[German, Russian, and East Asian Languages and Literatures]

Cross-listed Courses. Note that unless otherwise specified, when a department/program references a course or unit in the department/program, it includes courses and units cross-listed with the department/program.

Major Requirements. The major offers a structured sequence of instruction in language skills leading to competency in spoken and written Mandarin Chinese, with classical Chinese taught at the advanced level. Emphasis is also placed on familiarizing students with the rich cultural heritage of China's 4,000 years' history, which is transmitted and embodied by the native language of more than one billion people. The department strongly recommends that majors spend their junior year at any departmentally recognized study-abroad program in mainland China and/or Taiwan. Together with the major in Japanese, this major replaces the former major in East Asian languages and cultures. Students wishing to pursue a broadly based, interdisciplinary study of East Asia should consult the listings for the East Asian studies major in the Program in Asian Studies.

The major consists of a minimum of twelve courses that must include: a) Chinese 101-102, 201-202, 301-302, or the equivalent; b) Chinese 207; c) three courses from the following: Chinese 209, 210, 261, s24, s30, First Year Seminar 280, or History 374, d) either Chinese 401 or 415; and e) a senior thesis project, Chinese 457 or 458, completed in the senior year. Students are expected to utilize some source materials in Chinese in conducting research for the thesis. Qualified students are encouraged to write in Chinese. Note that students may petition the department to have courses taken in their study-abroad program applied toward the fulfillment of requirements a) and c).

Pass/Fail Grading Option. Pass/fail grading may be elected for courses applied toward the major or secondary concentration.

Courses

CHI 101. Beginning Chinese I. An introduction to spoken and written modern Chinese. Conversation and comprehension exercises in the classroom and laboratory provide practice in pronunciation and the use of basic patterns of speech. Normally offered every year. S. Yang, Staff.

CHI 102. Beginning Chinese II. A continuation of Chinese 101 with increasing emphasis on the recognition of Chinese characters. By the conclusion of this course, students know over one quarter of the characters expected of an educated Chinese person. Classes, conducted increasingly in Chinese, stress sentence patterns that facilitate both speaking and reading. Prerequisite(s): Chinese 101. Normally offered every year. S. Yang, Staff.

CHI 201-202. Intermediate Chinese. Designed to enable students to converse in everyday Chinese and to read simple texts in Chinese (both traditional and simplified characters). Classes conducted primarily in Chinese aim at further development of overall language proficiency. Prerequisite(s): Chinese 102. Open to first-year students. Normally offered every year. L. Miao.

CHI 207. Traditional Chinese Literature in Translation. An exploration of Chinese literature through reading and discussion of some of its masterworks of poetry, drama, fiction, and belles-lettres prose pieces from ancient times through the premodern era. Open to first-year students. Normally offered every year. S. Yang.

CHI 209. Modern China through Film and Fiction. This course explores modern China through a number of short stories and feature films produced in the twentieth century, from Lu Hsun's fiction written around 1920 to recent films directed by such world-famous directors as Zhang Yimou and Ang Lee. The focus of the course is on ways of interpreting different cultural products of modern China. Students thereby also gain a general knowledge of the history of modern Chinese fiction and film. All readings, lectures, and discussions are in English. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 35. Normally offered every year. S. Yang.

CHI 210. Masculinity and Criminality in Chinese Literature and Cinema. This course introduces literary works from China in the late imperial and modern times that represent criminality and legality, with close reference to the construction of masculine identities. Discussion focuses on the correlation between literature and society, and particularly the cultural transition from tradition to modernity since the nineteenth century. Special attention is given to law and identity in the context of the emergence of the nation state, the ritualistic aspect of patriarchal charisma, historicization of violence, social transgression as a form of male bonding, and persecution through public storytelling. Conducted in English. Open to first-year students. Normally offered every other year. J. Zou.

CHI 261. Self and Society in Chinese Culture: Classics and Folk Tales. An introduction to Chinese culture and civilization through reading and discussion of a number of classical texts of Confucian, Taoist, and Buddhist thought, as well as traditional tales, popular stories, and legends in which these basic philosophies are reflected. Readings and lectures are all in English. Open to first-year students. Normally offered every other year. S. Yang.

CHI 301-302. Upper-Level Modern Chinese. Designed for students who already have a strong background in spoken Chinese, the course gives an intensive review of the essentials of grammar and phonology, introduces a larger vocabulary and a variety of sentence patterns, improves conversational and auditory skills, and develops some proficiency in reading and writing. The course makes extensive use of short texts (both literary and nonfictional) and some films. Classes are conducted primarily in Chinese. Prerequisite(s): Chinese 202. Open to first-year students. Normally offered every year. L. Miao.

AS/CI 330. Chinese Culture and Agrarian Society. This course helps students cultivate an interest in contemporary scholarship on recent cultural and social transformations in China. It provides an introduction to the critical study of China, beginning with its ongoing process of industrialization. Discussion and assigned readings emphasize interdisciplinary training that draws on both human and social sciences, and address recent social, institutional, and representational changes that accompany the country's transformation from a rural culture to a semi-urban society. Texts include literary, historical, and cinematic works. Conducted in English. Prerequisite(s): one 200-level course on Asian literature, history, or society. Open to first-year students. Not open to students who have received credit for Asian Studies/Chinese 130 or Chinese 130. Normally offered every other year. J. Zou.

CHI 360. Independent Study. Students, in consultation with a faculty advisor, individually design and plan a course of study or research not offered in the curriculum. Course work includes a reflective component, evaluation, and completion of an agreed-upon product. Sponsorship by a faculty member in the program/department, a course prospectus, and permission of the chair are required. Students may register for no more than one independent study per semester. Normally offered every semester. Staff.

CHI 365. Special Topics. Designed for the small seminar group of students who may have particular interests in areas of study that go beyond the regular course offerings. Periodic conferences and papers are required. Written permission of the instructor is required. Offered with varying frequency. Staff.

CHI 401. Advanced Chinese. This course is designed to further enhance students' ability to understand and speak idiomatic Mandarin Chinese. Included are readings of modern and contemporary literary works, journalistic writings, and other nonliterary texts. Classical texts may also be studied upon students' request. Prerequisite(s): Chinese 302. Recommended background: three years or more of Chinese. Open to first-year students. Normally offered every year. S. Yang, Staff.

CHI 402. Advanced Chinese II. A continuation of Chinese 401. Prerequisite(s): Chinese 302 or 401. Recommended background: three years of Chinese or more. Open to first-year students. Normally offered every year. Staff.

CHI 415. Readings in Classical Chinese. An intensive study of classical Chinese through reading selections of ancient literary, historical, and philosophical texts in the original, including excerpts from the Analects, the Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Shiji, Tang-Song prose and poetry. Conducted in Chinese. Prerequisite(s): Chinese 302 or 401. Open to first-year students. Normally offered every other year. S. Yang, Staff.

CHI 457, 458. Senior Thesis. An extended research or translation project on a topic in Chinese literature, culture, or language utilizing some source materials in Chinese. Qualified students may choose to write the thesis in Chinese. Before registering for either 457 or 458, the student should consult with his or her advisor and submit a concise description and a tentative bibliography. Students register for 457 in the fall semester and for 458 in the winter semester, unless the department gives approval for a two-semester project. Majors writing an honors thesis register for both Chinese 457 and 458. Normally offered every year. Staff.

Short Term Units

CHI s20. Beginning Chinese: Intensive. This unit introduces students to spoken and written modern Mandarin Chinese. Conversation and comprehension exercises in the classroom and laboratory provide practice in pronunciation and the use of basic patterns of speech. Open to first-year students. Offered with varying frequency. Staff.

CHI s30. Chinese Calligraphy and Etymology. A study of Chinese calligraphy through practice in the use of the brush-pen and through analysis of the aesthetics as well as the historical development of this graphic art. Calligraphy or brushwriting (shufa in Chinese and shodo in Japanese) is considered in East Asia as a spontaneous yet premeditated act of self-expression, which embraces philosophy, religion, culture, and an artistic tradition thousands of years old. Conducted in English. Prerequisite(s): Chinese 101 or Japanese 101. Recommended background: some knowledge of Chinese characters or kanji. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 20. Offered with varying frequency. S. Yang.

CHI s50. Independent Study. Students, in consultation with a faculty advisor, individually design and plan a course of study or research not offered in the curriculum. Course work includes a reflective component, evaluation, and completion of an agreed-upon product. Sponsorship by a faculty member in the program/department, a course prospectus, and permission of the chair are required. Students may register for no more than one independent study during a Short Term. Normally offered every year. Staff.

[German, Russian, and East Asian Languages and Literatures]