East Asian Languages and Cultures Major

The major in East Asian Language and Cultures enables students to focus on more cultural content courses than is normally possible in the Chinese, Japanese, and Korean language majors. Third-year level proficiency in one of the East Asian languages is required, normally done by taking 6 courses. If less courses are required due to advanced proficiency, the remaining courses may be taken at the advanced level or in a second East Asian language.

English language courses on a wide variety of Chinese, Korean, and Japanese culture, literature, or linguistics can be taken within the department and from other departments. At least one of these courses must be in an East Asian culture different from the one in which third-year language proficiency is established.

The final requirement is a senior research paper on any aspect of East Asian culture. The paper can focus specifically on one of the three cultural areas, or more broadly across the East Asian regional sphere.

Required Courses for the A.B. in East Asian Languages and Cultures

Minimum of 12 courses, including:

  • EALC-1124 East Asia: Texts and Contexts
  • 6 language courses
  • 4 content courses OR 2 courses in a second East Asian Language and 2 content courses. Of the four courses taught in English, up to two (2) courses can be taken outside the EALC department. This includes courses offered in other departments at GU, available through the consortium, and taken during study abroad. All courses outside the department must be pre-approved by the EALC department.
  • Up to two (2) courses per semester from study abroad programs can be counted toward the EALC major. All courses taught in English must be pre-approved by the Director of Study Abroad.
  • EALC-4101 Senior Seminar, or another advanced course taught in English that requires at least a 25-page research paper.
  • EALC Minor: To earn a minor in East Asian Languages and Cultures, students must take a total of seven (7) courses. The seven courses must be distributed as follows: at least four (4) classes in a single East Asian language (Chinese, Japanese, or Korean); and at least two (2) EALC Department courses, one of which extends beyond the language area studied. The remaining course can be satisfied by either further language study in the same East Asian language, an additional EALC departmental course, or a pre-approved course from outside the EALC department.