Our Graduate Programs
Since fall 2023, the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures has offered unified EALC degrees: PhD in East Asian Languages and Cultures, Joint PhD in East Asian and Comparative Literatures, and MA in East Asian Languages and Cultures.
New PhD and MA degree requirements
EALC has consolidated our doctoral programs (Chinese Language and Literature, Japanese Language and Literature, joint degree in Chinese and Comparative Literature, joint degree in Japanese and Comparative Literature) into two umbrella degrees that will allow students increased flexibility to specialize in the literature and culture of one East Asian linguistic tradition (Chinese, Japanese or Korean) OR to pursue transcultural or multi-disciplinary studies. The Chinese, Japanese, and East Asian Studies master's degrees are consolidated in the EALC MA.
Students who matriculated in FL22 or earlier may continue to follow the requirements of their current degree or change to the new degree with advisor approval. We are not accepting applications for the former degrees.
Current WashU seniors may qualify for the Accelerated AB/Master's program.
The East Asian Library
Graduate students in EALC benefit from having a world-class East Asian studies library in the building next door. Pictured above, WashU's East Asian Library is one of the best places to study on campus. The Washington University Libraries began the regular purchases of major Chinese and Japanese materials in 1963. Housed in a beautiful, historic building, the collection includes 165,244 volumes of books and bound serials, including 105,431 volumes in Chinese, 57,603 volumes in Japanese, and 4,210 volumes in Korean, and 800 volumes in special collections.
