With more than a billion speakers, Chinese is used on every continent and may be the most widely spoken language in the world; as a rising superpower with an increasing global impact in many ways, China is a major international presence. The major in Chinese is designed to develop skills in speaking, understanding, reading, and writing Chinese, along with an understanding of the diverse literatures, cultures, and traditions of the Chinese-speaking world, ranging from mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong to Chinese-speaking America.

The major can help students prepare for professional careers in which a knowledge of Chinese, especially Mandarin, is useful, including teaching in public schools.

All students who would like to study Mandarin Chinese beyond the basic level are invite to consider the Major in Chinese. The major in Chinese is intended to provide students with a good working knowledge of the language and culture of China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, taught in a context that emphasizes the characteristics of the Chinese-speaking world.

Click here to read Penn State students' experience and tips for studying Chinese.

B.A. in Chinese (Major): a minimum of 124 credits, including:

1. General Education: 46 credits

2. Electives: 18-27 credits

3. B.A. degree requirements: 24 credits

4. Specifically for the Chinese Major: 36 credits with a grade of C or better--this includes 0-9 credits of General Education GA, GH, or GS courses. These courses include the following:

     Prescribed Courses (6 credits)
          CHNS 110 IL (4)
          CHNS 120 (3) or CHNS 121

     400-level Courses (21 credits). Special topics courses in English or other courses in English do not satisfy this requirement. Some of these courses can be taken abroad (see below).

     Related Areas (9 credits): Select 9 credits pertaining to China, such as courses in art history, comparative literature, geography, history, philosophy, political science, religious studies, theatre arts, or other fields, selected from departmental list.

5. Required -- Study Abroad. 12 credits of study abroad in a Chinese-speaking context (in a Penn State Education Abroad Program or another program subject to departmental approval) are included in the major.

Students are encouraged to complete a full year of a Penn State or another pre-approved Chinese education abroad program, though only 12 credits, typically one semester, are required.

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Chinese Minor: 19 credits

The Chinese Language Minor is intended to provide students with a good working knowledge of the Chinese language, taught in a context that emphasizes the characteristics and diversity of Chinese culture and society. Students undertake three years of language study (or equivalent); education abroad can be included. A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the minor.

Prescribed Courses (8 credits): CHNS 002 (4) and 003 (4)

Additional Courses (11 credits):

Select 4 credits from CHNS 110 (4), CHNS 296 (1-18), CHNS 297 (1-9), or CHNS 299 (1-12)

Select 4 credits from CHNS 401 (4) or CHNS 499 (1-15)

Select 3 credits from CHNS 452 (3), CHNS 453 (3), CHNS 496 (1-9), or CHNS 499 (1-15), as listed under courses.

If you sign up for the minor and complete the requirements, the minor will be indicated on your Penn State transcript.  Upon graduation, you will receive a certificate.  It will thus be part of your formal academic record and credentials.  On your resume, for example, you can list you major and then add "Minor in Chinese."

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Some students, such as those who have previously studied Chinese, may be able to accelerate their program by exempting lower-level courses or using the "Credit by Examination" arrangement as a substitute for lower-level courses. Your transcript should still show the required number of Chinese credits for either Major or Minor.

You may download the form and information about possible proficiency testing here.

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To sign up for the Chinese Major, make an appointment with Julianna Chaszar <jxc50@psu.edu>; you can make an appointment to meet with her using this web-based calendar.

To sign up for the Chinese Minor, complete the application form online: http://asian.la.psu.edu/under-minorapp.shtml

Chinese majors need to complete 12 credits of study abroad (one semester) in a Chinese-speaking context (in a Penn State Education Abroad Program or another program subject to departmental approval).

Students are encouraged to complete a full year of a Penn State or another pre-approved Chinese education abroad program, though only 12 credits, typically one semester, are required.

There are plenty of study-abroad scholarships. Financial aid is also available.

We encourage students to take advantage of this special opportunity. Please see Prof. Huang for details regarding scholarships and education-abroad programs.

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While not required for the Chinese minors, you are encouraged to participate in a Chinese education abroad program. Penn State offers a wide range of options, ranging from summer programs to semester and year-long programs in all major Chinese-speaking cities (Taipei, Shanghai, Beijing, and Singapore).

Upon approval, you may transfer credits earned on both PSU- and non-PSU education abroad programs to Penn State. Students can substitute appropriate credits that are earned abroad.

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Students in any Penn State undergraduate major are welcome to consider the Chinese Major or Minor. The program is not designed to be limited to any specific major or group of majors.

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Click here to read Penn State students' experience and tips for studying Chinese.

Alejandro Ardiles, marketing internship with Siemens China Inc. in Beijing; studied abroad at East China Normal University in Shanghai in 2007

Brittany Billingsley, admission to the MA program in International Policy at the Monterey institute of International Studies with a merit-based scholarship ($ 20,000, 2008-2010); internship (summer 2007) in the State Department in the Foreign Service Institute; studied at the IES Beijing study abroad program in Fall 2006; received a $ 500 study abroad scholarship from Penn State's Committee on East Asian Studies

Jenny Jou (2007 summer instructor in Chinese, Concordia Language Villages, a program of Concordia College, Minnesota)

Sachie Koizumi, internship at the Japanese Embassy in Washington D.C. in summer 2007

James Laraia (Freeman Asia scholarship, the Whole World Scholarship, the Grant In Aid and the Bowman travel grant from CIEE to study in Shanghai)

Michael Long (Gilman Scholarship from the State Department, USD $ 10,000, to study abroad in Beijing 2006-2007; John K. Henne Scholarship for International Study, Penn State Erie; co-coordinated a Chinese/American Philosophy forum in China) See Penn State News.

Adam McCormack (6-month internship with I.B.M. in Boston, June - December 2007)

Brendan McMonagle (admitted with fellowship to the Chinese Flagship Program at the Brigham Young University 2007-2009; winner of a $ 5,000 Freeman Asia scholarship and a $ 4,500 U.S. Department of Education scholarship to study in Taiwan; admitted to a competitive summer program at the National Taiwan University)

Alexia K. Rozmus, studied at the AIFS program at Nanjing University (spring 2007)

Shiqi Wu (graduated June 2006, admitted to the MA program in East Asian Studies at Columbia University)

Click here to view students who have graduated
Click here to view pending Minor applicants

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