Chinese, B.A.

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Chinese and Japanese

Member of the Division of Humanities

Chair(s):

Jin Feng

Faculty:

Scott Cook
Benjamin Ridgway
Hiromi Onishi
Mariko Shigeta Schimmel

Chinese

At Grinnell, Chinese is an interdisciplinary major that explores the complex interaction between literary, philosophical, aesthetic, religious, political, and other important spheres of human life in China. Emphasis is placed not only on the diversity and uniqueness of Chinese civilization, but also on its contributions to humanity and its heuristic values to the understanding of Western cultural traditions.

A knowledge of Chinese is valuable for students contemplating graduate study or careers in government service or in businesses engaged in international trade. The Chinese department currently offers beginning through advanced levels of Modern Chinese, as well as courses in Classical Chinese, philosophy, and literature in translation. Independent study is encouraged for those who wish to pursue intensive study of individual authors or special topics. Qualified students may opt to do some reading in Chinese to supplement their designated Chinese courses in translation.

Japanese

A knowledge of Japanese is valuable for students contemplating graduate study or careers in government service or in businesses engaged in international trade.

Chinese Major Requirements: A minimum of 32 credits

A minimum of 32 credits beyond the prerequisites of CHI 101 - Beginning Chinese I - CHI 102 - Beginning Chinese II . At least 20 of the 32 credits must be Chinese courses in the department at Grinnell.

Part 1: The Core 20 Credits

The 20 credits must include CHI 461

A minimum of 12 of these credits must be taken at Grinnell College.

CHI 221 - Intermediate Chinese I 4 credits (or equivalent)
CHI 222 - Intermediate Chinese II 4 credits (or equivalent)
CHI 331 - Advanced Chinese I 4 credits (or equivalent)
CHI 332 - Advanced Chinese II 4 credits (or equivalent)
CHI 461 - Classical Chinese 4 credits
CHI 498 - Readings in Chinese Literature 4 credits

Part 2: Individual Focus 12 Credits

Three courses from the list below, including at least one of the following courses, must be taken in the Chinese department at Grinnell: CHI 230, CHI 241, CHI 275, CHI 277, CHI 288, CHI 498 EAS-288.

CHI 230 - Chinese Women: Past and Present 4 credits
CHI 241 - Chinese Philosophical Tradition 4 credits
CHI 275 - Chinese Literary Tradition (in Translation) 4 credits
CHI 277 - Modern China through Literature and Film (in Translation) 4 credits
CHI 288 - Chinese Food for Thought 4 credits or the cross-listed EAS 288
CHI 498 - Readings in Chinese Literature 4 credits
HIS 275 - China’s Revolutions 4 credits
HIS 277 - China’s Rise 4 credits
Additional Chinese history courses as approved by the department
HUM 131 - China’s Ancient World 4 credits or the cross-listed SST 131

Honors

To be considered for honors in Chinese, graduating seniors, in addition to meeting the College’s general requirements for honors, must demonstrate consistently superior performance in departmental classes and exemplify substantial commitment to departmental goals.

Courses

Click here for a list of Chinese and Japanese courses.

Course Descriptions

Click here for Chinese and Japanese course descriptions.