Patricia Ebrey: Areas of Graduate Study
Division: Asia--Pre-History to the Present
Graduate students preparing a field in Early Imperial China are expected
to gain a broad familiarity with the history of the period sufficient
to prepare them to teach undergraduate survey courses covering Chinese
history from its beginnings through the Song dynasty (that is, to 1279
CE). In addition, they should acquire more detailed knowledge of a specific
time period (such as a dynasty) and a specific type of history (such as
social, cultural, intellectual, political, economic, or gender). Emphasis
is placed on command of the English language literature on the subject,
and students should submit a list of 75-100 books and articles that they
will have read.
Students preparing early Chinese history as a secondary field need not
have Chinese language competence and can select any time period and specialty.
Students wishing to do their dissertations in this field must have strong
Chinese language skills and are encouraged to work in the Tang or Song
periods.