This document is revised 8/15/2017 and applies to students who enter the program on or after Fall 2017.  Students who enter the program earlier can choose either the current or the previous stipulation of course requirements.

  1. Ph.D. Language Requirements
    • Demonstration of proficiency at the fourth year level (400-level courses) in the East Asian language defined by the student's choice of major field, usually Chinese, Japanese or Korean, evidenced by either a) completion of minimum of four years of an approved sequence courses; or b) by passing the UIUC proficiency test at the T4 level in the language.
    • Demonstration of proficiency at the second year level in a second language relevant to the student's course of study, usually Chinese, Japanese or Korean, evidenced by either a) completion of minimum of two years of an approved sequence courses; or b) by examination.
    • In addition to the language requirement noted above, Ph.D. students whose primary focus is Japan are required to take one year of classical Japanese or equivalent, and those whose primary focus is China are required to take one year of classical Chinese or equivalent.
    • The 400- and 500-level language courses carry graduate credit and may be counted towards degree requirements.
    • Language placement: Language requirements for MA and Ph.D. students may differ by academic fields. Students should consult field-specific requirements and obtain advisor approval.
  2. Ph.D. Course Requirements:  (Refer to The Definition of Discipline, Area and Field for the interpretation of these terms.)
Hours Courses Notes
32 All requirements for the M.A. as stated under the MA requirements Students who have received their M.A. degrees at UIUC will already have fulfilled all these requirements before entering the Ph.D. program. Students with an M.A. from another institution are required to fulfill these requirements unless they present evidence of having done equivalent work elsewhere.
8 Major field requirements

500-level courses in the major field defined by Discipline, Area and Modern/Pre-modern, if applicable

 
20 Electives 400- or 500-level courses in
  1. a second area
  2. a second discipline
  3. Literature, History and Religion students who major in the modern period should take one pre-modern course; and whose field is pre-modern should take a modern course
  4. Relevant non-East Asian courses are encouraged
36  
  • Other graduate-level courses (400- or 500-level)
  • These courses may be post-prelim EALC 599 (dissertation research) units.
Total =96  
  1. Passing a written and oral preliminary examination in the major field and two minor fields (after completion of coursework)
    • Students in the disciplines of History, Literature, and Religion must take one minor area prelim exam that is different from their major area prelim exam.
    • Students in the discipline of anthropology must complete the graduate sequence in Social Theory/Ethnography (I & II) offered by the anthropology department. One exam topics must be defined in relation to a theoretical specialization within the discipline of anthropology, and one exam topics must be defined in relation to a regionally or topically focused body of ethnographic and/or historical literature.
  2. Successful presentation of a dissertation proposal (often as part of the preliminary exam)
  3. Completion of the dissertation.

    Follow departmental, school and UIUC Graduate College guidelines and deadlines for the writing, defending, formatting and depositing of dissertation. The SLCL deadline for dissertation format review is earlier than the Graduate College one.

  4. EALC Program Procedures

Ph.D. students should also consult the graduate procedures page for more information on degree requirements and expectations.

  • Language placement: Language requirements for MA and Ph.D. students may differ by academic fields. Students should consult field-specific requirements and obtain advisor approval.
  • If you have any questions, please consult the Director of Graduate Studies.