Asian Studies Major, B.A.–Chinese Concentration
Gang Yue, Chinese Program Advisor
Morgan Pitelka, Chair
Robin Visser, Associate Chair and Director of Undergraduate Studies
Ash Barnes, Student Services Specialist
The Department of Asian Studies offers six major concentrations, nine minors, and instruction in Asian and Middle Eastern languages. Students pursuing the B.A. degree in Asian Studies can complete the interdisciplinary major in Asian Studies, or concentrate in Arab Cultures, Chinese, Japanese, Korean Studies, or South Asian Studies.
Department Programs
Majors
- Asian Studies Major, B.A.–Interdisciplinary Concentration
- Asian Studies Major, B.A.–Arab Cultures Concentration
- Asian Studies Major, B.A.–Chinese Concentration
- Asian Studies Major, B.A.–Japanese Concentration
- Asian Studies Major, B.A.–Korean Studies Concentration
- Asian Studies Major, B.A.–South Asian Studies Concentration
Minors
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Asian studies program, students should be able to:
- Identify or analyze significant aspects of the target cultures by interpreting texts and media
- Demonstrate proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in the target language
- Demonstrate experience in the use of the target language outside the language classroom
Requirements
In addition to the program requirements, students must
- attain a final cumulative GPA of at least 2.0
- complete a minimum of 45 academic credit hours earned from UNC–Chapel Hill courses
- take at least half of their major course requirements (courses and credit hours) at UNC–Chapel Hill
- earn a minimum of 18 hours of C or better in the major core requirements (some majors require 21 hours).
For more information, please consult the degree requirements section of the catalog.
The concentration in Chinese can be pursued along one of two tracks, depending on the student’s initial Chinese language placement. Both tracks require eight courses. Students whose initial language placement is above CHIN 305 or CHIN 313 should consult the department.
- Track A is for students who have completed CHIN 204
- Track B is for students who have completed CHIN 212
Track A
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| CHIN 510 | Introduction to Classical Chinese | 3 |
| or CHIN 511 | Literary Chinese | |
| Five courses above CHIN 204, chosen from: | 15 | |
| Advanced Chinese I | ||
| Advanced Chinese II | ||
| Readings in Modern Chinese I | ||
| Readings in Modern Chinese II | ||
| Chinese-English Translation and Interpreting | ||
| Business Communication in Chinese | ||
| Topics in Chinese Literature and Language | ||
| Chinese History in Chinese | ||
| Ancient Philosophers and Their Modern Reincarnation | ||
| Advanced Topics in Chinese Literature and Language | ||
| Chinese Internet Literature | ||
| Writing Chinese (in) America: Advanced Studies of a Foreign Literature from United States Homeland | ||
| Two culture courses (chosen from list below) | 6 | |
| Additional Requirements | ||
| Chinese through level 4 1 | 4 | |
| Total Hours | 28 | |
| 1 | The first three levels of Chinese (CHIN) can count toward the General Education Foundations requirement and have not been included as additional hours for the major. |
Culture Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ASIA 52 | First-Year Seminar: Food in Chinese Culture | 3 |
| ASIA 55 | First-Year Seminar: Kung-Fu: The Concept of Heroism in Chinese Culture | 3 |
| ASIA 65 | First-Year Seminar: Philosophy on Bamboo: Rethinking Early Chinese Thought | 3 |
| ASIA 453 | Global Shangri-La: Tibet in the Modern World | 3 |
| ASIA 692H | Senior Honors Thesis II | 3 |
| ASIA/WGST 56 | First-Year Seminar: Writing Women in Modern China H | 3 |
| CHIN 150 | Introduction to Chinese Civilization | 3 |
| CHIN 242 | Chinese Qin Music | 3 |
| CHIN 244 | Introduction to Modern Chinese Culture through Cinema | 3 |
| CHIN 252 | Introduction to Chinese Culture through Narrative | 3 |
| CHIN 253 | Chinese Language and Society | 3 |
| CHIN 255 | Bandit or Hero: Outlawry in Chinese Literature and Films | 3 |
| CHIN 342 | The Rise of China: A Global and Multidisciplinary Approach | 3 |
| CHIN 346 | History as Fiction or Fiction as History? Early Chinese History in Film and Literature | 3 |
| CHIN 354 | Chinese Culture through Calligraphy | 3 |
| CHIN 356 | Chinese Environmental Literature | 3 |
| CHIN 361 | Chinese Traditional Theater | 3 |
| CHIN 367 | Illustration and the Animation of Text | 3 |
| CHIN 463 | Narrative Ethics in Modern China | 3 |
| CHIN 464 | The City in Modern Chinese Literature and Film | 3 |
| CHIN 551 | Chinese Poetry in Translation | 3 |
| CHIN 552 | Chinese Prose in Translation | 3 |
| CHIN 562 | Contemporary Chinese Urban Culture and Arts | 3 |
| H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
Track B
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| CHIN 510 | Introduction to Classical Chinese | 3 |
| or CHIN 511 | Literary Chinese | |
| Five courses above CHIN 212, chosen from: | 15 | |
| Advanced Written Chinese | ||
| Advanced Reading and Composition | ||
| Chinese-English Translation and Interpreting | ||
| Business Communication in Chinese | ||
| Topics in Chinese Literature and Language | ||
| Chinese History in Chinese | ||
| Ancient Philosophers and Their Modern Reincarnation | ||
| Advanced Topics in Chinese Literature and Language | ||
| Chinese Internet Literature | ||
| Writing Chinese (in) America: Advanced Studies of a Foreign Literature from United States Homeland | ||
| Two culture courses (chosen from list below) | 6 | |
| Additional Requirements | ||
| CHIN 111 and CHIN 212 1 | 0 | |
| Total Hours | 24 | |
| 1 | The first two courses on track B in Chinese (CHIN 111 and CHIN 212) can count toward the General Education Foundations requirement and have not been included as additional hours for the major. |
Culture Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ASIA 52 | First-Year Seminar: Food in Chinese Culture | 3 |
| ASIA 55 | First-Year Seminar: Kung-Fu: The Concept of Heroism in Chinese Culture | 3 |
| ASIA 65 | First-Year Seminar: Philosophy on Bamboo: Rethinking Early Chinese Thought | 3 |
| ASIA 453 | Global Shangri-La: Tibet in the Modern World | 3 |
| ASIA 692H | Senior Honors Thesis II | 3 |
| ASIA/WGST 56 | First-Year Seminar: Writing Women in Modern China H | 3 |
| CHIN 150 | Introduction to Chinese Civilization | 3 |
| CHIN 242 | Chinese Qin Music | 3 |
| CHIN 244 | Introduction to Modern Chinese Culture through Cinema | 3 |
| CHIN 252 | Introduction to Chinese Culture through Narrative | 3 |
| CHIN 253 | Chinese Language and Society | 3 |
| CHIN 255 | Bandit or Hero: Outlawry in Chinese Literature and Films | 3 |
| CHIN 342 | The Rise of China: A Global and Multidisciplinary Approach | 3 |
| CHIN 346 | History as Fiction or Fiction as History? Early Chinese History in Film and Literature | 3 |
| CHIN 354 | Chinese Culture through Calligraphy | 3 |
| CHIN 356 | Chinese Environmental Literature | 3 |
| CHIN 361 | Chinese Traditional Theater | 3 |
| CHIN 367 | Illustration and the Animation of Text | 3 |
| CHIN 463 | Narrative Ethics in Modern China | 3 |
| CHIN 464 | The City in Modern Chinese Literature and Film | 3 |
| CHIN 551 | Chinese Poetry in Translation | 3 |
| CHIN 552 | Chinese Prose in Translation | 3 |
| CHIN 562 | Contemporary Chinese Urban Culture and Arts | 3 |
| H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
Additional Notes for Both Tracks
Approved language courses taken in UNC–Chapel Hill-sponsored study abroad programs may count in the concentration. However, study abroad courses may not substitute for the two required culture courses, which must be taken in the Department of Asian Studies. No more than one first-year seminar or senior honors thesis course may be included among the two culture courses.
Placement credit (PL) may not be used to meet core requirements for the concentration.
With the approval of the associate chair of Asian studies, a student may count a course in directed readings (ASIA 496 or CHIN 496) in the concentration in Chinese. To register for ASIA 496 or CHIN 496, a student must obtain the approval of the associate chair and the faculty member who will supervise the project.
Of the eight courses in the concentration in Chinese, at least six must be passed with a grade of C (not C-) or better.
Special Opportunities in Asian Studies
Honors in Asian Studies
A candidate for honors in Asian studies will write a substantial paper under the guidance of a faculty member. While researching and writing the honors paper, the student will enroll in ASIA 691H and ASIA 692H. ASIA 692H may count as one of the interdisciplinary courses for the major; ASIA 691H will count for elective credit only. In the case of the concentrations in Arab cultures, Chinese, Japanese, Korean studies, and South Asian studies, ASIA 692H may count toward the major in the concentration.
A committee composed of at least two faculty members will examine the candidate. To be accepted as an honors candidate, a student must meet the University’s requirement of a minimum overall grade point average of 3.3, secure the consent of a faculty member in the Asian studies field to act as advisor for the project, and submit a proposal to the associate chair of Asian studies for approval.
Departmental Involvement
The department sponsors a variety of cultural events — lectures, film series, performances, and more — as well as social and informational events where students can get to know each other and faculty members in an informal setting. Faculty members in the department serve as advisors to some of the many Asia-related student organizations on campus, such as the Japan Club, Chinese Conversation Club, Hebrew Table, and more.
Languages across the Curriculum
The department participates in the Languages across the Curriculum (LAC) program, offering a one-credit-hour discussion section that is conducted in Arabic or Chinese but associated with a variety of courses offered in English, both in Asian studies and in such other departments as history or religious studies. This LAC recitation section offers students the opportunity to use their Arabic or Chinese language skills in a broader intellectual context.
Libraries
The University has rich collections of books and periodicals on Asia in the relevant Asian languages, as well as in English and other Western languages. Experts in the collection development department for Davis Library are available to help students locate the materials they need. The University also has an outstanding collection of Asian films and other audiovisual materials, housed in the Media Resource Center at House Library.
Speaker Series
The department sponsors an annual speaker series. These events include lectures by prominent artists, scholars, and writers and are often cosponsored by other units on campus.
Study Abroad
UNC–Chapel Hill sponsors several study programs (summer, semester, and yearlong) in China, Egypt, India, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Oman, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam. Asian studies majors are strongly encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities to live and study in an Asian setting; UNC-approved study abroad programs also satisfy the experiential education requirement. For further information on these programs and other study abroad opportunities in Asia, contact the UNC Study Abroad Office.
Undergraduate Research
The department actively encourages undergraduate student research. Through classes, advising, and office hours, faculty members guide students toward defining areas of interest, conceptualizing research questions, identifying sources, and writing academic papers. Students may pursue research through independent studies, the senior honors thesis, and study abroad research opportunities such as the Burch Fellowship. Asian studies students have received a variety of competitive research support and travel awards, won regional contests for undergraduate papers, published papers in academic journals, and presented their work at such events as the Senior Colloquium in Asian Studies and the campuswide Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research in the spring.
