China and Japan have rich, ancient cultures and also play an increasingly vital role in today's world. Students pursuing the interdisciplinary East Asian Language and Culture Specialization will acquire proficiency in Chinese or Japanese, and take courses in the department and other departments on campus that introduce them to the culture of these countries. They will gain a basic knowledge of the history, culture, and literature of people who speak their chosen language, and will learn how to think critically across cultures through analysis of beliefs, media, customs, and artifacts. In the course of their language study, they will gain the ability to discuss how and why Chinese or Japanese differ from English, helping them to understand how language works in general and how English and Chinese or Japanese work in particular. <br><br>Students in East Asian studies enjoy a wide range of career options in the public and private sectors, in the US or abroad. The East Asian Specialization is flexible enough to allow students to study a second field as well, widening their intellectual and career horizons still further.