Chinese Studies - Undergraduate Admissions

Program Overview

The Chinese studies program offers students a diverse curriculum centered on Chinese language, culture and society.

Its rigorous language curriculum stresses verbal and textual mastery and cultural competency and includes courses in Chinese linguistics and language pedagogy. Courses explore both ancient and modern Chinese literature, visual arts, society, history, philosophy and economics.

Some students who choose this major also choose to double major within a different discipline to build a holistic degree plan.

Degrees Offered

BA in Chinese Studies

Minors

Chinese Studies

Internships, Research Opportunities and More

The faculty of the Chinese studies program are not only outstanding educators but are recognized and published scholars within their respective fields of research which include:

ancient, pre-modern, modern and contemporary Chinese history and culture
Chinese linguistics: phonology, poetic prosody and prosodic acquisition
classical and Chinese poetry and poetics
Confucianism language pedagogy
20th-century Chinese literature and film

Many Chinese studies majors choose to study abroad to immerse themselves in the culture and language.

Coursework

Some courses to consider in your first year:

CHIN 101 - ElementaryChinese I NoBackgrnd
CHIN 102 - Elementary Chinese II
CHIN 103 - Elementary Chinese I Heritage

This is a foundation course for heritage speakers of Chinese, who have certain level of spoken or listening proficiency in Mandarin or other Chinese dialects, such as Cantonese. Attention will be concentrated on the pronunciation, the core vocabulary, basic survival expressions, and the fundamentals of the grammar of Mandarin Chinese. Upon the completion of the course, students will be able to converse in Mandarin in the three communicative modes on most basic communication topics covered in the course, such as greetings, self‐introduction, invitation and appointment making, asking for/giving direction, simple shopping. Students will also be able to read and write short dialogues in Chinese characters on the subject matters covered in the course.Offered every Fall. 4 credits. Levels: Undergraduate
CHIN 203 - Intermediate Chinese I
CHIN 204 - Intermed. Chinese II
AAAS 230 - Contemporary Chinese Cinemas

Cinematic survey of post-Mao era PRC, Hong Kong, and Taiwan film. Emphasis on historical background, prominent directors and films, the terminology of film study, theoretical approaches to film, written analyses and group presentations of specific films, and making connections between form, content, context and ideology in movies. Knowledge of Chinese language not required. 4 credits. Levels: Undergraduate
AAAS 241 - Classical Chin Lit (In Transl)

Survey of Chinese literature from 12th Century BC through AD 19th Century, dealing with major writings of each period, their aesthetic and formal components, and cultural/historic contexts. Equal emphasis on evolution of poetry genres and development of story themes, supplemented with background in Chinese theories of literature and comparative study between Chinese and Western literature. Knowledge of Chinese language is required. 4 credits. Levels: Undergraduate
AAAS 273 - Chinese Civilization

Political, social, economic and cultural survey of Chinese history from beginnings of Chinese civilization in second millennium BCE to the end of the Ming dynasty. Topics include early formation of Chinese civilization, flowering of philosophy during the Zhou, impact of Buddhism, impact of alien dynasties, changes in landholding, southward expansion of Chinese culture and evolution of examination system. Readings draw primarily from Chinese historical, philosophical and literary texts in translation. 4 credits. Levels: Undergraduate
AAAS 272 - Island Culture:TaiwanFilm&Fict

This course presents an introduction to the film and fiction of modern Taiwan. We will carefully read, discuss, and interrogate a number of cinematic and literary works in which some of Taiwan's key historical, social, and cultural issues have been addressed, and we will familiarize ourselves with some of the academic scholarship on these works. Possible topics include: Japanese colonialism; relations with mainland China (PRC); traditional family relations; sexuality; gender; race and identity; indigenous peoples; the impact of modernization and globalization; cinematic genres; literary genres; ideology; and other topics. Above all, we will endeavor to construct our own dialogue with and interpretation of each film, short story, or novel. No prior knowledge of Taiwan history and culture or of Chinese language is required. 4 credits. Levels: Undergraduate
AAAS 274 - Late Imperial China

Survey of Chinese history from beginning of Manchu rule (Qing dynasty) in 1644 to present. Topics include state and society in High Qing; population pressures, corruption and rebellion in 19th Century; Western imperialism and attempts at reform; revolutionary movements; militarism and warlords; nationalism, Communism and anti-imperialism; conflict and accomplishment during the People's Republic. Readings draw primarily from Chinese writings in translation, from government documents to novels. 4 credits. Levels: Undergraduate

After You Graduate

The Chinese major provides a student with a solid foundation in spoken Mandarin and also develops the student’s written and oral communication skills, critical-thinking skills and overall cultural awareness.

Graduates may find employment in such fields and organizations as teaching, museum and other arts organizations, foreign service, community organization and activism, NGOs, information technologies, translation and interpretation, journalism, international aid, think tanks and research organizations, etc. Students who graduate with this degree are also well positioned to pursue a myriad of graduate degrees.

For more information, visit the Chinese Studies website.

Chinese Studies (BA, minor)