Program Overview

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East Asian Languages and Civilization, PhD

The Doctor of Philosophy program in East Asian languages and civilizations is a research-intensive, transdisciplinary, area-based degree in the study of traditional and modern languages and cultures of China. Students may focus on:

• comparative cultural studies
• cultural history
• linguistics
• literary criticism
• literary thought

Program Description

The program aims to provide students with a high level of cultural and linguistic knowledge, extensive experience in a local vernacular environment, and the abilities to think critically and deal with complex ideas.

At a Glance

• College/school: The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Location: Tempe
• STEM-OPT extension eligible: No

Degree Requirements

• 84 credit hours
• Two foreign language exams
• A written comprehensive exam
• An oral comprehensive exam
• A prospectus
• A dissertation

Required Core

• CHI 501 Proseminar: East Asian Humanities (3 credit hours)

Concentration

• CHI 514 Advanced Classical Chinese (6 credit hours)

Other Requirements

• CHI 502 Academic Writing (1 credit hour)
• CHI 598 Topic: Proseminar: Chinese Literary History (3 credit hours)
• CHI 598 Topic: History of the Chinese Language (3 credit hours)
• CHI 598 Special Topics (15 credit hours)
• CHI 691 Seminar (15 credit hours)

Electives

• 24 credit hours

Culminating Experience

• CHI 799 Dissertation (12 credit hours)

Additional Curriculum Information

• CHI 502 is one credit hour and should be taken for a total of three credit hours.
• 15 credit hours of CHI 598 Special Topics must be comprised of five courses.
• 15 credit hours of CHI 691 must be comprised of five seminar courses.
• Other requirements and elective coursework for the degree are to be chosen in consultation with the program chair.

Admission Requirements

• General university admission requirements
• U.S. applicants
• International applicants
• English proficiency
• Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
• Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution.
• Applicants specializing in Chinese should have completed at least three years of modern Chinese and one year of classical Chinese.
• Applicants must have 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
  • Writing sample
  • Speech sample in Chinese or Japanese
  • Resume or curriculum vitae
  • GRE scores
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Proof of English proficiency

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: 01/15

Program Learning Outcomes

• Conduct textual analysis in East Asian (modern and/or traditional) and Western languages to inform independent research.
• Create an independent research project in East Asian humanities, using a broad range of knowledge gained through reading and evaluations of scholarly production of others.
• Write dissertations that offer original contributions to the field of East Asian humanities.

Career Opportunities

Professionals with this degree can confidently move into academic, business, and international fields. The skills they possess are valued for teaching positions, translation work, and career opportunities in larger sectors such as government, diplomacy, and international business.

• historians
  • interpreters and translators
  • lawyers
  • reporters and correspondents
  • social and community service managers
  • teachers or professors of area, ethnic and cultural studies
  • teachers or professors of foreign language and literature

Program Details

The program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of East Asian languages and civilizations, as well as the skills to conduct independent research and think critically. The program is ideal for students who wish to pursue a career in academia, government, or international business.