Asian, East European, and German Studies

Welcome to the Department of Asian, East European, and German Studies.

We offer classes on some critical regions and countries in the world—including Germany and Japan, Russia and China, India and Korea, and Eastern Europe and the Balkans. We also provide language instruction in German, Russian, Japanese, and Chinese. And our faculty research and publish significant scholarly work in these areas.

Our courses are of interest to, and fulfill General Education requirements for, students from many fields—ranging from the humanities and social sciences to art and music to business and engineering. Students seeking more in-depth study pursue minors, majors, double-majors, and graduate programs in the department.

For further information on the degrees, courses, research, study abroad, and other activities in each of our main areas, see the adjacent pages for German Studies, Asian Studies, and Russian and East European Studies. Students may specialize in one of these areas, and also gain valuable comparative perspectives by taking classes across the areas and from other units covering languages, cultures, and area studies. The Dr. Patricia W. O'Connor World Languages and Cultures Center offers further opportunities for language learning and related activity.

Our mission: contributing to global education on campus. As our community, the country, and the world become more internationally connected, it is important to engage across societies and gain an appreciation for multiple perspectives. We develop student skills in writing and communication, critical thinking, and intercultural competence, enabling our students to succeed in a diverse global environment. 

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What is UC’s 4 + 1 program?

December 4, 2023

You may be a UC student thinking about taking your education to the next level — UC’s College of Arts and Sciences has a pathway to help you do just that. A&S has no fewer than 15 five-year programs — from biological sciences to Spanish to psychology — where you can earn both your bachelor’s and master’s degrees in just five years, versus the traditional six-year track. The Bachelors and Master’s 4 + 1 Program is designed to increase your marketability and deepen your understanding of the subject matter. And in an increasingly competitive job market, you may want to investigate an additional year of study.

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UC professor wins recognition for scholarship in India’s caste...

November 6, 2023

UC’s Shailaja Paik has been awarded the 2023 John F. Richards Prize in South Asian History for her book “The Vulgarity of Caste: Dalits, Sexuality and Humanity in Modern India.” Paik is an associate professor of history in the College of Arts and Sciences. Conferred by the American Historical Association, the competitive award recognizes the most distinguished work of scholarship on South Asian History published in English. Applicants are evaluated on the basis of depth of research, methodological innovation, conceptual originality and literary excellence.

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Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: In board games, players find fun,...

October 5, 2023

German studies assistant professor Evan Torner is cited as a board gaming expert in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The article states that Euro style board games are more complex and require management thinking, to which Torner agrees. He notes that gaming in the U.S. became more popular due to the rise in European-style games.

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