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The study of Asia provides a broad understanding of civilizations that extend back thousands of years. You may study the ancient and modern languages and the history, art, literature, politics, anthropology, geography, religion, and drama of China, India, Russia, and Japan.
Why
Study Asian and Slavic Languages and Literature at Iowa?
To expand your opportunities for professional careers and future study, you can combine an Asian languages and literature or Russian major with a Certificate in International Business. You also can add a second major or emphasis in a number of areas including art and art history, cinema and comparative literature, international studies, political science, pre-law, history, anthropology, religious studies, or women’s studies.
The BA in Asian languages and literature is primarily for students who want to concentrate on one language and literature area. This program allows development of advanced Asian language skills.
The study of Russian often is a complement to more broad-based training. Many students pursue a double major and develop skills in fields such as international studies, history, communication, political science, and global health.
The number of Americans who can speak Asian or Slavic languages is still small, and many career opportunities exist for individuals trained in these areas.
BA
in Asian Languages and Literature
This major is for students who want to achieve a speaking proficiency and to understand, read, and write Chinese, Japanese, or Hindi, or to read Sanskrit. Students learn about the literature and culture of China, Japan, or South Asia and take additional courses in the literature and history of their chosen area. They study one language for three years. The BA requires 26-34 semester hours (s.h.) of course work. Teaching licensure is available in Chinese and Japanese.
BA in Russian
Students majoring in Russian must take at least 28 s.h. of advanced departmental course work.
Employers give preference to applicants who couple a well-rounded background in area studies with strong language proficiency. For this reason, students are strongly encouraged to take a variety of courses outside the Russian program.
There are 25 students majoring in Russian and more than 300 enrolled in Russian-related classes. Teaching licensure is available in Russian.
Resources
The University’s Main Library contains approximately 80,000 volumes in Asian languages and about 140,000 Western-language volumes on Asian subjects, as well as periodicals, films, and a Chinese-Japanese computer terminal that gives students and faculty access to the growing Research Libraries Information Network in Asian languages. Since 1975, The University of Iowa has been a member of the Library of Congress acquisition program for Indian books and periodicals.
The Language Media Center in Phillips Hall contains programs to help you learn the language of your choice.
Student
Activities
There are several active student and community organizations in which undergraduates may participate. They include the Asian American Coalition, Slavic Cultural Association, Chinese Students and Scholars Association, Indian Student Alliance, Japanese Cultural Association, Thai Student Association, Taiwanese Student Association, Vietnamese Student Association, and Amnesty International. Groups observe holiday celebrations, sponsor international movie screenings and other cultural events, plan field trips, assist international students with making the transition to Iowa, and promote language learning.
Russian majors stage Russian plays, festivals, dinners, and open houses, and many participate in Russian Circle, an informal social organization.
For a complete
list of organizations and links to their individual web sites, go to the Office of Student Life web site.
Honors
In order to graduate with honors in Asian and Slavic languages and literature, you must be a member of the University of Iowa Honors Program.
With permission of the department chair and a faculty sponsor selected from Asian specialists in any department, Asian language students register for the Honors Tutorial and Senior Honors Thesis courses. Russian majors in the honors program complete an extensive reading program with discussions, regular reports, and a semester paper.
Study
Abroad
The department strongly encourages study abroad in Asia. Agreements with several universities and institutes in Japan, China, Taiwan, Russia, and India will give you a choice of programs to consider. Among the well-established exchange programs are those through Nanyang University, National Chengchi University–Taipei, Nanjing University, Peking University, and Fudan University. The University of Iowa is a member of the American Institute of Indian Studies and runs a study abroad program in the city of Mysore.
More than 80 percent of Russian majors at Iowa study abroad in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Vladimir, Russia. These direct institutional programs with Russia’s leading universities offer intensive study programs for the summer, semester, and academic year. Scholarships are available, and student financial aid packages through Iowa may be applied directly toward the program costs in Russia.
The Pomerantz Career Center also maintains lists of internship possibilities in Asia and the United States.
Careers
These programs offer solid career preparation. Graduates pursue careers in education, government, communication, business, and other fields in the United States and beyond. The undergraduate programs also provide an excellent background for advanced study in a variety of fields in the humanities and social sciences and in professional schools such as law and business.
Scholarships
Consult multiple sources for scholarship information, including the Office of Admissions, the Office of Student Financial Aid, and departmental web sites.
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