The Chinese program provides students with an opportunity to concentrate on acquiring expertise in an important modern language and its culture. The Chinese major or minor will strengthen a student's overall skills in internationalism and provide a focus on one of the world's most important nations.
The Chinese programs allow students to acquire a strong working knowledge of the Chinese language and to understand important aspects of Chinese culture, with an emphasis on contemporary China. The program can help prepare students for graduate study in China-related fields, for work in contexts where the language and culture are pertinent, or to live and work in Sinophone areas of the world as informed and capable individuals equipped with appropriate intercultural skills and awareness.
Chinese majors may seek employment in government service, domestic and foreign offices, the United Nations, the Peace Corps, the U.S. Information Agency, or other international agencies. Many majors go on to teach English in China, or to do translation work. Employment may also be available with import and export trade organizations, international banking houses, or U.S. companies abroad. In addition, an increasing number of domestic and multinational companies are seeking employees who have backgrounds in multicultural studies as a way of dealing with the global market.
Study Abroad in China: We strongly encourage all Chinese majors and minors to study abroad during their junior year (ideally, after having taken CHNS 401 on campus). Penn State's stated goal is to make studying abroad no more expensive for students and their families than a semester studying at the University Park campus. For information on scholarships and education abroad programs, please visit the Global Programs Website at: http://global.psu.edu/.
Our Director of Undergraduate Studies has developed a presentation that outlines options for Penn State undergraduates who want to major or minor in Chinese and go abroad. Find it here.
The Chinese Major requires at least 35 credits of study (this includes 0-9 credits of General Education GA, GH, or GS courses), at least 21 credits must be at the 400 level. Students are strongly encouraged to take at least 12 of their credits as part of a study abroad program in a Chinese-speaking location. For curricular sequencing, the program encourages students to pursue this Education Abroad experience after completing CHNS 401 on the Penn State campus. Students must earn a C or better in all courses applied to their major.
Courses not on this list may also count with approval from the Chinese adviser. This approval process is not complex and can be done via e-mail.