China in the 21st Century: Language and Cultural Studies in Beijing
Hosted by Beijing Language and Culture University
Fall and Spring Term Courses
This program offers students 12 class hours per week of Chinese language as well as the opportunity to examine modern China through courses in English in several disciplines including economics, film studies, women's studies, and cultural studies.
Courses:
Chinese Language (required, 12 class hours/week, 9 credits)
No prior language study is required for admission. Upon taking a placement exam after arrival, students will be placed into the appropriate language level. All courses emphasize listening, reading, speaking and writing.
- BEIJ CHIN100 Beginning Chinese I
- BEIJ CHIN101 Beginning Chinese II [pdf]
- BEIJ CHIN200 Intermediate Chinese I [pdf]
- BEIJ CHIN201 Intermediate Chinese II
- BEIJ CHIN300 Advanced Chinese I [pdf]
- BEIJ CHIN301 Advanced Chinese II
All of the following area studies courses are taught in English and meet for three class hours per week:
BEIJ SOCS260 Issues in Contemporary Chinese Society and Culture [pdf] (required, 3 class hours per week, 3 credits)
Professor Matthew Ferchen's CV [pdf]
This course examines the transformation in Chinese society since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, with emphasis on the changes brought about in the wake of the economic reforms of the 1980s and 1990s. Topics will include the developments in urban and rural social transformation introduced by the reforms, the changing relationship between individual and society, the urban/rural divide, population control and the one child policy. Students will explore the social consequences of China's rapid integration into the global economy. All students complete a Capstone Project as part of this course.
Choose one additional area studies course or the internship:
BEIJ FSCF360 Contemporary China through Film [pdf] (3 class hours per week, 3 credits)
This course will examine contemporary China through study of the themes in Chinese cinema from the May Fourth and Republican era (1911-1949), the Maoist era (1949-1978) and the Reform era (1979-present), including films by 5th and 6th Generation Chinese directors. Students will explore the artistic merits of these films and will consider Chinese representations of the themes of cultural, social, and political change.
BEIJ ECCD370 China's Economic Development: 1978 to the Present-and Beyond [pdf] (3 class hours per week, 3 credits)
In the last twenty-five years, China has been the fastest growing economy in the world. In this course, students will explore the historical stages and effectiveness of the economic policies that have shaped China's emergence as a major player in the global economy. Students will examine the challenges posed by economic development and the prospects for China's economic future.
BEIJ WSWC360 Women in Modern China (3 class hours per week, 3 credits)
Chairman Mao denounced the oppression of women with his famous declaration that "women hold up half the sky." The elevation of women's status was one of the achievements of the Communist Party. In this course, students will explore the expectations of women and their experiences under Confucianism, Communism, and the new market economy. Special emphasis is given to women's changing status in the family, society's attitude towards women, women's self-awareness, and the issues that confront women in China today.
BEIJ INTS380 Internship [pdf] (3 credits)
Students with at least three semesters of Chinese may elect to participate in an internship to replace one of their courses. Interns are placed in Chinese, joint-venture, or foreign-owned companies. Students spend a minimum of 120 hours working over the course of the semester and participate in a discussion seminar which requires a paper and oral presentation of their work. Internships are supervised by a faculty member.
