This plan is only available to students commencing from 2009 onwards

The major stream in Advanced Chinese Studies enables students to study Chinese at a number of levels in order to attain proficiency. Courses are offered at the advanced and professional levels. Students not only develop their knowledge of the Chinese language, but also gain intercultural awareness and understanding of the Chinese-speaking world. They study cultures, communities, societies and literature in the Chinese-speaking world. The Chinese language plays a key role in expressing the cultures and identities of the places in which it is spoken. Advanced Chinese Studies will provide students with a privileged form of access to the cultural resources and complex patterns of life in other countries. Developing competence in Chinese will have an important place in promoting relationships and mutual understanding between countries and peoples.

There are two main components of language study. The first is a focus on the acquisition of competence in the target language. Acquiring target language competence involves a wide range of knowledge and understanding of sociocultural conventions as well as skills in self-expression, both oral and written, and skills in comprehending other’s expression, both oral and written. The second component is the study of aspects of the cultures and societies associated with the Chinese language. We draw upon other disciplines in order to inform understanding of Chinese culture. These disciplines include linguistic, literary, cultural, historical and social productions. Via the study of the Chinese language and associated disciplines, we aim:

1. to foster an awareness of China’s culture, history and society;
2. to develop informed understanding of human experiences, cultures, and societies in China;
3. to enable students to place contemporary Australian society and culture in an historical and comparative context vis a vis Chinese culture and society;
4. to develop the skills of critical, creative, and imaginative thinking about Chinese society, culture and the arts;
5. to promote the techniques and value of reasoned and open-minded discussion and debate;
6. to nurture positive attitudes toward intercultural communication in general and with the Chinese.

This plan is available to students commencing at Advanced and Professional entry levels.

Placement Information
Students who wish to enrol in a language course without completing the necessary prerequisites are required to complete an online placement application form before the commencement of the semester. Students will not be premitted to enrol in language courses that are too easy for them in terms of Chinese character knowledge. If this occurs, the school will request that students change their enrolment.

For more information, please see the School Website.

For students admitted in their first year of study to ARTS3450 or higher on the grounds of ability and/or previous study, such courses will be counted as Level 1 courses in terms of degree requirements.

Awarding of the Advanced major stream in Advanced Chinese Studies is contingent upon completing 24 units of credit at the Professional level, no matter the level of entry into the sequence. A non-background speaking student who wishes to gain a major stream in Advanced Chinese Studies, must complete 54 units of credit in approved courses that include 12 units of credit in Professional Chinese A and Professional Chinese B and 12 units of credit in other Professional Studies courses. Background speaking students must complete 24 units of credit in professional studies courses.
A list of Chinese Contextual and Professional Studies Courses is found below.

The following courses from other subject areas can also be counted towards the Chinese Studies major stream:

Please consult the School Website for more detailed information about the requirements for entry to the Honours Program.