Study Abroad in Korea

Study Abroad in China

Study Abroad in Taiwan

The Department of East Asian Studies strongly encourages its students to study abroad through the UC Education Abroad Program (UCEAP). East Asia is now solidly a global center of economic production, innovative cultural trends, and traditional lifestyles. It is not an exaggeration to say that no one’s education is complete today without a deep knowledge of the East Asian world. And the best way to acquire a deep and solid knowledge is to spend time in East Asia — in China, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, or Hong Kong — and experience the excitement of life there in all its complexities and fascination. High-tech cityscapes and ancient temples in remote mountains, multinational companies and beach resorts, traditional cuisine and avant-garde art…these are all glimpses of some of our world’s future trends, and you will be able to navigate them in the local languages in the company of local people. Study in East Asia is a unique educational opportunity, a powerful career-boosting decision, and, above all, a wonderful life-changing experience.

Beyond academic competence, a generally unintended and unmeasurable result of education is the change it brings about in an individual’s thought processes and modes of experiencing the world. It is perhaps one of the greatest unacknowledged rewards of an education. Such change is as much the result of the context of one’s studies as it is of their content.

For students in the East Asian Studies program, nothing can compare with the context of living in Asia. No amount of classroom work can replace living for an extended period of time immersed in the culture of another country.

Some students go in order to improve language skills. Others go to gain a new perspective of the world. Some use the experience to build their resumes in preparation for government service, grad school applications, or international business. And some go just for the amazing adventures: taking a local bus along hair-raising mountain roads in Taiwan, watching Kabuki in Tokyo, climbing the Great Wall of China, dancing in the night clubs of Hong Kong, or singing karaoke in Korea.

Regardless of the reasons for going, nearly all students return from abroad with a new perspective not only of the social, cultural, and political context of a foreign country, but a new appreciation of the strengths and weaknesses of their own country as well. Some students find their lives or career choices transformed by their study abroad experience. Many find that adjusting to a foreign way of living and studying is a time of great personal growth that enhances their confidence and sense of self in ways that translate to many other pursuits. College is the time for exploration.

Don’t miss out on a UCEAP experience!

Students can study abroad in Asia as early as their sophomore year or as late as their last semester of their senior year. Regardless of when you plan to study abroad, start planning NOW!

UCEAP offers a variety of short-term and long-term study experiences in Asia. There are extensive program offerings in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, where sophomores and above can go for a summer, a semester or a year to study. These countries offer programs for every level of foreign language, from beginner to fluent.

Rapidly developing economies combined with centuries of tradition and history make China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan top destinations for students studying Chinese languages or cultures.

Go to the UCEAP web site for more detailed information on these programs.

The East Asian Studies Department offers a list of pre-approved UCEAP courses for major credit.  You are not limited to just these pre-approved courses.  If available, you may take any appropriate East Asian Studies course abroad and petition to get it to fulfill major requirements.

Use Gaucho Credit Abroad to search for the types of credit (i.e. major, minor, GE areas, or electives towards graduation) that UCSB students received for courses taken on UCEAP. You can find more UCEAP courses in the UCEAP Course Catalog and additional course listings on UCEAP partner university/program websites.

All EAP students automatically earn UC credit for the work they complete abroad with a passing grade. However, the application of credit of upper-division requirements is based on the review and approval by the department and the college. Save all syllabi, papers and other relevant course information to help you petition courses for specific requirements. Plan ahead and consult with your advisors before leaving and while abroad.

• Explore program options
• Attend info meetings
• Contact the UCSB EAP Office
• Contact the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultural Studies