Why study East Asia?
East Asian Studies majors from UC Davis are well prepared either for careers that involve working with East Asian affairs and people or for graduate studies in aspects of East Asian language, economy and culture. With the growing globalization of post-colonial East Asia’s future comes an increasing importance of the region to the world and to the United States. East Asia today is synonymous with economic growth. Japan is the second largest trading partner of the United States, and Korea is the eight. China is now achieving double digit industrial growth rates as well. In the United States, education about East Asia lags far behind our need for understanding. Not only is there need for greater knowledge of East Asia in our contemporary world, but also for a better acquaintance with her centuries-old traditions. These traditions offer us a fresh perspective on the diversity and genius of human achievements, as well as indispensable keys to an understanding of modern China and Japan.
