Chinese Studies

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All courses, faculty listings, and curricular and degree requirements described herein are subject to change or deletion without notice.

Courses

For course descriptions not found in the UC San Diego General Catalog 2024–25, please contact the department for more information.

Chinese Language Acquisition Courses

The Chinese language program offers Mandarin Chinese language acquisition courses in yearlong sequences that begin in the fall quarter. Students interested in enrolling in Chinese courses must first do a placement interview to determine the most appropriate course and then will be authorized to enroll in that course. See placement interview instructions at https://chinesestudies.ucsd.edu/language/placement-info.html. Contact the program at chinesestudies@ucsd.edu for more information.

Chinese language courses are divided into three tracks based on student’s familiarity with the language. N track is for students with no Chinese language background; M track is for students with some speaking but not writing proficiency in Mandarin; and D track is for students with some proficiency in a Chinese language other than Mandarin. M and D tracks converge during the second year of Chinese language acquisition courses.

First Year Chinese Courses (Lower Division)

CHIN 10AN. First-Year Chinese I (5)

Introductory Mandarin Chinese language course for students with no Chinese language experience. Part one of a three-quarter sequence that covers foundational pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary through interactive classes. Prerequisites: placement interview required for department approval to enroll.

CHIN 10AM. First-Year Chinese for Mandarin Speakers I (5)

Introductory Mandarin Chinese language course intended for students with some oral proficiency but who have not had formal written training in Mandarin. Part one of a three-quarter sequence focusing on increasing literacy with basic characters and covering fundamentals of Chinese grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary through interactive classes. Prerequisites: placement interview required for department approval to enroll.

CHIN 10AD. First-Year Chinese for Dialect Speakers I (5)

Introductory Mandarin Chinese language course intended for students with some proficiency in a Chinese dialect other than Mandarin. Part one of a three-quarter sequence covering fundamentals of pronunciation, Chinese grammar, and vocabulary through interactive classes. Prerequisites: placement interview required for department approval to enroll.

CHIN 10BN. First-Year Chinese II (5)

Introductory Mandarin Chinese language course for students with little to no Chinese language experience. Part two of a three-quarter sequence that covers foundational pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary through interactive classes. Prerequisites: previous course or department approval through placement interview.

CHIN 10BM. First-Year Chinese for Mandarin Speakers II (5)

Introductory Mandarin Chinese language course intended for students with some oral proficiency but who have not had significant written training in Mandarin; part two of a three-quarter sequence focusing on increasing literacy with additional characters. Prerequisites: previous course or department approval through placement interview.

CHIN 10BD. First-Year Chinese for Dialect Speakers II (5)

Introductory Mandarin Chinese language course intended for students with some proficiency in a Chinese dialect other than Mandarin. Part two of a three-quarter sequence that expands competence in Chinese grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary through interactive classes. Prerequisites: previous course or department approval through placement interview.

CHIN 10CN. First-Year Chinese III (5)

Introductory Mandarin Chinese language course for students with some basic Chinese language experience. Part three of a three-quarter sequence that covers foundational pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary through interactive classes. Prerequisites: previous course or department approval through placement interview.

CHIN 10CM. First-Year Chinese for Mandarin Speakers III (5)

Introductory Mandarin Chinese language course intended for students with some oral proficiency but who have not had significant written training in Mandarin. Part three of a three-quarter sequence focusing on increasing literacy with additional characters and expanding competence in Chinese grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary through interactive classes. Prerequisites: previous course or department approval through placement interview.

CHIN 10CD. First-Year Chinese for Dialect Speakers III (5)

Introductory Mandarin Chinese language course intended for students with some proficiency in a Chinese dialect other than Mandarin. Part three of a three-quarter sequence that expands competence in Chinese grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary through interactive classes. Prerequisites: previous course or department approval through placement interview.

Second Year Chinese Courses (Lower Division)

CHIN 20AN. Second-Year Chinese I (4)

Intermediate Mandarin Chinese language course for students with some basic formal study of Chinese language; part one of a three-quarter sequence that continues to expand oral and written communicative competence in Mandarin Chinese through interactive classes. Prerequisites: previous course or department approval through placement interview.

CHIN 20AM. Second-Year Chinese for Mandarin Speakers I (4)

Intermediate Mandarin Chinese language course intended for students with some oral proficiency but little formal written training in Mandarin; part one of a three-quarter sequence focusing on increasing literacy with additional characters and expanding oral and written communicative competence in Mandarin Chinese through interactive classes. Prerequisites: previous course or department approval through placement interview.

CHIN 20AD. Second-Year Chinese for Dialect Speakers I (4)

Intermediate Mandarin Chinese language course intended for students with some proficiency in a Chinese dialect other than Mandarin; part one of a three-quarter sequence that continues to expand oral and written communicative competence in Mandarin Chinese through interactive classes. Prerequisites: previous course or department approval through placement interview.

CHIN 20BN. Second-Year Chinese II (4)

Intermediate Mandarin Chinese language course for students with some basic formal study of Chinese language; part two of a three-quarter sequence that continues to expand oral and written communicative competence in Mandarin Chinese through interactive classes. Prerequisites: previous course or department approval through placement interview.

CHIN 20BM. Second-Year Chinese for Mandarin Speakers II (4)

Intermediate Mandarin Chinese language course intended for students with some oral proficiency but little formal written training in Mandarin; part two of a three-quarter sequence focusing on increasing literacy with additional characters and expanding oral and written communicative competence in Mandarin Chinese through interactive classes. Prerequisites: previous course or department approval through placement interview.

CHIN 20BD. Second-Year Chinese for Dialect Speakers II (4)

Intermediate Mandarin Chinese language course intended for students with some proficiency in a Chinese dialect other than Mandarin; part two of a three-quarter sequence that continues to expand oral and written communicative competence in Mandarin Chinese through interactive classes. Prerequisites: previous course or department approval through placement interview.

CHIN 20CN. Second-Year Chinese III (4)

Intermediate Mandarin Chinese language course for students with some basic formal study of Chinese language; part three of a three-quarter sequence that continues to expand oral and written communicative competence in Mandarin Chinese through interactive classes. Prerequisites: previous course or department approval through placement interview.

CHIN 20CM. Second-Year Chinese for Mandarin Speakers III (4)

Intermediate Mandarin Chinese language course intended for students with some oral proficiency but little formal written training in Mandarin; part three of a three-quarter sequence focusing on increasing literacy with additional characters and expanding oral and written communicative competence in Mandarin Chinese through interactive classes. Prerequisites: previous course or department approval through placement interview.

CHIN 20CD. Second-Year Chinese for Dialect Speakers III (4)

Intermediate Mandarin Chinese language course intended for students with some proficiency in a Chinese dialect other than Mandarin; part three of a three-quarter sequence that continues to expand oral and written communicative competence in Mandarin Chinese through interactive classes. Prerequisites: previous course or department approval through placement interview.

Third Year Chinese Courses (Upper Division)

CHIN 100AN. Third-Year Chinese I (4)

Advanced Mandarin Chinese language course for students who have received some prior formal training in Mandarin. Part one of a three-quarter sequence that further expands more advanced oral and written communicative competence through study of topics including the history of Chinese language and society, education, and literature. Prerequisites: previous course or department approval through placement interview.

CHIN 100AM. Third-Year Chinese for Mandarin and Dialect Speakers I (4)

CHIN 100BN. Third-Year Chinese II (4)

Advanced Mandarin Chinese language course for students who have received some prior training in Mandarin. Part two of a three-quarter sequence that further expands more advanced oral and written communicative competence through study of topics including the history of Chinese language and society, education, and literature. Prerequisites: previous course or department approval through placement interview.

CHIN 100BM. Third-Year Chinese for Mandarin and Dialect Speakers II (4)

Advanced Mandarin Chinese language course intended for students with some oral or written proficiency in Mandarin or another Chinese dialect. Part two of a three-quarter sequence that further expands more complex oral and written communicative competence through study of topics including the history of Chinese language and society, education, and literature. Prerequisites: previous course or department approval through placement interview.

CHIN 100CN. Third-Year Chinese III (4)

Advanced Mandarin Chinese language course for students who have received some prior training in Mandarin. Part three of a three-quarter sequence that further expands more advanced oral and written communicative competence through study of topics including the history of Chinese language and society, education, and literature. Prerequisites: previous course or department approval through placement interview.

CHIN 100CM. Third-Year Chinese for Mandarin and Dialect Speakers III (4)

Advanced Mandarin Chinese language course intended for students with some oral or written proficiency in Mandarin or another Chinese dialect. Part three of a three-quarter sequence that further expands more complex oral and written communicative competence through study of topics including the history of Chinese language and society, education, and literature. Prerequisites: previous course or department approval through placement interview.

Advanced Upper-Division Chinese Courses

CHIN 160/260. Late Imperial and Twentieth-Century Chinese Historical Texts (4)

This course introduces the primary sources used by historians of late Imperial and twentieth-century Chinese history. Reading material includes diaries, newspaper articles, Qing documents, gazetteers, essays, speeches, popular fiction, journal articles, scholarly prose, and field surveys. May be repeated for credit. (P/NP grades only.) Prerequisites: advanced knowledge of Chinese language and consent of instructor.

CHIN 165A. Business Chinese I (4)

Advanced Mandarin Chinese language course that focuses on oral and written communication skills for business, including introduction to modern business terminology and social conventions. Prerequisites: any one of the following or department approval through placement interview: CHIN 100CM, CHIN 100CN, CHIN 165B-C, CHIN 185A-B-C.

CHIN 165B. Business Chinese II (4)

CHIN 165C. Business Chinese III (4)

CHIN 169A. Medical Chinese I (4)

Advanced Mandarin Chinese language course that focuses on conversational medical Chinese for students interested in medicine and health care. Designed to prepare students to speak, listen, and read effectively in a Chinese medical environment and build necessary medical vocabulary. Prerequisites: any one of the following or department approval through placement interview: CHIN 165A-B-C, CHIN 169B, CHIN 182A-B-C.

CHIN 169B. Medical Chinese II (4)

CHIN 182A. Classical Chinese I (4)

Advanced Mandarin Chinese language course that focuses on building familiarity with classical Chinese. Basic structures and function words are taught through fables of the pre-Qing period. Prerequisites: any one of the following or department approval through placement interview: CHIN 165A-B-C, CHIN 169A-B, CHIN 182B-C, CHIN 185A-B-C.

CHIN 182B. Classical Chinese II (4)

Advanced Mandarin Chinese language course that focuses on building familiarity with classical Chinese. Selections from Kongzi, Mengzi, and work of other philosophers will be taught. Focus is on structures, function words, and overall comprehension of a text. Prerequisites: any one of the following or department approval through placement interview: CHIN 165A-B-C, CHIN 169A-B, CHIN 182A, CHIN 182C, CHIN 185A-B-C.

CHIN 182C. Classical Chinese III (4)

Advanced Mandarin Chinese language course that focuses on building familiarity with classical Chinese. Selections from later periods like Shiji and poetry will be introduced. Focus is on structures, function words, and overall comprehension of a text. Prerequisites: any one of the following or department approval through placement interview: CHIN 165A-B-C, CHIN 169A-B, CHIN 182A-B, CHIN 185A-B-C.

CHIN 185A. Readings in Chinese Culture and Society I (4)

Advanced Mandarin Chinese language course that engages students on topics related to Chinese culture and society past and present through study of original texts and other media that expand reading and vocabulary skills on topics of interest. Prerequisites: any one of the following or department approval through placement interview: CHIN 100CM, CHIN 100CN, CHIN 165A-B-C, CHIN 185B-C.

CHIN 185B. Readings in Chinese Culture and Society II (4)

CHIN 185C. Readings in Chinese Culture and Society III (4)

CHIN 186A. Readings in Chinese Economics, Politics, and Trade I (4)

Advanced Mandarin Chinese language course designed for students interested in international trade or social science that engages students on topics related to Chinese economics, politics, and trade through study of original texts and other media that expand specialized vocabulary development, reading, and translating. Prerequisites: any one of the following or department approval through placement interview: CHIN 100CM, CHIN 100CN, CHIN 186B-C.

CHIN 186B. Readings in Chinese Economics, Politics, and Trade II (4)

CHIN 186C. Readings in Chinese Economics, Politics, and Trade III (4)

CHIN 196. Directed Thesis Research (4)

Bachelor’s thesis, under the direction of a faculty member in Chinese studies. Prerequisites: consent of instructor. (F,W,S)

CHIN 198. Directed Group Study in Chinese Studies (2 or 4)

Study of specific aspects in Chinese civilization not covered in regular course work, under the direction of faculty members in Chinese studies. (P/NP grades only.) Prerequisites: consent of instructor.

CHIN 199. Independent Study in Chinese Studies (2 or 4)

The student will undertake a program of research or advanced reading in selected areas in Chinese studies under the supervision of a faculty member of the Program in Chinese Studies. (P/NP grades only.) Prerequisites: consent of instructor.

CHIN 260. Late Imperial and Twentieth-Century Chinese Historical Texts (4)

This course introduces the primary sources used by historians of the late Imperial and twentieth-century Chinese history. Reading material includes diaries, newspaper articles, Qing documents, gazetteers, essays, speeches, popular fiction, journal articles, scholarly prose, and field surveys. May be repeated for credit. (P/NP grades only) Prerequisites: department stamp, advanced knowledge of Chinese language, and consent of instructor.

CHIN 269. Conversational Mandarin for Medical Students—Beginning (2)

(Cross-listed with MED 269.) This introductory course is designed to develop a working knowledge of medical Mandarin that will enable the student to communicate with Mandarin-speaking patients. There will be instruction in basic medical vocabulary and grammar, with a focus on taking a medical history. This is only a conversational course and no previous knowledge of Mandarin is required. (S/U only.)

CHIN 296. Directed Thesis Research (2–12)

Graduate thesis research under the guidance of a faculty member affiliated with the Program in Chinese Studies.

CHIN 299. Independent Study in Chinese Studies (2–12)

Independent graduate research under the guidance of a faculty member affiliated with the Program in Chinese Studies. Prerequisites: graduate standing and consent of instructor.

CHIN 500. Apprentice Teaching (2–4)

A course in which graduate teaching assistants are aided in learning proper teaching methods by means of supervision of their work by the faculty, handling of discussions, assistance in the preparation and grading of exams and other written exercises, and student relations. Prerequisites: graduate standing.