Comparative Culture and Language, PHD
Program Description
Degree Awarded: PHD Comparative Culture and Language
The PhD 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.
This degree 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 in order 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).
For example, a student might choose to study medieval European theater for the primary area of emphasis and medieval book culture for the secondary area. For the primary area of emphasis, then, the student could demonstrate advanced proficiency in one European language, such as French or Italian, depending on the requirements of their research. Then, for the second language other than English, the student would have at least reading knowledge, say, of Latin. Another example: The student chooses to study the representation of the migrant experience in contemporary East Asian cultures as the primary area of emphasis, and film and media studies as the secondary area. Their primary area of emphasis would require advanced proficiency in a certain East Asian language, such as Chinese, Japanese or Korean, and the secondary area reading knowledge of one more non-English language, pertinent to their comparative research.
Faculty members are drawn from the School of International Letters and Cultures and other programs in the humanities and social sciences across Arizona State University.
Degree overview
The doctorate in comparative culture and language offers, through courses and supervision of research, a training that is linguistically well-rounded, historically and culturally informed and methodologically transdisciplinary. 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.
With this degree, students can confidently move into academic and international fields. You will serve as an expert on whatever topics you concentrate in. You will be prepared for teaching positions, translation work or work in a larger sector such as governmental, diplomatic and international business career opportunities.
Courses and electives
The coursework for each student is individualized and based upon the student's previous training, research goals and mentor and committee consensus. Our research-heavy program requires students to complete a written comprehensive exam, prospectus and dissertation.
Curriculum
As approved by the student’s supervisory committee, the program can allow 30 credit hours from a previously awarded master's degree to be used for the Comparative Culture and Language Ph.D.
If admitted with a bachelor’s degree, students must complete a minimum of 84 semester hours. If admitted with a master’s degree, they must complete a minimum of 54 hours.
| Degree requirements | Credit hours |
| Core course | 3 |
| Restricted electives | 36 |
| Electives and research | 33 |
| Culminating experience | 12 |
| Total credit hours | 84 |
The Comparative Culture and Language doctorate program is ideal for mature, self-driven students who are passionate about constructing a comparative approach to cultural analysis. As a CCL student, you have an opportunity to build a unique international research focus and carve your own career path in academia or in the private or non-profit sectors.
Degree Requirements
Curriculum Plan Options
- 84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, two foreign language exams, a prospectus and a dissertation
Required Core (3 credit hours)
SLC 602 Comparative Cultural Theory (3)
Restricted Electives (36 credit hours)
primary field of study (18)
secondary field of study (18)
Electives and Research (33 credit hours)
Culminating Experience (12 credit hours)
SLC 799 Dissertation (12)
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
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 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
- 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.
Next Steps to attend ASU
Learn about our programs
Apply to a program
Visit our campus
Application Deadlines
Fall
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 for work in government, diplomacy and international business.
Career examples include:
- area, ethnic and cultural studies teachers and professors
- education administrators
- foreign language and literature teachers and professors
- interpreters and translators
- philosophy and religion teachers and professors
- reporters and correspondents
Program Contact Information
If you have questions related to admission, please click here to request information and an admission specialist will reach out to you directly. For questions regarding faculty or courses, please use the contact information below.
- silc@asu.edu
- 480/965-6281