Bachelor of Arts: Chinese Studies

BA in Chinese Studies

The Chinese Studies program offers students a diverse curriculum centered on Chinese language, literature, culture and society. Its rigorous language curriculum stresses verbal and textual mastery, cultural competency, and includes courses in Chinese linguistics and language pedagogy. Content courses explore both ancient and modern Chinese literature, visual arts, society, history, philosophy, and economics. Content courses are taught entirely in English and do not require any Chinese language skills.

The Chinese Studies faculty stress both global/transnational perspectives and area/regional knowledge and linguistic skills, in order to best prepare students for a broad spectrum of future educational and career goals and opportunities.

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Requirements

• Major Requirements

  The Chinese Studies major requires eleven (11) courses.

  Students must successfully complete the following:

  • Four required language sequence courses** 
    
    • CHIN 203 Intermediate Chinese I
    • CHIN 204 Intermediate Chinese II
    • CHIN 305 Advanced Chinese I
    • CHIN 306 Advanced Chinese II
  • Six elective courses in Chinese Studies. Electives may include AAAS content courses on Chinese Studies, and/or CHIN language courses outside the required sequence.
  • One core course in Asian American and Diaspora Studies.

  **Note: Depending on prior exposure to the language, CHIN 101 (Elementary Chinese I) and CHIN 102 (Elementary Chinese II) may be required prerequisites for the major. CHIN 101 and CHIN 102 provide the basic linguistic knowledge and skills required to begin the major but do not count towards the major. For students with significant prior exposure: after consultation and proficiency test assessment administered by Chinese Program faculty, students who already demonstrate proficiency in Mandarin at any of the required levels may waive part or all of the language requirements. Waived Chinese language courses will not count toward the major and must be replaced with other Chinese Studies courses, so that the student completes a total of eleven courses for the major.

  Upper-level Requirements

  Six of the eleven required courses for the major must be at the 300 or 400 level. These six upper-level courses must include:

  • Two 400-level AAAS seminars, at least one of which must be in Chinese Studies. 
  • Four other 300 or 400-level courses (AAAS and/or CHIN courses), including CHIN 305 and CHIN 306.

  In addition to the above requirements:

  • Students must earn a C or better for a course to count toward the major.
  • A course must be three or more credits to count toward the major.
  • CHIN language courses cannot be taken Pass/Fail.
  • No more than one AAAS (non-language) course may be taken Pass/Fail.
  • No more than one course may be an independent study.
  • Residency Requirement: At least six courses must be taken at Binghamton University.
• Minor Requirements

  The Chinese Studies minor requires six (6) courses.

  Students must successfully complete the following: 

  • Three language sequence courses, including:**
    
    • CHIN 203 Intermediate Chinese I
    • CHIN 204 Intermediate Chinese II
    • CHIN 305 Advanced Chinese I
  • Three elective courses in Chinese Studies. Electives may include AAAS content courses on Chinese Studies, and/or CHIN language courses outside the required sequence.

  **Note: Depending on prior exposure to the language, CHIN 101 (Elementary Chinese I) and CHIN 102 (Elementary Chinese II) may be required prerequisites for the minor. CHIN 101 and CHIN 102 provide the basic linguistic knowledge and skills required to begin the minor but do not count towards the minor. For students with significant prior exposure: after consultation and proficiency test assessment administered by Chinese Program faculty, students who already demonstrate proficiency in Mandarin at any of the required levels may waive part or all of the language requirements. Waived Chinese language courses will not count toward the minor and must be replaced with other Chinese Studies courses, so that the student completes a total of six courses for the minor.

  Upper-level Requirements

  • At least three of the six courses for the minor must be at the 300 or 400 level.

  In addition to the above requirements

  • Students must earn a C or better for a course to count toward the minor.
  • A course must be three or more credits to count toward the minor.
  • CHIN language courses may not be taken Pass/Fail.
  • No more than one AAAS (non-language) course may be taken Pass/Fail.
  • No more than one course may be an independent study.
  • Residency Requirement: At least four courses must be taken at Binghamton University.

courses for Chinese Studies Majors & Minors

Declare the Chinese Studies Major or Minor

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Chinese Studies Faculty