Requirements for a Major or Minor in Chinese


– also see Global Studies

Programs offered
• Major in Chinese (32 credits)
• Minor in Chinese (20 credits)

Faculty
Jonathan P. Clark, chair
Tao Ming

The mission of the Chinese program at Concordia College is to enable students to gain a global vision and sensitivity to other cultures by promoting enjoyment of learning Chinese and nurturing students' knowledge of Chinese culture and civilization. The Chinese program provides learning experiences that prepare students to achieve the following outcomes:
• to develop communication skills in the Mandarin Chinese language
• to gain knowledge and understanding of Chinese culture
• to make connections between Chinese and other disciplines and acquire information in a liberal arts context
• to develop comparisons based on insight into the nature of the language and culture
• to participate in multilingual communities at home and around the world

The Chinese program offers students the opportunity to participate in regular activities of the Chinese Club and to interact with Chinese international students and the local Chinese community. Students are encouraged to participate in immersion weekends at Concordia Language Villages, which also offer opportunities for summer employment in the language. Students are strongly encouraged to study abroad and majors may find it necessary to do so in order to complete a sufficient number of upper-level courses. Students should consult with the department about semester and summer opportunities to study in China.

Liberal Arts Core World Languages Requirement
Students may satisfy the Core distribution world languages requirement by either option A or B:
A. Successful completion of CHIN 112 – Beginning Chinese II or a higher-numbered course. All students who have studied Chinese prior to coming to Concordia are expected to take a placement test to determine which course level is the most appropriate for their individual ability. If the student has not previously studied Chinese, the student is not required to take the placement exam and qualified to enroll in CHIN 111 – Beginning Chinese I.
B. Achieving successful scores on the oral proficiency interview and a timed written essay that demonstrate the student has mastered the content and scope of the CHIN 111-112 – Beginning Chinese I and II sequence. Students are eligible to take this proficiency exam by placing beyond CHIN 112 – Beginning Chinese II on the placement exam in Chinese.

Major in Chinese
The requirements for a major in Chinese are 32 credits above CHIN 112 – Beginning Chinese II:
• CHIN 211 – Intermediate Chinese I, 4 credits
• CHIN 212 – Intermediate Chinese II, 4 credits
• 24 additional credits beyond 212

Concordia currently offers a limited number of upper-division courses, so study off campus is necessary to complete the Chinese major. Students have a number of opportunities to earn the required credits. Most students will study abroad, some will choose to take advantage of the cooperative education opportunities at the Concordia Language Villages, and others may transfer in approved courses from other colleges. Please consult with the Chinese department chair to evaluate your options and determine the best course of study for you.

Minor in Chinese
The requirements for a minor in Chinese are 20 credits:
• CHIN 211 – Intermediate Chinese I, 4 credits
• CHIN 212 – Intermediate Chinese II, 4 credits
• 12 additional credits beyond 212. These may be taken either on campus or abroad.