus faculty member toward the minor:

  1. Proficiency of the modern Japanese language, at the second year level: Students study two years of modern Japanese. Students who already have a competence at the second-year level may fulfill the language component of the minor by taking three courses in the department using materials in Japanese. These courses may be language courses such as the third-year sequence mentioned above, the fourth-year language sequence, or they may be advanced literature and linguistics courses, depending on the capabilities and interests of the student.
  2. Gateway courses: Complete two gateway courses offered by the EALC department; students make take courses from the “East Asian Gateway Course Cluster” and/or the “Gateway Course Cluster for Japan Subplan." At least one of the two gateway courses chosen must be taught by a member in the EALC department. List of Approved Gateway Courses. Please note that courses listed are not exhaustive; you can take these courses, but the list should give you an idea of what courses should and should not count. All students should check with the department SSO or DUS regarding fulfilling course requirements. If the courses that you have taken or planning to take are not on the list, please consult with our Assistant Director of Student Services to see whether or not they will meet the requirement.
  3. Additional content courses: Three courses selected from among the department's other offerings in the literature, linguistics, and civilization of the relevant minor area. Courses should be offered by the EALC Dept at the 100-level or above, unless otherwise approved by DUS and/or SSO.
Minor in East Asian Studies, Korea Subplan

The Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures offers a minor in East Asian Studies, Korea Subplan. The "Korea Subplan" minor has been designed to give students majoring in other departments an opportunity to gain a substantial introduction to the Korean language, as well as an introduction to the culture and civilization of East Asia.

Minor in East Asian Studies, Korea Subplan

The minors consist of a minimum of 20 units from the following requirements (see below). All courses for the minor must be taken for a letter grade and completed with a GPA of 2.0 or better. Consult with the department to potentially count one of the BOSP courses taught by a Stanford home campus faculty member toward the minor:

  1. Proficiency of the modern Korean language, at the second year level: Students complete two years of modern Korean. Those who already have a competence at the second-year level may fulfill the language component of the minor by taking three courses in the department using materials in Korean. These courses may be language courses such as the third-year sequence mentioned above, the fourth-year language sequence, or they may be advanced literature and linguistics courses, depending on the capabilities and interests of the student.
  2. Gateway courses: Complete two gateway courses offered by the EALC department; students make take courses from the “East Asian Gateway Course Cluster” and/or the “Gateway Course Cluster for Korea Subplan." At least one of the two gateway courses chosen must be taught by a member in the EALC department. List of Approved Gateway Courses. Please note that courses listed are not exhaustive; you can take these courses, but the list should give you an idea of what courses should and should not count. All students should check with the department SSO or DUS regarding fulfilling course requirements. If the courses that you have taken or planning to take are not on the list, please consult with our Assistant Director of Student Services to see whether or not they will meet the requirement.
  3. Additional content courses: Three courses selected from among the department's other offerings in the literature, linguistics, and civilization of the relevant minor area. Courses should be offered by the EALC Dept at the 100-level or above. Up to one course outside the department can be used with approval by DUS and/or SSO.
Minor in East Asian Studies, East Asian Languages Subplan

The Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures offers a minor in East Asian Studies, East Asian Languages Subplan. The "East Asian Languages Subplan" minor has been designed to give students majoring in other departments an opportunity to gain a substantial introduction to East Asian languages, as well as an introduction to the culture and civilization of East Asia.

Minor in East Asian Studies, East Asian Languages Subplan

The minors consist of a minimum of 20 units from the following requirements (see below). All courses for the minor must be taken for a letter grade and completed with a GPA of 2.0 or better. Consult with the department to potentially count one of the BOSP courses taught by a Stanford home campus faculty member toward the minor:

  1. Proficiency of a modern East Asian language, at the third year level: Students demonstrate proficiency of a modern East Asian language at the third year level. Students who place out of the third year sequence courses via the Placement Test administered by the Stanford Language Center are required to take 3 language-oriented courses, as approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies. These courses may be language courses in another East Asian language, the fourth-year language sequence, or they may be advanced literature and linguistics courses, depending on the capabilities and interests of the student.
  2. Gateway courses: Complete two gateway courses offered by the EALC department; students make take courses from the “East Asian Gateway Course Cluster” and/or the “Gateway Course Cluster for Korea Subplan." At least one of the two gateway courses chosen must be taught by a member in the EALC department. List of Approved Gateway Courses. Please note that courses listed are not exhaustive; you can take these courses, but the list should give you an idea of what courses should and should not count. All students should check with the department SSO or DUS regarding fulfilling course requirements. If the courses that you have taken or planning to take are not on the list, please consult with our Assistant Director of Student Services to see whether or not they will meet the requirement.
  3. Additional content courses: Two courses selected from among the department's other offerings in the literature, linguistics, and civilization of the relevant minor area. Courses should be offered by the EALC Dept at the 100-level or above. Up to one course outside the department can be used with approval by DUS and/or SSO.

For any questions or inquiries regarding the minor, please contact Cyril Millendez, SSO, or asianlanguages [at] stanford.edu (asianlanguages[at]stanford[dot]edu).

Minor in Translation Studies

The Division of Literatures, Cultures, and Languages (DLCL), in cooperation with East Asian Languages and Cultures (EALC) and the English Department, teaches undergraduates to develop and apply their foreign language knowledge to the production and analysis of translations. The minor is designed to give students majoring in a variety of fields the tools to consider the practical and theoretical issues brought up by translation as an aesthetic, cultural, and ethical practice.

Minor in Translation Studies

Faculty Director: Alexander Key

Minor Advisor: Cintia Santana

The DLCL offers a "Minor in Translation Studies" which may be of interest to students in EALC. See the Stanford Bulletin tab for the full requirements. Coursework in this minor may not duplicate work counted toward other majors or minors. Course selection must be approved by the minor adviser.

Students must take a minimum of 23 units for a letter grade, in fulfillment of the following requirements:

  1. Prerequisite: Complete or test out of a first-year course in the language of interest.
  2. Core course: At least 4 units in a Translation Studies core course: JAPAN 123/223/COMPLIT 228, COMPLIT 111Q/ILAC 111Q, COMPLIT 285/FRENCH 185, COMPLIT 293/ENGLISH 293, or RELIGST 210/310.
  3. Language study: At least 8 units, second year or beyond (not including conversation/oral communication) and/or relevant literature courses taught in the target language. Up to 3 units from Overseas Studies Programs (OSP) and transfer courses may be considered in consultation with the minor advisor.
  4. Literature study: At least 7 units in relevant literature courses at the 100-level or above, taught in a DLCL department, East Asian Languages and Cultures, Classics, English, Religious Studies, or other relevant departments determined in consultation with the minor advisor.
  5. Electives: At least 4 units in a creative writing course, or a course that foregrounds translation in departments such as Anthropology, any DLCL department, English, East Asian Languages and Cultures, Classics, Linguistics (e.g., LINGUIST 130A), or Computer Science (e.g., CS 124) determined in consultation with the minor advisor.
  6. Final Project: Students must also complete a capstone project: a significant translation and/or translation studies project (e.g., 20 pages of prose, 10 poems, or similar appropriate amount to be determined in consultation with the minor advisor). This work may be carried out under the supervision of an instructor in a required course or as an independent study.

For questions or inquiries regarding the Minor in Translation Studies, please contact Cintia Santana, Minor Advisor, or dlcl [at] stanford.edu (dlcl[at]stanford[dot]edu).