BA East Asian Studies and ... SOAS University of London

Mode of Attendance: Full-time

This programme combines the study of East Asian languages with the study of East Asia-related subjects in various disciplines. Compared to the existing single-subject BA East Asian Studies degree, there is less emphasis on language learning. Compared to the existing 2-degree BA Chinese/Japanese/Korean and… degree, there is more space to study East Asia-related courses in a range of disciplines. The programme also differs from the existing offerings in that there is no year abroad included.

Through the course of the three years, students take modules in modern East Asian languages at the appropriate level. They can start as complete beginners, or they can start from higher levels. Progression through a total of four levels is offered, whereas for those who exceed the highest level, language-based courses in literature and film, as well as a language-based dissertation, are available. The programme also offers courses in regional languages.

The programme will be attractive both to students who wish to study East Asia-related subjects without a strong emphasis on language and to students who wish to work at an advanced language level within a more traditional framework, as it is offered at most other universities.

Additionally, the nature of the Combined Honours Degree enables you to develop a specialist niche for yourself by studying another subject.

May be combined with:

• Development Studies
• Economics
• History
• History of Art
• International Relations
• Law
• Linguistics
• Music
• Politics
• Social Anthropology
• World Philosophies

Structure

Year 1

Students will take 60 East Asian Studies credits

Option 1

Students can take a 60 credit module from the Language module list below.

NB Students may take the 60 credit language in year 1 only. This will enable them to transfer to the language programme and go on a year abroad.

or

Option 2

Students will take modules to the value of 30 credits from the Language module list below.

and

• East Asian Civilizations

and

Second Subject

Students will choose modules to the value of 60 credits from their second subject

Year 2

Students will take the compulsory module:

• East Asian Imperialisms

and either

Option 1

Students can take modules to the value of 45 credits from the Language module list or List A below.

or

Option 2

Students will take a 15 credit module from the Language module list or List A below.

and

East Asian Civilisations (155901464) if not taken in Y1

and

Second Subject

Students will choose modules to the value of 60 credits from their second subject.

Year 3

Students will take modules to the value of 45 from credits from the Language List and/or List B below.

and

• History and Memory in East Asian Cultures

and

Second Subject

Students will choose modules to the value of 60 credits from their second subject

List A Guided option modules

• Contemporary Chinese Society
• Contemporary Japanese Society
• Contemporary Korean Society

List B Guided option modules

• Japanese Cinema (UG)
• Chinese Cinema (UG)
• Korean Cinema (UG)
• Self, City and Sexuality in Modern Japanese Literature 1868 to present-day
• Writing from the Margins: Minority Voices in Modern Japanese Literature, 1945 to the Present
• Murderers, Outlaws, and Magistrates in Traditional Chinese Literature
• Contemporary Chinese Literary Texts
• Modern Chinese Literary Texts
• Trajectories of Modernity in Korean Literature
• The Other Korea: North Korea since 1945

Language Modules

• Ch 100: Elementary Chinese
• Chinese 1 A
• Chinese 1 B
• Chinese 2
• Chinese 3
• Chinese 4
• Chinese 5
• Ch 200 Intermediate Chinese
• Ch 400: Advanced Chinese
• Chinese for Business
• Ch 401: Chinese-English Translation
• J100: Elementary Japanese
• Japanese 1 A
• Japanese 1 B
• Japanese 2
• Japanese 3
• Japanese 4
• J200: Intermediate Japanese
• J400: Advanced Japanese
• K100: Elementary Korean
• Korean 1 A
• Korean 1 B
• Korean 2
• Korean 3
• K200 Intermediate Korean
• K403: Korean-English Translation
• Tibetan (Modern) 1 A
• Tibetan (Modern) 1 B

Important notice

The information on the programme page reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session.

Employment

As a graduate who specialised in East Asia, you will have gained competency in language skills and intercultural awareness and understanding. Familiarity with the region will have been developed through a study of language in combination with literature, development studies, economics, geography, history, history of art and archaeology, law, linguistics, music, politics, social anthropology or religion.

Graduates leave SOAS not only with linguistic and cultural expertise, but also with a portfolio of widely transferable skills which employers seek in many professional and management careers, both in business and in the public sector. These include written and oral communication skills, attention to detail, analytical and problem-solving skills, and the ability to research, amass and order information from a variety of sources.

Graduates have gone on to work for a range of organisations including:

• Allen and Overy LLP
• BBC
• China-Eu School of Law
• ChinaContact Consulting
• Chinese University of Hong Kong
• Dah Sing Financial Holdings Ltd.
• Embassy of Belgium
• Foreign & Commonwealth Office
• German Embassy Tokyo
• Goldman Sachs International Halo Associates (Asia) Ltd
• Independent Power Corporation PLC
• Oxford University Press
• SiChuan WenJun Spirits Company
• the International Herald Tribune
• The University of Hong Kong
• United Nations Population Fund
• University of Cambridge
• Washington State House of Representatives

Types of roles that graduates have gone on to do include:

• Editor and Translator
• Under Secretary
• Director of Corporate Social Responsibility
• Solicitor
• Medical Secretary
• Press Attache
• Regional Chief of Photography
• Project Manager
• Economic Counsellor
• Lecturer Professional Translator
• Director of Research for China
• Social Worker
• Head, Asia Programme
• Photographer
• Professorial Research Associate
• Senior Lecturer in Chinese Archaeology
• Energy Consultant
• Independent Columnist and Reporter
• Art Curator