Historical Survey Courses

EAS suggests that all concentrators take at least one area course that acts as a history of the region that they plan to focus on ("historical survey" area course) and that covers a relatively broad chronological range. Do not hesitate to consult your Assistant Director of Undergraduate Studies for advice on choosing this course. Below is a list of suggested courses that automatically count toward the historical survey requirement. Other courses must receive approval from the Director of Undergraduate Studies in order to be counted as historical surveys.

Recommended historical survey courses for 2023-24:

Courses that have counted for historical survey credit in the past include:
  • Chinese History 113: Life and Death in Late Imperial China: Social History of the 10th to 19th Centuries
  • Chinese Literature 114: Introduction to Premodern Chinese Literature
  • East Asian Studies 141: East Asian Religions: Traditions and Transformations
  • East Asian Studies 198: Political Parties of East Asia
  • General Education 1091: Classical Chinese Ethical and Political Theory
  • General Education 1101: The Business of China
  • Government 1280: Government and Politics of China
  • History 14Y: Between East Asia and the Americas: Migration, Disapora, Empire
  • History 1023: Japan in Asia and the World
  • History 1026: Rise and Fall of Postwar Japan
  • History 1037: Modern Southeast Asia
  • History 1820 (Vietnam)
  • History 1821 (Vietnam)
  • History B-68: America and Vietnam
  • History of Art and Architecture 18K: Introduction to Japanese Art
  • Korean History 111: Traditional Korea
  • Korean Literature 110: Literature and Literary Culture of Premodern/Traditional Korea
  • MIT 21H.155: Modern Japan: 1600 to Present