Description

The Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations (EALC) is a relatively new department with a long history. Formally established in 2005 when the Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies divided along geographic lines, the Department dates back to the 19th century when PENN was one of the first universities to offer courses in the languages and civilizations of what was then referred to as “the Orient.” EALC is a department of interdisciplinary scholars who focus on the humanistic tradition of East Asia, covering both the classical and modern civilizations of China, Japan and Korea. We teach and research the disciplines of history, literary history, linguistics, art history, performance and gender studies, philosophy, religion and ethics. The Department offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in both Chinese and Japanese Studies and is building a parallel program for Korean Studies. Language is an important part o...