Spring,Study abroad China

Spring 2011

Calendar
January 13: Arrival in Beijing
January 14- 15: Orientation
January 17: Classes begin
February 2-8: Chinese New Year Break
February 9: Classes resume
April 11-15: Finals
April 16- April 29: Study trip around China
May 1: Departure

Courses

Beijing, Its History and Urban Culture (3 credits)
Beginning with Beijing’s Mongol heritage at the time of Marco Polo’s visit, this multi-disciplinary seminar studies the history and urban culture of one of the world’s most fascinating capital cities. Topics include Confucian ecology and fengshui, native-place lodges and alley neighborhoods (hutong), court society in the Forbidden City, the Boxer Rebellion, high-modernist planning, and the New Beijing of the 2008 Olympics.

China in the Global Economy (3 credits)
This course will examine China's increasing role in the global economy, including trade, investment, impact of WTO accession, regional integration and international economic institutions.

Chinese Arts & Culture (3 credits)
This course aims to give students a better understanding of ancient and modern Chinese fine arts (painting, sculpture, architecture, etc), as well as folk and popular arts (crafts, opera and film). A comparative approach will be employed to highlight differences with Western genres.

Chinese Literature and Society (2-3 credits)
This course explores the relationship between literature, man, and society by analyzing the works and minds of major 20th century Chinese writes and against the background of anti-traditionalism and East-West culture encounters.

Chinese Political Reforms (3 credits)
This course aims at understanding the two and half decades of reforms in the People's Republic of China. By discussing the reforms' background conditions, international context, policy options, difficulties, achievements, failures, and possible future, the instructor intends to lead an advanced course on contemporary Chinese political economy.

China in Transformation, 1840s-1960s (3 credits)
The course aims at understanding of China's transition from a traditional society to a modern nation by examining the historical forces since the mid-19th century. Nationalism and Communism will be two organizing themes that provide a framework to thread various phenomena all the way to Chinese Communist victory in 1949. The post-Mao reforms that undid China's communist economic system will also be discussed.

Ethic in Cross Cultural Contexts (3 credits)
This course deals with basic issues in general ethics. Though western philosophy will be extensively discussed, more attention will be paid to individual and society in Chinese cultural tradition.

International Finance (3 credits)
This course focuses on international financial markets, exchange rates, China's balance of payments.

Organizational Behavior (3 credits)
This course targets to understanding and management of the human side of an organization. It not only deals with concepts and theories, but also research and case studies, especially the ones in the Chinese social milieu.

Rural Economics (3 credits)
This course is designed to help students understand the rural dimension of China's economic transition. It examines the impacts of economic reforms on the life of Chinese peasants, including the effects of marketization and globalization on income structure, labor mobility, ownership rights and other major aspects of the rural economy. It also provides an overview of the implications of the changing economic landscape for social and political development in rural China. The reading materials include a diverse and balanced collection of studies done by both external and domestic specialists.

Sino-American Relations (3 credits)
This course concentrates on Post Cold War events in the context of American predominance, decline of Soviet power and emergence of China as a new force on the international scene.

Independent Studies (1-4 credits)
Independent studies can be arranged with faculty. Topic range covers research projects from contemporary political, economic, and diplomatic issues to historical inquiries. Different credits will be rewarded in accordance with the amount of research work.

Internship (3 credits)

Chinese Language (non-immersion track)
Language classes have three levels, elementary, intermediate, and advanced. Tutorial sessions will be available upon request.

Chinese Language I ( 6 credits)
Through intensive instruction and pattern drills, the elementary level class will not only introduce students to Chinese language but more importantly will help students to master basic spoken Chinese. At the end of the course, students should achieve a level of functional Chinese in daily life.

Chinese Language II (6 credits)
The purpose of the intermediate level class it to help students increase reading comprehension as well as oral proficiency in Mandarin. After this class, students will independently learn Chinese on their own and participate in advanced language training course either in the US or in China.

Chinese Language III (6 credits)
Students in the advanced class will learn to appreciate various unique aspects of written and spoken Chinese. Chinese will be the language of instruction with the purpose of reinforcing students' skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Also, introducing and discussing important aspects of Chinese culture and current news will become an integral part of the advanced level.

Chinese Language Immersion Track(12 credits)

This is a new program for the language serious students. The class size is small with one on one drills.

Immersion I
The immersion Chinese Language classes are designed for advanced language students. They normally meet three hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon daily, five days a week, except Friday afternoon, including two hours of lecture and drill, two hours of language task session, and a one-hour individual session (one-on-one). In addition, there is a language table every Wednesday. Students should be aware that the immersion course is very demanding. In addition to the five daily hours of class, students should expect to spend at least another three to four hours in class preparation and self-study daily.

Immersion II
The format is the same as Immersion I, except that this is more advanced.

Chinese Folklores( 1 credit)
This course is for students on Chinese immersion track. The instructor will discuss Chinese cultural traditions, religions, and all kinds of social practices that permeate Chinese life. It is four weeks in length and readings will be selected from books, articles, and contemporary news.

Chinese Social Issues(1 credit)
To understand contemporary social issues by reading and discussing is the purpose of this course. Among the major topics are peasant laborers in cities, education, environment, etc. Students will conduct interviews, by using Chinese, as part of this class.

Chinese Popular Culture(1 credit)
The focus of this course is on the youth culture, music, movies, TV programs, and the immerging internet culture. Interactions with college students forms part and parcel of this attempt to understand China's youth.

Martial Arts and Calligraphy ( non-credit)
These courses are designed to enrich students' lives in Beijing as well as helping them understand specific aspects of traditional Chinese culture.

*Classes are subject to cancellation if enrollment is below 5 except language classes.