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Chinese

Studying Chinese is a good combination with just about any other program.

Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø offers a 20-credit minor in Chinese, and a related major in Asian studies. We are one of only a few colleges in the U.S. to offer four full years of Chinese language instruction in addition to Chinese culture. 

A minor in Chinese includes one year of beginning language study, two years of higher-level study of Mandarin Chinese, plus courses on Chinese culture, cinema, history and art. See also the major in Asian studies and minor in linguistics.

Because of China¡¯s great influence on the global economy and environment, politics, the arts and more, study in Chinese is a smart combination with just about any other academic program at Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø or career choice you might make for your future.

Our program and ties to China began nearly 50 years ago, when Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø students and professors first started traveling together to East Asia.

What you'll learn

Intercultural competence

Intercultural competence

Understand real and imaginary similarities and differences. Use more than one perspective to view issues.

Disciplinary knowledge

Disciplinary knowledge

Gain a deep understanding of your subject and how it connects to other subjects.

Communication competence

Communication competence

Read and listen carefully. Express ideas (writing or speaking) suited to the audience.

Ethical citizenship

Ethical citizenship

Examine and embrace your strengths, passions and values. Develop ethical convictions and act on them.

Intellectual curiosity

Intellectual curiosity

Set yourself up for lifelong intellectual growth. Take responsibility for your own learning.

Distinctions

? Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø is a founding member of AsiaNetwork, and was among the first U.S. colleges to re-establish ties with China in the 1970s.

? The faculty are native speakers who specialize in Chinese language, media, pop culture, art and art history.

? Students of any language are strongly encouraged to study abroad, taking advantage of Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø¡¯s many opportunities. Augie Choice provides every student $2,000 for a standout learning experience, and many use it for travel expenses. Students of Chinese will be especially interested in:
¨C      an internship and study program at East China Normal University in Shanghai
¨C      a semester of language immersion or business and social sciences at Peking University in Beijing
¨C      a semester or annual exchange with Lingnan University in Hong Kong

? Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø grants especially meant for study abroad include the $1,000 IOP Passport Grants and Freistat Center Grants (amounts vary) for language and cultural studies.

? Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø¡¯s student and faculty exchange program with Huazhong Normal University in China, begun in 1988, allows seniors or recent graduates to study Mandarin Chinese and teach English for one year on the campus in Wuhan.

Recent grads

Katrina Rodriguez '21 is a material replenishment specialist at John Deere in Davenport, Iowa.

Lauren Amella ¡¯20 is the web marketing coordinator at CrowdStrike in Chicago.

Jake Schoeck ¡¯19 is an associate attorney at BrownWinick in Des Moines, Iowa.

Camilo Duarte ¡¯17 works in bilingual regional marketing at One Medical in Atlanta, Ga.

Elise Cather '17 is a regional sales manager-Europe at Audley Travel in Boston, Mass.

Emily Stanevicius ¡¯16 is an adjunct professor at Central China Normal University in Wuhan, Hubei, China.

Aubrey Waddick ¡¯16 is a policy analyst at the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission in Washington, D.C.

Abby Lange '15 is brand manager at Kung Yik Co., Ltd. in Taipei City, Taiwan.

Daisy Hoang ¡¯14 is senior vice president of sales and success at Katalon in Ho Chi MInh City, Vietnam.
 

Zach Stanphill
More Than I Imagined ? Zach Stanphill
“I never thought I¡¯d study history or Chinese. I thank my professors and advisors Dr. Brian Leech, Hua-Mei Chang and Dr. Jen-Mei Ma for encouraging me.”
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Madeleine Lange
More Than I Imagined ? Madeleine Lange
“I loved being able to expand people's horizons and expose more people to the Chinese language program!”
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Pierce Albert
More Than I Imagined ? Pierce Albert
“I want to thank Chinese professor Hua-Mei Chang and Japanese professor Mari Nagase for stimulating my interest in East Asian languages and cultures.”
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China J-Term

Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø launches short-term study abroad programs in China

Dr. Elizabeth Lawrence, associate professor of history and co-chair, Asian studies, and Dr. Xiaowen Zhang, professor of political science, led a three-week J-term course in China. Dr. Lawrence shares the historical significance of Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø students traveling in China  ¡ª again.

Chinese anniversary

Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø, Huazhong celebrate 36-year (and still going) teacher exchange program

Huazhong (Central China) Normal University in Wuhan recently hosted a celebration of the 36th anniversary of the signing of its teacher exchange agreement with Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø. Professor Emeritus of Geography Dr. Norm Moline  ¡¯64, who attended the 1988 agreement signing, was part of the Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø delegation at the celebration.

Lindberg Center

1 in 2 Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø grads has double (sometimes triple!) majors

Around the country, about 25% of college students double major. At Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøÍ¶_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø, it¡¯s much higher ¡ª 53.4% of the Class of 2020 had double or triple majors. What are the advantages?