Year One Foundation Program in Arts - Transfer to Bachelor of Arts - East Asian Studies (Optional Co-op)

When students join the University of Alberta’s Year One Foundation Program, they become U of A students from day one. They receive academic support that prepares them to enter a bachelor’s degree program in their second year, along with a “soft landing” to studying in Canada.

The University of Alberta’s Year One Foundation Program represents the first year of a four-year bachelor’s degree. It is designed for students who have course deficiencies and do not yet meet the academic entry requirements for their chosen degree program. Upon successful completion of the program, students progress directly into the second year without losing time on their path to graduation.

Why study this program? East Asian Studies gives students a well-rounded, interdisciplinary introduction to all aspects of China, Korea, and Japan: their languages, histories, cultures, and societies.

All majors become proficient in at least one Asian language—which students find surprisingly easy, as UA's Japanese, Korean, and Mandarin Chinese programs are all award-winning, taught by instructors with decades of experience making Asian languages accessible to Canadians.

On top of that, all majors gain cultural fluency, learning deeply about the histories, cultures, and contemporary politics and economics of Asian societies. Professors are all experts on different aspects of Asia, so that majors finish their degrees well-prepared to go into lucrative Asia-focused professional careers.

Majors go on to a wide range of careers in business, government, education, and the arts—some living and working in Asia, and others working in Asia-related work here in Canada.

This major can also be taken as part of a Bachelor of Arts (Honors) degree.

Why study at the University of Alberta? The Faculty of Arts boasts one of the most diverse Arts programs in Canada, offering top quality educational opportunities that prepare students for successful careers in every sector of society. With over 900 distinct courses in the humanities, social sciences, and fine arts, students will find an academic pathway for them. Nationally and internationally recognized faculty members bring rich insights to the classroom through unique perspectives drawn from their research and advancement of human knowledge. Academic excellence, innovative problem-solving, and experiential learning opportunities beyond the classroom, such as Community Service-Learning and Arts Work Experience programs, will give students the tools to thrive in a diverse and increasingly complex workplace.