ABOUT US
The Department of East Asian Studies at the University of Alberta offers degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate level in Chinese and Japanese language, linguistics, and literature. As the only university department between Toronto and Vancouver devoted solely to the study of East Asia, we provide our students with a valuable opportunity to build a solid foundation for a career involving this exciting and economically vigorous part of the world.
HISTORY
Courses on East Asia have been offered regularly at the University of Alberta since 1961, making our programme one of the oldest in Western Canada. East-Asia-related courses at the University of Alberta were originally offered within the Department of History and Classics, but in response to the increasing demand for courses on East Asia an independent Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures was formed in 1979. Renamed the Department of East Asian Studies in 1994 to reflect the expanded range of topics covered in its courses, the department has continued to grow steadily and now boasts record enrolments in its language and culture courses.
GOALS
Competent use of a second language requires an understanding of the culture in which that language evolved, and our programmes of study in Chinese and Japanese are designed to equip our students with both advanced skills in an East Asian language and also with a thorough grounding in the literature, literary history, and culture of their of their area of specialisation. Courses offered within the department and by other instructors working in East-Asia-related fields at the University of Alberta allow students to incorporate classes in subjects such as East Asian history, anthropology, political science, religion, popular culture, and film into their East Asian degree programme.
The Department of East Asian Studies would like to include all of EAST ASIA in its programs, that is, China, Japan, Taiwan, and Korea. Although we now feature programs that focus on China and Japan, from 1991-2000 the Department also offered a program in Korean language, literature, and culture. However, since that time, we greatly regret we have had to suspend this program due to lack of funding support. We sincerely hope that we will be able to reinstate this program in the future. If you are interested in this program, you may indicate this by sending an email expressing your interest to The Department of East Asian Studies.
STUDYING IN THE DEPARTMENT OF EAST ASIAN STUDIES
The relatively small size and friendly atmosphere of our classes enhance the learning experience for our students. Language classes in particular are highly interactive and foster learning in a cooperative environment. Within the context of a liberal arts education, our content courses not only provide students with information on aspects of East Asian culture, but also with the critical thinking skills necessary to assimilate that information in an intellectually mature way. Through a combination of language courses and complementary content courses, our students not only learn to communicate effectively in a second language but also to think analytically about the cultures of East Asia. Students frequently find that the experience of learning a second language forces them to re-examine assumptions they may have held not oly about the culture they are studying but also about their own language and culture. Such an appreciation of the dynamics of cultural difference is a vital skill for learning and working in an increasingly globalised world.
WHY STUDY AN EAST ASIAN LANGUAGE?
The career options for university graduates with training in an East Asian language are numerous and diverse. As the political, economic, and cultural ties between Asia and the rest of the world are strengthened, there is a steadily increasing demand for individuals with expertise in East Asian languages and cultures. Possible future options for B.A. graduates with training in an East Asian language include:
Graduate study in East Asian language and culture (including studying abroad in China or Japan)
Training for:
Careers in a professional field, such as law or business
Careers in translation
Careers in journalism (print / television / radio)
Careers in education (changes in Alberta secondary curriculum are expected to lead to an increased demand for teachers of Chinese and Japanese)
Careers in governmental agencies (such as Foreign Affairs, International Trade, Immigration)
Careers in international trade (in both Canadian and Asian companies)
Ryan Dunch, Chair
Department of East Asian Studies
University of Alberta