Undergraduate FAQs

The department offers the major and minor in East Asian Languages and Cultures.

Majors may elect to specialize in one area by focusing their studies on Chinese, Japanese, or Korean.

Yes, however, please keep in mind that the EALC major requires 24 units of advanced coursework (300 level or above) that are unique to the major and cannot be "double-counted."  The EALC minor requires 18 units unique to the minor. 

No. While language study is the foundation of the EALC curriculum, we consider a solid knowledge of the literature, history, and cultures associated with these languages to be very important as well.

You may request to declare a major/minor through WebStac. Majors will then be asked to arrange a meeting with the EALC Director of Undergraduate Studies. When your request is approved, you will be assigned an appropriate major or minor advisor.

Majors will need to check in with their advisors at least once a semester since you must have your advisor’s authorization before registering for the following semester’s courses. You should also meet with your advisor whenever you have any questions about fulfilling the requirements for the major or other academic-related issues. Minors do not need their advisor’s authorization for registration but should plan on meeting with their advisors at least once or twice in the course of the academic year.  

All EALC prime majors are required to participate in the Senior Symposium by preparing a 3-minute presentation and a poster (or powerpoint) of either the research paper written for their 400-level Capstone course OR their senior honors thesis. Second majors are encouraged to attend the Senior Symposium.

All EALC majors, both prime and second, are required to submit a Senior Exit Dossier before graduation.  Refer to this page for details.

For further information, contact the EALC Director of Undergraduate Studies.

We advise you to enroll under the L81 EALC course number to better ensure that all of the courses you intend to count toward your major or minor will be properly credited. Language courses are listed only in their respective number: L04 Chinese, L05 Japanese, L51 Korean. If a course you wish to take is not cross-listed with EALC, you will need the approval of your advisor and/or the Director of Undergraduate Studies in order to count it towards your major or minor.

Given the highly interactive and participatory nature of our language instruction, the auditing of EALC language courses is not allowed.

No more than 3 units of Independent Study may be applied towards an EALC major. Independent Study courses cannot be applied to an EALC minor.

Credit for previous language study is awarded only after you have taken the EALC language placement exam and earned at least a B- in the course into which you have placed.

Credit is typically awarded for completing the following courses with a grade of B- or better.  Native speakers are not eligible for back credit, so evidence of secondary or post-secondary study of the language is required. 

Chinese:  L04 211 or 212 = 3 units for 102D;  L04 360 or 361 = 3 units for 102D and 3 units for 212
Japanese: L05 213 or 214 = 3 units for 104D;  L05 412 or 413 = 3 units for 104D and 3 units for 214
Korean:  L51 217 or 218 = 3 units for 118D;  L51 417 or 418 = 3 units for 118D and 3 units for 218

You are encouraged to study more than one language at WU, but in order to satisfy the requirements for the major, you will need to demonstrate competence in one language.

With the approval of your advisor, Summer School courses may be counted toward the major and minor.  However, no more than one CAPS in-person course may be counted towards the EALC major or minor.

Some language courses may permit the P/F grade option.  Please check grade options on WebStac.  However, all courses for the major or minor, including language classes, must be taken for a letter grade. Moreover, a B- minimum is required in order to advance from one level to the next.

There is no study abroad requirement. However, you are strongly encouraged to participate in one of the several Washington University-approved study abroad programs in East Asia, such as the Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies in Japan and the Seoul National University program in Korea.

Up to 6 units of credit may be applied toward the major from one semester abroad and up to 12 units of credit from two semesters abroad. No more than 3 units of transfer or study abroad non-language courses may be applied to the minor.