Chinese Studies - CHINE13961
Stream Summary
Faculty: ARTSC - Faculty of Arts&Social Science
School: School of Humanities and Languages
Contact: hal@unsw.edu.au
Program: 3961 - Engineering (Honours) / Arts
Award(s):
Bachelor of Arts (Major)
View stream information for previous years
Stream Outline
THIS STREAM IS FOR STUDENTS COMMENCING FROM 2016.
Chinese is a fascinating modern language with a rich cultural heritage and an increasingly important medium in global business and communication. The major stream in Chinese Studies encompasses the study of Chinese language and communication as well as culture, society and civilisation, including Chinese literature, cinema, history, politics and philosophy. A background in Chinese Studies is useful in many areas of professional specialisation, from commerce and the business sector to tourism, the media, the public service sector and education.
There are two main components of Chinese Studies. The first is a focus on the acquisition of competence in the Chinese language. Acquiring language competence involves a wide range of knowledge and understanding of socio-cultural conventions as well as skills in self-expression, both oral and written, and skills in comprehending others’ expression, both oral and written. The ability to read written texts is an important part of this process. 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 an understanding of Chinese culture. These disciplines include literary, cultural, film, translation, gender, and media studies as well as anthropological, linguistic, historical and sociological approaches.
This stream is available to students commencing at Introductory and Intermediate entry levels.
Placement Information
The School of Humanities and Languages offers a flexible program for students with different interests and different Chinese language backgrounds. You can enter Chinese language courses at different levels, depending on your knowledge of Chinese characters. Within each year, you are allocated to different groups, depending on your speaking ability.
If you have prior language knowledge you will need to take an online placement evaluation so that we can assess your skills and select an appropriate level of course for you. Information about the evaluation and additional course details can be found on the web at: hal.arts.unsw.edu.au
You will not be permitted to enrol in language courses that are too easy for you in terms of Chinese character knowledge. If this occurs, you will be requested to change your enrolment.
If you are admitted in your first year of study to ARTS2450 or higher on the grounds of your ability and/or previous study, such courses will be counted as Level 1 courses in terms of your degree requirements.
Chinese is a fascinating modern language with a rich cultural heritage and an increasingly important medium in global business and communication. The major stream in Chinese Studies encompasses the study of Chinese language and communication as well as culture, society and civilisation, including Chinese literature, cinema, history, politics and philosophy. A background in Chinese Studies is useful in many areas of professional specialisation, from commerce and the business sector to tourism, the media, the public service sector and education.
There are two main components of Chinese Studies. The first is a focus on the acquisition of competence in the Chinese language. Acquiring language competence involves a wide range of knowledge and understanding of socio-cultural conventions as well as skills in self-expression, both oral and written, and skills in comprehending others’ expression, both oral and written. The ability to read written texts is an important part of this process. 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 an understanding of Chinese culture. These disciplines include literary, cultural, film, translation, gender, and media studies as well as anthropological, linguistic, historical and sociological approaches.
This stream is available to students commencing at Introductory and Intermediate entry levels.
Placement Information
The School of Humanities and Languages offers a flexible program for students with different interests and different Chinese language backgrounds. You can enter Chinese language courses at different levels, depending on your knowledge of Chinese characters. Within each year, you are allocated to different groups, depending on your speaking ability.
If you have prior language knowledge you will need to take an online placement evaluation so that we can assess your skills and select an appropriate level of course for you. Information about the evaluation and additional course details can be found on the web at: hal.arts.unsw.edu.au
You will not be permitted to enrol in language courses that are too easy for you in terms of Chinese character knowledge. If this occurs, you will be requested to change your enrolment.
If you are admitted in your first year of study to ARTS2450 or higher on the grounds of your ability and/or previous study, such courses will be counted as Level 1 courses in terms of your degree requirements.
Stream Learning Outcomes
You should achieve the following learning outcomes upon the successful completion of the stream:
- Use the Chinese language with a level of fluency and understanding equivalent to an independent user as articulated in the Common European Framework
- Articulate a broad body of knowledge about foundational aspects of Chinese society, culture and/or the arts
- Explain the varied nature of the Sinophone world and its diverse cultural practices and identify political, social and/or artistic perspectives
- Recognise linguistic and cultural diversity in order to examine and comprehend one’s own language and culture
Stream Structure
If you wish to gain a major stream in Chinese Studies you must complete 60 units of credit in approved courses.
If you commence the language studies sequence at Introductory Chinese B, you must go on to complete Advanced Chinese B. In order to have the required 60 UOC for the major you must complete a further 30 UOC including 24 UOC in contextual courses plus the capstone course.
If you commence the language studies sequence at Intermediate Chinese B, you must go on to complete Advanced Chinese B. In order to have the required 60 UOC for the major you must complete a further 42 UOC including at least 12 UOC in contextual courses plus the capstone course and the balance in contextual or professional studies courses.
Note: If you have achieved a higher level of study in a language course, you are not permitted to study a lower level language course.
If you commence the language studies sequence at Introductory Chinese B, you must go on to complete Advanced Chinese B. In order to have the required 60 UOC for the major you must complete a further 30 UOC including 24 UOC in contextual courses plus the capstone course.
If you commence the language studies sequence at Intermediate Chinese B, you must go on to complete Advanced Chinese B. In order to have the required 60 UOC for the major you must complete a further 42 UOC including at least 12 UOC in contextual courses plus the capstone course and the balance in contextual or professional studies courses.
Note: If you have achieved a higher level of study in a language course, you are not permitted to study a lower level language course.
Introductory Level
Level 1
You must complete the following Level 1 core courses:
- ARTS1450 Intro Chin A Non-Background (6 UOC) OR ARTS1452 Intro Chin for Background A (6 UOC)
- ARTS1451 Intro Chin B Non-Background (6 UOC) OR ARTS1453 Intro Chin for Background B (6 UOC)
Level 2
You must complete the following Level 2 core courses:
- ARTS2450 Intermediate Chin for Non-Background A (6 UOC) OR ARTS2461 Intermediate Chin for Background A (6 UOC)
- ARTS2451 Intermediate Chin for Non-Background B (6 UOC) OR ARTS2462 Intermediate Chin for Background B (6 UOC)
And
- Chinese Contextual Studies Courses (taught in English) (12 UOC)
Level 3
You must complete the following Level 3 core courses:
- ARTS3450 Advanced Chinese A (6 UOC)
- ARTS3451 Advanced Chinese B (6 UOC)
And 6 UOC from the following:
- ARTS3330 Languages Capstone (6 UOC)
- ARTS3458 Chinese Capstone (6 UOC)
And
- Chinese Contextual Studies Course (taught in English) (6 UOC)
Intermediate Level
Level 1
You must complete the following Level 1 core courses:
- ARTS2450 Intermediate Chin for Non-Background A (6 UOC) OR ARTS2461 Intermediate Chin for Background A (6 UOC)
- ARTS2451 Intermediate Chin for Non-Background B (6 UOC) OR ARTS2462 Intermediate Chin for Background B (6 UOC)
Level 2
You must complete the following Level 2 core courses:
- ARTS3450 Advanced Chinese A (6 UOC)
- ARTS3451 Advanced Chinese B (6 UOC)
And
- Chinese Contextual Studies Courses (taught in English) (12 UOC)
Level 3
You must complete 6 UOC from the following:
- ARTS3330 Languages Capstone (6 UOC)
- ARTS3458 Chinese Capstone (6 UOC)
And 18 UOC from the following:
- Chinese Professional Studies Courses (taught in Chinese)
- Chinese Contextual Studies Courses (taught in English)
Chinese Contextual Studies Courses
- ARTS2453 Chinese Cinema (6 UOC)
- ARTS2455 Gender in China (6 UOC)
- ARTS2457 China Imagined and Perceived (6 UOC)
- ARTS2458 Along the Silk Road (6 UOC)
- ARTS2463 Nationalism in China (6 UOC)
- ARTS2464 Chinese Ideas of Beauty (6 UOC)
The following courses from other subject areas can also be counted towards the Chinese Studies major stream:
- ARTS2213 Asian Popular Culture (6 UOC)
- ARTS3216 Chinese Media Cultures (6 UOC)
- ARTS3217 History of Modern China (6 UOC)
Chinese Professional Studies Courses
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