SP20 EALC Major/Minor Updates

We face a number of unprecedented challenges and an uncertain future. But let me assure you that all of us in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures will do everything we can to enable you to complete the semester with a minimum of stress and confusion. --Zhao Ma, DUS

EALC has made the following changes in class instruction and degree requirements for SP20:

  1. Pass/Fail: All EALC courses in L03, L04, L05, L51-- including language courses-- can be taken for either a letter grade or Pass/Fail. The deadline for switching from one to the other has been extended to 9 pm. CST on April 24. The minimum grade for Pass is C+ in language courses. Students enrolled in language classes who earn a Pass with a grade of lower than B- will be required to take the placement exam in the Fall as a condition of being allowed to continue to the next language level.
  2. Degree requirement: Pass/Fail courses taken this semester will be allowed to count toward requirements for major and minor in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.
  3. Declaring EALC major and minor: The department continues to approve students' declaration of an EALC major or minor. Please note that newly-declared majors and minors are required to schedule a virtual meeting with the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
  4. A Pass grade in a language class taken in SP20 will entitle a student to language back credit as described in our policies.

It is our hope that the above modification of our academic policies will help alleviate some of the stress and uncertainly that students may be facing at this difficult time. Please don't hesitate to reach out to us-- Zhao Ma, DUS; Krystel Mowery, EALC administrative coordinator; and course instructors with any questions or concerns that you might have. We'll do our best to be of assistance. And together, we will manage to get through this very trying time and emerge, one hopes, all the stronger.