Course Descriptions
101-102. Elementary Chinese.
Fall, Spring. Credits: 4-4.
This two-semester course introduces Chinese to students with no knowledge of the language. Equal emphasis will be given to acquiring the rudiments of spoken and written Chinese. Students who complete the year-long course will master approximately 700 characters and a vocabulary of a 1,000 words. It also intends to acquaint students with some aspects of Chinese culture and society as a necessary part of their education in this language.
201-202. Intermediate Chinese.
Fall, Spring. Credits: 4-4.
Degree Requirements: F10 for 201.
In addition to the same objectives for the first year, this course aims at improving students’ aural-oral skills to achieve fluency and comprehension, further developing their proficiency in reading for understanding, and enhancing their ability to write in Chinese and to translate from Chinese into English and vice versa.
205. Modern Chinese Literature in English Translation.
Fall. Credits: 4.
Degree Requirements: Humanities, F4, F9.
An introductory course of modern Chinese literature (1918-1989) designed to acquaint students with major phases of modern Chinese literature and some masterpieces of representative writers in relation to political and social changes. The course provides opportunities to learn about modern Chinese culture, society, and politics through readings of chosen works and trains students to read thoughtfully and critically. No prior knowledge of Chinese language, literature, and culture is required.
210. Chinese Literary Heritage.
Spring. Credits: 4.
Degree Requirements: Humanities, F4, F9.
This course introduces one of the world’s richest literary heritages: traditional Chinese literature. It conducts a general survey of Chinese literature from high antiquity up to modern times with the focus on some representative writers and their works. It consists of three major sections: poetry and prose, drama, and fiction. All readings are in English. No prior knowledge of Chinese language and culture is required.
212. Introduction to Comparative Literature: Chinese/English.
Spring. Credits: 4.
Degree Requirements: Humanities, F4, F9.
This course introduces students to the discipline of comparative literature. It selects some representative works from the Chinese and European literary traditions and groups them into several units centering round a genre and headed by a theme. All readings are in English.
Prerequisites: None.
214. Introduction to Chinese Culture.
Fall or Spring. Credits: 4.
Degree Requirements: Humanities, F3, F9.
This course introduces students to Chinese civilization and culture from the multiple perspectives of geography, history, philosophy, language, literature, religion, art, people, society, and general ways of life. Major concerns will include, but are not restricted to, forms of material and spiritual culture that have developed and changed through China’s continuous traditions; individual and collective values that underlie social life, political organization, economics systems, family structure, human relationships, and individual behavior; and the rationales that have made Chines culture what it is.
Prerequisites: None.
215. Images of Women in Chinese Literature and Film.
Fall, Spring. Credits: 4.
Degree Requirements: Humanities, F4, F9.
This course offers a critical survey of women’s images in traditional Chinese literature, and in films about Chinese society. It aims at a critical examination of how femininity and gender roles are conceived in traditional Chinese society, how women are victimized by male prescribed moral codes, and how they resist and subvert the patriarchal order.
Prerequisites: None.
220. Contemporary Chinese Cinema.
Fall, Spring. Credits: 4.
Degree Requirements: Humanities, F5.
An introductory course on contemporary Chinese cinema that combines film viewing with readings of film theory and criticism. The aim is to provide a window for students to glimpse the complexity of contemporary Chinese culture. Students will view selected Chinese films produced in mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong from the 1980’s to the present and be required to read essays of critical studies which explore the interrelations of various issues in Chinese society.
Prerequisites: None.
300. Asian Humanities: India, China, Japan.
Fall, Spring. Credits: 4.
Degree Requirements: Humanities.
An introductory course of the cultural traditions of Asia. While it covers a wide range of Asian cultures (Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Burma, Cambodia, and other South Asian countries and regions), it focuses on three major civilizations: India, China and Japan. It introduces students to the rudimentary aspects of Asian humanities such as geography, history, ethnicity, language, literature, religion, philosophy, and arts. All readings are in English.
Prerequisites: None.
301-302. Advanced Chinese.
Fall, Spring. Credits: 4-4.
This course lays greater emphasis on further developing students’ proficiency in reading for understanding and enhancing their ability to write in Chinese and to translate from Chinese into English and vice versa. At the end of the year-long course students should be able to read Chinese materials in everyday life, to write compositions in Chinese characters for daily communication, and to translate non-technical materials from Chinese into English and vice versa with the help of dictionaries.