East Asian Studies Program

 

Degrees Offered

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Arts (honours)
  

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What is East Asian Studies?

East Asian Studies is a broadly-based interdisciplinary program offered as a collaborative program of the faculties of Communication and Culture, Humanities and Social Sciences.  Humanities offers courses in East Asian languages and courses in East Asian religion and philosophy.  Communication and Culture offers foundational courses in East Asian culture.  Social Sciences offers courses in the history, geography, politics, anthropology and archeology of East Asian countries.  Taken together, this wide diversity of perspectives offers a comprehensive understanding of the rich culture and emerging global power of China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and Taiwan.

If your own heritage is East Asian, you will discover and analyze the rich fabric of that heritage from new perspectives, gaining a deeper understanding of your own roots.  If your heritage is Western, you will experience the inherent fascination of a culture that is thousands of years older than your own and that has deep veins of philosophy, religion, literature, art, and cultural knowledge.

East Asia is not just an interesting culture for its own sake.  It is also a rapidly emerging global power, a power shaped by familiar economic forces and some economic, political and historical forces that may not be familiar at all. In order to understand the role of East Asia in the international sphere, you will need to understand the current events, traditions and history that have shaped and continue to shape it.

In today's market, a large number of corporations and agencies operate branches worldwide. Countries such as China, Taiwan, Japan and Korea have become leaders in international trade. The East Asian Studies major prepares students for international work in business, government, and cultural organizations.  Tourism, global politics, international trade and international relations demand a solid understanding of this region of the world.

Like all programs in Communication and Culture, East Asian Studies is founded on the belief that narrow specialization is a recipe for obsolescence.  As a collaborative degree, East Asian Studies is even more deeply invested in an interdisciplinary perspective.  As part of your degree you will become familiar not only with East Asian culture but also with the deep roots of Western culture, and with the intersections of thought that knit together politics, science, religion, art and philosophy. This broad education can form the basis for a rich and varied range of careers.

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Highlights of the Program

East Asia 300 and East Asia 500 - examine East Asian civilizations from ancient times to  the modern period, including the socio-cultural forces that were shaped by and that contributed to the religious, historical, economic, literary, artistic, and political developments of this region.

East Asian Studies 321 - This introduction to the Calgary Chinese community provides instruction on the direct experience of important aspects of the Calgary Chinese community, including its history, commercial sector, entertainment facilities, and its cultural, social, and religious organizations .

Chinese and Japanese languages - learn concepts of modern Chinese and Japanese languages including reading and writing of characters, essentials of grammar, vocabulary, and oral drills on normal speech patterns and conversational skills. Take your study of language even further by enrolling in a travel abroad course in an immersion setting in China, Japan or other East Asian countries such as Thailand or Vietnam.

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Career Paths

Graduates of East Asian Studies have worked in the following areas:

• Community Affairs Specialist
• Economic Development Advisor
• Foreign Service Officer
• Government Relations Advisor
• Human Resources Professional
• Intelligence Officer
• International Trade / Relations Advisor
• Immigration Officer
• Import / Export Expert
• International Student Coordinator
• Public Policy Advisor
• Research Assistant
• Strategic Planner
• Teacher
• Technical Advisor
• Tourism Coordinator
• Policy Analyst
• Translator
• United Nations Reporter 

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To Apply Click Here.

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Have More Questions?

For comprehensive advising on your program of studies, contact:
Undergraduate Programs Office
4th Floor, MacEwan Student Centre
(403) 220-5881
http://www.ucalgary.ca/upo

For more details on the East Asian Studies program, contact
Dr. Leslie Kawamura,
Program Co-ordinator
Phone: (403) 220-5886 or (403) 220-3073
Email: kawamura@ucalgary.ca

The Faculty of Communication and Culture has a Director of Students, a full-time faculty member whose job is to help you make the most of your experience as a student in C&C.  If you have questions about academic mentoring, student success skills, extra-curricular involvement, transition from high school to university, or what life will be like as a Communication and Culture student, Dr. Dawn Johnston can help you out.
Please contact her at:

Dr. Dawn Johnston
Director of Students
Phone: (403) 220-3199
Email: debjohns@ucalgary.ca

For more course information visit the University Calendar.