Main navigation
- Programs
- Subjects
- Universities
- Destinations
- Advice
New York University's Department of East Asian Studies provides comprehensive programs covering China, Japan, and Korea. The undergraduate curriculum emphasizes language acquisition, historical studies, and literary analysis, exploring how these three civilizations have engaged with Western influences to shape contemporary societies. Through deep immersion in Asian cultural studies, students gain insights into the interconnected nature of global communities. Currently, the department provides six-semester language programs in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, with advanced fourth-year options available for each. Cultural studies courses are offered through the East Asian Studies Program, while related subjects like history, political science, and art are available through other departments.
The department also features graduate-level programs, including master's and doctoral degrees focused on East Asian culture. These advanced studies examine cultural phenomena, media, and representation issues concerning modern East Asian societies. Departing from conventional area studies approaches, the program adopts a critical, interdisciplinary perspective on East Asia's modern development within global contexts. While exploring how historical traditions influence contemporary societies, the program primarily investigates modernity as both a historical process and theoretical challenge.