Picture entering an ornate temple in Taiwan and listening to its whispers of antique tales. Imagine attending Songkran, a water festival in the middle of the hottest month of the summer, and being a part of a country-wide celebration. Visualize yourself sitting front row at a Japanese theater witnessing a powerful and colorful Kabuki performance. Imagine gaining hands-on experience and earn course credit in a hospital or youth at-risk clinic in Cambodia, as a journalist in reporting and writing in Shanghai, in program development for an NGO in Thailand or a Foreign Service internship in the Philippines. Research the possibilities! Studying abroad offers you the chance to immerse yourself in the cultures that captivate you.

Immersion into the culture/s that you are studying will bring you much closer to understanding their true nature. GVSU has multiple faculty-led programs in East Asia including a philosophical journey through China, a look into Kabuki theater culture in Japan, and a trip to India focused around service and spirituality. Exchange programs in China, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea provide study abroad opportunities for a summer, semester or even an academic year. You can also study in Thailand, intern at a NGO in the Philippines, or volunteer in Cambodia. Options exist essentially anywhere in Asia: simply do research or ask where!

Academic Advice

• Students should make sure they will have met prerequisites such as language and other foundation courses before they go abroad; it is important that students have prepared themselves adequately in the language of the country they will be visiting to maximize their study abroad learning experience. 
• Many study abroad programs offer a wide selection of courses, including East Asian Studies for your minor and History courses. 
• Consider fulfilling your Issues General Education requirement abroad. Find out how!

Restrictions

• No restrictions have been specified by East Asian Studies program.
• Courses will be reviewed on a case by case basis through the course equivalency process.

Keep in Mind

• Once you have selected a program, be sure to meet with your adviser at least three months prior to departing for your program.
• Be sure to explore both GVSU and non-GVSU options by browsing the Program Suggestions below. Students are not limited to GVSU study abroad programs.
• There are several opportunities to intern and or volunteer while abroad.
• Students are also able to fulfill General Education requirements abroad, including their General Education Issues requirement.

To determine the GVSU course equivalencies for courses taken abroad, please view the “How to Request Course Equivalencies” page. For more information email Department Contact below.

Patrick Shan (Primary)
(616) 331-8504
shanp@gvsu.edu

Steeve Buckridge
(616) 331-8110
buckrids@gvsu.edu