Willamette University

Chinese Studies

Program Information

Chinese Studies Major

The Chinese Studies major is an interdisciplinary major combining language and culture courses on China. Students majoring in Chinese Studies are required to take courses in Chinese language at all levels, and are required to take courses in other departments and programs that focus on China in such areas as economics, politics, religion, history, art history, communication, anthropology, and folklore. Study abroad in China is required.

The Chinese Studies major is structured to include four areas: 1) core courses on Chinese and Asian cultures (two credits); 2) Chinese language (three credits); 3) introductory and intermediate level courses on or related to Chinese Studies offered through different departments and programs (four credits); and 4) upper level courses on or related to Chinese Studies offered by different departments and programs (three credits).

The Chinese Studies major requires that the student earn 12 credits from courses with at least three different prefixes. Substitutions can be made with faculty approval. Credits from study in China will be transferred with faculty approval.

Two credits from the following (2)

Three credits from the following (3)

Three credits from the following (3)

Four credits from the following (4)

  • ANTH 233 Peoples and Cultures of Asia (1)
  • ARTH 113 Introduction to Chinese Art History (1)
  • ARTH 114 Introduction to Japanese Art History (1)
  • ASIA 258 Topics in Asian Studies (1)
  • CHNSE 235 Chinese Language Practicum (.25)
  • CHNSE 252 (US) Rites of Passage in Chinese Societies (1)
  • CHNSE 254 Language, Ethnicity, and Folklores in China (1)
  • CHNSE 258 Gender and Mass Media in China (1)
  • CHNSE 269 (US) Chinese Society and Media (1)
  • HIST 118 East ASian Civilization since 1800 (1)
  • HIST 131 Gender and Society in East Asia (1)
  • HIST 233 Asian Empires on the Silk Road (1)
  • HIST 265 Late Imperial China (1)
  • HIST 282 China in Revolution 1911-1949 (1)
  • JAPN 201 (W) Modern Japanese Society and Culture (1)
  • JAPN 240 Japanese Language and Culture (1)
  • REL 135 Religions of Asia (1)
  • REL 233 Religions Along the Silk Road (1)
  • REL 239 Introduction to Chinese Religion (1)
  • REL 256 Goddesses and Ghosts: Images of Women in Chinese Tradition (1)
  • REL 262 Japanese Religions (1)

*Only one of the Japan-focused courses may be counted toward Chinese Studies Major.

Requirements for Chinese Studies Minor (5 credits)

Three credits from the following (3)

Two credits from the following from at least two different departments (2)

  • ANTH 233 (US) Peoples and Cultures of Asia (1)
  • ARTH 113 (IT) Introduction to Chinese Art History (1)
  • ARTH 114 (IT) Introduction to Japanese Art History (1)
  • CHNSE 252 (US) Rites of Passage in Chinese Societies (1)
  • CHNSE 254 Language, Ethnicity, and Folklore in China (1)
  • CHNSE 258 Gender and Mass Media in China (1)
  • HIST 233 History and Cultures/Silk Road (1) [Crosslisted with REL 233]
  • HIST 265 (TH) Late Imperial China (1)
  • HIST 282 (TH) China in Revolution, 1911-1949 (1)
  • HIST 383 Mao' China 1949-1979 (1)
  • HIST 445 Postwar Japan (1)
  • JAPN 240 Japanese Language and Culture (1)
  • JAPN 314 Japanese Literature in Translation (1)
  • JAPN 340 The Japanese Cinema (1)
  • REL 239 Introduction to Chinese Religion (1)
  • REL 356 Taoism (1)