About the Program

Goals

Provide instruction in the Chinese language at all undergraduate levels. Chinese language courses will serve as a communication and research resource for students with majors, minors, or special interest in such disciplines as the humanities, fine arts, business, and the social sciences.
Introduce Chinese culture by offering Chinese literature, culture and film courses in English. These courses impart students the knowledge that is fundamental to multicultural education and appreciation of diversity.
Provide students with the qualifications for career opportunities. Enhance career possibilities of students by providing work preparation in international business and trade, translation and interpreting skills, and teaching positions.
Expose students to the opportunities to participate in cultural events organized in Chinese communities and Consulate General of PRC in Houston. Coordinate interactions between the University of Houston and Chinese communities.

Major

Bachelor of Arts in Chinese Studies

The Chinese program of the Department of Modern and Classical Languages is pleased to announce a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese Studies. The major was officially approved by the State Coordinating Board on July 24th, and students may now declare Chinese Studies as a major. The program description and requirements are below. For further information you may also contact Debra Frazier (undergraduate advisor) at Debra.Frazier@uh.edu or any of the Chinese Faculty.

Brief Program Description

The BA in Chinese Studies will offer students language courses (modern Chinese at all proficiency levels, literature survey and business Chinese), and interdisciplinary perspectives on the culture, history, literature, and linguistics of China. The Chinese language, in both written and spoken forms, reflects Chinese culture and heritage. Interdisciplinary courses address topics and issues deeply rooted in the nature of Chinese studies. In addition, the program seeks to promote innovative teaching and incorporate new computer-based instructional technologies into instruction. The goals of the BA in Chinese Studies include:

To provide high quality instruction in Chinese language courses at all levels. Chinese language courses will serve as a communication and research tool for students with majors, minors, or special interests.
To impart knowledge and understanding to students by offering academically rigorous courses on Chinese history, literature, linguistics, religion, and film studies. These courses form broad perspectives to provide students with the experience that is fundamental to multicultural education and interdisciplinary studies.
To provide students with unique qualifications for career opportunities. Being strengthened by the Summer Study in Beijing Program, the program enhances career possibilities by providing students with opportunities for internships in China and work preparation in international business and trade, translation and interpreting skills, and teaching positions.
To prepare students for graduate studies focused on various approaches to understanding China and Asia. In addition to popular courses such as Business Chinese, academically rigorous courses that motivate students in intellectual pursuits are offered.
To develop a strong academic and cultural bridge for interactions between the University of Houston and the area communities on China-related events so as to provide students with enriched cultural life, extra curricular, and career opportunities.

Degree and Major Requirements

General Degree Requirements

Category	Semester Credit Hours
General Education Core Curriculum (bachelor’s degree only)	42
Required Courses	9
Prescribed Electives	21
Free Electives	39
CLASS College requirements	9
Other (Specify, e.g., internships, clinical work)	(if not included above)
TOTAL	120

Chinese Studies Major Requirements

Prefix and Number	Required Courses*	SCH
1	CHNS 2302 Intermediate Chinese II	3
2	CHNS 4301 Public Speaking in Chinese	3
3	CHNS 4302 Integrated Chinese thru Multimedia	3

* Students normally will be expected to take CHNS 1501, 1502, 2301 before taking the first language course (CHNS 2302) required by the major. These will count as free electives, to be consistent with other language programs in the Dept. of Modern and Classical Languages (MCL).

Prefix and Number

Prescribed Elective Courses

SCH

Any 3 of the following courses:

CHNS 3301, 3302 Advanced Chinese I, II

CHNS 3303 Readings in Modern Chinese
CHNS 3304 Business Chinese
CHNS 4304 Survey of Chinese Literature

Any 4 of the following courses:

CHNS 3350 Chinese Culture through Films
CHNS 3352 Chinese Culture and Society thru Modern literature
CHNS 3354 Chinese Language and Culture
CHNS 3360 A look into Modern China
CHNS 3398 Chinese Culture and History
CHNS 4364 Issues in Chinese Language and Linguistics

HIST 3385 China since 1600
HIST 3386: China: Early civilization to 1600
HIST 4395: Confucianism and Chinese modernity

CUST Asian American cultures and communities
POLS 4321: Democracy in Asia
ECON 3355: Economic development of Asia

Faculty

Faculty associated with the Chinese Studies Major are listed below along with their respective courses, although the courses from the Chinese program are taught rotationally among MCL faculty members. For any questions regarding the program, please contact Marshall McArthur at cmmcarth@uh.edu or Jing Zhang at jzhang5@uh.edu. (Professor Wen is on leave during Spring 2007).

Faculty	Courses currently offered
X. Sharon Wen Associate Prof. Dept. of MCL	CHNS 3303, 4301, 4302, 4304, 3352, 3360
Marshall McArthur Instructional Assistant Professor Dept. of MCL	CHNS 1501, 3304, 3350, 3354, 4364, 3398
Jing Zhang Instructional Assistant Professor Dept. of MCL	CHNS 1501, 1502, 2301, 2302, 3301, 3302
Xiaoping Cong Assistant Professor Dept. of History	HIST 3395, 4382, 4383

Minor

Minor in Chinese Studies

Components of the curriculum in Chinese Studies

The minor in Chinese Studies requires 15 semester hours taken from the courses listed below. A minimum of 9 hours must be taken in residence, and at least 6 of the 9 hours must be advanced. A student must earn a 2.00 grade-point average in all courses attempted in the minor field at the University of Houston.

WCL Minor

World Cultures & Literatures (WCL)

Students can easily double minors in both Chinese and WCL

WCL is an MCL interdisciplinary minor that complements MCL's specific language & area studies programs, as well as several CLASS departments, by helping students to develop academic concentrations (e.g., in Arabic Studies, Film, 3rd world literature, Business, etc.) tailored to their career interests, aspirations & needs.
Theories centered on the Clash of Cultures, reactions to modernization, etc. in a post Cold War, post 9/11 era of globalization & trans-national processes are at the center of con-temporary concerns. The WCL curriculum option addresses these & other key concerns through individual courses & an interdisciplinary program which supplements academic majors in CLASS & other UH programs.
WCL provides unique windows on aspects of international development through courses in world or area literary & cultural studies, as well as courses in philosophy, history, the social sciences, etc. The minor provides structured alternatives or coherent, rigorous, custom-tailored curriculum clusters drawn from an inventory of courses available in MCL & other campus units. MCL's language programs offer a variety of courses taught in English & Spanish.