The Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures (EALC) is a multidisciplinary and multicultural department that aims to provide students with an enhanced understanding of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean languages and cultures. The department offers a wide range of culture courses that are open to all majors and that deal with virtually every facet of the cultures of East Asia.

The major in language and culture emphasizes language training in one of the East Asian languages (Chinese, Japanese, or Korean). The Chinese, Japanese, and Korean concentrations each require language study through the third-year level. In addition, there is also a fourth option called the Accelerated Chinese concentration, which requires language study through the fifth-year level and a year abroad in China.

In addition to language study, Language and Culture majors take courses on the society's culture, including in-depth study in one of two subject areas, according to the student's primary interest: History, Literature, and Culture or Politics, Social Science, and Business. This major is intended for students who wish to develop a solid foundation of language skills and knowledge in one of the three culture areas or to prepare for graduate studies.

Students are urged to study abroad in China, Japan, or Korea in one of IUB’s overseas study programs.

Students who have mastered the languages of China, Japan, or Korea and have a corresponding understanding of their cultures are in high demand in business (especially international communications and finance), government and diplomacy, and other opportunities in political related fields, not to mention a variety of nonprofit organizations, international law, and translation work. In addition, there are more opportunities each year for teaching the East Asian languages in K-12 schools.

For detailed information about degree requirements, visit the most recent College of Arts & Sciences Academic Bulletin.