What if you could learn modern standard Chinese, or 普通話, from Professor Bai Di, a native of Harbin, China...
Chinese Studies explores one
of the world’s most powerful
shapers of the future
PASSPORT TO A FIFTH OF HUMANITY
There are over a billion Chinese speakers,
which translates to about one out of every five humans. Chinese speakers outnumber English speakers by about 2 to 1.
Our major gives you much more than just language. Students learn in depth about China’s history, literature, politics and contemporary society.
Issues of culture in China are headline news as it struggles with rapid change. A group of Drew students and faculty recently used a $25,000 research grant to travel to China and study women’s education.
As the world’s fastest-growing economy, the speed of change in China is breathtaking and momentous. With the skills you learn as a Drew Chinese Studies major you can be a part of this history.
China, Yes!
Nationally, five percent of college students who studied abroad in 2009-10 studied in China.
At Drew, our percentage was more than double that.
Careers Made easy
good guanxi*
Chinese language skills are highly prized in today’s job market. Majoring or double-majoring in Chinese Studies opens doors and makes graduates uniquely desirable to employers in any number of fields, from business to the sciences to humanities and fine arts.
Our faculty helps graduates with introductions and recommendations to educational institutions and employers both in North America and in China. Since the department is close-knit, our recommendations are based on a close working knowledge of each student’s skills.
Many of our alumni are already working in China and arranged their employment soon after graduation.
*loosely translates as “personal connection”
Full-Impact Students
Jessica Cooney
I was able to recognize my Chinese skills when I lived in China for six months and needed to communicate with local people and my Chinese teachers. After my semester abroad, I returned to China for a research project conducted in Chinese.
Passionate Faculty
Bai Di
Associate Professor
My main focus is to prepare students linguistically, culturally and intellectually for interaction with China and the Chinese-speaking world. I take great satisfaction in traveling to China with my students—I’ve done it six times, in both summer and Drew International Seminar programs.
This city’s concentric ring roads define socioeconomic zones. The further you go, the less touristy it gets. We take Drew students way out to the fifth-ring road. It’s a side of Beijing visitors don’t usually get to see.
My Favorite Course
“I was able to listen to Chinese spoken in film and understand what was being discussed. Through movies I was also able to observe Chinese culture and values.”
Jessica Cooney on Selected Topics in Modern Chinese Literature and Film
Twenty (20) credits must be upper-level courses. At least 24 credits toward the major must be earned at Drew.
I. Core (28 credits)
CHIN 101 - Beginning Chinese I (4)
An introduction to spoken and written Chinese. Language laboratory required.
Offered: fall semester.
CHIN 102 - Beginning Chinese II (4)
An introduction to spoken and written Chinese. Language laboratory required.
Offered: spring semester.
Prerequisite: CHIN 101.
CHIN 201 - Intermediate Chinese I (4)
Intermediate spoken and written Chinese. Language laboratory required.
Offered: fall semester.
Prerequisite: CHIN 102 or equivalent.
CHIN 202 - Intermediate Chinese II (4)
This course is designed for students who have completed Chinese 30 and intend to finish two years of language training. The course emphasizes speaking, vocabulary building, and the development of reading and translating skills. Teaching materials will include a textbook and newspaper/magazine articles.
Offered: spring semester.
Prerequisite: CHIN 201 or equivalent.
CHIN 301 - Modern Chinese Society (4)
Advanced training in listening comprehension and oral expression through study of modern Chinese society. Writing skills will be developed through critical essays on readings.
Offered: fall semester in alternate years.
CHIN 350 - Selected Topics in Modern Chinese Literature and Film (4)
Chinese literature, cinema, and drama of the twentieth century, a time when China faced western challenges to its national identity and cultural tradition. Texts of the twentieth century are distinctively modern, covering such issues as westernization and tradition, revolution, family restructuring and women's role in society.
Course may be repeated.
Offered: fall semester.
PSCI 228 - Chinese Politics (4)
China, the world's largest country and one of the few remaining nominally communist nations, is undergoing unprecedented social, economic, and political chance. This course surveys China's contemporary political history, the reform movement, and China's transition from communism.
Offered: Annually.
Note
CHIN 101 and CHIN 102 may be exempted through a placement exam. If CHIN 101 and/or CHIN 102 are exempted, a corresponding number of credits (4 or 8) must be completed from the following courses: CHIN 250, 354, 350, or from credits from the Drew Summer language program and/or the approved study-abroad language programs.
II. Electives (16 credits)
ARTH 312 - Arts of Asia (4)
This course focuses on a special theme or period in Asian art, such as Chinese traditions and their modern expressions, the East Asian nature traditions, and arts of India.
Course may be repeated.
Offered: spring semester in even-numbered years.
CHIN 250 - Topics in Chinese Culture (4)
An interdisciplinary and comparative introduction to important elements of both traditional and modern Chinese culture, including history, language, literature, art, philosophy/religion, family/marriage, and science/technology/medicine.
Course may be repeated.
Offered: spring semester in even-numbered years.
CHIN 300 - Independent Study in Chinese (2-4)
A course for students who wish to continue the study of Chinese at an advanced level.
Signature of instructor required for registration.
Course may be repeated.
Offered: every semester.
CHIN 310 - Advanced Chinese Reading (4)
This is a second-semester course for the third-year of Chinese. It focuses on students' ability to read authentic Chinese texts. Other aspects of the language learning, such as speaking, character acquisition, writing and translation are also included.
Offered: spring semester.
Prerequisite: CHIN 301.
CHIN 350 - Selected Topics in Modern Chinese Literature and Film (4)
Chinese literature, cinema, and drama of the twentieth century, a time when China faced western challenges to its national identity and cultural tradition. Texts of the twentieth century are distinctively modern, covering such issues as westernization and tradition, revolution, family restructuring and women's role in society.
Course may be repeated.
Offered: fall semester.
CHIN 354 - Selected Topics in Classical Chinese Literature (4)
Examination of the Chinese tradition in literature, culture and thought through critical study of classical texts in English translation. Subject matter may include selections from the genres of poetry, philosophical discourse, drama, tales, and the classical novel. Critical essay required of students.
May be repeated for credit as topic varies.
Offered: fall semester in even numbered years.
HIST 264 - Modern China: From Opium Wars to the World's Workshop (4)
This course examines political, cultural and economic transformations in China from the 19th century to the present. Covering the Opium Wars, the Taiping Rebellion, the collapse of the Qing Dynasty, Civil War, the Communist Revolution, the Cold War, globalization and China's rise at the end of the 20th century to become the world's workshop, this course will explore what has been for China the most tumultuous and arguably the most transformative century of its nearly four thousand year existence.
Offered: To be Determined.
REL 270 - Religion and Culture: China and Japan (4)
An introduction to the history, literature, and practices of the major religions of China and Japan, focusing on Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, and Shinto. While providing an overview of each tradition, the course emphasizes the dynamic interactions among them that have shaped the development of religious and cultural traditions in East Asia and their civilizational significance. Primary texts in translation and visual materials are central to the course study. The course includes field trips to Japanese traditional institutions devoted to the practice of Zen and the Tea Ceremony in New York City.
Offered: spring semester.
Study Abroad
Study abroad in a Drew program or programs approved by Drew is strongly recommended, especially for students who wish to emphasize language. With prior approval from the program director, students may replace up to four course (16 credits) with courses completed in such programs; one language course (4 credits) in Section I and three courses (12 credits) in Section II.
Minor
Requirements for the Minor (26 credits)
I. Core (18 credits)
CHIN 102 - Beginning Chinese II (4)
An introduction to spoken and written Chinese. Language laboratory required.
Offered: spring semester.
Prerequisite: CHIN 101.
CHIN 201 - Intermediate Chinese I (4)
Intermediate spoken and written Chinese. Language laboratory required.
Offered: fall semester.
Prerequisite: CHIN 102 or equivalent.
CHIN 202 - Intermediate Chinese II (4)
This course is designed for students who have completed Chinese 30 and intend to finish two years of language training. The course emphasizes speaking, vocabulary building, and the development of reading and translating skills. Teaching materials will include a textbook and newspaper/magazine articles.
Offered: spring semester.
Prerequisite: CHIN 201 or equivalent.
CHIN 350 - Selected Topics in Modern Chinese Literature and Film (4)
Chinese literature, cinema, and drama of the twentieth century, a time when China faced western challenges to its national identity and cultural tradition. Texts of the twentieth century are distinctively modern, covering such issues as westernization and tradition, revolution, family restructuring and women's role in society.
Course may be repeated.
Offered: fall semester.
II. Additional (8 credits)
ARTH 312 - Arts of Asia (4)
This course focuses on a special theme or period in Asian art, such as Chinese traditions and their modern expressions, the East Asian nature traditions, and arts of India.
Course may be repeated.
Offered: spring semester in even-numbered years.
CHIN 250 - Topics in Chinese Culture (4)
An interdisciplinary and comparative introduction to important elements of both traditional and modern Chinese culture, including history, language, literature, art, philosophy/religion, family/marriage, and science/technology/medicine.
Course may be repeated.
Offered: spring semester in even-numbered years.
CHIN 301 - Modern Chinese Society (4)
Advanced training in listening comprehension and oral expression through study of modern Chinese society. Writing skills will be developed through critical essays on readings.
Offered: fall semester in alternate years.
CHIN 354 - Selected Topics in Classical Chinese Literature (4)
Examination of the Chinese tradition in literature, culture and thought through critical study of classical texts in English translation. Subject matter may include selections from the genres of poetry, philosophical discourse, drama, tales, and the classical novel. Critical essay required of students.
May be repeated for credit as topic varies.
Offered: fall semester in even numbered years.
PSCI 228 - Chinese Politics (4)
China, the world's largest country and one of the few remaining nominally communist nations, is undergoing unprecedented social, economic, and political chance. This course surveys China's contemporary political history, the reform movement, and China's transition from communism.
Offered: Annually.
REL 270 - Religion and Culture: China and Japan (4)
An introduction to the history, literature, and practices of the major religions of China and Japan, focusing on Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, and Shinto. While providing an overview of each tradition, the course emphasizes the dynamic interactions among them that have shaped the development of religious and cultural traditions in East Asia and their civilizational significance. Primary texts in translation and visual materials are central to the course study. The course includes field trips to Japanese traditional institutions devoted to the practice of Zen and the Tea Ceremony in New York City.
