Courses in Chinese Studies

A EAC 101 Elementary Chinese I (5)
An introduction to modern Chinese (Mandarin) with emphasis on speaking, reading and writing. Basic fluency in the spoken language is developed through intensive use and repetition of basic vocabulary and fundamental sentence patterns. Students learn the Pinyin romanization system and the simplified characters used in mainland China. May not be taken by students with any previous knowledge of any Chinese language.

A EAC 102 Elementary Chinese II (5)
Continuation of A EAC 101. Prerequisite(s): A EAC 101 or equivalent. 

A EAC 160/160V/160X/160Z (= A GOG 160/160V/160X/160Z) China: People and Places (3)
This course provides a systematic introduction of China as an emerging political and economic power in the context of globalization. Main topics include historical evolution, uneven physical and social geography, economic reform, rapid urbanization, population growth and family planning, environmental change, tradition and culture change, and persisting and emerging problems. This course aims to help student better understand China. This course also teaches students how to search, use and evaluate information for their research in an increasingly digital and information-oriented world. Only one version of A GOG/A EAC 160 may be taken for credit.

A EAC 170 China: Its Culture and Heritage (3)
Survey of the essential elements of traditional Chinese civilization and their transformation in the 20th century. Focus is on the development of basic Chinese social, political and aesthetic ideas. Conducted in English; no knowledge of Chinese required.

A EAC 201 Intermediate Chinese I (5)
This course is a continuation of A EAC 102. It develops further the students' overall linguistic command of modern Mandarin Chinese. Students primarily learn simplified characters as used in Mainland China. Prerequisite(s): A EAC 102 or equivalent.

A EAC 202 Intermediate Chinese II (5)
This course is a continuation of A EAC 201. Prerequisite(s): A EAC 201 or equivalent.

A EAC 301Y Advanced Chinese I (3)
This course is a continuation of A EAC 202. Equal emphasis is placed on enhanced reading, writing, and oral communication skills. Class is conducted in Mandarin Chinese. Prerequisite(s): A EAC 202 or equivalent.

A EAC 302Y Advanced Chinese II (3)
This course is a continuation of A EAC 301Y. Prerequisite(s): A EAC 301Y or equivalent.

A EAC 360 (= A GLO 370 & A GOG 370) China in the Global Arena (3)
(Formerly A EAC/A GLO/A GOG 260.) An introduction to China's modern political economy and society. Focuses on the role and influence of China in contemporary global affairs. Emphasizes the connection between Chinese history and contemporary social trends to explain China's relationship to the global economy as an increasingly important player in terms of global rule making. Focuses on China's leadership, soft power, society, culture, industrialization, and participation in global trade, finance, and politics. This multidisciplinary course helps students understand the dynamics of China's rapid economic growth over the last four decades, and how Chinese and Western scholars interpret the country's growing importance in the global political-economic system. Only one of A EAC/A GLO/A GOG 260, A EAC 360, A GLO/A GOG 370 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A EAC 150 or A EAC/A GOG 160 or A EAC 170 or permission of instructor.

A EAC 364 (= A ECO 364 & A HST 372) China's Economic History (3)
This course focuses on the development of the Chinese economy from its Neolithic period to economic reform in the twenty-first century. The goal is to understand the dynamics that produced distinctive patterns in the evolution of China's economy. At the same time, students will understand how a grasp of basic economic concepts can illuminate China's broader historical experience. Topics of special interest include the relationship between technological innovation and economic life, distinctive forms of economic organization in China, the impact of government policy on the private economy, China's experiment with state socialism, and the emergence of the so-called "socialist market economy."

A EAC 373 (= R POS 373) Government and Politics in the People's Republic of China (3-4)
Examination of the origins of the Communist movement in China against the backdrop of the decline of dynastic rule and the era of Western imperialism. The implications of ideology, institutions, and individuals for public policy in the People's Republic of China. Only one version of A EAC 373 may be taken for credit. Four credit sections for Honors Program students only.

A EAC 374 (= A HIS 374) Crime and Punishment in Traditional China (3)
This course will examine the distinctive understanding of crime and the law in China from the 7th to the 19th centuries. We will be particularly interested in theories of law during this period, the institutions of the imperial justice system, varieties of crime and punishment, and popular representations of the criminal justice system. Readings will include primary sources such as legal codes, case histories, and crime stories as well as secondary works on Chinese legal history. There are no prerequisites for this course, although some background in Chinese Studies will be helpful. Only one version of A EAC 374 may be taken for credit.

A EAC 379 (= A HIS 379) History of Premodern China (3)
This course is a survey of China’s historical development from prehistory to the founding of the Ming Dynasty in the 14th century. We will concern ourselves especially with the transformation of Chinese social structure over time, the relations between the state and the social elite, and the relationship between China’s intellectual, political, and social histories. Only one version of A EAC 379 may be taken for credit.

A EAC 380 (= A HIS 380) History of Modern China (3)
This course is a survey of China's history during the late imperial and modern periods. It begins with the founding of the Ming dynasty in the late 14th century and concludes with the present day. Of particular interest is the interplay of political, social, and intellectual history during this period. Only one version of A EAC 380 may be taken for credit.

A EAC 389 Topics in Chinese Literature, History, and Culture (3)
This course will focus on a selected topic or major work of traditional or modern Chinese literature or history for intensive study. May be repeated for credit when content varies. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or permission of instructor.

A EAC 414 Classical Chinese I (3)
Introduction to the literary Chinese language and classical Chinese culture through readings of simple texts selected from early classics, including the Chuangtzu and Records of the Grand Historian. Prerequisite(s): A EAC 202 or permission of the instructor.

A EAC 423 Practicum in Teaching Chinese (2)
This course is an introduction to the theory and practice of teaching Chinese as a foreign language, designed for those who contemplate a career teaching Chinese at the secondary or college level. Focus is on attaining practical experience through class observation and a supervised classroom practicum. Prerequisite(s): fluency in the reading, writing, and speaking of modern Chinese (Putonghua); permission of the instructor.

A EAC 497 Independent Study in Chinese (1-6)
Projects in selected areas of Chinese studies, with regular progress reports. Supervised readings of texts in Chinese. May be repeated once for credit when content varies. Prerequisite(s): two 300 level Chinese courses or equivalent, and permission of instructor.