Chinese (BA)

There are more native speakers of Chinese than any other language, and Chinese culture exerts a profound influence on today’s world. The Chinese program at the University of Oregon offers beginning to advanced Chinese language classes, in which students build strong Mandarin Chinese proficiency and explore Chinese culture. Additionally, courses taught in English with translated readings allow students to develop expertise in Chinese culture, literature, film, and society, from historical and contemporary perspectives. 

Students majoring in Chinese create flexible programs of study tailored to meet their individual interests, and are encouraged to pursue study abroad and internship opportunities. Chinese majors thus leave UO with a foundation to pursue careers in a wide range of global fields: education, international business, government, non-profit work, translation, and more. Many graduates also apply their Chinese expertise in pursuit of further professional study (e.g. law and medicine). Chinese is one of several majors taught within the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Content objectives: for culture and language intensive: Identify, describe, and explain materials, terminologies, methodologies, and theories in Chinese literature, film and media. For linguistics intensive: Describe, analyze and explain language structure and usage using terminologies, methodologies, and theories in Chinese linguistics.
• Critical thinking/Analytical skills: for culture and language intensive: Read, discuss, and evaluate texts from both historical sources and contemporary works in literature, film and media, and linguistics, employing methodologies and criteria. For linguistics focus: Discuss and evaluate descriptive grammars of Chinese, as well as studies on various levels of Chinese linguistics including, phonetics, phonology, semantics, syntax, pragmatics, sociolinguistics and the relationship between language, cognition and culture.
• Argumentation: Formulate original arguments, anticipating objections and responding in conscientious fashion.
• Communication: Communicate knowledge, ideas, and reasoning in written, oral, or other forms, in English or Chinese. Reach intermediate/advanced proficiency level in written and spoken modern Chinese. For CHN language intensive: Acquire introductory to intermediate reading skills in classical Chinese.

Chinese Major Requirements

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Courses must be in Chinese language, culture, literature, linguistics, film, or other advisor-approved areas taken from this or other departments. Of these, at least three must be from the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures, with two having the CHN subject code. A third non-Chinese course chosen from within the department may also count toward the culture-intensive option. Up to 4 credits related to an internship or experiential learning can be applied toward the upper-division elective requirement. 

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Only one lower-division course (100-level or 200-level) may count toward the major. 

Additional Requirements

At least five of the required courses must be completed within the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures. The three literature/culture courses (CHN 150, 151, 152, 305, 306, 307, or 308) must be taken in EALL. The linguistics course (480, 482, or EALL 209) must be taken in EALL. Of the four upper-division electives, three must be taken from EALL. 

Four-Year Degree Plans

The degree plan shown is only a sample of how students may complete their degrees in four years. There are alternative ways. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best path for them.

Bachelor of Arts in Chinese