Program Overview

B.A. Major in Asian Studies: Chinese Concentration

The concentration in Chinese can be pursued along one of two tracks, depending on the student’s initial Chinese language placement. Students whose initial language placement is above CHIN 305 or 313 should consult the department. Track A is for students who have completed CHIN 204; Track B is for students who have completed CHIN 212. Both require eight courses.

Core Requirements – Track A

• Four language courses above CHIN 204, from this list:
  • CHIN 305: Advanced Chinese I
  • CHIN 306: Advanced Chinese II
  • CHIN 407: Readings in Modern Chinese I
  • CHIN 408: Readings in Modern Chinese II
  • CHIN 441: Chinese-English Translation and Interpreting
  • CHIN 443: Business Communication in Chinese
  • CHIN 445: Chinese Tea Culture and Its Changing Landscape
  • CHIN 490: Topics in Chinese Literature and Language
  • CHIN 510: Introduction to Classical Chinese
  • CHIN 520: Stay Tuned to China
  • CHIN 521: Chinese History in Chinese
  • CHIN 525: Ancient Philosophers and their Modern Reincarnation
  • CHIN 590: Advanced Topics in Chinese Literature and Language
  • CHIN 624: Chinese Internet Literature
  • CHIN 631: Writing Chinese in America: Advanced Studies of a Foreign Literature from U.S. Homeland
• Two culture courses, chosen from the following:
  • ASIA 52: First-Year Seminar: Food in Chinese Culture
  • ASIA 55: First-Year Seminar: Kung-fu: The Concept of Heroism in Chinese Culture
  • ASIA/WGST 56: First-Year Seminar: Writing Women in Modern China
  • ASIA 65: First-Year Seminar: Philosophy on Bamboo: Rethinking Early Chinese Thought
  • CHIN 150: Introduction to Chinese Civilization
  • CHIN/CMPL 238: From Martial Arts to Street Dance: Rebellion with Chinese Characteristics
  • CHIN 242: Chinese Qin Music
  • CHIN 244: Introduction to Modern Chinese Culture through Cinema
  • CHIN/CMPL 247: Indigenous Spiritualities in Literatures of China and Taiwan
  • CHIN 252: Introduction to Chinese Culture Through Narrative
  • CHIN 253: Chinese Language and Society
  • CHIN 255: Bandit or Hero: Outlawry in Chinese Literature and Films
  • CHIN/HIST 265: Imperial China in Global Objects
  • CHIN 346: History as Fiction or Fiction as History? Early Chinese History in Film and Literature
  • CHIN 356: Chinese Environmental Literature
  • CHIN 361: Chinese Traditional Theater
  • CHIN 367: Illustration and the Animation of Text
  • CHIN/HIST 439: Environmental China: Premodern Political Ecology
  • ASIA 453: Global Shangri-La: Tibet in the Modern World
  • CHIN 463: Narrative Ethics in Modern China
  • CHIN 464: The City in Modern Chinese Literature and Film
  • CHIN 475: Confucianism: Origin, History, and Contemporary Relevance
  • CHIN 476: Daoism: Origin, History, and Contemporary Relevance
  • CHIN/CMPL/WGST 480: Queering China
  • CHIN 545: Chinese Science Fiction
  • CHIN 551: Chinese Poetry in Translation
  • CHIN 552: Chinese Prose in Translation
  • CHIN 562: Contemporary Chinese Urban Culture and Arts
  • ASIA 692H: Senior Honors Thesis II
• Two more courses from either the language or culture lists above.

Additional Requirements – Track A

• CHIN 101, 102, 203, and 204

Core Requirements – Track B

• Four language courses above CHIN 212, from this list:
  • CHIN 313: Advanced Written Chinese
  • CHIN 441: Chinese-English Translation and Interpreting
  • CHIN 443: Business Communication in Chinese
  • CHIN 445: Chinese Tea Culture and Its Changing Landscape
  • CHIN 490: Topics in Chinese Literature and Language
  • CHIN 510: Introduction to Classical Chinese
  • CHIN 520: Stay Tuned to China
  • CHIN 521: Chinese History in Chinese
  • CHIN 525: Ancient Philosophers and their Modern Reincarnation
  • CHIN 590: Advanced Topics in Chinese Literature and Language
  • CHIN 624: Chinese Internet Literature
  • CHIN 631: Writing Chinese in America: Advanced Studies of a Foreign Literature from U.S. Homeland
• Two culture courses chosen from the list given above for Track A.
• Two more courses from either the language or culture lists above.

Additional Requirements – Track B

• CHIN 111 and 212

Approved language courses taken in UNC–Chapel Hill-sponsored study abroad programs may count in the concentration. However, study abroad courses may not substitute for any of the culture courses, which must be taken in the Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. No more than one first-year seminar or senior honors thesis course may be included among the culture courses.

Placement credit (PL) may not be used to meet core requirements for the concentration.

With the approval of the associate chair of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, a student may count a course in directed readings, ASIA 496 or CHIN 496, in the concentration in Chinese. To register for ASIA 496 or CHIN 496, a student must obtain the approval of the associate chair and the faculty member who will supervise the project.