Degree Programs in Chinese - Asian Languages & Literature at the University of Washington

University of Washington, Department of Asian Languages and Literature

Degree Programs > Chinese
See also the description of the Chinese program.

Chinese

Degrees Offered: Undergraduate Major and Minor, and Graduate M.A. and Ph.D.

Chinese Undergraduate Major

The Chinese Language & Literature major requires a total of 50-80 credits depending upon the level of Chinese attained before entering the University of Washington. [Note: These requirements apply to students who declared their major after June, 2011. The older requirements apply to students who declared earlier. See below.]

I. MODERN LANGUAGE COURSES:

15-45 credits, with a minimum of 15 credits beyond the third year of the language, chosen from among:

CHIN 411, 412, 413 Fourth-Year Chinese
CHIN 421, 422, 423 Business Chinese
I BUS 490 (when the topic is Business Chinese)
CHIN 470 Advanced Readings in Modern Chinese
CHIN 482 Advanced Readings in Modern Chinese
CHIN 496 Special Studies in Chinese (when the topic is advanced language instruction)

Note: Students who have been evaluated and placed beyond fourth-year Chinese may satisfy the modern language requirement by taking 15 additional credits of classical Chinese (see advisor for approved list of classical Chinese courses).

II. CLASSICAL LANGUAGE COURSES:

10 credits:

CHIN 451, 452 First-Year Classical Chinese

III. LITERATURE AND LINGUISTICS COURSES:

15 credits, MUST INCLUDE:

CHIN 342 or 442 The Chinese Language

plus an additional 10 credits from among:

15 credits (10 credits if the optional 5 credits of linguistics are taken) from among the following courses, or from Chinese literature courses offered in the Department of Comparative Literature:

ASIAN 201 Literature and Culture of Ancient and Classical China
ASIAN 204 Literature and Culture of China from Tradition to Modernity
ASIAN 207 Special Topics in Literature and Culture of Asia (when China is the topic)
ASIAN 211 Languages and Cultures of China
ASIAN 263 Great Works of Asian Literature (when China is the topic)
CHIN 373 Chinese Poetry
CHIN 374 Chinese Prose
CHIN 380 Premodern Chinese Narrative in Translation
CHIN 381 Literature in Modern China
CHIN 385 Popular Culture in Twentieth-Century China
CHIN 443 Structure of Chinese
CHIN 453 First-Year Classical Chinese
CHIN 461, 462, 463 History of Chinese Literature

IV. CHINA-RELATED HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCE COURSES:

10 credits from among the following (if the course has not already been used to satisfy other requirements):

ASIAN 200 Introduction to Asian Languages & Literature
ASIAN 211 Languages and Cultures of China
ASIAN 401 Introduction to Asian Linguistics
ASIAN 404 Writing Systems

or from courses explicitly related to China from such departments as Anthropology, Art History, International Studies, History, Linguistics, Sociology, etc. You can download a list of approved courses for recent and upcoming quarters in pdf format.

Major || Minor || M.A. || Ph.D. || top

Chinese Undergraduate Minor

The Department offers a 30 credit undergraduate minor in Chinese. Courses taken for the minor must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. No more than 15 transfer credits may count toward a Chinese language minor. [Note: These requirements apply to students who declared their minor after June, 2011. The older requirements apply to students who declared earlier. See below.]

I. LANGUAGE COURSES:

15 credits at or above the third-year level chosen from among the following:

CHIN 212, 213 Second-Year Heritage Chinese (considered equivalent to 3rd-year level)
CHIN 301, 302, 303 Third-Year Non-Heritage Chinese
CHIN 411, 412, 413 Fourth-Year Chinese
CHIN 421, 422, 423 Business Chinese
I BUS 490 (when the topic is Business Chinese)
CHIN 451, 452, 453 First-Year Classical Chinese
CHIN 470 Advanced Readings in Modern Chinese
CHIN 482 Advanced Readings in Modern Chinese

CHIN 496 Special Studies in Chinese (when the topic is advanced language instruction)

II. CHINESE LINGUISTICS:

CHIN 342 or 442 The Chinese Language

III. CHINA RELATED HUMANITIES COURSES:

10 credits, including at least one course from among the following:

ASIAN 200 Introduction to Asian Languages & Literature
ASIAN 201 Literature and Culture of Ancient and Classical China
ASIAN 204 Literature and Culture of China from Tradition to Modernity
ASIAN 207 Special Topics in Literature and Culture of Asia (when China is the topic)
ASIAN 211 Languages and Cultures of China
ASIAN 263 Great Works of Asian Literature (when China is the topic)
ASIAN 401 Introduction to Asian Linguistics
ASIAN 404 Writing Systems
CHIN 373 Chinese Poetry
CHIN 374 Chinese Prose
CHIN 380 Premodern Chinese Narrative in Translation
CHIN 381 Literature in Modern China
CHIN 385 Popular Culture in 20th Century China
CHIN 443 Structure of Chinese
CHIN 461, 462, 463 History of Chinese Literature

with any remaining credits fulfilled by choosing courses explicitly related to China from such departments as Anthropology, Art History, International Studies, History, Linguistics, Sociology, etc. You can download a list of approved courses for recent and upcoming quarters in pdf format.

Major || Minor || M.A. || Ph.D. || top

Chinese Undergraduate Major [for students who declared before July 2011]

The Chinese Language & Literature major has a requirement of 75 credits.

I. LANGUAGE COURSES:

30 credits, with a minimum of 20 credits beyond the third year of the language, including:

CHIN 451 First-Year Classical Chinese
with the rest from:

CHIN 411, 412, 413 Fourth-Year Chinese
CHIN 421, 422, 423 Business Chinese or I BUS 490 Special Topics: Business Chinese
CHIN 452, 453 First-Year Classical Chinese (Winter & Spring quarters)
CHIN 470 Advanced Readings in Modern Chinese
CHIN 482 Advanced Readings in Modern Chinese
CHIN 551, 552, 553 Second-Year Classical Chinese

II. LINGUISTICS COURSES:

5 credits required:

CHIN 342/442 The Chinese Language

5 credits optional:

CHIN 443 Structure of Chinese

III. LITERATURE COURSES:

15 credits (10 credits if the optional 5 credits of linguistics are taken) from among the following courses, or from Chinese literature courses offered in the Department of Comparative Literature:

ASIAN 201 Literature and Culture of Ancient and Classical China
ASIAN 204 Literature and Culture of China from Tradition to Modernity
ASIAN 211 Languages and Cultures of China
ASIAN 263 Great Works of Asian Literature (when China is the topic)
CHIN 373 Chinese Poetry
CHIN 374 Chinese Prose
CHIN 380 Premodern Chinese Narrative in Translation
CHIN 381 Literature in Modern China
CHIN 385 Popular Culture in Twentieth-Century China
CHIN 461, 462, 463 History of Chinese Literature

IV. CHINA-RELATED HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCE COURSES:

25 credits including the following course in the History Department:

HSTAS 211 History of Chinese Civilization

with the remaining credits fulfilled by choosing courses explicitly related to China from such departments as Anthropology, Art History, International Studies, Linguistics, Sociology, etc. You can download a list of approved courses in pdf format.

Major || Minor || M.A. || Ph.D. || top

Chinese Undergraduate Minor [for students who declared before July 2011]

The Department offers a 30 credit undergraduate minor in Chinese. Courses taken for the minor must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. No more than 15 transfer credits may count toward a Chinese language minor.

I. LANGUAGE COURSES:

15 credits at or above the third-year level. Must include CHIN 451, plus other courses drawn from among the following:

CHIN 212, 213 Second-Year Heritage Chinese
CHIN 301, 302, 303 Third-Year Non-Heritage Chinese
CHIN 411, 412, 413 Fourth-Year Chinese
CHIN 421, 422, 423 Business Chinese or I BUS 490 Special Topics: Business Chinese
CHIN 452, 453 First-Year Classical Chinese
CHIN 470 Advanced Readings in Modern Chinese
CHIN 482 Advanced Readings in Modern Chinese

II. AREA RELATED HUMANITIES COURSES:

15 credits taken from among the following:

ASIAN 201 Literature and Culture of Ancient and Classical China
ASIAN 204 Literature and Culture of China from Tradition to Modernity
ASIAN 211 Languages and Cultures of China
ASIAN 263 Great Works of Asian Literature (when China is the topic)
CHIN 342/442 The Chinese Language
CHIN 373 Chinese Poetry
CHIN 374 Chinese Prose
CHIN 380 Premodern Chinese Narrative in Translation
CHIN 381 Literature in Modern China
CHIN 385 Popular Culture in 20th Century China
CHIN 443 Structure of Chinese
CHIN 461, 462, 463 History of Chinese Literature

Major || Minor || M.A. || Ph.D. || top

M.A. Program

Admission

The applicant must meet the requirements of the Graduate School as outlined in the University Catalog. An undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 in the junior and senior years is a prerequisite for admission, together with three letters of recommendation and a statement of purpose. Admission to the M.A. program with specialization in Chinese language and literature requires that a student have strong undergraduate preparation in one of the following: Chinese language and literature, another foreign language and literature, Asian Regional Studies, Comparative Literature, Linguistics, English, Philosophy, or History. He or she will, in addition, be expected to have completed four years of modern Chinese and one year of classical Chinese, each with a grade point average of at least 3.0. Students lacking such preparation may be admitted to the M.A. program provisionally, and will be required to make up the deficiencies during their first year of residence.

Program Description

The program in Chinese language and literature offers work in the textual, linguistic and literary study of Chinese as well as in the history and criticism of the Chinese literary tradition. The student will work out an individual course of study with an adviser. Although a student normally emphasizes either linguistics or literature, both are important components for all students. Courses offered in other programs within the department, and in other departments, such as Comparative Literature, Anthropology, Linguistics, or one of the other language and literature departments, may constitute valuable additions to the program where they support and enrich a special emphasis.

Course Work and Credits

I. Degree Requirements

Two options are available to the student in the M.A. degree program: (1) a thesis program (including both a thesis and completion of 9 credits of ASIAN 700), and (2) a non-thesis program which requires two seminar or research papers in lieu of a thesis, and two 500-level departmental courses in addition to the requirements specified below.

II. Special Course Requirements

The M.A. course program must include in every case the following courses or their equivalent (38-40 credits):

CHIN 551, 552, 553 Second-Year Classical Chinese (15 credits)
CHIN 559 Methods and Materials (5 credits)
CHIN 461, 462, 463 History of Chinese Literature (any one of the three-quarter sequence; 5 credits each)
CHIN 442 The Chinese Language (5 credits)
At least one course from each of the following two groups (8-10 credits total):

Group I: Literature

CHIN 461, 462, 463 History of Chinese Literature
CHIN 482 Advanced Readings in Chinese Prose
CHIN 554, 555, 556 Readings in Chinese Prose
CHIN 561, 562, 563 Studies in Chinese Literature
CHIN 580 Readings in Vernacular Fiction
CHIN 575 Studies in Chinese Drama
CHIN 590 Readings in the Thirteen Classics
CHIN 591, 592, 593 Studies in the History of Chinese Thought
CHIN 573 Seminar in Chinese Poetry
CHIN 582 Seminar in Chinese Fiction
CHIN 583 Seminar in Modern Chinese Literature
CHIN 590 Seminar in Six Dynasties Literature

Group II: Linguistics and Philology

CHIN 443 Structure of Chinese
CHIN 542 Chinese Historical Phonology
CHIN 557 Introduction to Chinese Philology and Textual Criticism
CHIN 531, 532, 533 Studies in Chinese Phonology
CHIN 540 Seminar on Chinese Linguistics
CHIN 541 Seminar on Chinese Grammar
CHIN 544 Chinese Dialectology
CHIN 558 Seminar on Chinese Lexicology and Grammatonymy

M.A. Examination

For a complete description of the Department's M.A. General Examination, please refer to the Policies and Procedures, 2.5.0 - 2.5.2. The first part of the M.A. Examination in Chinese will cover Chinese literature, and the second part will focus on language (linguistics and philology) and texts. The examination should normally be taken no later than Autumn Quarter of the third year.

Major || Minor || M.A. || Ph.D. || top

Ph.D. Program

I. Admission

The student must meet such general admission requirements for the doctoral program as the Graduate School may set forth.

After successful completion of 45 credits (a minimum of three quarters) of graduate study in this Department, a student wishing to enter the Ph.D. program with specialization in Chinese language and literature shall, irrespective of any particular qualifications or background, submit a formal petition to the Department stating his or her post-M.A. academic plans and goals. (For a fuller description of the requirements of the petition to proceed into the Ph.D. program, please consult the Department's Policies and Procedures, 3.4.2 - 3.4.3f.)

Ideally, the prospective candidate will have completed an M.A. degree in the field of Chinese language and literature prior to entering the Ph.D. program. If the student has an M.A. in another pertinent field, e.g., in Linguistics, Comparative Literature, Philosophy, History, or Asian regional studies, it will not be necessary to take an additional M.A. in Chinese language and literature. The student will however be required to satisfy all course and examination requirements for the M.A. program in this department. Upon admission to the program, the student should be prepared to enter courses in modern Chinese at the 500 level, and should have at least two years of Classical Chinese.
A student who intends to go directly from the B.A. to the Ph.D. program must present an unusually strong background preparation in the disciplines of literary study or linguistics. He or she will be expected in the course of his or her work to satisfy all curriculum requirements for the M.A., and must petition the department for special permission to bypass the M.A.
II. Degree Requirements
90 credits, as follows:
• Course requirements: Students in the Ph.D. program must complete the course requirements for the M.A. in Chinese. Equivalent courses from other programs may be substituted subject to written approval by the regular instructor of the course in question. In addition, whichever quarters of the sequence CHIN 461, CHIN 462, CHIN 463 were not taken for the M.A. must be taken for the Ph.D. The student's post-M.A. course work should be designed, in consultation with the adviser, to fill in gaps or strengthen weaknesses in the student's background, and to establish and develop four fields of special study that the student pursues in some depth in preparation for the general examination.
• Field requirements: The student is expected to familiarize himself or herself with both the original texts and the secondary scholarship of the field, and to show some potential for carrying out original research in the area or field in question. Each student must pursue four such fields of special study, and is examined separately by an appropriate faculty member prior to the general oral examination. The field examinations must be written. The four fields that a student elects to study must, in the aggregate, reflect both of the primary components of the department's graduate-level offerings, i.e., language (linguistics and philology) and literature. Students are encouraged in connection with at least one field to incorporate to a significant extent some aspect of Chinese history and culture, exclusive of strictly literary or linguistic facets thereof. With permission of his or her adviser a student may offer one field from outside the Department, for example, in general linguistics, literary criticism, a non-Chinese literature, Chinese philosophy or religion, or a particular period of Chinese history. Such a field must be demonstrably related in a significant way to the student's overall course of study.
• Examinations: The student is examined in each of the four fields separately by an appropriate faculty member. Prior to the General Examination the student must demonstrate a reading knowledge of an additional Asian language and a pertinent European language. (The student may apply the foreign language reading examination required for the M.A. to this requirement.)