East Asian Studies Department Website
Why Major in East Asian Studies at K?
Home to some of the world’s most ancient and complex cultures, East Asia is a powerful influencer of global trade, finance, and popular culture, as well as a region of significant geopolitical interest.
As an East Asian studies major, you will explore the culture, politics, and history of the region, with a special focus on China, Japan, and Korea. In addition to becoming proficient in either Chinese or Japanese, you will gain an extensive knowledge of the region, an appreciation for its cultures, and an understanding of modern global relations.
You will complete courses in either Japanese or Chinese language as well as take East Asian culture classes taught in English, such as Urban China; China from the Borders; Occupiers and Occupied in Postwar East Asia; Japanese Sci-Fi; and Japanese Language and Society. The department also takes a deeply interdisciplinary approach to education, allowing students to fulfill some major requirements through select courses in the history, religion, theatre, and anthropology and sociology departments.
As an East Asian studies major, you will also have the opportunity to study abroad—for six to nine months—in East Asia, with programs in China, Japan, and South Korea.
While at K, you will be closely mentored by faculty in the department, who will help you plan out your studies to best match your personal and professional interests. This personal mentorship, along with the skills and cross-cultural expertise gained throughout the program, has prepared our graduates for successful careers in education, business, government, law, communications, and other fields.
Note: Students can only major in East Asian Studies; if they would prefer a minor, they can choose to study Chinese or Japanese—both of which are housed within the Department of East Asian Studies. However, due to the significant overlap in their programs, a student cannot major in East Asian Studies and minor in Chinese or Japanese.
What can you do with an East Asian Studies major?
Below are some of the careers, employers, and graduate schools of our East Asian studies alumni.
Careers
- Teacher
- Software Engineer
- Policy Analyst
- Grant Writer
Employers
- Fulbright
- Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (JET)
- United Nations
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Graduate Schools
- Capital Normal University, Beijing
- John Hopkins University
- George Washington University
- University of Michigan
Program Spotlights
Immerse Yourself by Studying Abroad in Japan, China or South Korea
Experience first-hand the cultures you have been studying by taking advantage of the College’s study abroad programs across Japan, China and South Korea, with options to live in Tokyo, Kyoto, Nagasaki, or Hikone, Japan; Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, or Harbin, China; or Seoul, South Korea. During the one to three terms you are abroad, you will have the chance to attend a local university, travel across the region, and integrate yourself into the community for complete cultural and linguistic immersion.
Celebrate the Lunar New Year
As you complete your East Asian Studies major, you will develop close relationships with the students with whom you advance through your courses and the professors who go out of their way to offer personalized mentorship. This camaraderie is exemplified by the department’s annual Lunar New Year celebration, where everyone comes together to usher in a year of happiness and prosperity through an evening filled with food, music and conversation.
Take a Deep Dive into Japanese Studies at the Nagai Kafu Lecture
Named after the esteemed Japanese author who briefly attended Kalamazoo College in the early nineteen hundreds, the Nagai Kafu Lecture is an annual celebration of Japanese studies with guest speakers coming to campus to share their scholarship. The lecture provides you the opportunity to learn about aspects of Japanese culture, history, and writing from the field’s leading scholars. In 2022 Dr. Christina Laffin from the University of British Columbia spoke about Japanese women’s poetry in the tenth and twelfth centuries.
Meet the Current Departmental Student Advisor
Grey Gardner (he/him)
Majors: East Asian Studies, International & Area Studies
Study Abroad: Extended Term, Tokyo, Japan
Best Adjective to Describe You: Venturesome
What is the best thing about being part of this department?
East Asian studies can weave in so many different interests, it all depends on what you want to focus on. You can choose to zoom in on a particular place or time in history when whatever it is you’re interested in affects the region. Being able to connect any outside interest you have to this major has led me in lots of fun directions for casual research and in conversations with people.
What drew you to the department?
East Asia was an area of the world I had never learned about before college, and every course I’ve taken has been fascinating. I was drawn in by just how much there was to learn, and I’m still invested for the same reason!
What is your favorite thing about K?
People! The professors are great, the staff are great, and I could spend my life happily chatting with other K students every day.
How have you taken advantage of the flexible curriculum or experienced breadth in your education?
I love bragging about my first-year seminar. I was a part of Dr. Katanski’s Wheels of Change class, which explored how bicycles have been connected with social justice through history. To this day, I enjoy analyzing how streets are planned in any new city I visit, and of course spotting bike lanes. Did I mention we took a class field trip to Copenhagen, Denmark?
What is your Senior Integrated Project (SIP)?
I’m putting together a tour itinerary for imaginary visitors heading to Japan!
What are your career aspirations/next steps after K?
I’d like to do more work in Operations and with logistics. On the other hand, though, I’d love to spend some time hopping between seasonal jobs and traveling the world… stay tuned.