East Asian Studies BA

Core module:

Exploring East Asia

This module introduces students to the study of modern East Asia. Beginning by encouraging consideration of what the subject of East Asian Studies is, it then introduces the following key topics: East Asian Geography and Environment, History, Culture and Media, Economics and Business, and Political Relations. In parallel with this content, the module also introduces core academic skills as follows: independent, lecture and seminar study; reflective practice; critical information, digital and visual literacy; evidence and argument in academic writing, and appropriate examination techniques. These two elements provide a firm foundation of knowledge and abilities for higher level study. 

20 credits

Approved modules:
You will take 4 understanding China/Japan/Korea modules to suit your individual interests.

History and Culture in China

This module explores what it means to study China at university level, and considers how 'area studies' research on China fits within disciplines such as history and cultural studies. We will consider how histories and cultural understandings of China are built with the following in mind: how researchers use primary evidence such as texts, documents and/or images to understand social change; and how to navigate key debates in a field and evaluate competing arguments. You will finish this module with a deeper understanding of our core topic and the disciplinary approaches that frame it, and a foundation in critical research and writing skills that you can apply and develop in further study.

We will work on a combination of new and established research to explore one core topic: In 2022-2023 we will explore the history of twentieth-century Shanghai as seen from the grassroots.

20 credits

Politics, Economy and Society in China

This module explores what it means to study China at university level, and considers how 'area studies' research on China fits within disciplines such as political economy, international relations, anthropology, sociology and geography. We will work on a combination of new and established research to explore core topics in contemporary China: including how Chinese society has changed; how researchers use different conceptual frameworks and types of primary evidence to understand change and its wider impact; and, how to use the different types of work published in the field and evaluate competing arguments in key debates. You will finish this module with a deeper understanding of our core topic and the disciplinary approaches that frame it, and a foundation in critical research and writing skills that you can apply and develop in further study.

20 credits

History and Culture in Japan

This module explores what it means to study Japan at university level, and considers how `area studies' research on Japan fits within disciplines such as history, comparative literature and cultural studies. We will work on a combination of new and established research to explore one core topic. We will consider how studies of Japan are built, how researchers use primary evidence in text and/or images to understand change; how to navigate key debates in a field and evaluate competing arguments. You will finish this module with a deeper understanding of our core topic and the disciplinary approaches that frame it, and a foundation in critical research and writing skills that you can apply and develop in further study.

We will work on a combination of new and established research to explore one core topic: in 2022-2023 we will explore Japanese literature in the twentieth century as a frame for understanding modern Japanese history.

20 credits

Politics, Economy and Society in Japan

This module explores what it means to study Japan at university level, and considers how ‘area studies’ research on Japan fits within disciplines such as political economy, international relations, anthropology, sociology and geography. We will work on a combination of new and established research to explore core topics in contemporary Japan: including how Japanese society has changed; how researchers use different conceptual frameworks and types of primary evidence to understand change and its wider impact; and, how to use the different types of work published in the field and evaluate competing arguments in key debates. You will finish this module with a deeper understanding of our core topic and the disciplinary approaches that frame it, and a foundation in critical research and writing skills that you can apply and develop in further study.

20 credits

History and Culture in Korea

This module explores what it means to study Korea at university level, and considers how ‘area studies' research on Korea fits within disciplines such as history and cultural studies. We will consider how histories and cultural understandings of Korea are built with the following in mind: how researchers use primary evidence such as texts, documents and/or images to understand social change; and how to navigate key debates in a field and evaluate competing arguments. You will finish this module with a deeper understanding of our core topic and the disciplinary approaches that frame it, and a foundation in critical research and writing skills that you can apply and develop in further study.

We will work on a combination of new and established research to explore one core topic: in 2022-2023 we will focus on colonial history in the Korean peninsula to understand how the Korean people experienced modernity under Japanese colonial rule.

20 credits

Politics, Economy and Society in Korea

This module explores what it means to study Korea at university level, and considers how ‘area studies’ research on Korea fits within disciplines such as political economy, international relations, anthropology, sociology and geography. We will work on a combination of new and established research to explore core topics in contemporary Korea: including how Korean society has changed; how researchers use different conceptual frameworks and types of primary evidence to understand change and its wider impact; and, how to use the different types of work published in the field and evaluate competing arguments in key debates. You will finish this module with a deeper understanding of our core topic and the disciplinary approaches that frame it, and a foundation in critical research and writing skills that you can apply and develop in further study.

We will work on a combination of new and established research to explore one core topic: in 2022-2023 we will trace how postwar developments and the division of the Korean Peninsula have shaped contemporary political and social issues.

20 credits

Guided Modules
Through guided modules you will have the option to take a non-specialist East Asian lanaguage module, listed below, or chose from a list of guided moduels from departments across the univeristy

Japanese for Non-Specialists 1

This module aims to enable students with no prior knowledge of Japanese to acquire basic practical language skills, in listening, reading, speaking and writing. Japanese scripts will be introduced at the start and used throughout. On successful completion of the module students will; have a vocabulary of about 300 words related to daily life, understand simple sentences and classroom expressions related to daily activities, be able to obtain specific information from written and audio materials, be able to hold simple conversations; and be able to write about the topics covered in class in simple sentences or forms. 

10 credits

Chinese for Non-Specialists I

This module aims to equip students with no prior knowledge of Mandarin Chinese to acquire basic practical language skills, in listening, reading, speaking and writing. On successful completion of the module students will; have a vocabulary of about 250 words related to daily life, understand simple sentences and classroom expressions related to daily activities, be able to obtain specific information from written and audio materials, be able to communicate with others (making greetings, introductions and farewells, expressing simple emotions and feelings, enquiring about time, personal attributes and places); and be able to write ca. 140 characters in simple sentences or forms.

10 credits

Korean for Non-Specialists 1

This module aims to allow students with no prior knowledge of Korean to acquire basic practical language skills, in listening, reading, speaking and writing. On successful completion of the module students will; have a vocabulary of about 250 words related to daily life, understand simple sentences and classroom expressions related to daily activities, be able to obtain specific information from written and audio materials, be able to communicate with others (making greetings, giving and asking personal information and holding simple conversations); and be able to write in simple sentences or forms.

10 credits

Japanese for Non-Specialists 2

This module aims to enable students with some elementary knowledge of Japanese to acquire further practical language skills, in listening, reading, speaking and writing. On successful completion of the module students will; have a further vocabulary of about 400 words related to daily life; understand and use the written forms of all the introduced core grammar patterns; and understand selected simple spoken and written structures and be able to use them as spoken and written communication. . 

10 credits

Chinese for Non-Specialists II

This module aims to equip students with some prior knowledge of Mandarin Chinese (ca. 250 Chinese characters) with further practical language skills in listening, reading, speaking and writing. On successful completion of the unit, students will have mastered around 270 new words related to daily life; understand longer sentences and classroom expressions related to daily activities; be able to obtain specific information from written and audio materials; be able to communicate in making phone calls, asking directions, taking public transport, shopping, ordering food, describing things; be able to write around 160 new characters in simple sentences or forms.

10 credits

Korean for Non-Specialists 2

This module aims to allow students with some elementary knowledge of Korean to acquire further practical language skills, in listening, reading, speaking and writing. On successful completion of the module students will; have a vocabulary of about 400 words related to daily life, understand and use the written forms of all the introduced core grammar patterns;
and understand selected simple spoken and written structures and be able to use them as spoken and written communication.

10 credits

Core modules:

East Asian Fieldwork

The East Asian Fieldwork module provides students with an opportunity to conduct field-based research in an East Asian context. Building on pre-departure preparatory lectures and seminars in Sheffield with a focused period of in-country activities, students will develop fieldwork skills and experience working within a cross-cultural and cross-linguistic environment.

20 credits

Gender and Identities in East Asia

This module offers an overview of the study of gender and its connection to social, cultural, political and economic discourses across East Asia. Covering key issues related to the structures and dynamics of gender in East Asia, we learn to situate these dynamics in their historical and cultural context using case studies drawn from across the region.

20 credits

Mass Culture in East Asia

This module takes a transcultural approach to the study of mass culture in East Asia over the twentieth century. We will examine how mass culture, from radio and literature to art and entertainment have continuously reshaped 'national' identities and communities across East Asia

20 credits

Approved modules:
You will chose one of the following modules approved East Asian Studies modules.

Chinese Business and Management

The objective of this module is to provide students an understanding of China's economic reform and open door policies, and the new free market orientation. While module content is academic rather than practical, this unit is designed to acquaint students with Chinese business environment and practice, and to inform them of issues and problems encountered by international businesses operating in China or doing business with the Chinese. Emphasis is on the Chinese business culture, the state-owned enterprise reform, development of the private sector and management issues of Chinese family firms, foreign direct investment and operating foreign businesses in China, human resource management, Chinese consumer behaviour, and the financial markets. An understanding of these topics is highly relevant to companies targeting the China market and essential background for graduates seeking a career in Far Eastern Business. Students are thus encouraged to develop business-related skills.

20 credits

Contemporary Japanese Society

This module discusses key factors shaping contemporary Japanese society. Our particular focus will be on the last twenty years as post-Bubble Japan has entered a period of economic decline, prompting a series of debates about the effects of this change on society. Weekly lectures provide analysis and explanation of each week’s theme, with a focus on cutting-edge scholarship from the fields of history, anthropology, media studies, gender studies, and cultural studies.

20 credits

Understanding Contemporary North Korea

What does it mean to “understand” North Korea, and what are the potential implications of this understanding, academically and professionally? This module explores these questions through the disciplines of international relations, history, media studies and anthropology, as we cover a range of topics in the field of contemporary North Korea. These topics include post-colonialism, founding myths, nationalism, identity, ideology, human rights, international relations, and security, and covers key events and trends from the mid-1900s to the present day. The module provides a foundation for students to critically analyse how the North Korean state and society are presented to us via a variety of voices, as well as how we might respond in any capacity to engage with North Korean affairs. Lectures, instructional videos and assigned readings will provide background, case studies and theoretical approaches helpful for developing a nuanced understanding of the topics covered. Seminar classwork and the assessed portfolio will be used to learn and practice skills integral to both academic and professional activities commonly associated with studies of contemporary politics and society.

20 credits

Environment and Development of the Japanese Islands

This module takes geographical, ecological, socio-cultural and political-economic perspectives in charting the emergence of Japan as the world's first non-Western developed country. Beginning with Japan's geological formation in pre-history and ending with a speculative enquiry into the state of Japan in 2100, the module assesses the human and ecological consequences of Japan's development within the country's Asian, Pacific, and global contexts.

20 credits

History of Korean Popular Music

This module examines the social history of (South) Korea from the 1930s to the dawn of the millennium through the lens of popular music. The module starts with songs on gramophone records made during the Japanese colonial period and ends with Psy's 'Gangnam Style,' which achieved global popularity while satirising urban lifestyle in Seoul. Each week, students and the module lead perform a close analysis of the selected song(s), informed by relevant socio-historical contexts such as Japanese colonialism, national division, the Cold War, urban migration, state censorship, democratisation, and globalization. Secondarily, the module introduces students to issues that are relevant to the study of popular music in any national or transnational context.

20 credits

East Asian Cinema

We will examine key film directors, cinematic movements and industry developments since 1945 from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Mainland China. This module will introduce you to some of the key cinematic theoretical frameworks such as national and global cinemas, gender, spectatorship and will examine the ways in which selected East Asian films and directors interact with the history and culture of their respective nations. This module is designed to encourage students to critically examine both the text (the films themselves) and the context (the national environment, film festival circuit, film finance) that surrounds any film work.

20 credits

Modern Chinese History: Beyond Revolution

This module will examine key themes in the histories of China’s short twentieth century, with a primary focus on interpretations of ‘modernity’ and ‘progress’, explanations of revolution, and the ways in which new approaches in scholarship have influenced our understanding of China’s recent past. While the structure of the module is loosely chronological, the emphasis is not on the detail of events but on the critical analysis of broad social and political changes, and we will examine these through recent historical writing on China and a range of primary textual and visual sources.

20 credits

Postwar Japanese Politics

This module will examine postwar Japanese politics, economy and international relations with a focus on the change and continuity of political organizations and policy-making processes. The module is designed to equip students with analytical skills based on a framework generally applicable to political science so that they will be able to examine political phenomena in general, and particularly in relation to Japan, from a range of theoretical perspectives. Students will work together in a group presentation based on a case study and take a formal exam that will assess their ability to conduct critical analysis and make a coherent argument. 

20 credits

Modern Japanese History

This module will explore key themes in the modern history of Japan from the mid-nineteenth to the late twentieth century, while developing core skills in reading primary sources and historical analysis. Broad themes include identity and nation-building, social and economic change, war and its practical and cultural legacies. Key sub-disciplinary approaches will be based in social and cultural history, with some excursions into other historiographical approaches. It will be delivered through weekly lectures, and seminars structured around developing primary source analysis skills and relating these to appropriate secondary literature. 

20 credits

Contemporary Korean Society

Since the end of World War II, South Korea has undergone rapid modernisation and radical social transformations that have created both opportunities and challenges. Through the disciplines of history, political science, social science and anthropology, this module examines major social, political, and cultural events and issues in contemporary Korea, including the developmental state, democratisation, gender, migration and modernity, contemporary social movements and Korea’s place in the global community. This module aims to contribute to the development of students’ capacity to go beyond observing and describing phenomena they may encounter when engaging with Korea, towards exercising an informed and nuanced understanding of the underlying forces that shape Korean politics, culture, business and society today. Classes are in the format of lectures, instructional videos and readings, followed by a series of seminars during which students will engage in research sessions and skills-focused tasks to discuss the experiences of one of Asia’s most dynamic nations. The module is assessed with a portfolio of tasks designed to practice skills and deploy knowledge developed through engagement with the module’s content and activities.

20 credits

Experiencing 'Japan' through Literary Texts

This module enables students to understand the key debates and issues in Japanese culture and society as related in literature, from pre-modern to contemporary times. Taking a chronological and thematic perspective, the module engages with critical approaches to literature and its interpretation, and through these encourages students to develop and acquire critical thinking about concepts of Japan and Japaneseness.

20 credits

Contemporary Chinese Society and Culture

This module introduces students to different ways of thinking about Chinese society and culture. In particular, we focus on sociological, anthropological and geographical approaches to contemporary Chinese society and culture, showing why and how China is important to current theoretical debates in these disciplines.

20 credits

Population and Environment in China

This module examines the interdependent relationship between population and environment in China. These are vitally important questions, in China and globally, that have attracted research by scholars of contemporary China, and in the wider academic disciplines of human geography and development studies. Through your work in lectures and seminars, you will gain a deep understanding of China's population and environment and its relation to social and economic change and to local and national institutions; and you will develop transferable skills of research, writing and critical analysis.

20 credits

Guided modules
You will take up to 40 credits from the following East Asian language modules and a list of guided modules available from departmetns across the university.

Japanese for Non-Specialists 3

This module aims to enable students with some elementary knowledge of Japanese to acquire further practical language skills, in listening, reading, speaking and writing. On successful completion of the module students will; have a further vocabulary of about 400 words related to daily activities; understand and use the written forms of all the introduced core grammar patterns;and understand selected simple spoken and written structures and be able to use them as spoken and written communication.

10 credits

Korean for Non-Specialists 3

This module provides Intermediate training in spoken and written Korean, oral practice for various everyday situations and essential low-Intermediate grammatical structures. It also gives a general introduction Korean society and culture.

10 credits

Chinese for Non-Specialists III

This module aims to enable students with beginners' level Mandarin Chinese (ca. 300 Chinese characters) to acquire increasingly complex practical language skills.

10 credits

Japanese for Non-Specialists 4

This module aims to enable students with some elementary knowledge of Japanese to acquire further practical language skills, in listening, reading, speaking and writing. On successful completion of the module students will; have a further vocabulary of about 400 words related to daily activities; understand and use the written forms of all the introduced core grammar patterns;and understand selected simple spoken and written structures and be able to use them as spoken and written communication.

10 credits

Korean for Non-Specialists 4

This module aims to further enhance students' communication skills in the four language skills - listening, speaking, reading and writing. Students are expected to communicate confidently in a wide range of social interactions including formal situations and simple professional contexts as well as reporting past events and sharing experiences.

10 credits

Chinese for Non-Specialists IV

This module aims to enable students with beginners' level Mandarin Chinese (ca. 450 Chinese characters) to acquire increasingly complex practical language skills.

10 credits

Core module:

East Asian Dissertation

The East Asian dissertation requires that students produce an extended and focused study of a subject of their own choice, within the scope of their degree programme, and allows students to refine and extend their independent research, analytical and writing skills. The unit is delivered through a combination of group meetings in lecture or seminar format and through individual supervision.

40 credits

Researching East Asia 1

This unit explores some of the key debates and latest empirical developments in a specific field of research currently undertaken by a member of SEAS staff in East Asian Studies. It enables students to understand how research questions are formulated and answered by exploring the member of staff's disciplinary focus, the range of theoretical approaches employed, and the various methodologies available in researching this field.

20 credits

Approved modules:
You will take one of the following research focused modules

Researching China 1

This unit explores some of the key debates and latest empirical developments in a specific field of research currently undertaken by a member of SEAS staff in Chinese Studies. It enables students to understand how research questions are formulated and answered by exploring the member of staff's disciplinary focus, the range of theoretical approaches employed, and the various methodologies available in researching this field.

20 credits

Researching Japan 1

This module, subtitled “Stardom, Celebrity, and Politics in Japan”, investigates the operations of persona in the Japanese social and political sphere. Star, celebrity, and political persona is understood as a shifting object, informed by the socio-political circumstances of the historical period in which the transmitting persona operates.The goal of this research module is to establish a method for tracing and accounting for the operations of constructed public persona on our understanding of Japan.

20 credits

Researching Korea 1

This unit explores some of the key debates and latest empirical developments in a specific field of research currently undertaken by a member of SEAS staff in Korean Studies. It enables students to understand how research questions are formulated and answered by exploring the member of staff's disciplinary focus, the range of theoretical approaches employed, and the various methodologies available in researching this field.

20 credits

Guided modules
You will take up to 40 credits from the following East Asian language and research modules and a list of guided modules available from departmetns across the university.

Japanese for Non- Specialists 5

The module follows on from and consolidates the skills acquired in Japanese for Non-Specialists 4 and aims to acquire further practical language skills, in listening, reading, speaking and writing. New grammatical patterns and a broader range of vocabulary and kanji are introduced and practised. Students will further develop their oral competence in spoken practice through role-plays and discussion activities, focusing on clear and appropriate communication.

10 credits

China Research Project 1

In this module, you will work on a research project related to the field of research explored in EAS3021.  You will formulate and design and conduct a research project (with appropriately framed questions and methods) that produces a 'creative research output' and supporting project report. Specific projects will be supported by appropriate research training provided by the module organiser and/or central/Faculty services. At the end of the module, creative outputs will be displayed as part of a programme-wide and School-wide event to specialised/non-specialised audiences.

20 credits

Japan Research Project 1

In this semester, we will apply the understanding developed in EAS3031 Researching Japan 1 to a research project on stardom, celebrity, and politics in Japan. You will answer a research question of your own choice by choosing an appropriate methodology, organising your time and reflecting on the research process both individually and collectively. At the end of the module you will produce a research output and display it as part of a programme-wide and School-wide event to specialised/non-specialised audiences. The research outputs and bibliographies will be published in an online exhibition space dedicated to Level 3 Researching Projects at SEAS.

20 credits

Korea Research Project 1

In this module, you will work as part of a small team within a scenario set by a SEAS staff member that relates to his/her field of research as explored in EAS3043. You will answer a research question by choosing an appropriate methodology, allocating specific tasks within your team, organising your time and reflecting on the research process both individually and collectively. Specific projects will include appropriate research training provided by the module organiser and/or 301. At the end of the module you will produce a research output and display it as part of a programme-wide and School-wide event to specialised/non-specialised audiences.

20 credits

East Asia Research Project 1

In this module, you will work as part of a small team within a scenario set by a SEAS staff member that relates to his/her field of research as explored in EAS3XXX. You will answer a research question by choosing an appropriate methodology, allocating specific tasks within your team, organising your time and reflecting on the research process both individually and collectively. Specific projects will include appropriate research training provided by the module organiser and/or 301. At the end of the module you will produce a research output and display it as part of a programme-wide and School-wide event to specialised/non-specialised audiences.

20 credits