East Asian Religion, Thought and Culture Major Requirements

Understanding the rich philosophical and religious traditions of East Asia is key to unlocking the region's diverse history and contemporary cultures. The EARTC major provides students with a deep, humanistic training grounded in the direct study of East Asian texts, languages, and societies.

This major is ideal for students interested in Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, Philosophy and other intellectual movements, and who want to examine how these traditions shape history, literature, art, and modern society.

🗺️ Want a visual guide? Check out our EARTC major map to explore year-by-year timelines, academic planning, and career opportunities.

Major Overview

• Total Units Required: 40+ units (minimum of 30 upper-division units).
• Language Tracks: Choose one primary language track: Chinese, Japanese, or Tibetan.
• Minimum Grades:
  • C or higher in elementary language prerequisite courses (1A-1B).
  • C or higher in List A prerequisite courses.
  • 2.0 minimum GPA across all upper-division coursework.

Language Placement: If you have prior experience with your chosen language, you must take the Language Placement Exam. Depending on your placement results:

• If you place out of lower-division courses: You must replace those units with upper-division courses in the same language or take lower division courses in a different language  (Chinese, Japanese, or Tibetan).
• If you place out of both lower- and upper-division courses: You cannot use this language to fulfill your requirements. You must take a different East Asian language (Chinese, Japanese, or Tibetan) to meet the major’s language requirement.

Major Requirements

1. Prerequisites (14 Units)

• Language Sequence (10 units): Chinese, Japanese, or Tibetan 1A & 1B (or equivalent). Must earn a grade of C or higher.
• Core Course (4 units): Choose one introductory course from List A below. Must earn a grade of C or higher.

2. Lower-Division Requirements (10 Units)

• Intermediate Language (10 units): Chinese, Japanese, or Tibetan 10A & 10B (or equivalent).*

3. Upper-Division Requirements (30 Units Minimum)

Minimum of 9 letter-graded courses.

• Core Courses (List A): Take six courses from List A (including the course taken as your prerequisite).
  • Note: No more than one lower-division course may count toward this requirement.
  • Note: A maximum of two semesters of classical language study may count toward these six courses.
• Supplementary Breadth (List B): Take two courses from List B to broaden your interdisciplinary understanding.
• Seminar (EALANG 191): Take EALANG 191: Tools and Methods in the Study of East Asian Philosophy and Religion (4 units). This typically offered during spring semesters.
  • Note: A pre-approved substitute course may be used during academic years when EA 191 is not offered. Consult your advisor.

EARTC Approved Course Lists

The following lists are updated periodically. Please consult with the major advisor to confirm if newly offered topics courses can be applied.

📚 List A: Core Religion & Thought Courses

These courses focus directly on the religious, philosophical, and intellectual traditions of East Asia.

East Asian Languages (EALANG / BUDDSTD)

• EALANG C50: Introduction to the Study of Buddhism
• EALANG 110: Bio-Ethical Issues in East Asian Thought
• EALANG C120: Buddhism on the Silk Road
• EALANG C122: Buddhist Meditation: Historical, Doctrinal, and Ethnographic Perspectives
• EALANG C128: Buddhism in Contemporary Society
• EALANG C130: Zen Buddhism
• EALANG C132: Pure Land Buddhism
• EALANG C135: Tantric Traditions of Asia
• EALANG C152: Buddhist Astral Science
• BUDDSTD 190: Topics in the Study of Buddhism (with advisor approval)

Chinese

• CHINESE 51: Chinese Thought in the Han Dynasty
• CHINESE 110A & 110B: Introduction to Literary Chinese
• CHINESE C116: Buddhism in China
• CHINESE 130: Topics in Daoism
• CHINESE C140: Readings in Chinese Buddhist Texts
• CHINESE C185: Introduction to Chinese Philosophy
• CHINESE 186: Confucius and His Interpreters

Japanese

• JAPAN C115: Japanese Buddhism
• JAPAN 116: Introduction to the Religions of Japan
• JAPAN 120: Introduction to Classical Japanese
• JAPAN C141: Introductory Readings in Japanese Buddhist Texts
• JAPAN 144: Edo Literature
• JAPAN 146: Japanese Historical Documents

Mongolian

• MONGOLN C117: Mongolian Buddhism

Tibetan

• TIBETAN 110A & 110B: Intensive Readings in Tibetan
• TIBETAN C114: Tibetan Buddhism
• TIBETAN 116: Traditional Tibet
• TIBETAN C154: Death, Dreams, and Visions in Tibetan Buddhism

🎨 List B: Supplementary Disciplinary Breadth

These courses provide historical, artistic, literary, and social context to East Asian societies.

History of Art

• HISTART 130A: Early Chinese Art, Part I
• HISTART 131A: Sacred Arts in China
• HISTART 134A: Buddhist Temple Art & Architecture in Japan
• HISTART 134B: Buddhist Icons in Japan
• HISTART 134C: Buddhist Art in the Modern/Contemporary World
• HISTART 190A: Special Topics in Fields of Art History: Asian (with advisor approval)

Film and Media

• CHINESE 172: Contemporary Chinese Language Cinema
• EALANG C124: Buddhism and Film
• EALANG 180: East Asian Film: Directors and their Contexts
• EALANG 181: East Asian Film: Special Topics in Genre
• JAPAN 185: Introduction to Japanese Cinema
• JAPAN 188: Japanese Visual Culture: Introduction to Anime
• JAPAN 189: Topics in Japanese Film
• KOREAN 186: Introduction to Korean Cinema
• KOREAN 187: History and Memory in Korean Cinema
• KOREAN 188: Cold War Culture in Korea: Literature and Film
• KOREAN 189: Korean Film Authors

History

• HISTORY 100 / 103F: Special Topics / Proseminar: Asia (with advisor approval)
• HISTORY 113A & 113B: Traditional / Modern Korean History
• HISTORY 116A, 116B, 116C, 116D, 116G: Chinese History Series (Early through Modern, Imperial)
• HISTORY 117A & 117D: Topics in Chinese History (Popular Culture / The Chinese Body)
• HISTORY 118A, 118B, 118C: Japanese History Series (Archaeological through 20th Century)
• HISTORY 119A: Topics in Japanese History: Postwar Japan
• MONGOLN 116 & 118: The Mongol Empire / Modern Mongolia
• TIBETAN 118 & 119: Politics of Modern Tibet / Tibetan Medicine

Music & Philosophy

• CHINESE C184: Sonic Culture in China
• MUSIC 134A & 134B: Music of the East Asian Tradition / Music of Japan
• PHILOS 153: Chinese Philosophy

Religious Studies & Anthropology

• ANTHRO 158: Religion and Anthropology
• EALANG C126: Buddhism and the Environment
• CHINESE 182: Death and Funerary Practice in China
• RELIGST 190: Topics in Religious Studies (with advisor approval)

Literature (Comparative & Regional)

• CHINESE: 120, 122, 134, 136, 153, 155, 156, 157, 158, 176, 178, 179, 180, 187, 188
• EALANG: 101, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 111, 112, 114, 115, 116, 118, 119
• JAPAN: 130, 132, 140, 155, 159, 170, 173, 177, 180, 181
• KOREAN: 130, 140, 150, 153, 155, 157, 170, 172, 174, 180, 185
• MONGOLN & TIBETAN: MONGOLN 110 / TIBETAN 115

🌍 Outside Coursework & Study Abroad

You can take up to two related courses from another UC Berkeley department, through study abroad or transfer credit to count toward your major requirements, subject to advisor approval.

👉 Submit an Outside Course Approval Request Online

🚀 Next Steps: How to Declare

1. Need help developing a program plan or ready to Declare? Schedule a major declaration appointment with our Undergraduate Major Advisor.
   👉 Book with Cassandra via Calendly
2. Questions about Placement or Enrollment? If you have questions about language exams or are having trouble enrolling in restricted Korean classes, please contact our Language & Enrollment Coordinator:
   📧 Presi Diaz

Honors Program

EARTC majors may complete a two-semester Honors Program during their senior year, culminating in a senior honors thesis. This is a unique opportunity to conduct deep, independent research under the direct mentorship of our faculty.

Eligibility Requirements

• Major GPA: 3.5 or higher
• Overall GPA: 3.3 or higher

The Thesis & Grading Process

• Independent Study (H195A, H195B): You will work closely with a faculty thesis supervisor over two semesters to research and write your thesis.
• Grading Committee: Your completed thesis will be evaluated and graded by a three-member committee. This includes your thesis supervisor and two other faculty members (whom you and your supervisor will select together).
• Honors Levels: Based on the committee's evaluation of your thesis, there are three levels of departmental honors you can earn:
  • Honors (cum laude)
  • High Honors (magna cum laude)
  • Highest Honors (summa cum laude)

How to Get Started

1. Develop a Topic: Brainstorm a potential research area and draft a basic proposal.
2. Find an Advisor: Reach out directly to the faculty member you would like to work with to discuss your project.
3. Enroll in Honors Courses: 
   1. First Semester H195A
   2. Second Completion Semester H195B

Questions: Connect with our Undergraduate Major Advisor.