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Program Overview
Comparative Culture and Language, PhD
The Doctor of Philosophy program in comparative culture and language offers professional training that is linguistically well-grounded, historically and culturally informed, and methodologically transdisciplinary through courses and supervision of research. Central to the program is the critical inquiry of primary texts, media and cultural expressions, aiming at an original understanding of cultures and social groups in their formations, interactions and transformations throughout history.
Program Description
This program is attentive to the various roles of language in societies and in the different perspectives through which language can be studied --- among other aspects, its variations, transformations, hybridizations and processes of acquisition. The doctorate in comparative culture and language focuses particularly on research questions and themes that cannot be fully explored within the traditional disciplinary boundaries; instead, it fosters dynamic collaboration across disciplines to engage in the production of knowledge that is crucial to understanding transnational and transcultural interactions across time and space.
The program offers the opportunity to pursue, with the guidance of faculty who are comparatists and specialists in particular fields, transdisciplinary research and teaching. In consultation with their advisor, students do their coursework in a primary and a secondary area of emphasis. Both areas are organized around interdisciplinary study and research in more than one language; students are expected to have advanced proficiency in one language other than English (this is the language of primary emphasis) and at least reading knowledge in a second language other than English (language of secondary emphasis).
At a Glance
- College/school: The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Location: Tempe
- STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
Degree Requirements
- 84 credit hours
- A written comprehensive exam
- An oral comprehensive exam
- Two foreign language exams
- A prospectus
- A dissertation
Required Core
- SLC 602 Comparative Cultural Theory (3 credit hours)
Restricted Electives
- Primary field of study (18 credit hours)
- Secondary field of study (18 credit hours)
Electives and Research
- 33 credit hours
- Culminating Experience (12 credit hours)
- SLC 799 Dissertation (12 credit hours)
Additional Curriculum Information
Students do coursework in a primary and a secondary area of emphasis. Both areas are organized around interdisciplinary study and research in more than one language; students are expected to have advanced proficiency in one language other than English (this is the language of primary emphasis) and at least reading knowledge in a second language other than English (language of secondary emphasis). Students complete 12 credit hours of foreign language coursework in the electives and research coursework.
Admission Requirements
- General university admission requirements:
- All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
- Applicants must have:
- Earned a bachelor's or master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution.
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.30 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.30 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
- All applicants must submit:
- Graduate admission application and application fee
- Official transcripts
- Personal statement
- Resume or curriculum vitae
- Writing sample
- Three letters of recommendation
- Proof of English proficiency
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
The personal statement should describe the questions, issues or challenges the student plans to explore through the doctoral program in comparative culture and language and explain how previous studies, training or professional experiences have prepared the student for this research. It should include a proposed plan of study based on the current graduate-level offerings at ASU. In a brief statement, the student should indicate how those courses will be preparation for the dissertation, how the plan fits with the description and goals of this doctoral program, and why the proposed program does not fit some other degree program.
Applicants must provide a 15- to 20-page writing sample in English; a writing sample in the primary language of interest may also be requested at the discretion of the admission committee. The writing sample should reflect the student's analytical and critical skills.
Tuition Information
When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.
Application Deadlines
- Fall:
- Session A/C: In Person, Deadline: 01/15, Type: Final
Career Opportunities
Professionals with this doctoral degree can confidently move into a variety of fields as an expert on concentration topics. Their skills are valued in the academic and international sectors for teaching positions; translation work; and work in government, diplomacy and international business.
- Area, ethnic and cultural studies teacher or professor
- Education administrator
- Foreign language and literature teacher or professor
- Interpreter or translator
- Philosophy and religion teacher or professor
- Reporter or correspondent
Research Areas
- Cultural Studies
- Cultural Translations
- Culture
- Culture and History
- Intermediality
- International
- Language
- Language and Cultures
- Transnationality
- Visual Media
- Foreign language
- Intercultural communication
- International culture
- Letters
