The Department of East Asian Studies strongly encourages its students to study
abroad through the Education Abroad Program (EAP). Students can choose from many different programs in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Living and studying in Asia will enahnce your language and cultural knowledge, expand your perspective, improve your critical thinking,
increase your independence, and better prepare you for a career in an increasingly globalized world community. Since all courses taken through EAP are accepted as UC courses, with careful planning you can spend a year abroad without delaying your graduation.
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, hearing the slang of Singaporean teenagers in the subway, dancing in the night clubs of Hong Kong, or shopping for textiles in one of Vietnam’s open-air markets.
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 an EAP experience!
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EAP offers a variety of short-term and long-term study experiences in Asia. Below is a brief description of what is available. For more information, go to
the EAP website: www.eap.ucop.edu.
China
• Programs in Beijing and Shanghai.
• Summer, fall, spring and year programs.
• English and Chinese-based instruction.
Hong Kong
• English and Chinese-based instruction.
• Fall, spring and year programs.
Japan
• Many universities offering short-term and year programs in English and Japanese.
Korea
• English and Korean-based programs.
• Fall, spring and year.
Singapore
• English-based instruction in summer, fall, spring and year-long.
Taiwan
• One year of Chinese required. Instruction in English and Chinese.
• Fall, spring and year programs.
Thailand
• No prior Thai language required.
• Fall, spring and year programs.
• Special rural development summer field work offered.
Vietnam
• No prior Vietnamese required.
• Fall language and area studies program.
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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!
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All EAP students automatically earn UC credit for the work they complete abroad. However, the application of credit to major requirements is subject
to the discretion of the department and approval of 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.
Keep in mind that at least 20 units of upper-division major coursework (or
12 upper-division minor units) must be completed in residence at UCSB
along with other residence requirements. Consult an advisor in the College of Letters & Science for more information.
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Begin by identifying your goals for study abroad and then consult the EAP web pages (http://eap.ucop.edu/) to identify appropriate EAP programs. To find programs which offer particular disciplines or to search courses taken by EAP students over the last 5 years by subject, keyword and/or location, explore the resources found under Program and Course Search. Navigate to host universities’ web sites on the available links to learn more about the schools and their departments.
Come by the EAP office at 2431 South Hall. Peer advisors who have recently returned from studying abroad as well as staff advisors are eager to answer your questions. Go see your Undergraduate Advisor in the department office and make an appointment to speak with an advisor in the College of Letters & Science.
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East Asian Languages and Cultural Studies
2214 HSSB
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-7075
Phone: (805) 893-5478
www.eastasian.ucsb.edu
