Chinese Studies

About the major

China is one of the world’s great civilisations, comparable to the European and Middle Eastern traditions. The Chinese Studies program will provide you with a solid understanding of Chinese society and culture, the foundational language skills essential to function with confidence in the Chinese-speaking world, a basic ability to work in China-related professions and the competence to conduct research in Chinese studies. The modern Chinese language program caters for students with a wide range of language abilities: complete beginners, advanced learners, and speakers with background in both standard and non-standard forms of vernacular Chinese. The program focuses on developing effective communicative skills at the lower and intermediate levels, including Chinese for professional purposes. At the advanced levels, we teach research and academic writing skills in the Chinese language, including classical Chinese, which is essential for understanding Chinese tradition. The teaching of classical Chinese is integrated with the study of the literature and thought of pre-modern China.

All students, regardless of prior experience of the language, have access to the full range of units of study offered by the department including the opportunity to go on exchange or attend an Intensive Summer Program at Peking University or Fudan University. Whether you are an absolute beginner in the language, or have an HSC at some level of Chinese language, or are a background-speaker, you can major in Chinese Studies and go on to complete an honours year or postgraduate study in the subject. Graduates may go on to future careers in international relations, multinational corporations, media, tourism, NGOs, academic research, and education relating to China.

Requirements for completion Introductory Stream only (see below for sample Intermediate and Advanced Streams)

A major in Chinese Studies requires 48 credit points from the Unit of Study table including:
(i) 12 credit points of 1000-level language units
(ii) 18 credit points of 2000-level units with at least 12 credit points of language units
(iii) 12 credit points of 3000-level language units
(iv) 6 credit points of 3000-level Interdisciplinary Project unit

A minor in Chinese Studies requires 36 credit points from the Unit of Study table including:
(i) 12 credit points of 1000-level language units
(ii) 18 credit points of 2000-level units with at least 12 credit points of language units
(iii) 6 credit points of 3000-level units

First year

First year units in Chinese Studies are focused on student participation, communication, and cultural immersion. Students come to the department as beginners in the Chinese language. First year units will help the students develop basic communicative Chinese language skills and gain the background knowledge necessary to understand the diversity of Chinese speaking societies today.

Second year

Building on the foundational knowledge provided in first year, second year units develop intermediate level communicative Chinese language skills, and provide more background knowledge necessary to understand the diversity of Chinese speaking societies today and over time. Students can enter the programs with an HSC in Chinese, or as heritage learners. Through the language and culture program students will be provided with the methodological tools, critical thinking, analytic and communication skills required for the field of Chinese Studies.

Third year

Third-year units in Chinese Studies provide advanced levels of Chinese language skills and cultural topics that develop from the thematic specialisations of second year. Units of study develop deeper understandings of greater China and also provide training in transferable and transcultural skills through learning experiences which include collaborative learning activities, independent research and practical project based learning.

Honours

The Honours program in Chinese Studies will provide you with an opportunity to engage in in-depth study of social, political, cultural, literary or linguistic topics related to Chinese Studies.

All students with good academic records in Chinese Studies should consider an honours year. There will be a range of options for students with different levels of Chinese language proficiency and research interest. However, the more Chinese you have learned before you start, the more interesting the options that will be available to you.

If you commenced your degree prior to 2018: Admission to Honours requires a major in Chinese Studies with an average of 70 percent or above. You are advised to consider taking ASNS3690 Approaches to Research in Asian Studies, in the semester before you intend to commence Honours.

If you commenced your degree in 2018: Admission to Honours is via the Bachelor of Advanced Studies and requires the completion of a major in Chinese Studies with an average of 70 percent or above. You are advised to consider taking ASNS3690 Approaches to Research in Asian Studies, in the semester before you intend to commence Honours. You will need to ensure you have completed all other requirements of the Bachelor of Arts, including Open Learning Environment (OLE) units and a second major, prior to commencing Honours.

Advanced coursework

The requirements for advanced coursework in Chinese Studies are described in the degree resolutions.

24-36 credit points of advanced study will be included in the table for 2020.

Contact and further information

Example pathways

The Chinese major has three pathways (introductory, intermediate, advanced) depending on your Chinese language background when you begin your study.

The Introductory pathway 2 language unit at Level 1000; 3 units at Level 2000 with at least 2 language units; 2 language units + 1 interdisciplinary project unit at Level 3000.
Sample
Year 1: CHNS1101 + CHNS1102
Year 2: CHNS2601 + CHNS2602 + CHNS2011
Year 3: CHNS3601 + CHNS3602 + 1 interdisciplinary project unit at Level 3000

The Intermediate pathway 1 culture unit at Level 1000; 3 units at Level 2000 with at least 2 language units; 3 units at Level 3000 with at least 2 language units + 1 interdisciplinary project unit at Level 3000.
Samples
Option A: Intermediate Learners
Year 1: CHNS2601 + CHNS2602
Year 2: CHNS1600 +CHNS3601 + CHNS3602
Year 3: (CHNS2611 or CHNS2613) + CHNS3603 + 1 interdisciplinary project unit at Level 3000
Option B: Heritage Learners
Year 1: CHNS2001 + CHNS2002
Year 2: CHNS1600 + CHNS3603 + CHNS3604
Year 3: (CHNS2612 or CHNS2614) + (CHNS3605 or CHNS3645) + 1 interdisciplinary project unit at Level 3000

The Advanced pathway 1 culture unit at Level 1000; 1 culture unit at Level 2000; 5 units at Level 3000 with at least 4 language units + 1 interdisciplinary project unit at Level 3000.
Samples
Option A: HSC Continuers
Year 1: CHNS3601 + CHNS3602
Year 2: CHNS1601 + CHNS3603 + CHNS3604
Year 3: (CHNS2612 or CHNS2613) + (CHNS3605 or CHNS3111) + 1 interdisciplinary project unit at Level 3000
Option B: HSC Background
Year 1: CHNS3000 + CHNS3001
Year 2: CHNS1601 + CHNS3611 + CHNS3612
Year 3: CHNS2614 +CHNS3639 + 1 interdisciplinary project unit at Level 3000