Experiences & Opportunities

Research and Creative Work

Many of our majors -- and minors -- pursue College Honors or other research and creative projects. Some even present or perform their work at national and international conferences. Here are a few recent projects:

• "Sengoku Heroes: Larger than Life Unifiers in Japan's Warring States Period," Joseph Tortorelli '12.
• "Hirohito and the Declaration of Humanity: Portrayals of the Emperor in American Media," Laura Anderman '10.
• "Diversity and Identity within Japan," Joshua Lawitts '10.
• "Loss of Liberal Democratic Party Dominance in 1993 and 2009," Mary Vanden Plas '10.
• "Itami Juzo: A Director in Social/Cultural Perspective," Scott Hirabayashi '10.
• "Modern Girls and the Interwar Period [in Japan]," Rachel Kueker '10.

Off-Campus Study

Asian students have studied at Knox for over 100 years. Large numbers of Knox students studying in Asia is of more recent vintage, but off-campus study is usually a critical component in the careers of Asian Studies majors. Knox has a long-standing partnership with GLCA/ACM Japan Study and sends students to Waseda University in Tokyo under this program every year. Students interested in Japan have also studied at Kansai Gaidai University and Sophia (Jochi) University.

Most students interested in China study at the Beijing Institute for Asian Studies at Peking University. Student interest in Asia is wide-ranging, however, and students have also studied in Korea, Thailand, India, Australia, and New Zealand in recent years. Given the diverse interests of Asian Studies majors, off-campus study for our students has involved living and studying in Buddhist monasteries, working with sustainable agricultural projects in Southeast Asia, and studying the Great Barrier Reef off Australia.

As with all off-campus study at Knox, students are urged to meet with faculty members early in their careers to discuss opportunities, begin preparation, and develop plans to integrate off-campus study into their academic programs at Knox.

Immersive Programs

Summer 2022 Intercultural Project - "Roots on Angel Island: Immersion and Research on Early Chinese Immigration to the United States." 
Intercultural Project Website 

Summer 2022 Intercultual Project News Archive
Summer 2021 Collaborative Research Project - "Bilingual Children's Stories and Community Outreach."
Summer 2021 Collaborative Research Project News Archive 

2018 Travel Course - "Arts, Culture, and Landscapes of Southern China."
2018 Travel Course News Archive 

Internships

There's no better way to explore the possibilities of life after Knox than internships. Our students find internships with the assistance of the Bastian Family Career Center. Knox students have also completed internships during the summer in important business centers in Asia such as Tianjin, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Mumbai, India.

JET

Teaching English in Asia appeals to many Knox graduates as a way to learn more about Asia while establishing contacts there. The Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program is one such opportunity, which invites young college and university graduates to participate in international exchange and foreign language education throughout Japan. The program has earned a high reputation, both in Japan and overseas, for its efforts in human and cultural exchanges, and has become one of the largest cultural exchange programs in Japan. Knox students have been quite successful gaining admission to this competitive program. The program offers college and university graduates the opportunity to serve in local government organizations as well as public and private junior and senior high schools.

Recent Knox graduates who have taught English in Asia:

• Madison Dirks '12
• Shannon Singer '10
• Dwight Glinsman '08
• Karlina Trachsel '07