PhD Comparative Culture and Language at Arizona State University

Programme overview

You learn through professional training that is linguistically well-grounded, historically and culturally informed, and methodologically transdisciplinary through courses and supervision of research in the Doctor of Philosophy program in comparative culture and language. Central to the program is the critical inquiry of primary texts, media and cultural expressions, aiming at an original understanding of cultures and social groups in their formations, interactions and transformations throughout history.

What you will study

84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, two foreign language exams, a prospectus and a dissertation Required Core (3 credit hours) SLC 602 Comparative Cultural Theory (3) Restricted Electives (36 credit hours) primary field of study (18) secondary field of study (18) Electives and Research (33 credit hours) Culminating Experience (12 credit hours) SLC 799 Dissertation (12) Additional Curriculum Information Students do coursework in a primary and a secondary area of emphasis.

Career pathways

Professionals with this doctoral degree can confidently move into a variety of fields as an expert on concentration topics. Their skills are valued in the academic and international sectors for teaching positions; translation work; and work in government, diplomacy and international business. Career examples: area, ethnic and cultural studies teacher or professor, education administrator, foreign language and literature teacher or professor, interpreter or translator, philosophy and religion teacher or professor, reporter or correspondent.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.30 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 credit hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.30 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. All applicants must submit: graduate admission application and application fee official transcripts personal statement resume or curriculum vitae writing sample three letters of recommendation proof of English proficiency Additional Application Information An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.

Domestic applicants: USD 13,327 a year (2026-27). Arizona resident tuition. Tuition only for the graduate on-campus (Tempe/Downtown Phoenix/Polytechnic/West Valley) rate band in the ASU tuition estimator, 2026-27: Fall 2026 plus Spring 2027 term tuition summed (full-time flat rate; part-time credit loads Source

International applicants: USD 24,780 a year (2026-27). International tuition. Tuition only for the graduate on-campus (Tempe/Downtown Phoenix/Polytechnic/West Valley) rate band in the ASU tuition estimator, 2026-27: Fall 2026 plus Spring 2027 term tuition summed (full-time flat rate; part-time credit loads ar Source

Entry terms: Fall, Spring and Summer; the terms available for each programme are listed in Degree Search.

Graduate application deadlines are set by each programme office and listed in Degree Search. The nonrefundable application fee is $75 for U.S. citizens, permanent residents, DACA and international online students outside the U.S., and $120 for international students on a nonimmigrant visa studying in the U.S.

Apply through the official page: https://admission.asu.edu/apply/graduate/admission

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