Why study this program?

East Asian Studies gives students a well-rounded, interdisciplinary introduction to all aspects of China, Korea, and Japan: their languages, histories, cultures, and societies.

All of our majors become proficient in at least one Asian language—which students find surprisingly easy, as our Japanese, Korean, and Mandarin Chinese programs are all award-winning, taught by instructors with decades of experience making Asian languages accessible to Canadians.

On top of that, all of our majors gain cultural fluency, learning deeply about the histories, cultures, and contemporary politics and economics of Asian societies. Our professors are all experts on different aspects of Asia, so that our majors finish their degrees well-prepared to go into lucrative Asia-focused professional careers.

Our majors go on to a wide range of careers in business, government, education, and the arts—some living and working in Asia, and others working in Asia-related work here in Canada. See our alumni profiles page for some examples!

This major can also be taken as part of a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Why study a Bachelor of Arts with Honors?

Arts honors is designed to foster a tight-knit community of academic-minded undergraduate students who can come together to share ideas, work collaboratively, get mentorship from their upper-year peers, and access more specialized supports from their department and faculty teams at every stage of their studies.

Taking part in an honors program is the best way to dip your toe into the research process, develop connections with professors and other academics in your field, and get a taste of what graduate school may have in store for you while completing your undergraduate degree. 

When combined with potential research projects, Honors students can narrow down an area of specialization much earlier than they would otherwise. If you’re looking to dig deeper into your field of study and make some lasting connections along the way, this might be the path for you!

Why study at the University of Alberta?

The Faculty of Arts boasts one of the most diverse Arts programs in Canada, offering top quality educational opportunities that prepare students for successful careers in every sector of society. With over 900 distinct courses in the humanities, social sciences, and fine arts, you will find an academic pathway for you. Your studies will be enhanced by the rich insights that our nationally and internationally recognized faculty members bring to the classroom through unique perspectives drawn from their research and advancement of human knowledge. Academic excellence, innovative problem-solving, and experiential learning opportunities beyond the classroom, such as Community Service-Learning and Arts Work Experience programs, will give you the tools to thrive in a diverse and increasingly complex workplace.