Academics
The ability to master the Chinese or Japanese language at a professional level, together with deep cultural knowledge of East Asia allows our graduates to become true global citizens in an increasingly interconnected world. We offer exciting and new perspectives for a deeper understanding of East Asia, both as it is today and throughout its long history, but also precious competences that may open the path for professional careers in the US and abroad.
Alumni of our majors have gone on to pursue successful careers in fields as diverse as software and game design, academia, law, banking, broadcasting, diplomacy, international business, public service, teaching and the arts, in the US and abroad. Indeed, China, Japan, and Korea offer attractive job markets for US graduates with linguistic and cultural competence.
Undergraduate Program
The department offers Bachelor of Arts degrees in three areas:
Asian
Studies
Asian Studies majors graduate from UCSB with a competence in the most important Asian languages (Chinese, Japanese, Tibetan, and Hindi), but also, and importantly, an interdisciplinary knowledge of various fields relating to Asia: literature, film, art, history, anthropology, religious studies, politics and economics.
Chinese
Major
The Chinese Major at UCSB will provide you with a thorough grounding in the diversity of Chinese culture and traditions from imperial to modern times. Being able to read Chinese will keep you abreast of Chinese current events and social attitudes through the online and print world.
Japanese
Major
Like the Chinese major, the Japanese major provides extensive language training and interdisciplinary coursework. This major permits a concentrated study of modern Japanese and encourages familiarity with Classical Japanese and Classical Chinese (or Kanbun, as the form of Classical Chinese most commonly written).
All majors include coursework in East Asian cultural studies (involving one or more East Asian countries). For courses associated with each major, see the Course Catalog.
Graduate Program
We offer an M.A. Program with two different tracks and a Ph.D. Program for which students can apply either with a B.A. or an M.A. Please use the menu to the left to access many more details about our program, degree requirements, and major areas of study.
Contact Us
Questions? Contact the Undergraduate and Graduate Program Assistant:
Ariella Lassiter: alassiter@hfa.ucsb.edu
Graduate Division Website: http://www.graddiv.ucsb.edu/