Introduction to the Major
The East Asian Religion, Thought and Culturemajor trains students in the philosophical and religious traditions that help shape and inform the many aspects of East Asia’s diverse cultures. This major trains students in a way that is grounded in a familiarity with the texts, languages, and cultures of East Asian societies, while also examining how these traditions have been (and might better be) brought into humanistic disciplines.
UC Berkeley is a world-renowned center for the study of East Asian Humanities. Whether you want to master Chinese or Japanese, immerse yourself in the literary and cultural traditions of East Asia, absorb the profound insights of its philosophical and poetic texts, or come to a deeper understanding of the modern and contemporary histories and media cultures of this complex and vital region, EALC has something for you.
“EALC not only nurtures me into a young scholar but also a more complete person.”
- Yisheng Tang, EALC student
Additional Options
- If you are interested in language or culture and want to complement your studies of religion and philosophy, ask about our minors in Buddhist Studies, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Tibetan.
- If you are interested in the philosophy and religion of a specific culture, discuss a plan of study with your major advisor to create a focus through your upper division coursework.
Amplify Your Major
- Visit the Institute of East Asian Studies, the C.V. Starr East Asian Library, and other Friends+Partners of EALC.
- Publish your work in the Berkeley Student Journal of Asian Studies.
First Year
Explore Your Major
- Meet with your major and college advisor to discuss your academic plans.
- Familiarize yourself with major and college requirements
- Enroll in L&S 1 and HUM 10
- Take a placement exam for the foreign language you choose to learn.
Connect and Build Community
- Get 1:1 mentoring with Berkeley Connect.
- Find study groups, tutoring, and academic support at the Student Learning Center
- Check out the Berkeley Language Center
- Sign up for the Buddhist Studies email list.
Discover Your Passions
- Discover new interests in a Freshman Seminar or student-run DeCal course
- Visit the Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarships
- Explore the collections of Berkeley’s C.V. Starr East Asian Library.
Engage Locally and Globally
- Attend the Calapalooza student activities fair and get involved with a student organization.
- Explore study, internship, and research abroad options in Asia with Berkeley Study Abroad
- Visit the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco.
- Explore the Oakland Asian Cultural Center.
Reflect and Plan Your Future
- Visit Berkeley Career Engagement and the Career Counseling Library
- Develop a plan for getting career ready.
- Set up a Handshake account and sign up for CareerMail
- Explore career fields in the Career Connections Networking Series
Second Year
Explore Your Major
- Complete the prerequisite lower division elementary foreign language sequence and one core course to declare the major.
- Begin the lower division intermediate foreign language sequence.
- Review the major guidelines for study abroad.
Connect and Build Community
- Join student groups like the East Asian Union
- Get to know professors and graduate student instructors during their office hours.
- Check out the Institute of East Asian Studies
- Practice your language skills in the SLC Language Exchange Program.
Discover Your Passions
- Continue exploring with a Sophomore Seminar, Big Ideas Course or Discovery Course
- Assist faculty in their research through URAP.
Engage Locally and Globally
- Contribute to a community organization with an American Cultures Engaged Scholarship course
- Find service opportunities through the Public Service Center
- Apply to the Boren, Freeman-ASIA, or Critical Language Scholarship.
Reflect and Plan Your Future
- Discuss career options and goals with a Career Educator.
- Shadow alumni in the Cal Job Shadow Program.
- Learn about graduate and professional school. See Step-by-Step for planning help.
- Think about doing an internship and attend an internship fair.
Third Year
Explore Your Major
- Review your degree progress with your major and college advisor
- Focus on upper division core, tools and methods, and supplementary disciplinary breadth course requirements.
- Ask your major advisor about the EALC honors program.
Connect and Build Community
- Browse the Friends + Partners research institutes associated with EALC.
- Consider becoming a Golden Bear Orientation Leader.
Discover Your Passions
- Curious about entrepreneurship? Enroll in HUM120: Entrepreneurship for All
- Find research and funding opportunities in the OURS database
- Planning a senior thesis or project? Apply to the Haas Scholars Program or SURF.
Engage Locally and Globally
- Engage with East Asian Cultures in the Bay Area
- Experience life at another UC or college on a visitor and exchange program
- Apply to become a language tutor within the department.
Reflect and Plan Your Future
- Learn about career fields and conduct informational interviews with people in those fields.
- Discuss graduate school options with advisors and professors.
- Create or update your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- Attend career and graduate school fairs.
Fourth Year
Explore Your Major
- Do a degree check to ensure you are on track to graduate.
- Complete any “bucket list” courses.
- Finish remaining major, college, and campus requirements
- Complement your major with a certificate, course thread, or summer minor.
Connect and Build Community
- Get support for your thesis project in the Townsend Honors Thesis Workshop
- Connect with alumni groups and build your network as you prepare to graduate.
- Join the Association of Asian Studies.
Discover Your Passions
- Teach your own DeCal course
- Undertake an optional honors thesis or independent study.
- Publish your work in the Berkeley Student Journal of Asian Studies
- Keep pursuing your interests through a fellowship or gap year after graduation.
Engage Locally and Globally
- Hone your leadership skills with the Peter E. Haas Public Service Leaders Program
- Explore service opportunities after graduation, such as Peace Corps, Teach for America, or U.S. Department of State
- Apply to the Fulbright ETA Program to teach English in Asia.
Reflect and Plan Your Future
- Utilize job board tools in your job search.
- Ask professors and graduate student instructors for recommendation letters.
- Attend Employer Info Sessions and On-Campus Recruiting.
- Apply to jobs, graduate school, and other opportunities.
Jobs and Employers
- Career in Corporate Environment
- English Teacher
- Import/Export Business
Graduate Programs
- Business School
- Law School
- MA in Asian Studies
- PhD in Buddhist Studies
- PhD in Chinese
Examples gathered from the First Destination Survey of recent Berkeley graduates.
Connect With Us
Cal Day
Come to Berkeley’s annual Open House in April for information sessions, campus tours, special talks, and more.
Golden Bear Orientation
Join your peers in the campus-wide UC Berkeley orientation program for all new students.
Events
Attend department events with students, staff, and faculty. Visit ealc.berkeley.edu for news and updates.
Advising
Students can drop in to 3413 Dwinelle Hall to speak with an advisor, call (510) 642-3480, or email questions to ealc-advising@berkeley.edu
Advising Drop-In Hours:
Monday-Friday 9am-12pm, 1-4pm
For general information about the major, visit ealc.berkeley.edu/programs/undergraduate.
How to Use this Map
Use this map to help plan and guide your experience at UC Berkeley, including academic, co-curricular, and discovery opportunities. Everyone’s Berkeley experience is different and activities in this map are suggestions. Always consult with your advisors whenever possible for new opportunities and updates.
