East Asian Languages and Civilizations

The cross-disciplinary Ph.D. program in East Asian Languages and Civilizations is designed to train graduate students who can teach and conduct independent research in a variety of humanistic disciplines using Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or Mongolian, or occasionally other languages of East Asia. Our region is defined roughly as China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, and Inner Asia. Before completion of the degree, each student is required to:

1. master the requisite linguistic tools and research methods;
2. demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of the history and culture of his or her area of expertise;
3. gain an in-depth expertise in one or more period and/or subject areas; and
4. attain the necessary level of training in his or her humanistic discipline.

Offline Recommendation

Penn strongly prefers that recommenders submit letters of recommendation online through the admissions system. If, however, your recommender is unable to submit an online recommendation, please follow these instructions:

1) Select the “Recommendation Form PDF Download” and download the form.
2) Complete the first section. Be sure to include the address of the appropriate admissions office — refer to the "Contact Graduate Admissions" list below. 
3) Print out the form and provide it to your recommender.

Please note:

• If you are applying to a program in Nursing, print out and provide your recommender with these special instructions for completing your letter of recommendation.
• If you are applying to a program in the School of Social Policy & Practice, print out and provide your recommender with these special instructions for completing your letter of recommendation.

4) Your recommender should send the form directly to the admissions office you designate, along with the letter of recommendation.