What Can I Do With This Degree?
With a Chinese or Japanese major, you will have skills, information, and concepts that are relevant to careers in virtually every area. Competency in a foreign language is a highly desirable skill in all fields. A knowledge of Chinese or Japanese is particularly beneficial and useful in business, engineering, industry, commerce, the civil or foreign service, law, library science, natural and social sciences, the media, economics, public administration, journalism, government and teaching at all levels. In addition, China and Japan are increasingly sources of a wide variety of excellent careers, as they are among the world’s largest economies and trading partners with the U.S. and Colorado. Students are encouraged to consider combining their Chinese or Japanese language training with courses in these or other fields.
A degree in Chinese or Japanese from the CU Boulder program will provide you with a strong background for advanced study and specialization in a variety of Chinese- and Japanese-related disciplines and other related fields. Many majors elect to spend the first few years after graduation studying or working in China or Japan. There are many opportunities in this area, and ALC makes every effort to facilitate this transition for its students. For example, the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (JET), administered by the Japanese Ministry of Education, sends a large number of US college graduates to teach English in the Japanese school system. Department graduates have had conspicuous success in being accepted to this program.
Students interested in advanced study of Chinese and Japanese language and literature are encouraged to consider the Chinese MA and Japanese MA in Asian Languages and Civilizations offered by the Department. For further information, please contact the Director of Graduate Studies in Chinese or Japanese.
Career Services offers a number of programs and services designed to help you plan your career, including workshops, internships, and placement services after graduation.
A variety of internship and service learning opportunities are available to excellent, qualified students through ALC and the Program for Teaching East Asia. You may earn university credit for some of these (though not count them toward the major). Opportunities exist in government and private agencies, local businesses, and public schools. Some internships are paid; others are volunteer positions.