The Department of Asian Languages and Cultures accepts applications for its doctoral degree program (PhD). The department offers only a terminal master’s degree (MA) in the Teaching Asian Languages MA Program. Students interested in an MA degree in Asian Languages and Cultures only should apply to the East Asian Studies Interdepartmental Program, which is housed in the International Institute at UCLA.
Students who are interested in pursuing doctoral-level work are encouraged first to contact the relevant faculty members or the Director of Graduate Studies before submitting an application to the Graduate Division at UCLA.
Admission is very competitive. Decisions on admission are handled by the department, with final approval by the Graduate Division. There is funding available through the department for a limited pool of successful applicants, though all applicants are encouraged to apply to external fellowship sources as well.
Degree Requirements
NOTE TEXT BELOW IS PLACE HOLDER
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Typically completed in 1-2 years
- Not offered as a terminal degree
- Students in M.A. should
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Typically completed in 5-6 years
- Completion of M.A. requirements
- Three additional graduate seminars
- Second Foreign Language Proficiency
- Ph.D. Qualifying Examination (Oral & Written)
- Dissertation Prospectus & Defense
Normative Time to Degree
Students are expected to complete the Ph.D. within six years. Annual reviews are conducted to ensure satisfactory progress.
Specializations
- Korean Language and CultureKorean Language and Culture, consisting of Classical Literature, Cultural and Intellectual History, Christianity and Religions, and Modern Literature… Read more: Korean Language and Culture
- Japanese Literary and Cultural StudiesJapanese Literary and Cultural Studies, consisting of Classical Literature, Cultural and Intellectual History, and Modern Literature and Film… Read more: Japanese Literary and Cultural Studies
- East Asian LinguisticsEast Asian Linguistics, consisting of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean linguistics Prospective graduate students applying to the department should… Read more: East Asian Linguistics
- Cultural and Comparative StudiesCultural and Comparative Studies, consisting of cross-cultural and comparative studies among China, Japan, and/or Korea, or particular disciplinary… Read more: Cultural and Comparative Studies
- Chinese Language and CultureChinese Language and Culture, consisting of Archaeology, Cinema, Classical Literature, Cultural and Intellectual History, Modern Literature, and Philosophy… Read more: Chinese Language and Culture
Prospective graduate students applying to the department should indicate which specialization they intend to pursue. The department currently offers the following specializations with subfields:
For more information, see the individual faculty profiles. Also feel free to contact our Student Affairs Officer for Graduate Studies
Fatin Zubi
Student Affairs Officer (Graduate)
fzubi@humnet.ucla.edu