The Department of Asian Languages at Stanford is dedicated to the languages, literatures, linguistics and cultures of East Asia. The Department prepares students for B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Chinese and Japanese, and has a thriving program in Korean language. It also offers an undergraduate and a Ph.D. minor in Chinese or Japanese language and literature.

The B.A. in Asian languages is a degree for the "new humanist" who wants her or his education to be broad enough to understand a non-Western language and culture. Many students have found that the language skills acquired can be advantageous to their professional careers and have combined studies in Asian Languages with offerings in other Stanford departments such as Anthropology, Art, Economics, Education, History, Law, Linguistics, Philosophy, Political Science, Religious Studies and Sociology.

Immersion into the cultures of East Asia is a large and important part of the programs in the Department. The East Asian Studies House, an undergraduate residence hall on campus, provides students a wide variety of opportunities to expand their knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of East Asia. Students are also encouraged to spend at least one semester abroad, either in China or Japan, with Stanford's Overseas Study Program.