The Chinese Studies major and minor are interdisciplinary in nature. Students are offered a structured approach to the study of Chinese history, art, language, literature, customs, culture, economy, and politics while allowing the flexibility to pursue individual areas of interest.
Students pursuing a program in Chinese Studies are strongly encouraged to study abroad for a semester or a year in China. Gettysburg College is affiliated with study-abroad programs in Beijing and Shanghai jointly administered by CET Academic Programs, Capital Normal University, and Donghua University. In addition to language study through the advanced level, the program offers a wide range of courses appropriate to the China specialization within the East Asian Studies major or minor.
East Asian Studies Major – Chinese Track Requirements: Effective with the Class of 2018
The Chinese Studies major and minor are interdisciplinary in nature. Students are offered a structured approach to the study of Chinese history, art, language, literature, customs, culture, economy, and politics while allowing the flexibility to pursue individual areas of interest.
Students pursuing a program in Chinese Studies are strongly encouraged to study abroad for a semester or a year in China. Gettysburg College is affiliated with study-abroad programs in Beijing and Shanghai jointly administered by CET Academic Programs, Capital Normal University, and Donghua University.
Students pursuing the East Asian Studies Major – Chinese Track must complete eleven courses consisting of three core courses, two language courses at the advanced level, two electives, three disciplinary track courses, and a capstone course.
Core Courses
- AS 111: Chinese Culture & Society (recommended for first- and second-year students)
- HIST 223 Modern China, and
- one comparative course. A comparative is either a course with a broad East Asian Focus or a course on Japan.
Potential Comparative Courses:
- PHIL 240: World Philosophy
- REL 210: Buddhist Spiritual Autobiographies
- REL 244: Introduction to Buddhism
- REL 254: Intro to Confucianism
- REL 261: Buddhist Scriptures
- ARTH 131: Introduction to Asian Art
- HIST 221: History of East Asia to 1800
- HIST 222: History of East Asia from 1800 to the Present
- FYS 156-3: Tea: An Experiential History
Language study
CHN 301 and CHN 302 or their equivalent as determined by placement tests.
Electives
Students will select two courses that focus on China from the following three categories: Arts & Humanities, History & Social Sciences, and Language (beyond CHN 302 or in Japanese).
Arts & Humanities
- ARTH 234: Arts of China
- ARTH 235: Chinese Painting and Aesthetics
- AS 227: Fairy Tales and Folktales: From the Brothers Grimm to China
- AS 230: Identity in Chinese Literature
- CIMS 262: Hong Kong Cinema
- REL 248: Religions of China
- PHIL 216 Classical Chinese Philosophy
- PHIL 366 Great Philosophers: Zhuangzi
History & Social Sciences
- AS 224: Chinese Folklore
- AS/ANTH 229: Tourism and Culture in China
- AS/POL 273: The Two Koreas
- HIST 221: East Asia to 1800
- HIST 222: East Asia 1800 to the Present
- SOC 243: Chinese Diaspora
Language
- 400-level Chinese language courses
- JPN 101: Elementary Japanese
- JPN 102: Elementary Japanese
Disciplinary track
Students will select two courses in a discipline and the methods course of that discipline. Courses must be approved by the East Asian Studies Department, and at least one course must focus on China or East Asia. Potential areas of disciplinary focus are listed below:
Potential Areas of disciplinary focus:
Anthropology
- ANTH 103: Intro to Cultural Anthropology
- AS/ANTH 229: Tourism & Culture in China
- ANTH 323: Field Methods in Cultural Anthropology
Art History
- ARTH 131: or other approved 100-level
- ARTH 234 or 235
- ARTH 214: Methods
History
- HIST 110 or other approved 100-level
- Course on East Asian history
- HIST 300: Methods
Political Science
Note: POL 215: Methods must be completed before taking the capstone course.
- POL 104: Intro to Comparative Politics AND one of the three courses: POL 103: Intro International Relations; POL 101: American Government; POL 102: Intro to Political Thought
- AS/POL 273: The Two Koreas, POL 270: Govt and Politics in China OR Political Science course during Study Abroad
- POL 215: Methods
Economics
NOTE: A double major in East Asian Studies and Economics is required to pursue an Economics track
- ECON 104: Intro to Macroeconomics
- ECON 251: International Economics
- ECON 241: Introductory Economics and Business Statistics
Religious Studies
- Any 100- or 200-level Religious Studies course
- Course on Chinese Religion
- REL 260: Theories of Religion
Check Sheet for East Asian Studies Major-Chinese Track – Effective with the Class of 2018
Sociology
- SOC 101, 102, or 103
- SOC 243: Chinese Diaspora
- SOC 398 (Qualitative Methods) or SOC 399 is (Statistics)
Cinema & Media Studies
- CIMS 101: Intro Cinema & Media Studies
- East Asian film course
- CIMS 252 or CIMS/ID S226
Literature
- A 200 level English course (except 205)
- Chinese Literature Course
- ENG 299: Methods
Check Sheet for East Asian Studies Major-Chinese Track – Effective with the Class of 2018
East Asian Studies Minor –Chinese Culture Requirements: Effective with the Class of 2024
The East Asian Studies minor with a specialization in Chinese culture requires six courses.
- Core Courses: Students take one core course: AS 111: Chinese Culture & Society
- Electives: Students take three elective courses specializing in China. These courses must come from three different disciplines, with at least one course from the arts & humanities and one from the history & social sciences.*
- Comparative Course: Students take one course that offers a comparative perspective within East Asia or focuses on Japan.*
- Language: Students specializing in China must take CHN 201: Intermediate Chinese.**
* Categories and potential courses appear above in the description for the Chinese major requirements.
**CHN 101 & 102: Beginning Chinese are pre-requisites for CHN 201 but do not count towards the minor. However, students who have previously studied Chinese may enter the 200-level as determined by the language placement exam. Chinese language proficiency at the 202 level is required and determined by the department.
Check Sheet for East Asian Studies Chinese Culture Minor - Effective with the Class of 2024
East Asian Studies Minor –Chinese Language Requirements: Effective with the Class of 2024
The East Asian Studies minor with a specialization in Chinese culture requires six courses.
- Core Courses: Students take one core course: AS 111: Chinese Culture & Society
- Language: Students take five Chinese language courses excluding CHN 101: Beginning Chinese.
Check Sheet for East Asian Studies Chinese Language Minor - Effective with the Class of 2024