Courses in Chinese Studies - University at Albany-SUNY

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# Courses in Chinese Studies

A EAC 100 Introduction to China (3)
This is a preliminary introduction to China and its culture. It covers contemporary developments and provides important historical background. Students also study some simple Chinese language to facilitate short-term social interaction in China. It does not count for East Asian Studies Department major requirements.

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.

A EAC 150 China Through Western Eyes (3)
American and European perceptions of China from the 13th century to the present, emphasizing the origin(s) and influence of these Western perspectives. Readings range from the travel journals of Marco Polo to recent reports.

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 203 Elementary Chinese for Heritage Learners (5)
This elementary modern Chinese language class is designed specifically for heritage learners; that is, students whose family background and/or previous education have provided them with some Chinese language skills (usually listening and speaking), but whose reading and writing skills may range from the most basic to knowledge of just a few hundred Chinese characters. The goal of this accelerated A EAC 203 class, which in one semester will cover all the material taught in A EAC 101 and 102, is to help heritage learners improve their overall communicative competence in modern Chinese (Mandarin). There are no prerequisites, but this is a class designed specifically for heritage learners who already have some knowledge of modern Chinese. Students with no previous knowledge of the Chinese language should enroll in A EAC 101.

A EAC 204 Intermediate Chinese for Heritage Learners (5)
This intermediate modern Chinese language class is designed specifically for heritage learners; that is, students whose family background and/or previous education has provided them with some Chinese language skills (usually listening and speaking), but whose reading and writing skills are probably limited to only several hundred Chinese characters. The goal of this accelerated A EAC 204 class, which in one semester will cover all the material taught in A EAC 201 and 202, is to help heritage learners improve their overall communicative competence in modern Chinese (Mandarin). Prerequisite(s): A EAC 203 or the equivalent in background knowledge or training.

A EAC 205X Chinese Studies Research and Bibliographic Methods (3)
This course will cover research and bibliographic methods in Chinese Studies. Students will learn how to navigate library catalogs and the Internet with specific emphasis on Chinese databases and resources. Students will also learn how to use reference materials, such as character dictionaries. Only one of A EAC 205X, A EAJ 205X, and A EAS 205X may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): one year or equivalent of Chinese.

A EAC 210 Survey of Classical Chinese Literature in Translation I (3)
An introduction to the major works of Chinese literature from the oracle bones (18th century BC) to poetry and prose writings of the Song dynasty (960-1279).

A EAC 211 Survey of Classical Chinese Literature in Translation II (3)
An introduction to the major works of Chinese literature from the Yüan dynasty (1279-1368) to the Ch’ing period (1644-1911), with emphasis on plays, poems and fiction.

A EAC 212 Modern Chinese Literature in Translation (3)
Survey of prose literature in China from the May Fourth Movement (1919) to the present, including works written after the Cultural Revolution.

T EAC 230 (= T GOG 230) Reform and Resistance in Contemporary China (4)
The course provides a survey of economic and social change in reform-era China (1978-present), beginning with a broad review of the policies that have brought about such a monumental restructuring of the economy. In the later sections of the in-class discussion will focus on the human impacts of the reforms and the extent to which the Chinese people have been constrained in their struggles for a better life and a more just and equitable society. Readings and materials from other media (including contemporary film and literature) will be selected to illustrate some of the ways the Chinese people have been exerting agency in shaping their own fate and resisting the inevitable forces that seem likely to overwhelm them in the new era of free-wheeling capitalism. The classroom discussions will focus on specific case studies of resistance drawn from a variety of sites and a range of contexts in contemporary China, which will be discussed and analyzed in the context of social science theories about the nature of resistance and its outcomes. The course will present ideas and a body of literature that question and critique the dominant 'narrative of success' that currently pervades Western media and academic curricula. Formerly A EAC/A GOG 230H. Only one version of T EAC 230 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): open to Honors College students only.

A EAC 260 (= A GLO 260 & A GOG 260) China in the Global Arena (3)
An introduction to the development of China’s economy and society since the death of Chairman Mao Tse-tung in 1976. Focuses on urbanization, industrialization, export-oriented development, and participation in global trade, finance and politics. Taught in Shanghai, this multidisciplinary course helps students understand the dynamics of China’s rapid economic growth over the last three decades, and how Chinese scholars interpret the nation’s growing importance in the global system. Only one version of A EAC 260 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): taken after, or simultaneously with A EAC 100.

A EAC 280 (= A ARH 280) Chinese Painting (3)
Introduces students to the major works of traditional Chinese painting and analyzes those works to arrive at an understanding of life in traditional China. The major class activity will be viewing, discussing and analyzing slides of Chinese paintings. Only one version of A EAC 280 may be taken for credit.

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 350 (= A GOG 350) Urban Development in China (3)
Provides a comprehensive understanding of urban development in China. Reviews the history of urban development in China and examines the demographic, social, economic, and cultural dimensions of the urbanization process. Analyzes the emerging urban land and housing markets, and the changing urban landscape.

A EAC 373 (= R POS 373) Government and Politics in the People's Republic of China (3)
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.

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 379/379Z (= A HIS 379/379Z) 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. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in East Asian studies or history.

A EAC 380/380Z (= A HIS 380/380Z) 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. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in East Asian studies or history.

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 (formerly A EAC 310) 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 415 (formerly A EAC 311) Classical Chinese II (3)
Continuation of A EAC 414. Prerequisite(s): A EAC 414 or permission of the instructor.

A EAC 420 (formerly A EAC 390) Classical Chinese Poetry (3)
This class surveys Chinese poetry written in traditional verse forms, beginning with works from the Book of Poetry (600 BC) and concluding in the 18th century. Major poets will include Qu Yuan, Du Fu, Li Bo, and Su Shi. The course will begin with the major linguistic and rhetorical elements of Chinese poetry and proceed to introduce elements of traditional Chinese poetics. No knowledge of Chinese is required. All readings and discussions will be in English. Prerequisite(s): any one of the following courses: A EAS 103, T EAS 105, A EAC 170, 210, or 211.

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 430 (formerly A EAS 392) Chinese Travel Literature (3)
This course will examine the traditions of travel writing in China. Students will read selections from works representing important aspects of the genre. Half of the semester will focus on China and half on Japan. All readings will be in English; no knowledge of Chinese is required. Prerequisite(s): any one of the following: A EAS 103; A EAC 210, 211, or permission of instructor.

A EAC 432 (= A THR 432; formerly A EAC 396/A THR 323) Readings in Chinese Drama (3)
After introducing the history and aesthetics of the Chinese theater, this course will concentrate on reading and discussing pieces of Yuan Zaju Drama, Ming Chuanqi Opera, Peking/Beijing Opera, and Chinese shadow plays. Knowledge of the Chinese language is not necessary. Only one version of A EAC 432 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): any 200 level course (other than language courses) from either the Department of East Asian Studies or the Theater Department, or permission of the instructor.

A EAC 458 (= A HIS 458) New Orders in Asia (3)
This class examines the international orders in place in Asia from the days of 19th century imperialism to the search for a 21st century post-Cold War order. The focus will be on political, cultural, and economic interactions among the three main East Asian powers: China, Japan, and the US. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing.

A EAC 470Z (= A GOG 470Z) China After Deng Xiaoping (3)
This course examines some of the issues associated with modernization and economic development in post-Deng Xiaoping China. The course focuses on the era of economic reform associated with Deng, and is particularly concerned with the social, spatial and political ramifications of China’s entry into the global economy. Only one version of A EAC 470Z may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): any of the following: A EAC 160Z or 170, or A GOG 102Z or 220.

A EAC 471 (= A HIS 471; formerly A EAC/A HIS 398) Change in Medieval China (3)
This course focuses on the dramatic change that China underwent between the 8th and the 14th centuries. We will examine this transformation from several historical perspectives: political history, economic history, social history, intellectual history, and cultural history in order to better understand China’s shift from aristocratic to literati society. Only one version of A EAC 471 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A EAS 170, T EAS 105, A EAC 379, A HIS 177, 379, or permission of 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, or permission of instructor.

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