Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations

专业详情

The Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations 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.” That is why the Department was called Oriental Studies until it became Asian and Middle Eastern Studies in 1992.

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 of our program. In addition to Chinese, Japanese and Korean, offered from introductory through advanced levels, we also offer Cantonese, Taiwanese, Vietnamese and Thai on a regular basis.

The major in Ancient Near East examines the languages, history, cultures, and archaeology of the Ancient Near East: from Prehistory through the early complex of civilizations in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Levant. Because of the interdependence of language and culture an emphasis of the major is gaining facility of one or more ancient languages, alongside courses in history, religion, and archaeology.