University of Colorado Denver College of Liberal Arts and SciencesUniversity of Colorado Denver

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMSMinor in Chinese Studies

The UC Denver Program in Chinese Studies is an innovative program offering the student specialized study of China through coursework in the related disciplines of language, economics, anthropology, history (both ancient and contemporary), geography, literature, and political science.  China’s economic and political presence is increasingly prominent in the United States.  According to a recent national survey, Chinese is the fastest growing language at United States’ colleges and universities.  The University of Colorado at Denver is uniquely positioned to make use of its location at the cultural, economic and political center of the Rocky Mountain region and of its attraction of a diverse, well-trained, and highly qualified faculty to offer a course of studies related to China.  Course offerings are diverse to foster an interdisciplinary study of China in its many dimensions.

The increasing prominence of China in world affairs has made knowledge of Chinese language and culture a valuable asset in numerous fields.  Today, career opportunities abound for graduates in Chinese studies in government, international business, banking and financial services, law, medicine, journalism, graduate study in Sinology.  The breadth of the program’s course offerings, coupled with the resources of the faculty, ensure that its graduates will be prepared for any of these professional pursuits.

The Program in Chinese Studies offers a host of study abroad opportunities throughout the academic year and every summer for CU system undergraduates and graduates, as well as for the general public.  The University of Colorado-Denver has ongoing programs at the Chinese Agricultural University in Beijing.  Study abroad programs of 2 weeks to 1 year in length may be arranged, and program faculty can help students enroll in intensive Chinese language programs in Taiwan or in China.  Students pursuing the minor in Chinese language and area studies are encouraged to complete the program with a period of residence and study in China.  Many students have also been employed in China as English teachers.

Requirements

The Chinese Studies Minor requires a total of 18-19 credit hours.  A minimum of 15 credit hours must be taken from University of Colorado at Denver faculty.  All courses must be completed with a grade of C or better.

All students must complete the following three courses for a total of 13 credit hours.  CNST 1000 should be taken toward the beginning of the minor.

Required courses, 13 credit hours total:

  • CNST 1000 China and the Chinese (3 credits)
  • CHIN 1010 Beginning Chinese I (5 credits)
  • CHIN 1020 Beginning Chinese II (5 credits)

Elective courses, 5-6 credit hours total

An additional 5-6 hours of coursework should be selected from the following list of courses:

  • ANTH 4000 Food in China and Beyond (3 credit hours)
  • ANTH 4750 Chinese Society and Culture (3 credit hours)
  • ANTH 4995 Travel Study: The Arts of Self and Society in Contemporary China (3 credit hours)
  • CHIN 2110 Second Year Chinese III (5 credit hours)
  • F A 4750 Arts of China (3 credit hours)

  • GEOG 3160 China (3 credit hours)
  • HIST 3210 Comparative Religion: The Religions of China (3 credit hours)
  • HIST 4420 Traditional China: China to 1600 (3 credit hours)
  • HIST 4421 Modern China (3 credit hours)
  • HIST 4601 East and West: The Long History of Globalism (3 credit hours)
  • P SC 4615 Politics and Government of China (3 credit hours)
  • P SC 4665 Politics of China, India, and Japan (3 credit hours)
  • P SC 4995/5995 “Window on China” (2 week Study Abroad) (3 credit hours)
  • PHIL 3666 East Asian Philosophies and Religions (3 credit hours)
  • PHIL 3981 Chinese Philosophy (3 credit hours)

For More Information

Director/Faculty Advisor: Stephen C. Thomas
Office: Department of Political Science, Box 190, King Center 520
Telephone: 303-556-5259
Email: Steve.Thomas@cudenver.edu