Many analysts predict that East Asia will soon be the most powerful economic force in the world, a very compelling reason to consider East Asian Studies as your major. Not any less compelling is the fact that East Asian Studies students also learn about many of the richest cultural traditions in the world. The art, theater, language, music, literature, and religion of the region are becoming more and more influential in the Western Hemisphere. East Asian Studies combines language study with work in sociology, history, literature, and political science. Majors graduate from the program with a firm grasp on the culture and history of the region, as well as a command of at least one language. East Asian Studies majors sometimes combine their studies with work in business, economics, or political science departments. (Alternatively, you can often incorporate an East Asian Studies minor into these majors.)

Preparation

If your school offers classes in Japanese, Chinese, or Korean, you should take them, but any training in foreign languages will help you become accustomed to the intensity of college-level language study. Courses in political science and Asian history will also be useful.