How to Receive a Language Citation in an East Asian Language

The following merely lets you know the departmental role in the awarding Language Citations. See the Handbook for Students for more information.

Step One: Obtain a copy of the Language Citation Study Plan form from the FAS Registrar's Office (20 Garden Street), your freshman advisor, or your house tutor.

Step Two: Determine which courses count toward a citation (refer to the chart below). The basic rule is two years' worth (basically four semesters, unless some are intensive) taken beyond the first year level, with a grade of B- or above. Ordinarily, this means second year and third year; but if you place beyond the second-year level, you can count more advanced courses, including graduate seminars where the course is conducted in the original language.

Courses taken outside of Harvard University count only if the courses are listed on your transcript (please see the registrar regarding this process) and if you have taken a placement exam administered by our program to confirm that you have reached the appropriate level.

Fill out the form with the courses you have taken or are planning to take to fulfill the requirement.

Step Three: Make an appointment with C. Rose Cortese, the Language Program Coordinator, (eal @ fas.harvard.edu) to receive approval on your courses and to have her sign your form.

Step Four: Follow the instructions on the Study Plan, including getting the approval of your Senior Tutor or Freshman Adviser, and submitting the Study Plan to the Registrar's Office. Your form must be on file at the registrar's office by the time you file your degree application; see the Academic Calendar for the exact date.

Courses that count towards a citation:

Chinese: Chinese 120a, 120b, 123b, 124a, 124b. 125ab,(may count as two half-courses at the second-year level.), 111r, 130a, 130b, 140a, 140b, 150a, 150b, 185, 187.

Japanese: Japanese 120a, 120b, 130a, 130b, 140a, 140b, 150a, 150b.

Korean: Korean 120a, 120b, 130a, 130b, 140a, 140b.

Vietnamese: Vietnamese 120a, 120b, 130a, and 130b.

Chinese Literature: Chinese 106a, 106b, 107a, 107b.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I get a citation if I am an EAS concentrator?

You cannot for the language that you are counting toward your concentration requirements, because the citation is supposed to reward "special effort" to learn a language outside of the concentration. However, if you go on to learn a second East Asian language, or if you minor in EAS in a track that would not require you to learn a language, then you can get a citation.

Does the citation exempt me from Foreign Cultures Core?

In most cases, it does, but you must contact the Core office directly for instructions on how to do this.

What about Chinese Bx and Chinese 123b?

The registrar does not allow Bx as one of the four courses (since it is a first-year level), but they will allow 123b. This means that a student who takes 123b and then continues with third year must take one additional semester of Chinese.

What about Cantonese and Taiwanese?

Courses in Cantonese (Chinese Ca and Cb) qualify as an upper-level course for the purpose of a citation in Chinese because it requires two years prior study of Mandarin. Taiwanese at the second-year level (Chinese 124a and 124b) counts toward a citation in Chinese; however, at least two courses counted towards the citation must be at the third-year level (i.e., Chinese 120a and 120b plus Chinese 124a and 124b does not earn a citation, since both are at the second-year level).