2021-2022 University Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2021-2022 University Catalog archived

East Asian Studies (EAS)


The Program in East Asian Studies is interdisciplinary, involving seven departments of the University. It includes coursework in Chinese or Japanese language, as well as courses in a wide variety of fields to introduce the student to the cultures and societies of East Asia. For the EAS minor, students focus their formal study on either China or Japan.

East Asian Studies students are strongly encouraged to participate in Washington and Lee’s study and exchange programs in China and Japan or in another approved study abroad program. Information and applications for these programs are available through the Center for International Education. Currently, a Washington and Lee spring term language program is offered in Kanazawa, Japan; no prior study of Japanese is required for this program. A similar program in Chinese is offered in alternate years at East China Normal University in Shanghai. Spring term non-language programs may also be offered in China and Japan, pending faculty availability. Please speak with program faculty for additional information on opportunities for study abroad in Japan and China (including Taiwan and Hong Kong.

The program draws faculty from art, East Asian languages and literatures, economics, history, politics, and religion. Further information may be obtained from the website at my.wlu.edu/east-asian-studies-program.

Program Head: David A. Bello

Core Faculty

First date is the year in which the faculty member began service as regular faculty at the University. Second date is the year of appointment to the present rank.

David A. Bello, Ph.D.—(2004)-2016
Elizabeth Otey Professor of History
Ph.D., University of Southern California

Hongchu Fu, Ph.D.—(2002)-2011
Professor of East Asian Languages
Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles

Janet Ikeda, Ph.D.—(1999)-2002
Associate Professor of East Asian Languages
Ph.D., Princeton University

Robin LeBlanc, Ph.D.—(1998)-2008
Cannan Term Professor of Politics
Ph.D., University of Oklahoma

Timothy Lubin, Ph.D.—(1997)-2009
Professor of Religion
Ph.D., Columbia University

Yanhong Zhu, Ph.D.—(2009)-2015
Associate Professor of Chinese
Ph.D., University of Southern California

East Asian Studies Courses

East Asian Studies courses are as follows: