FROM STUDY TO SKILLS
All academic programs offered at the UM help students develop valuable transferable skills. Students majoring in Asian Languages and Cultures will gain proficiency in a foreign language, understand the structure and use of languages, and become familiar with the literature, history, and culture of this emerging region.
Whether specializing in East, Southeast, or South Asia, concentrators have established themselves in careers ranging from government to human services to the arts. The Bachelor’s degree also provides a firm basis for graduate work in the humanities, social sciences, law, or business. For students focusing their programs on a particular field, coursework in such areas as Asian religions, literature, cultural studies, or linguistics offers additional knowledge and abilities applicable across a wide range of professions.
Related fields include Linguistics, Political Science, History, Archaeology, Museum Studies, International Studies, and Anthropology.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Communication Skills
Reading and writing a second language
Reading for content and structure
Understanding historical language change
Writing clearly and carefully
Explaining complex concepts
Speaking to groups
Analytical Skills
Weighing values
Interpreting data
Reading critically
Comparing interpretations
Evaluating evidence
Interpersonal / Cross-Cultural Skills
Communicating between cultures
Adapting to other cultures
Working as part of a team
Understanding foreign value systems
Listening carefully
Interviewing nonjudgmentally
Developing flexibility
Research / Project Development Skills
Gathering information
Summarizing ideas
Using original sources
Compiling/recording data
Working with research subjects
Establishing hypotheses
Evaluating research results
BUILDING YOUR SKILLS OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
Employers seek out individuals who can demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills, teamwork and interpersonal skills, initiative, and a strong work ethic. Student organizations or campus employment offer valuable opportunities to add to the skills you are developing in your classes. Other options include off-campus employment or volunteering in the community. Study abroad experiences are particularly helpful to foreign language concentrators to improve proficiency and gain intercultural skills. Finally, a summer internship may be the best way of all to test out a career field and develop marketable skills.
FROM SKILLS TO CAREER
ALC concentrators develop both general and technical skills applicable to a wide range of careers. For example, cross-cultural skills may be equally useful whether working as a language teacher, a corporate recruiter, or a freelance journalist.
Many concentrators go on to graduate or professional school. The list below is a sample of careers undertaken by Asian Languages and Cultures graduates.
Communication Skills
Foreign correspondent
Professional association editor
Film critic
Technical writer
Academic press editor
K-12 teacher
College instructor 
Language lecturer
Analytical Skills
Trade lawyer/broker
Grants and contract manager
National Security Agency analyst
Legislative committee staff person
Trade development officer
State Department officer
Interpersonal / Cross-Cultural Skills
Overseas business representative
Tour director
Manager of translation/language service
Manager, language school
Immigration officer
Student exchange program coordinator
Bilingual program teacher
International student advisor
Research / Project Development Skills
Market researcher
Corporate travel planner
Information manager
Special events coordinator
Museum/gallery curator
City cultural events planner
Special collections librarian
= Further Study Required
For more career information, see O*Net at http://online.onetcenter.org/
CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS
An intermediate level of language study is a requirement of the concentration; undergraduates with native or near-native ability are not encouraged to concentrate in their respective languages. The core courses in the modern languages of East, South, and Southeast Asia are designed to develop basic proficiency of reading, writing, aural comprehension, and speaking.
Complete information on course offerings and requirements may be found in the LSA Bulletin. Languages taught in ALC include:
- Chinese
- Japanese
- Korean
- Thai
- Indonesian
- Javanese
- Vietnamese
- Filipino
- Hindi
- Sanskrit
- Tibetan
- Urdu
- Punjabi
Department of Asian Languages and Cultures
202 S. Thayer Street, Suite 6111
734-764-8286
www.lsa.umich.edu/asian
Newnan Advising Center
1255 Angell Hall
734-764-0332
www.lsa.umich.edu/advising
NEXT STEPS / RESOURCES
To explore opportunities for overseas study and work, go to: http://lsa.umich.edu/cgis/ or
http://globalportal.umich.edu/study.php
To begin connecting to professionals in fields that interest you, create your own LinkedIn account:
www.careercenter.umich.edu/article/getting-started-linkedin
To identify internships or job opportunities, visit Handshake: https://careercenter.umich.edu/article/handshake
The Maize Pages list hundreds of organizations for students to get involved in:
http://studentorgs.umich.edu/maize
On campus jobs (work-study and non work-study jobs) are listed at:
https://studentemployment.umich.edu/JobX_Home.aspx
The Career Center
3200 Student Activities Building
734-764-7460
www.careercenter.umich.edu
www.facebook.com/careercenter.umich
http://twitter.com/careercenter
The Career Guide series was developed by the University of Michigan Career Center, Division of Student Affairs, in cooperation with the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. ©2011 Regents of the University of Michigan