Chinese Studies Program

  • Department Information

    Chinese Studies Program

    Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures

    Jessica Chan, Section Coordinator
    Assistant Professors Chan, Gao
    Affiliated Faculty: Geaney (Religion), Loo (History)

    This section contains information specific to courses taught in Chinese. Other courses relevant to the Chinese Studies major/minor are listed under Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (LLC).  For full information regarding departmental policies relevant to all LLC programs, study abroad, and course sequencing, see the main page of the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures.

  • Major

    The Chinese Studies Major

    Note: The grade point average of the coursework comprising the major must be no less than 2.00 with no course grade below C- (1.7).

    Nine courses, including:

    At least four language courses chosen from the following, one of which must be a 400-level course:

    CHIN 301 Advanced Intermediate Chinese

    CHIN 302 Advanced Intermediate Chinese II

    CHIN 315 Myths and Parables in Chinese Literature and Film

    CHIN 401 Topics in Advanced Chinese I

    CHIN 402 Topics in Advanced Chinese II

    CHIN 410 Business Chinese

    CHIN 497 Selected Topics


    Five elective courses chosen from the list below, including two LLC electives in conjunction with CLAC in Chinese. Up to two language courses at or above the 300-level may be counted as electives.
    ARTH 225 Art and Asia
    HIST 250 Modern East Asia 1600-1960

    HIST 251 Chinese Revolutions

    HIST 252 China Modern: 1900-1940

    HIST 341 History and Memory: WWII in East Asia

    LLC 225 Chinese Culture and Civilization

    LLC 227 The Action Genre in East Asian Cinema

    LLC 325 Revolution and Modernity in Chinese Literature

    LLC 355 Chinese Cinema

    PLSC 343 Politics of Asia

    PLSC 345 Politics of China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan

    PLSC 357 International Relations of East Asia

    RELG 253 Body/Sex in World Religious Literature

    RELG 255 Queers in Religion

    RELG 268 Religion and Literature

    RELG 350 Dao of Sex

    RELG 355 Selected Asian Religions

    Students MUST complete an approved study abroad experience as part of the Chinese Studies major. The study abroad experience can be fulfilled through a summer study abroad program associated with the University of Richmond, or other summer or semester programs in Chinese universities approved by the Chinese Studies faculty.

    Students must take one 400-level course in Chinese at the University of Richmond after they return from abroad.

    Students can transfer up to five courses to fulfill their Chinese Studies major requirements.
  • Cross School Major

    Cross-School Major in Chinese Studies and International Business

    (Earned in conjunction with a major in the Robins School of Business with an international business concentration.)

    Nine courses and an interdisciplinary research project (IDST 379), in addition to completing all requirements of the international business concentration for the business administration major, including
    CHIN 410 Business Chinese, and

    Four courses at the 300-level or above, chosen from:

    CHIN 301 Advanced Intermediate Chinese

    CHIN 302 Conversational Chinese

    CHIN 401 Topics in Advanced Chinese I

    CHIN 402 Topics in Advanced Chinese II

    CHIN 497 Selected Topics

    One semester full-time study in China or Taiwan at an approved university

    The cross-school major in Chinese Studies and International Business represents a collaborative project between the Department of Languages,  Literatures, and Cultures and the International Business Program in the Robins School of Business. Designated faculty members from each program will advise students upon declaration and as they progress through the major. The curriculum includes a semester abroad at one of the University's partner institutions (for example, Tsinghua University in Beijing or National Chengchi University in Taiwan). There, students will continue their course work in Chinese Studies and business in classes with both local and other international students.

    To prepare for the experience abroad, students must have taken CHIN 202 or the equivalent. Upon returning to the University of Richmond, they will broaden their knowledge of literary and cultural studies through advanced seminars as well as additional Robins School of Business coursework. The Chinese component of this program thus consists of five courses at the 300-level or above taken on campus plus four courses taken abroad, or the equivalent of a nine-course major in LLC.

  • Minor

    The Chinese Studies Minor

    Note: The grade point average of the coursework comprising the minor must be no less than 2.00 with no course grade below C- (1.7).

    Five courses, including:

    At least two language courses at the 300-level or above

    Three elective courses from the list below. Up to two language courses at or above the 300-level may be counted as electives.

    ARTH 225 Art and Asia

    HIST 250 Modern East Asia 1600-1960

    HIST 251 Chinese Revolutions

    HIST 252 China Modern: 1900-1940

    HIST 341 History and Memory: WWII in East Asia

    LLC 225 Chinese Culture and Civilization

    LLC 227 The Action Genre in East Asian Cinema

    LLC 325 Revolution and Modernity in Chinese Literature

    LLC 355 Chinese Cinema

    PLSC 343 Politics of Asia

    PLSC 345 Politics of China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan

    PLSC 357 International Relations of East Asia

    RELG 253 Body/Sex in World Religious Literature

    RELG 255 Queers in Religion

    RELG 268 Religion and Literature

    RELG 350 Dao of Sex

    RELG 355 Selected Asian Religions

    Studying abroad is strongly encouraged, but not required. Students can transfer up to three courses to fulfill their Chinese Studies minor requirements. Minors are strongly encouraged to take at least one 300 or 400-level language course on campus after studying abroad. Students are expected to fulfill all prerequisites necessary for courses within the minor. Prerequisites do not count toward the minor unless otherwise noted.

  • Study Abroad

    Study Abroad

    For students of Chinese, the department offers a summer study program in China. Semester or year study abroad at our partner institutions in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Beijing is encouraged. For a complete list of study abroad options, contact the Office of International Education.

Courses

Expand All
  • CHIN 101 Elementary Chinese

    Units: 1

    Description

    Introduction to standard Mandarin in cultural context; development of skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing.

  • CHIN 102 Elementary Chinese

    Units: 1

    Description

    Introduction to standard Mandarin in cultural context; development of skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing.

    Prerequisites

    CHIN 101.

  • CHIN 201 Intermediate Chinese

    Units: 1

    Description

    Reinforcement and expansion of skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Appreciation of Chinese culture.

    Prerequisites

    CHIN 102.

  • CHIN 202 Intermediate Chinese

    Units: 1

    Fulfills General Education Requirement COM2

    Description

    Reinforcement and expansion of skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Appreciation of Chinese culture.

    Prerequisites

    CHIN 201.

  • CHIN 301 Advanced Intermediate Chinese

    Units: 1

    Description

    A continuation of Chinese 202. Focuses on the further development of the four language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

    Prerequisites

    CHIN 202.

  • CHIN 302 Advanced Intermediate Chinese II

    Units: 1

    Description

    Continuation of CHIN 301. Social subject matters such as urbanization, aging and wellness, gender equality, environmental protection, and finance using complex grammatical patterns and expressions.

    Prerequisites

    CHIN 301.

  • CHIN 315 Myths and Parables in Chinese Literature and Film

    Units: 1

    Description

    Advanced intermediate language course. Integrates language with pre-modern Chinese culture and philosophy by introducing students to Chinese myths, parables, and popular beliefs. Through close reading of selected tales written entirely in Chinese, introduces the core of Chinese thought: Confucianism (yujia), Taoism (daojia), and Buddhism (fojia). Viewing of modern and contemporary film adaptations of supernatural tales such as animation films that are based on the novel Journey to the West. Taught in Chinese. All films are subtitled in Chinese and English.

    Prerequisites

    CHIN 301.

  • CHIN 388 Individual Internship

    Units: .5-1

    Description

    Internship experiences outside of the department in fields related to Chinese studies. No more than 1.5 units of internship in any one department and 3.5 units of internship overall may be counted toward required degree units.

    Prerequisites

    Permission of department.

  • CHIN 389 Practice Assistantship

    Units: .25

    Description

    Students lead practice sessions associated with the elementary and intermediate language sequence in Chinese. The practice assistantship does not count as credit toward the major or minor. Up to one unit can be applied toward graduation credit.

    Prerequisites

    Permission of department.

  • CHIN 401 Topics in Advanced Chinese I

    Units: 1

    Description

    Exploration of themes and issues in contemporary Chinese culture including social issues, popular culture, traditions, politics, and history providing a range of views across culture boundaries.

    Prerequisites

    One 300-level course in Chinese or permission of instructor

  • CHIN 402 Advanced Chinese II

    Units: 1

    Description

    Further refines Chinese syntax and develops academic writing skills sufficient to complete a research project in Chinese.

    Prerequisites

    CHIN 401 or permission of instructor

  • CHIN 406 Summer Undergraduate Research

    Units: 0

    Description

    Documentation of the work of students who receive summer fellowships to conduct research [or produce a creative arts project] in the summer. The work must take place over a minimum of 8 weeks, the student must engage in the project full-time (at least 40 hours per week) during this period, and the student must be the recipient of a fellowship through the university. Graded S/U.

    Prerequisites

    Approval for summer Arts and Sciences fellowship by faculty mentor

  • CHIN 410 Business Chinese

    Units: 1

    Description

    Designed for students who are interested in learning business Chinese. Focusing on topics of international business and foreign trade, the course offers advanced training in vocabulary, grammar, and rhetoric. The aim is to equip students with necessary language skills to function in the business world related to China.

    Prerequisites

    One 300-level course in Chinese or permission of instructor.

  • CHIN 495 Independent Study

    Units: .5-1

    Description

    Special projects individually pursued under supervision of faculty member.

    Prerequisites

    Permission of instructor.

  • CHIN 497 Selected Topics

    Units: 1

    Description

    Special interest topics offered at department's discretion. Recent topics include contemporary readings in culture, literature and history; and romance.

    Prerequisites

    CHIN 301 or permission of instructor.