Central and Eastern Asian Languages and Literature

Overview

Programs in Central and Eastern Asian languages and literature teach people the spoken and written traditions of the region.

Central and Eastern Asian languages and literature programs include topics such as:

Reading, writing, and speaking a language, such as Persian or Turkish
Translation techniques
History
Art
Literature and poetry
Music and film studies

Concentrations

In Central and Eastern Asian language and literature programs, students may be able to specialize in:

Mongolian language and literature
Turkish language and literature
Tibetan language and literature
Korean language and literature

Schools

A few colleges and universities offer bachelor's degrees in Central and Eastern Asian languages and literature. Some schools offer concentrations as part of a larger program in Asian language and literature. A bachelor's degree usually takes about four years of full-time study.

A few universities offer graduate degrees in Central and Eastern Asian languages and literature. A master's degree typically requires two years of study beyond a bachelor's degree. Doctoral (PhD) degree programs usually require two or more years of study beyond the master's degree.

See schools that offer this program.

Related Educational Programs

Related Careers

Careers Directly Related to this Program of Study

Program Admission

You can prepare for this program by taking courses in high school that prepare you for college. This typically includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and two years of science. Some colleges also require two years of a second language.

Below is a list of high school courses that will help prepare you for this program of study:

Advanced English Composition courses
Advanced Literature courses
Ancient Civilizations
Contemporary World Issues
Second Language
World Geography
World History

Graduate Admissions

Admission to graduate programs is competitive. You need a bachelor's degree, good grades, and good test scores. In addition, you must be able to speak, read, write, and understand a Central or East Asian language at an advanced level.

Additional requirements at some schools include:

Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General
Undergraduate degree or significant course work in Central or East Asian literature
Letters of recommendation
Personal statement
Academic writing sample

Typical Course Work

Program Courses

This program typically includes courses in the following subjects:

Applied Phonetics
Civilization and Cultural History
Conversation and Composition
Linguistics
Literary Studies
Literature, Film, and Folklore
Reading and Speaking Skills
Study in a Central or East Asian language or its dialects (beginning, intermediate, advanced)
Translation

Graduate Program Courses

Graduate programs in Central and East Asian languages and literature typically require:

Required courses
Thesis (master's degree)
Preliminary exams (doctoral degree only)
Dissertation and dissertation defense (doctoral degree)

Things to Know

Colleges that do not offer programs in Central and East Asian languages and literature may offer elective courses or certificates as part of a major in interdisciplinary studies or liberal arts. Many programs offer certificates at the graduate level as well.

Students who major in Central and East Asian languages and literature may be required to spend some time living, working, and studying abroad. Most programs coordinate semester abroad or work internships. In most cases, you can participate in these after you have completed at least two years of language study.

At some schools, Central and East Asian languages and literature programs are part of Middle Eastern or Asian language departments.

Schools

Tacoma Area

Pierce College Fort Steilacoom

World Languages--Asian Language or Area Study Pre-Major