About
Mission
The Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures (EALC) at the University of Notre Dame advances the University’s mission by cultivating linguistic proficiency, cultural understanding, ethical global engagement, and student-centered scholarship focused on East Asia.
Why East Asian Languages and Cultures at Notre Dame
In a world increasingly shaped by East Asia, EALC prepares students to engage thoughtfully and effectively across linguistic, cultural, and national boundaries. Curious, motivated, and globally-minded, our students seek both intellectual depth and practical engagement with the wider world. Rooted in Notre Dame’s Catholic mission and commitment to the common good, the Department encourages students to approach cultural difference with humility, empathy, and ethical reflection. Students are challenged to think critically about global issues while exploring how language, culture, and history shape human experience and responsibility.
Through rigorous language instruction and interdisciplinary study, students develop advanced proficiency in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, while gaining insight into the histories, philosophies, religions, literatures, and artistic traditions of East Asia. Students may pursue a major, supplementary major, or minor in Chinese and Japanese as well as a minor in Korean. Many of our students pursue double majors or additional minors, combining East Asian expertise with fields such as business, computer science, engineering, the social sciences, and the arts.
The Department is distinguished by close faculty mentorship, small classes, and high-impact learning experiences. Students regularly engage in study abroad, internships, language partnerships, and interdisciplinary coursework across the University. After their first year of language study, students may apply for a Summer Language Abroad (SLA) grant to participate in an intensive six to eight-week program in Taiwan, mainland China, Korea, or Japan. Students may also pursue a summer internship in East Asia that prepares them more effectively for a wide variety of career options after graduation. Additional grant opportunities support students conducting research abroad for senior thesis projects.
Faculty research lies at the heart of the Department’s intellectual life and directly enriches student learning. EALC faculty are active scholars whose research spans literature, history, religion, philosophy, linguistics, film, media, and cultural studies. Students benefit from this scholarship through innovative courses, research mentorship, and opportunities to participate in faculty-led projects, conferences, and independent research, often extending their work abroad.
By uniting student-centered learning, faculty research, and Notre Dame’s mission-driven education, the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures empowers students not only to understand the world more deeply but also to engage and shape it with insight, integrity, and purpose.
Careers
Students who study East Asian languages and cultures pursue successful careers across a wide range of fields, including business, the humanities, social sciences, communications, technology, and the arts. Within six months of graduation, 97% of EALC majors are employed or pursuing further education.
Careers for Chinese Majors Careers for Japanese Majors
Contact
If you have any questions about our programs, please feel free to contact:
Professor Xiaoshan Yang
Department Chair
Phone: 574.631.8874
Email: xyang@nd.edu
Donate
The Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures gratefully welcomes your support. Make a gift online or connect with the Department to explore other ways to get involved