The graduate program in East Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign reflects the Department's conviction that an understanding of East Asia must build on a broad and deep proficiency in both the languages of the region and in the theoretical and methodological approaches that inform advanced teaching and research of its cultures. Both the Master's and Doctoral programs embody that conviction in concept and design. Graduate students in the Department are encouraged to develop breadth of vision in their approach to East Asia, spanning historical periods, academic disciplines, and geographical boundaries, testing theories and methods and critically assessing their usefulness in understanding the cultures of East Asia.The Ph.D. is an advanced research degree that qualifies its recipients for a variety of professional and research careers. Often the degree leads to positions in teaching and research at the college or university level, but it can also be useful in other positions in the public and private sector where advanced training in East Asian languages and cultures is valued. It may also be pursued as part of an interdisciplinary program of graduate studies, such as the M.B.A. The Ph.D. is the highest degree conferred by the University, and all applicants for admission to the Ph.D. program must first have earned an M.A., either in the Department or elsewhere.