The Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences offers two interdisciplinary graduate programs in the literature, culture, visual arts, history, and languages of East Asia, with particular emphasis on critical methodology and comparative study. One program is a terminal MA degree while the other leads to a PhD. The Doctor of Philosophy program, which requires a minimum of three years of study in an East Asian language for admittance, is designed to prepare qualified full-time students for the Doctor of Philosophy degree. Students participate in a variety of courses, colloquia, and seminars designed to provide the student with historical breadth and critical acumen, the ability to read and analyze texts in East Asian languages, and the skills necessary to carry out original research.