East Asian Studies

Emer O’Dwyer, Associate Professor of East Asian Studies, Director
Marc Jeremy Blecher, Professor
Bonnie Cheng, Associate Professor
Hsiu-Chuang Deppman, Professor
Sheila Miyoshi Jager, Professor
Mika Kawashima, Visiting Instructor
Sachiko Kondo, Lecturer
Kai Li, Senior Lecturer
Tong Li, Visiting Instructor
Fang Liu, Senior Lecturer
Andrew Macomber, Assistant Professor (on leave 2022-23)
Ann Sherif, Professor (on leave Spring 2023)
Ayuka Suemasa, Visiting Lecturer
Dominic Toscano, Assistant Professor
Chialan Sharon Wang, Visiting Assistant Professor

Visit the program webpage for up-to-date information on program faculty, visiting lecturers and special events.

The East Asian Studies Program is an interdisciplinary program focusing on the region that includes China, Japan, and Korea. The main goals of the program are to provide training in East Asian languages and to introduce students to the societies, cultures, and histories of the region through courses in anthropology, art history, cinema, economics, history, literature, politics, and religion. Since language study is an integral part of the East Asian studies major, interested students are strongly advised to begin language study in their first or second year at Oberlin. This is especially true of students who hope to spend time studying abroad.

See information about Research, Internships, Study Away, and Experiential Learning (RISE).

Placement Tests

Chinese

All incoming students who have acquired linguistic ability in Chinese elsewhere, or who wish to qualify for advanced courses, should take the placement test administered during Orientation, or in consultation with a Chinese-area faculty member, to determine the level at which Chinese study should be continued.

Japanese

All incoming students who have acquired linguistic ability in Japanese elsewhere, or who wish to qualify for advanced courses, should take the placement test administered during Orientation, or in consultation with a Japanese-area faculty member, to determine the level at which Japanese study should be continued.

Explore Winter Term projects and opportunities.

Majors and Minors

Courses

Chinese

East Asian Studies

Japanese