The Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures is the only department in Kansas offering a regular program of instruction in the languages, literatures, and cultures of East Asia.
The areas of East Asia covered represent three of the oldest continuous civilizations of the world. The great historical contributions of China, Japan, and Korea in areas such as literature, philosophy, and art are widely recognized and studied throughout the world.
Today, the highly advanced industries of Japan, the enormous human resources of China, and the rapidly growing economies of Korea and Taiwan have contributed to the development of extremely valuable socio-political and economic ties between these areas and the United States. The program trains people who will devote themselves to becoming effective links between the Far East and the United States.