Academic Advisor

The EALC undergraduate advisor is Kim Hinton. Students should feel free to contact her at any time to discuss questions regarding requirements for IU as a whole and the department in particular. Those students who have EALC as their first major are required to meet individually with Ms. Pribbernow to discuss these issues and course planning prior to registering for classes. Students that do not meet with her will not receive the registration access codes (RAC), and hence, be unable to register for classes.

Mentoring Program

In 2003 EALC launched a new mentoring program to encourage students to develop relationships with our faculty geared toward thinking about their majors in broader contexts, including possible career paths. Our faculty have a wide array of academic, professional and life experiences from which students can benefit. Faculty mentors may help students link their course work to past and current issues in the region and/or plan for their futures. Students who have EALC as their first major are required to choose and meet with a faculty member at least once per academic year. Students that do not meet with their mentor will not received their registration access codes (RAC). Students who have EALC as their second major, though not required, are also welcome to have a faculty mentor.

The best way to begin the process of choosing a faculty mentor is to consider one of the faculty members from which you have taken a class. In addition to them, you should consider faculty that focus on an area in which you share their interests. If you are still unsure of whom to contact, you should consult with the director of undergraduate studies. Once you have identified potential mentors, you should approach the faculty member -- via email, in class, or individually during their office hours. In order not to overburden the faculty, any one professsor will not be allowed to mentor any more than eight students during the year. However, our faculty are eager to help students, and they are expecting to hear from you. Once you have obtained a faculty member's consent, to complete the process, complete an EALC Mentor Declaration Form, have the faculty member sign it, and then return the form to the EALC academic advisor in Goodbody 202. Of course, not all mentoring relationships work out as originally planned; students are free to change mentors at their discretion, provided they can find a new mentor.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the difference between the EALC majors?
   

   EALC has two majors: East Asian Languages & Cultures (EALC), and East Asian Studies (EAS). Each is designed to help students fulfill different long-term goals.
   
   The EALC major is for students who want to develop fluency in one of our languages, with an eye to using the language regularly either in a career or in graduate school. Students choosing the EALC major focus on the language in relation to a particular aspect of East Asian culture-literature and linguistics; or thought, religion, and art; or history and society-but the emphasis is on the language and on a particular East Asian country.
   
   The EAS major is for students who want to learn the basics of the language as part of learning about the East Asian region more generally, so that they may use their knowledge in a career. In this case, the emphasis is on learning about China, Japan, and Korea overall, rather than specializing in a particular country or culture area.

2. Can I double major in Business and EALC?

   While there are several ways to combine interests in business and EALC, there is no such thing as a "double major" between Schools (in this case, the Kelley School of Business and the College of Arts and Sciences). It is, however, possible to do both more and less than a double major.

   It is possible to get two bachelor's degrees from IU, one in business and one in EALC. To do this, you would have to be accepted by and complete all the degree requirements (that is, all the general education, all the major, and all the elective requirements) for both the Kelley School and the College. While many of the requirements for the two degrees will overlap, some will not. Thus, if you are interested in this option, you should see the EALC academic advisor as soon as possible.

   If you are primarily interested in East Asia with a secondary interest in business, here are your options. You may combine one of the two EALC majors with any of these business options:
   --minor in business (available only to those who are eligible for and complete I-core);
   --certificate in business;
   --Liberal Arts and Management Program (LAMP-available only to students who have applied and been accepted).
   
   If you are primarily interested in business with a secondary interest in East Asia, then you might consider joining a business major with:
   --An EALC minor (in either a language or East Asian studies);
   --A field specialization in East Asia;
   --Using EALC courses to fulfill the non-specialized general education and/or International Dimension requirements, or the required electives outside business and economics courses.
   
   The EALC and business academic advisors can give you more details on each option.

3. What about combining an EALC major with a teaching certificate?

   With careful planning, it is possible to major in EALC and earn a secondary teaching certificate in either Chinese or Japanese. To do this, one must complete all the degree requirements for the EALC major AND all those for the secondary education teaching program, including the teaching methods courses. Since there are many specific requirements for both majors, and both require careful course sequencing (that is, one must complete one course, before going on to the next), it is essential to discuss this option with the EALC academic advisor at your earliest convenience. Even more than with most degree programs, early and thorough planning ahead is the key to success.

4. What languages does EALC offer, and who teaches these courses?

   EALC teaches three northeastern Asian languages: Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. In general, we offer four levels of Chinese and Japanese every year (each level begins in the fall only), and three levels of Korean (first- and second-year are offered regularly; we try to offer third- and fourth-year Korean in alternate years). Our language classes meet daily, and are taught in an interactive lecture/drill format.

   A faculty member teaches the lecture two days a week, and an Associate Instructor (AI), a graduate teaching assistant, leads the drill sections the other three days. The purpose of the lecture is for the faculty member to introduce the new aspect of the language to be learned along with the cultural ideas related to the language. The professor speaks in the target language as much as possible, but uses as much English as is necessary for students to understand the new elements. On the other hand, the purpose of the drill section is to practice the language to be learned, so this is conducted in the target language.

   For more information on the language programs, see the individual language program websites.
   -- Chinese
   -- Japanese
   -- Korean

5. Who should take the minor instead of the major?

   EALC offers two minors for students who want to focus on a particular niche in our department. Those who want to concentrate on learning a language without studying the culture may take the minor in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean language. Those who want to study about East Asia without learning the language might consider the East Asian studies minor, which includes only culture courses taught in English.

   NOTE: Students minoring in the language must take appropriate courses in a single East Asian language. One may not combine some courses in different languages, nor may substitute culture courses for the language minor. Likewise, students may not count language courses toward the East Asian studies minor.

6. Can I earn both EALC minors? What about both majors?

   No, one may never earn more than one major or minor from a single department. However, the good news is that if one has taken the classes which would fulfill both EALC minors, then one would in effect have taken the course work for one of the majors, and so would be eligible to claim a stronger credential. (The major is more important than the minor.)

7. What special opportunities does EALC have for majors?

   Faculty mentors
   Departmental honors
   Special credit
   Overseas study
   Merit scholarships

8. Who is eligible for special credit in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean, and how do I apply for it?

   Any student who has learned one of our languages in an American high school, takes the departmental placement test, enrolls in the language course indicated by the placement test, and passes this course with a grade of "C" or better, is eligible to apply for special credit.

   In the semester after you have passed the language course, you must do two things to apply for credit:
   --ask your high school to provide you with a transcript showing that you took the East Asian language;
   --bring your high school transcript with you to the EALC department office, Goodbody 250, where you may ask for and complete a one-page "special credit application." You will leave your application and transcript with the administrative secretary, who will review your application and, if appropriate, initiate the paperwork so that you will receive special credit.

   Students may earn up to 16 hours of special credit in an EALC language. All special credit is graded "S" for "satisfactory." This means that the credit hours will count toward your degree, but will not affect your GPA. Finally, no one is eligible for special credit in his or her native language.

   When special credit has been awarded, you will be able to see it on your transcript in OneStart. Please allow 6-8 weeks from the day you complete your application for the credit to show up on your transcript.

9. When students graduate with an EALC major, what kinds of jobs do they get?

   EALC majors have done very well on the job market, often because they have planned their undergraduate experiences (including, but not only, major coursework) strategically.

   Most EALC majors have a second major. They learn the language and about East Asia in our department, and take a second major (or in some cases, a second degree-see the sections on business and teaching above) to develop a set of skills or perspectives that will complement their knowledge of East Asia. The most common fields of interest to EALC majors are:
   Business or economics;
   Pre-professional (law or medicine);
   Another language, and/or linguistics;
   Communication (e.g., telecommunications, journalism, anthropology);
   Society and behavior (e.g., psychology, sociology, politics);
   Education.

   In addition, many of our majors enhance their employment prospects through overseas study and summer internships.

   Depending on the combination of courses and experiences, students get work in international business, news organizations or satellite communications, the foreign service, or business management and marketing. Some go on to graduate or professional school, and a small number of our majors become high school teachers.

10. If I'm a native speaker of Chinese, Japanese, or Korean, can I major in EALC? If I don't want to major or minor in EALC, how can I certify my language proficiency?

    Native speakers are welcome to major in EALC, although you must study a language other than your native language. That is, if you are a native speaker of Chinese, then you would need to learn either Japanese or Korean to complete language requirements for our majors or for our language minor.

    Students who are not native speakers of English always need to make it a priority to certify your native language as soon as you arrive on campus, whether or not you major in EALC.

    To certify any of our languages, you must take a proficiency test to demonstrate your oral and written knowledge of your native language:

    Chinese: offered the week before classes begin in August and in January. For details on the test, see the Chinese language program website: http://www.indiana.edu/~chinlang/. For additional information, contact the Chinese language program coordinator, Professor Jennifer Liu.
    Japanese: offered the week before classes begin in August and in January, and also during the freshman summer orientation program. For additional information, contact the Japanese language program coordinator, Professor Yasuko Ito Watt.
    Korean: offered by appointment. To schedule the test, contact the Korean language program coordinator, Professor Hyo Sang Lee.

    Once you have taken the proficiency test, the language program coordinator will tell you whether or not certification will be awarded, and will then notify the department office so that the necessary paperwork will be completed. When proficiency has been certified, you will be able to see it on your transcript in OneStart. Please allow 6-8 weeks from the day you complete your application for the certification to show up on your transcript.