What are you going to do with that?
Students elect to major in EALC (and previously, Chinese, Japanese, or Korean) because they are fascinated by the cultures. They are drawn to the challenges of learning a new language. They want to step beyond the usual subjects explored in their high school classes. Whatever their reasons, students will find that a major in EALC opens doors to diverse and exciting pathways.
The majority of our students remain in the United States after graduation and find employment in the business sector, education, government, IT, and more. Many use the skills that they have mastered to go onto further education in business, law, the humanities, and medicine. All will affirm that their major in EALC helped prepare them to be global citizens.
The fact of the matter is that not only do our majors teach you about East Asian cultures, they teach you how to think.
Recent scientific research on the brain suggests that learning foreign languages makes students smarter overall. Among the many benefits, it increases mental focus, reading and writing abilities, and even improves mathematical skills. There is a correlation between language learning and students’ ability to hypothesize in science. It is no wonder then, that many employers are impressed by our majors. They appreciate the fortitude and intelligence our students have demonstrated in mastering difficult languages. The languages that we offer—Chinese (Mandarin), Japanese, and Korean—are among the five most demanding languages for native English speakers to learn.
