2013-07

Arizona State University
University Senate
Fall 2012

Senate Motion #2013-07

Motion Introduced by:         Curriculum and Academic Programs Committee
                                                Arnold Maltz, Chair
 
Date of First Reading:          October 8, 2012
 
Date of Second Reading:      November 5, 2012
 
Title of Motion:                     

Request from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences - School of International Letters & Cultures - for the establishment of a graduate degree program – Ph.D. in International Letters and Cultures
 
Action Requested:

The Curriculum and Academic Programs Committee recommends University Senate approval of
a proposal submitted by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences -School of International Letters
& Cultures for the establishment of graduate degree program – Ph.D. in International Letters and
Cultures

Rationale:

The PhD in International Letters and Cultures degree program provides research and training that
are linguistically well-grounded, historically and culturally informed, and methodologically transdisciplinary. Central to the program is the critical inquiry of primary texts, aiming at a deep
understanding of the development of cultures through history. It particularly focuses on research
questions and themes that cannot be fully explored within the traditional disciplinary boundaries;
instead, it fosters dynamic scholarly collaboration across disciplines in order to engage in the
production of knowledge crucial to understanding a transnational and trans-cultural age.
 
This degree program provides an innovative intellectual platform that advances trans-disciplinary
research and teaching. In consultation with their advisor, students will do their coursework in a
primary and a secondary area of emphasis. Both areas will be organized around interdisciplinary
study and research in more than one language.