Chinese Major
Major Requirements
The Chinese major presents an opportunity for an in-depth and focused study of Chinese language and culture. The major places emphasis on the student's acquisition of oral and written language proficiency as well as on the development of cultural awareness and competency.
The major consists of a minimum of 12 courses that must include the following:
Language
Complete seven courses from the following:
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| CHI 101 | Beginning Chinese I |
| CHI 102 | Beginning Chinese II |
| CHI 201 | Intermediate Chinese I |
| CHI 202 | Intermediate Chinese II |
| CHI 301 | Upper-Level Modern Chinese I |
| CHI 302 | Upper-Level Modern Chinese II |
| CHI 401 | Advanced Chinese |
| CHI 415 | Readings in Classical Chinese |
| CHI 450 | Special Topics in Advanced Chinese |
CHI 450 is a topics course and may be repeated to reach the seven-course requirement.
Literature
Complete at least one course from the following:
- CHI 207 The Self and the World in Premodern Chinese Literature / ASIA 207 The Self and the World in Premodern Chinese Literature
- CHI 223 Communism, Capitalism, and Cannibalism: New and Emerging Voices in Chinese Literature / ASIA 223 Communism, Capitalism, and Cannibalism: New and Emerging Voices in Chinese Literature
Students who take both courses may apply the second course towards the Cultural Electives requirement.
Cultural Electives
Complete at least two courses from the following:
- Any CHI course, excluding CHI 101, 102, 201, 202, 301, 302, and 401.
- Any courses designated with the (CHI: Cultural) attribute.
Students may apply CHI 415 Readings in Classical Chinese and CHI 450 Special Topics in Advanced Chinese to the Cultural Electives only when taken after the Language requirement is complete.
Advanced Seminar
Complete the following course:
- ASIA 320 Advanced Seminar: Current Research on Asia
Senior Thesis
Complete at least one course from the following:
Courses Taken Outside of Bates
Students may petition the program to have courses taken in approved study-abroad programs applied toward the fulfillment of the Chinese language requirements (up to two credits per semester of study) and the literature and culture requirement (up to one credit per semester of study).
Students who receive a score of four or five on the Chinese Advanced Placement examination may receive one credit toward the language requirement of the Chinese major.
Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail grading may not be elected for courses applied toward the Chinese major.
Restricted Declarations
Students who have declared the Chinese major may not declare the following:
- Asian Studies major with Chinese track
- Chinese minor
- Asian Modernity (C053) GEC
- Asian Narrative Traditions (C052)
- Chinese Language (C044) GEC
- Chinese Society and Culture (C047) GEC
Other Considerations
Up to two Short Term courses may count toward the major.
The program strongly recommends that majors spend half or all of their junior year on a College-approved study-abroad program.
Majors in Chinese may count no more than one course toward both the Asian Studies minor and their Chinese major.