Asian Languages and Civilizations at CU Boulder

Home
United States
Boulder, CO
Asian Languages and Civilizations at CU Boulder

The Department of Asian Languages & Civilizations offers language, literature, and culture programs in Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Hindi, Japanese, and Korean.

The Department of Asian Languages and Civilizations, founded in 1982, offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in Chinese and Japanese, four minor programs, two certificate programs, as well as language, literature and culture courses in Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Hindi/Urdu, Japanese and Korean. Students receive a thorough grounding in the modern language, an introduction to the classical language

and literature and a broad familiarity with the literary and cultural history of their selected area. Students interested in Chinese or Japanese are encouraged to broaden their academic horizon through a double major, combining either language with another field of interest. Likewise, students in all Asian Languages and Civilizations programs as well as programs outside the department can pursue one of the department's minors or certificates as a way of broadening their career options. Recent graduates have found positions in such fields as government service, international business and secondary-school teaching; others have gone on to graduate study in Chinese or Japanese.

08/26/2026

Interested in Calligraphy?

Come join us for a Calligraphy Workshop with guest host Huiyu Tan! 😄🖌🖤

Discover Chinese calligraphy, create something uniquely yours one peaceful brushstroke at a time.🖤

When:
🗓Oct. 19th, Monday
Time:
⏰4-5 pm
Where:
📍UMC 247

If you have any question please contact:
📩[email protected]
📩[email protected]

We hope to see you all there😄‼️

08/25/2026

Join us for Chinese Language Table for the Fall 2026 term 🗣‼️

This is a great opportunity for student and faculty who want to practice their oral Chinese! ✅

There will be in person meetings at...
📍HLMS N250
and
Online Meetings via ZOOM

if you have any question contact:
📩[email protected]
📩[email protected]

We hope to see you all there in person or via Zoom 😄!!

08/24/2026

Join us for Japanese-English Conversation Hour for FALL 2026 via ZOOM 🗣🖥🇯🇵

You might have noticed that we are doing something different with our conversation hour this year...😓 Unfortunately, there will be NO Japanese students at IEC this semester so we decided to switch it online 🖥.
From switching it online via ZOOM our students will be able to meet Japanese students from...
🏫Tokyo Denki University
🏫Tokyo Keizai University
🏫Juntendo University
All the current and former Japanese language learners at the Department of ALC are invited!

If you are interested in attending the conversation hours you NEED to contact:
📨 [email protected] or [email protected] for the ZOOM link.

We hope to see you all there!

08/12/2026

It's kinda chic to study with ALC at CU Boulder!
We offer Arabic, Chinese, Hindi/Urdu, Japanese and Korean.

07/22/2026

✨ Step into the rhythm of Kathak! 👣🎶

In HIND/DNCE 2601: Classical Dance Forms of India: Text, Theory, and Performance, students don't just study India's rich dance traditions—they experience them firsthand. This clip features Nidhi Arya, Associate Teaching Professor of Hindi/Urdu, showing simple Kathak footwork, one of the many classical dance forms explored through movement workshops, performance viewings, and cultural discussions.

Whether you're new to dance or curious about South Asian arts and culture, this course offers a unique blend of practice, history, and theory.

📚 HIND/DNCE 2601: Classical Dance Forms of India: Text, Theory, and Performance
🗓️ Fall 2026
🕝 MWF | 2:30–3:20 PM
📍 KTCH 1B87
🎓 3 Credits
👩🏽‍🏫 Instructor: Nidhi Arya

Come move, learn, and discover the stories behind India's vibrant classical dance traditions.

07/21/2026

Still building your perfect schedule? 👀

Schedule Adjustment opens today (July 21)! If you're looking to add a class, check out these ALC courses that still have open seats. ⬇️

Also check out our language courses! (ARAB, CHIN, HIND, JPNS, KREN)

07/17/2026

Prof. Katherine Alexander accompanied the Layers of History and Identity: Summer Study in Taiwan, organized by the Program for Teaching East Asia (TEA) at the Center for Asian Studies, as scholar in residence from June 21 - July 5, 2026.

The study tour introduced 14 US secondary school instructors to the complexities of Taiwan's history and present. They visited historic sites relating to Taiwan's indigenous peoples, its colonization in the 1600s by the Dutch, Spanish, and Ming & Qing dynasties, its experience as a Japanese colony from 1895-1945, and the decades of martial law imposed by the Nationalist government until 1987. Prof. Alexander led a tour of temples in Tainan to introduce students to contemporary religion and its ties to history, society, and culture.

Participants were grateful for time spent meeting with Wu Sheng, a famed environmental activist and poet; Fred Chin Him-san, a former political prisoner; and Liang-Yu Wang, the Director General, Department of North American Affairs of the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

And they of course took time to enjoy the amazing cities, beautiful scenery, and fabulous food along the way every day.

07/15/2026

📢 TOPIK Registration is Now Open! 🇰🇷
Registration for the 108th TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) is now open!

🗓️ Exam Date: October 17, 2026
📝 Registration: June 22 – July 24, 2026 (by 5:00 PM)
📍 Test locations: San Francisco, Boulder, and Sacramento
💲 TOPIK I: $40 | TOPIK II: $55

Don't miss your chance to certify your Korean language proficiency! Visit www.kecsf.org for the application form and more information.

05/13/2026

🎓✨ Congratulations, ALC Class of 2026! ✨🎓

We are so proud to celebrate the amazing graduates of the Department of Asian Languages and Civilizations! Your dedication, curiosity, and passion for languages, cultures, and literatures have brought you to this incredible milestone.

From inspiring speeches at commencement to unforgettable moments with faculty, friends, and family—this is a chapter worth celebrating. 🌏💛

As you embark on your next journey, we know you will continue to make an impact wherever you go.

👏 Join us in congratulating our ALC graduates!

05/01/2026

We are proud to spotlight another amazing graduate, Hannah Staszak — graduating from the Leeds School of Business with a bachelor’s degree in Information Systems and a minor in Korean! 🎓🎉

During her time at CU, Hannah built unforgettable memories and lifelong friendships. Driven by a deep passion for Korean culture, she chose to connect through language study and loved meeting others who shared that same enthusiasm for Korean.
Next, Hannah will be launching her career as a tech consultant in Denver! 💻🚀

Congratulations, Hannah! We’re so proud of you and wish you all the best in your next chapter! 🙌✨

Address

1610 Pleasant Street, Eaton Humanities, Room 240A
Boulder, CO
80302

Telephone

+13034926639

Website

http://www.colorado.edu/alc/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Asian Languages and Civilizations at CU Boulder posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The University

Send a message to Asian Languages and Civilizations at CU Boulder:

Want your university to be the top-listed University in Boulder?