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Chinese and Japanese

   Member of the Division of Humanities

Chair(s):

Mariko Schimmel

Faculty:

Scott Cook
Wenjin Cui
Jin Feng
Benjamin Ridgway
Kumiko Saito

 

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.