Chinese is one of the "critical languages".

Chinese Language Undergraduate Program

The Chinese major provides the training and cultural background needed for entering East Asia-related careers in such fields as higher education, the arts, business, government, international relations, agriculture, or the media. Students may also consider a double major in Chinese and another discipline, such as business, international relations, economics, or journalism.

In addition, there are also two Chinese Chinese minors, which provide more skeletal training in Chinese language or culture.

The Chinese major

was revised in 2007. As of right now, anyone joining the major is subject to the new rules. The main differences between the new rules and the old are that (1) CHIN207 has been added as a requirement and (2) the number of courses that may be used to satisfy various requirements has been greatly expanded. Also (3) the program is more flexible for students with Chinese language background. If you joined the major before 1 July, 2007, the Chinese Program will permit you to follow the more flexible new rules but without being required to take CHIN207.

(Please note that the Chinese with Business major has been discontinued at the request of the Business School. We hope to see a replacement for it, but at present there is nothing of this kind that a student can sign up for. If you are interested, we recommend planning for the Chinese Major; please contact the advisor for more information.)

Requirements for the Chinese Major

As of Fall, 2007, the Chinese major requires 39 credits: 18 of language, 3 of CHIN207, and 18 of non-language electives, as described below.

No grade lower than C (2.0) may be used toward the major.

I. Language requirements:

18 credits of Chinese language at 200-level or above. Student placing into the program at higher levels should reach at least the level of CHIN302 or CHIN306 but may substitute non-language courses on China-related subjects for some of these 18 credits. (The final decision on what substitute courses may be used for the major rests with the Chinese Program and the Chinese Advisor.) Language courses accepted for the major include:
  • CHIN201/202 Intermediate Spoken Chinese I and Intermediate Written Chinese I (must be taken together and passed together)
  • CHIN203/204 Intermediate Spoken Chinese II and Intermediate Written Chinese II (must be taken together and passed together)
  • CHIN301 Advanced Chinese I
  • CHIN302 Advanced Chinese II
  • CHIN305 Life in China through TV Plays I
  • CHIN306 Life in China through TV Plays II
  • CHIN401 Readings in Modern Chinese I
  • CHIN402 Readings in Modern Chinese II
  • CHIN418A Special Topics in Contemporary Chinese Fiction and Film: Sex and the City: Literary and Filmic Representations of Women (taught in Chinese)
  • CHIN418B Special Topics in Contemporary Chinese Fiction and Film: The Representation of Youth (taught in Chinese)
  • CHIN441 Traditional Chinese Fiction (taught in Chinese)
  • CHIN442 Modern Chinese Fiction (taught in Chinese)

II. Linguistic Resources for Students of Chinese: 3 credits

. CHIN207 (3 credits). This course is intended primarily for students at Second Year level. The goal is to guide the student into becoming a more independent and effective learner of the language. Topics include the relationship between traditional and simplified characters (in this program we expect everyone to learn both), how to use a dictionary, a review of basic Chinese grammar, issues in studying abroad, and many other things. If the student is already at Third Year level or above, some 3-credit substitute is ordinarily arranged with the approval of the advisor. See "Non-language Requirements", below, for a list of some acceptable courses.
  1. Literature. 3 credits of Chinese literature at 300 level or above
    Courses accepted include:
    • CHIN314 Chinese Fiction and Drama in Translation
    • CHIN315 Modern Chinese Literature in Translation
    • CHIN316 Traditional Chinese Values
    • CHIN418A Special Topics in Contemporary Chinese Fiction and Film: Sex and the City: Literary and Filmic Representations of Women
    • CHIN418B 3 Special Topics in Contemporary Chinese Fiction and Film: The Representation of Youth
    • CHIN442 Modern Chinese Fiction

  2. Linguistics. 3 credits of Chinese linguistics at 300 level or above
    Courses accepted include:
    • CHIN421 Sounds and Transcriptions of Mandarin Chinese
    • CHIN422 Advanced Chinese Grammar
    • CHIN423 Chinese Historical Phonology
    • CHIN424 Linguistics of the Chinese Writing System
    • CHIN428 Selected Topics in Chinese Linguistics
    • EALL300 The Languages of East Asia

  3. History/Civilization. 6 credits of Chinese history/civilization from around the campus
    Courses accepted include but are not limited to:
    • EALL310 Asian Culture and the Sinosphere
    • HIST284 East Asian Civilization I
    • HIST285 East Asian Civilization II
    • HIST480 History of Traditional China
    • HIST481 A History of Modern China
    "Special Topics" and "Colloquium" courses (those with variable numbers, ending in 8 or 9 and followed by a letter) may be acceptable but only depending on the actual title and content of the course at the time it is offered. The final say on whether such courses are acceptable for a particular student’s major is in the hands of the Chinese Program and the Chinese Advisor. Recent examples have included:
    • HIST319O Special Topics in History: Modern China at War (2007)
    • HIST419B Special Topics in History: Disorder in Modern China (2006)
    • HIST419E Cultural History of the Chinese Revolution (2005)
    • HIST419F Special Topics in History: Chinese Popular Culture (2006)
    • HIST419J Special Topics in History: Family, Gender and Sexuality in Early Modern China (2007)
    • HIST419N Special Topics in History: Social Issues in Modern China (2007)
    • HIST419P Special Topics in History: Cultural History of the Chinese Revolution (2006)

  4. Electives. 6 credits of electives at 300 level or above, subject to the advisor's approval. In addition to all the specific courses listed "Non-language Requirements", above, language courses and independent study may also be used toward this requirement.
    Courses accepted include but are not limited to:
    • ARTH385 Art of China
    • GVPT454 Seminar in the International Relations of China
    "Special Topics" and "Colloquium" courses (those with variable numbers, ending in 8 or 9 and followed by a letter) may be acceptable but only depending on the actual title and content of the course at the time it is offered. The final say on whether such courses are acceptable for a particular student’s major is in the hands of the Chinese Program and the Chinese Advisor. Recent examples have included:
    • ARTH488A Colloquium in Art History: Chinese Art Historical Scholarship (2006)
    • ARTH488B Colloquium in Art History: Chinese Landscape Painting from the 10th Century to 17th Century (2006)
    • ARTH488C: Colloquium in Art History: Art and Nature in Chinese Culture (2007)
    • ARTH489A Special Topics in Art History: Chinese Modern Painting (2006)
    • ARTH489C Special Topics in Art History: Chinese Calligraphy, Painting, and Poetry (2004)
    • GVPT309B Topics in International Relations: Chinese Politics: Change and Continuity (2005)
    • GVPT359A Chinese Domestic Politics (2001)
    • GVPT359C Topics in Comparative Politics: Domestic Politics of PRC (2004)
    • GVPT409A Seminar in International Relations and World Politics: US-Mainland China-Taiwan Relations (2005)
    • GVPT409E Seminar in International Relations and World Politics: Special Topics in the Study of Chinese Politics (2004, 2007)
    • GVPT454H Seminar in the International Relations of China (2004)
    • GVPT459A Seminar in Comparative Politics: Chinese Domestic Politics (2006)
    • GVPT487H Government and Politics of China (2007)

Up to 6 credits of CHIN499 (Independent Study) may also be used toward the major, subject to the approval of the Chinese Program advisor. There may also be special one-time offerings around campus, so be sure to ask the advisor about these.

Special Language Courses

In addition to the more traditional courses in literature in translation, linguistics, and advanced language acquisition, courses in Chinese business language at the third-year level are offered. Students are also encouraged to spend at least one summer or semester in China (Taiwan or the People's Republic of China) pursuing intensive language study under one or another of the university's exchange programs with foreign universities or at other approved centers of higher education.

Exceptions to requirements for the Chinese Major

Transfer credit and substitute courses for the Chinese major

Students are expected to complete the major using the courses specified in the published requirements. However, at the discretion of the advisor, some transfer credit may be given for courses taken at other institutions, or overseas. The College of Arts and Humanities has a policy limiting such transfer credit:

"Any course taken at another institution and intended to satisfy a specific major requirement at the University of Maryland must be approved as an equivalent course by the chair/director and the dean. Normally, no more than two courses required by the major, including major and supporting courses, will be approved." (source)

However, the Chinese Program wants to encourage students to study Chinese overseas, and may accept transfer of more than two courses toward the language requirements of the major, at the discretion of the advisor and pending a language placement exam. Please contact the advisor to discuss your specific case. Courses taken overseas are not ordinarily accepted toward the non-language portions of the Major.

A note about study abroad credit: From study abroad programs, a maximum of 18 credits of transfer credit are allowed, and only language courses may be transfered from study abroad. If in doubt, please consult a Chinese Program advisor.

Courses taught on the UMCP campus may sometimes be accepted as substitutes for major requirements. However, the College of Arts and Humanities expects that major requirements will be followed literally; individual substitutions can only be made at the discretion of the program advisor. Please contact the advisor to discuss your specific case.

Finally, please note that students are expected to complete at least the last 12 credits of their major requirements (which usually means 4 courses) on the UMCP campus and as part of the last 30 credits of their degree:

"All candidates for University of Maryland, College Park, degrees should plan to take their final 30 credits in residence[,] since the advanced work of their major study normally occurs in the last year of the undergraduate program. Included in these 30 semester hours will be a minimum of 15 semester hours in courses numbered 300 or above, including at least 12 semester hours required in the major field (in curricula requiring such concentrations)." (source)

Credit by exam

The Chinese Program does not give credit by exam.

CHINESE MINORS

  1. The Chinese Language Minor. The 15-credit minor in Chinese language will provide students with a sophisticated understanding of Chinese linguistic knowledge and an upper-level Chinese language skill. Students attempting this minor will need a strong background in Chinese at the level of Chinese 101 and CHIN102/103, which are prerequisites for some of the required courses. Courses required for this minor are: Four 3-credit language courses at 200-level or higher (based upon students' individual level of proficiency) and one 3-credit linguistics-oriented course from among the Chinese Program's offerings. For more details, please see the Chinese Program advisor.

  2. The Chinese Studies Minor. The minor in Chinese Studies provides students with a basic Chinese language skill and a sophisticated understanding of Chinese literature, history, and culture. Courses required for this minor are: Six credits of Chinese language course study at any level (based upon students' individual level of proficiency) and three 3-credit courses from among an approved list, which must be selected from at least two different departments. For more details, please see the Chinese Program advisor.

What is a minor? A minor is also called a "citation" or a "concentration" at some other universities. Probably the name "concentration" is the most accurate. It just means that you have taken a small group of classes concentrated in a particular area. It means more than just having one or two classes in a subject, but it's certainly nothing comparable to a major, which represents a full menu of instruction in a broad academic area. If you're looking to impress an employer with your exposure to Chinese language or culture without taking a full Chinese major, a minor certainly stands out on your transcript.