The program in East Asian Studies is an interdisciplinary exploration of East Asia as a whole region. The program’s foundation is study in Chinese or Japanese language (or both!). Building on this linguistic entryway, students have the opportunity to enhance their understanding of the region’s culture through courses taught in English. We believe that this combination gives our students the best possible basis for becoming global citizens informed about this important region.
Did You Know?
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Student Work:
Academic Journeys
Want to know why cicada shells are believed to cure night terrors? Take Dr. Jennifer Johnson-Cooper’s course on Chinese medicine.- What do Hello Kitty, Doraemon, Gackt, Final Fantasy and the JET Program have in common? They are all manifestations of Japan’s “soft power” that are considered in the course “Understanding Japanese Society through Popular Culture.”
- Translation and Adaptation: The Case of Journey to the West, tracks the famous Ming Dynasty novel as it is translated into other languages as well as other mediums, from Dragon Ball-Z to the rock opera Monkey by Gorillaz.
- Students in Dr. Landeck's samurai course learn the intricate rituals samurai undertook before heading into battle, including the exchange of introductions with the enemy, a volley of whistling arrows, and perfuming their helmets.
In her course on Martial Arts Narratives, Dr. Jennifer Johnson-Cooper looks at everything from classical Chinese martial arts novels, Bruce Lee, wire-fu, and the latest in CGI-enhanced Hollywood blockbusters to answer questions of identity, politics, and culture in China’s most famous genre of art.- Did you know that in ancient Japan, men used one writing system while women used a different one? Find out how this split shaped Japanese literature in Dr. Mindy Landeck's, “Gender in East Asia” course.
- Scott Langton’s course Japan & Cinema explores the films of well-known directors (Mizoguchi, Ozu, Kurosawa) as well as those of the less well known (Nishikawa Miwa, Ogigami Naoko, Teshigahara Hiroshi), and considers transnational films (Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles, My Way, Cape No. 7) and how they are viewed by East Asian audiences.
Unique Student Opportunities
Study Abroad
We currently support semester-long programs in China in Beijing, Shanghai, and Xi’an, in Japan in Tokyo and Nagoya, and in Taiwan in Taipei. Close to 90% of our 2016 majors had some international experience in East Asia.
Scholarships
Want to study abroad on someone elses dime? The East Asian Studies faculty work hard to mentor students in locating and applying for scholarships to support studying in China, Japan, or Taiwan. Our students have found success with the Boren Scholarship, the Gilman Scholarship, the Critical Language Scholarship, the Taiwan US-Sisters Alliance, US-Japan Bridging, provider scholarships and more.
Graduates of the East Asian Studies program have also had great success placing into the JET program and the Fulbright program.
Jordan Family Language House
All students who take Asian Studies are encouraged and eligible to apply for a space in the Asian House in order to immerse themselves in Asian languages outside of the regular classroom and on a daily basis. The Asian House is part of the Austin College Jordan Family Language House.
Meet Our Faculty
Dr. Jennifer T. Johnson-Cooper, who is interested in Chinese language and culture from 4000 years ago to last week, is Associate Professor of Chinese, and Director of the East Asian Studies Program.
Dr. Mindy Landeck, Assistant Professor of East Asian Studies, can tell you why Japanese warriors gave pretty names to their tea bowls and Chinese emperors gladly drank liquid mercury.
Dr. Scott Langton, whose interests include Japanese language, literature, culture, and aesthetics, is Associate Professor of Japanese.
Alumni Journeys: The First Five Years
Program Details
- East Asian Studies Major Checklist
- East Asian Studies Minor Checklist
- See the East Asian Studies Courses
- See the Austin College Bulletin
See also
East Asian Extras
