Program Requirements
Major
Majors in Chinese are expected to acquire the ability to understand, speak, read, and write in Chinese and to develop a broad foundation in the relevant literatures and cultures.
Students with prior experience in Chinese, however acquired (e.g., in high school, at another institution, or via study abroad), work with department faculty members to determine an appropriate level at which to start. In general, one year of high school language instruction is the equivalent to one university-level course. Students who have taken four years or more of one language in high school are generally eligible to take 300-level language courses at CWRU, but the department recommends starting with a course numbered under 320.
The major for a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese requires a minimum of 10 courses, equivalent to 30-35 credit hours.
Course requirements are as follows:
- For students placed into 200-level coursework, the major requirements include CHIN 201 Intermediate Chinese I, CHIN 202 Intermediate Chinese II, and eight 300-level courses taught in the target language. Please see the courses tab.
- For students placed into 300-level coursework, the major requirements include ten 300-level courses taught in the target language. Please see the courses tab.
Students may replace up to two 300-level courses with related courses. Related courses are those outside the department which are closely related to Chinese culture, as well as those departmental courses cross-listed with World Literature.
Departmental Honors for Majors
The departmental honors program is for especially dedicated majors. Requirements for honors in modern languages and literatures are:
- a GPA of at least 3.5 in the major;
- an honors thesis (CHIN 397, CHIN 398) in addition to the major credit hour requirements
The thesis is devoted to a literary, linguistic, or cultural topic and must be written in the target language. It must be read and approved by two readers and will be accepted for honors only if it achieves a grade of B or better. Students who qualify receive their degree “with Honors in Modern Languages and Literatures.” A registration form for students applying for honors is available in the departmental office.
Minor
The minor in Chinese requires a minimum of 5 courses, equivalent to 15-19 credit hours.
Course requirements are as follows:
- For students beginning Chinese at the introductory level, minor requirements include: CHIN 101, CHIN 102, CHIN 201, CHIN 202, and one additional CHIN 300-level course.
- For students beginning Chinese at the 200-level, minor requirements include: five 200- and 300-level CHIN courses.
Chinese Course Descriptions
CHIN 101. Elementary Chinese I. 4 Units.
Introductory course in speaking, understanding, reading and writing Chinese. Students are expected to achieve control of the sound system and basic sentence patterns of standard Mandarin Chinese. The course emphasizes speaking and aural comprehension.
CHIN 102. Elementary Chinese II. 4 Units.
Continuation of CHIN 101. Recommended preparation: Consent of department.
CHIN 201. Intermediate Chinese I. 4 Units.
Emphasizes basic structures of standard Mandarin Chinese; helps students improve reading, writing, listening and speaking abilities. Chinese culture, society, and people introduced through supplementary materials and activities. Recommended preparation: CHIN 102 or equivalent.
CHIN 202. Intermediate Chinese II. 4 Units.
Continuation of CHIN 201. Students must use course material offered by the Online Language Learning Center in addition to class meetings. Recommended preparation: CHIN 201.
CHIN 253. Introducing Chinese Religions. 3 Units.
This “topics” course offers an introduction to the academic study of Chinese religions. Whether approached through a particular theme or as a general historical introduction, each section of this course provides students with a general introduction to the academic study of religion and a basic religious literacy in the nuances and complexities in Chinese religions within various historical and socio-cultural contexts. Section topics might include, but are not limited to: Confucianism, Daoism, Chinese Buddhism, Gender and Sexuality in Chinese Religions. Students may repeat the course for credit once (two times total for 6 credits), provided that the two sections are different. Offered as RLGN 153, ETHS 153 and CHIN 253. Counts for CAS Global & Cultural Diversity Requirement.
CHIN 253C. Religion and Philosophy in China. 3 Units.
This course critically examines the three principal religious and philosophical traditions of China: the Confucian, Daoist, and Chinese Buddhist traditions. Through a combination of assigned print and online readings, video clips and documentaries, class discussions, and written assignments, students explore the origins and historical developments, principal thinkers, central religious and doctrinal themes, ethics, spirituality, popular devotions, social movements, and contemporary developments of these three major religious and philosophical traditions of China. Students will consider the wider social, cultural, ethical, economic, and political dimensions of Chinese religions and philosophies generally, and themes of community and society, identity constructions, personal experiences, movements, as well as their socio-cultural reproductions in contemporary China, and where appropriate, the Chinese Diaspora in North America. Offered as CHIN 253C, ETHS 253C, PHIL 253 and RLGN 253. Counts for CAS Global & Cultural Diversity Requirement.
CHIN 301. Advanced Chinese I. 4 Units.
Students work to achieve fluency in listening, speaking, reading and writing. Students must attend Language Resource Center in addition to class meetings.
Recommended preparation: CHIN 202 or equivalent. Counts for CAS Global & Cultural Diversity Requirement.
CHIN 302. Advanced Chinese II. 4 Units.
Continuation of CHIN 301. Counts for CAS Global & Cultural Diversity Requirement.
CHIN 316. Christianity in China. 3 Units.
This course critically evaluates Christianity’s long history in China, beginning with the “Luminous Religion” (Jingjiao) that was propagated by Assyrian Christian missionaries in Tang China (7th century CE), the missionary endeavors of Catholic and Protestant foreign missionaries and mission societies, the rise of indigenous Chinese Christianities that sought independence from foreign missionaries, the impact of communist rule and the Cultural Revolution, and current developments involving both the official government-approved churches (i.e., the Three Self Patriotic Movement and the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association) on the one hand, and the house church movement (jiating jiaohui) on the other hand. Students will critically discuss and analyze the historical dimensions of Christianity’s presence in China and engagement with various social, cultural, political, philosophical, and religious aspects of Chinese society, past and present, and consider the implications of emergent forms of contemporary indigenous Chinese Christian movements for the future of Chinese Christianity. Offered as RLGN 316, RLGN 416, HSTY 322, CHIN 316 and ETHS 326. Counts for CAS Global & Cultural Diversity Requirement.
CHIN 320. Chinese Popular Culture. 3 Units.
In this course we are going to study Chinese (including Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Chinese Diaspora) popular culture since the 1980s. By examining different forms of popular culture, including popular literature, film, music, TV programs, posters, the Internet, etc., we will be looking into their political, ideological, sociological, cultural, and psychological mechanisms. The film viewing will take place outside the class. Offered as: CHIN 320, ASIA 320 and WLIT 320. Counts for CAS Global & Cultural Diversity Requirement.
CHIN 330. Chinese Cinema. 3 Units.
This course is an exploration to the history of and critical issues in Chinese cinema: we will discuss early film making in Shanghai, leftist melodrama, Socialist films, the Chinese New Wave, underground films, the film making in the era of globalization, and etc. Themes and genres that will be investigated include melodrama, the “Fifth Generation”, underground film making, filmic representations of women, minority films, and historical epics. Films from mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and diasporic communities will be discussed to illuminate what it means to be “Chinese.” All of the films in this course come with English subtitles; the film viewing will take place outside the class. Offered as CHIN 330 and ASIA 330. Counts for CAS Global & Cultural Diversity Requirement.
CHIN 350. China and Green Transformation. 3 Units.
Taught in Chinese, this course aims at enhancing the students’ proficiency in listening to, speaking, reading and writing Chinese at the intermediate and higher levels. As a content-driven course, it introduces students to the recent major green culture movements in China, focusing on the way the green cultural changes took place in relation to globalization, environment and climate protection, technology innovation, income redistribution, domestic consumption, and education, to meet the challenges of financial crisis, climate change, energy insecurity, and international competition. At the end of the semester, the students are expected to be able to understand readings and audiovisual materials, as well as communicate and present orally and in written formats green cultural issues covered in the course. Students who take CHIN350 are not allowed to earn credit for CHIN350D (Department Seminar), vice versa. Counts for CAS Global & Cultural Diversity Requirement. Prereq: CHIN 301.
CHIN 350D. China and Green Transformation. 3 Units.
Taught in Chinese, this course aims at enhancing the students’ proficiency in listening to, speaking, reading and writing Chinese at the intermediate and higher levels. As a content-driven course, it introduces students to the recent major green culture movements in China, focusing on the way the green cultural changes took place in relation to globalization, environment and climate protection, technology innovation, income redistribution, domestic consumption, and education, to meet the challenges of financial crisis, climate change, energy insecurity, and international competition. At the end of the semester, the students are expected to be able to understand readings and audiovisual materials, as well as communicate and present orally and in written formats green cultural issues covered in the course. Students who take CHIN350 are not allowed to earn credit for CHIN350D (Department Seminar), vice versa. Counts as SAGES Departmental Seminar. Counts for CAS Global & Cultural Diversity Requirement. Prereq: CHIN 340.
CHIN 380. Contemporary Chinese Texts I. 3 Units.
This course is designed for students who have completed CHIN 302 or equivalent. It provides intensive trainings in communicational skills by reading, watching, and discussing a variety of texts. Counts for CAS Global & Cultural Diversity Requirement. Prereq: CHIN 302 or equivalent.
CHIN 381. Contemporary Chinese Texts II. 3 Units.
This course is designed for students who have completed CHIN 380 or equivalent. It provides intensive training in communication skills by reading, watching, and discussing a variety of texts. Counts for CAS Global & Cultural Diversity Requirement. Prereq: CHIN 380.
CHIN 396. Senior Capstone – Chinese. 3 Units.
The Senior Capstone in Chinese is a required capstone course for Chinese majors. Students will complete a substantial research thesis in Chinese or English and make a public presentation in English with significant Chinese elements. Students take this course under the supervision of their faculty advisor. Permission required. Counts as SAGES Senior Capstone.
CHIN 397. Senior Thesis I. 3 Units.
This course is the first of the two-semester thesis-writing sequence for majors in Chinese pursuing honors in the major. The two-semester sequence leads to a substantial research paper in Chinese or English with significant Chinese elements. Students take this course under the supervision of their faculty advisor. Counts for CAS Global & Cultural Diversity Requirement. Prereq: Chinese major with Senior standing.
CHIN 398. Senior Thesis II. 3 Units.
This course is the second of the two-semester thesis-writing sequence required for Chinese majors pursuing honors in the major. The two semester sequence leads to a substantial research paper in Chinese or English with significant Chinese elements. Students take this course under the supervision of their faculty advisor. Prereq: CHIN 397.
CHIN 399. Independent Study. 1 – 3 Unit.
Directed study for those students who have progressed beyond available course offerings and want to continue study of Chinese language, Chinese culture, Chinese literature, or other Chinese Studies topics in Chinese. Counts for CAS Global & Cultural Diversity Requirement. Prereq: CHIN 302.