School of Arts and Sciences
Department of International Literary and Cultural Studies

BA in Chinese Language & Cultural Studies

The Chinese major is designed to equip students with a solid foundation in cultural and linguistic literacy, an in-depth understanding of the Chinese literary tradition, and critical awareness of contemporary cultural issues through studies of literature, film, and other cultural products.

Students of Chinese have found that their knowledge of the language and culture gives them a competitive advantage in public and private sectors as well as in further study. Our graduates, some after training in graduate and professional schools, have gone on to careers in government, foreign service, law, academia, banking and international business – from the mainland and Taiwan to Hong Kong and Singapore. As China continues to strengthen trade ties and develop joint economic ventures with the United States, the demand for Americans who know Chinese is bound to increase.

Questions about the major can be addressed to Professor Xueping Zhong, Chinese Program Director. 

Program Requirements and Policies

The major in Chinese requires nine courses in the Program beyond Chinese 4, plus one in a related field. Those who place out of language courses still need to complete ten approved courses. At least one course from categories B must be a seminar approved by the Chinese program director. If qualified, a student may opt to do an honors thesis.

Course Requirements

  1. Language requirement: 4 courses beyond Chinese 4: 21, 22, 121, 122.
    Students placed above 21 or higher, upon completion of 122 or its equivalent, can take more advanced language courses (123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128), or additional culture courses, or a combination of both.

  2. Chinese 61 and four additional literature and cultural courses (taught in English) from Chinese Program offerings in the department. The four additional courses must include at least one seminar course. If approved, a student may opt to do an honors thesis, which can be counted as one seminar course. One culture course from Tufts-in-China will be counted in this category.

  3. CHNS 52 or one China-related course offered by another program or department (PS 120, 126, 188-44; HIST 40, 41; FAH 13/CR13; REL 53). One culture course from Tufts-in-China will be counted in this category. Courses not listed above require approval by the Chinese program director.

  4. One seminar, or honors thesis, double counted as one course in category B. Please see category B above for more information.

Language Courses

Regular classes at the lower levels (1 through 22) meet three times a week; regular classes at the higher levels (121 through 124) meet twice a week. Intensive classes meet six times a week.

  • CHNS 21, 22: Reading and Conversation
  • CHNS 121, 122: Advanced Modern Chinese
  • CHNS 123, 124: Advanced Readings in Chinese Culture
  • CHNS 125: Newspaper Readings
  • CHNS 126: Business Chinese
  • CHNS 127: Reading Short Stories
  • CHNS 128: Practical Writing

Linguistics Courses

  • CHNS 52: Chinese Characters

Culture/Literature Courses

  • CHNS 61,161: Classical Chinese Literature
  • CHNS 62, 162: Major Modern Chinese Writers
  • CHNS 70, 170: Introduction to Chinese Popular Culture
  • CHNS 72: Martial Arts in Chinese Literature and Film
  • CHNS 73: Reading Chinese Poetry
  • CHNS 75: Wandering with Lu Xun
  • CHNS 76: The Chinese Ghost Story
  • CHNS 77: Chinese Science Fiction
  • CHNS 78: Youth and Culture in Modern China
  • CHNS 79: Women and Gender in Modern Chinese Culture
  • CHNS 80: Introduction to Chinese Cinema
  • CHNS 81: New Chinese Cinemas: Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Mainland China
  • CHNS 82: Rural and Urban China Through Cinema
  • CHNS 83: From Beijing to Bollywood: Cinema of China and India
  • CHNS 91, 92: Special Topics
  • CHNS 101: Foundations of Chinese Thought
  • CHNS 111: Cultural Perspectives on Chinese Literature
  • CHNS 185: China and the West
  • CHNS 191, 192: Special Topics
  • CHNS 198, 199: Senior Honors Thesis