28 courses with the subject CHIN, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
CHIN 105Elementary Chinese1.5
An introduction to Mandarin Chinese ( putong hua or guo yu ). While the approach is aural-lingual, reading and writing skills are introduced early in the program. The two semesters cover about 700 characters. Grammatical analysis, pattern drills, and conversational practices are stressed throughout. Liz Carter. Open to all students. Yearlong course 105- CHIN 106 . Five 50-minute periods. Course Format: CLS
An introduction to Mandarin Chinese ( putong hua or guo yu ). While the approach is aural-lingual, reading and writing skills are introduced early in the program. The two semesters cover about 700 characters. Grammatical analysis, pattern drills, and conversational practices are stressed throughout. Liz Carter. Open to all students. Yearlong course CHIN 105 -106. Five 50-minute periods. Course Format: CLS
An elementary Chinese language course designed for students who have acquired some oral Mandarin Chinese from home or other sources but did not reach the level of CHIN 205 . It capitalizes on sudents’ already acquired knowledge to further develop the skills of listening comprehension, speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Chinese. Wenwei Du.
Open to students who have previous exposure to Chinese. Five 50-minute periods. Course Format: CLS
Offered
Fall
CHIN 108Advanced Elementary Chinese1.5
An elementary Chinese language course designed for students who have acquired some oral Mandarin Chinese from home or other sources but did not reach the level of CHIN 205 . It capitalizes on students’ already acquired knowledge to further develop the skills of listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing in Mandarin Chinese. Wenwei Du.
Open to students who have completed CHIN 107 or permission of the instructor. Five 50-minute periods. Course Format: CLS
Offered
Spring
CHIN 205Intermediate Chinese1.5
Further practice in conversation and learned patterns; acquisition of new grammatical structures, vocabulary, and about 700 additional characters. Emphasis on communicative skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Liz Carter.
CHIN 105 - CHIN 106 or permission of the instructor. Yearlong course 205- CHIN 206 . Five 50-minute periods. Course Format: CLS
Offered
Fall
CHIN 206Intermediate Chinese1.5
Further practice in conversation and learned patterns; acquisition of new grammatical structures, vocabulary, and about 700 additional characters. Emphasis on communicative skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Liz Carter.
CHIN 105 - CHIN 106 or permission of the instructor. Yearlong course CHIN 205 -206. Five 50-minute periods. Course Format: CLS
Offered
Spring
CHIN 207Advanced Intermediate Chinese1.5
A one-year sequential Intermediate Chinese language course designed for students who have completed CHIN 108 or acquired an equivalent level of oral and written proficiencies in Chinese from home or other sources but did not reach the level of CHIN 305 . It capitalizes on students’ already acquired knowledge to further develop the skills of listening comprehension, speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Chinese. Wenwei Du. Open to students who have completed CHIN 108 and its equivalent. Not offered in 2026/27. Course Format: CLS
A one-year sequential Intermediate Chinese language course designed for students who have completed CHIN 207 or acquired an equivalent level of oral and written proficiencies in Chinese from home or other sources but did not reach the level of CHIN 305 . It capitalizes on students’ already acquired knowledge to further develop the skills of listening comprehension, speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Chinese. Haoming Liu. Open to students who have completed CHIN 207 and its equivalent. Five 50-minute periods. Not offered in 2026/27. Course Format: CLS
CHIN 214The Tumultuous Century: Twentieth-Century Chinese Literature1
(Same as ASIA 214 ) This is a survey/introduction to the literature of China from the late Qing Dynasty through the present day. Texts are arranged according to trends and schools as well as to their chronological order. Authors include Wu Jianren, Lu Xun, Zhang Ailing, Ding Ling, Mo Yan and Gao Xingjian. All major genres are covered but the focus is on fiction. A few feature films are also included in association with some of the literary works and movements. No knowledge of the Chinese language, Chinese history, or culture is required for taking the course. All readings and class discussions are in English. Haoming Liu.
One course in language, literature, culture or Asian Studies, or permission of the instructor. Not offered in 2026/27.
CHIN 286Hölderlin and the Question of Translation
0.5 to 1 unit(s) Hölderlin’s theoretical and poetical texts. It especially focuses on the issue of translation both in Chinese and in English (also French). It also assigns readings of select secondary literature to help students grasp the meaning of the original texts as well as understand the challenge any translator must face. The instructor guides the students to read the German texts in order to appreciate their rich contents as well as traps and difficulties the texts present. Students are asked to try their hands on translating both poetican and theoretical pieces. In-class essays are assigned. Grades are based on the translations and in-class essays as well as class participation and discussion. Haoming Liu. Some knowledge of Chinese and German preferred. Students in Chinese & Japanese, German Studies, Philosophy as well as other national languages are especially welcome. Two 75-minute periods. Course Format: INT
0.5 to 1 unit(s) One-half or one unit individual or group field projects or internships. May be elected during the academic year or during the summer. Offered only pass/fail and permission of the chair is required. Open to all students.
Permission of the instructor. Two hours every other week. Course Format: INT
Offered
Fall or Spring
CHIN 298Independent Study
0.5 to 1 unit(s) One-half or one unit individual or group research project or reading course. May be elected during the academic year. Offered only pass/fail and permission of the chair is required. Open to all students. The Department.
Permission of the instructor. Open only to majors. Yearlong course 300- CHIN 301 . Course Format: INT
Offered
Fall
CHIN 301Senior Thesis0.5
A 1-unit thesis written over two semesters. The Department. Open only to majors. Permission required. Yearlong course CHIN 300 -301. Course Format: INT
The Chinese senior project is an opportunity to do independent research on a topic of choice in the major discipline. It is part of the honor’s requirement. The senior project can take several forms. The most common is a translation of an original text in Chinese, such as a short story, a play, or pieces of poetry. Other possibilities include translation of a video recording of a performance of an original play written in Chinese, developing original computer software for language learning, etc. Students should consult with their advisor regarding the possibilities. Students are expected to schedule regular meetings with their project advisor and are responsible for meeting deadlines. The Department.
Permission of the instructor. Open only to majors. One-unit project done in one semester. Course Format: INT
Offered
Fall or Spring
CHIN 303Senior Project0.5
The Chinese senior project is an opportunity to do independent research on a topic of choice in the major discipline. It is part of the honor’s requirement. The senior project can take several forms. The most common is a translation of an original text in Chinese, such as a short story, a play, or pieces of poetry. Other possibilities include translation of a video recording of a performance of an original play written in Chinese, developing original computer software for language learning, etc. Students should consult with their advisor regarding the possibilities. Students are expected to schedule regular meetings with their project advisor and are responsible for meeting deadlines. The Department.
Permission of the instructor. Open only to majors. One-unit project done in two semesters. Yearlong course 303- CHIN 304 . Course Format: INT
Offered
Fall
CHIN 304Senior Project0.5
The Chinese senior project is an opportunity to do independent research on a topic of choice in the major discipline. It is part of the honor’s requirement. The senior project can take several forms. The most common is a translation of an original text in Chinese, such as a short story, a play, or pieces of poetry. Other possibilities include translation of a video recording of a performance of an original play written in Chinese, developing original computer software for language learning, etc. Students should consult with their advisor regarding the possibilities. Students are expected to schedule regular meetings with their project advisor and are responsible for meeting deadlines. The Department.
Permission of the instructor. Open only to majors. One-unit project done in two semesters. Yearlong course CHIN 303 -304. Course Format: INT
Offered
Spring
CHIN 305Advanced Chinese1
Intensive instruction in the reading of Chinese language materials, reflecting aspects of a changing China. Emphasis is on communicative skills. Wenwei Du.
CHIN 205 - CHIN 206 or permission of the instructor. Course Format: CLS
Offered
Fall
CHIN 306Advanced Chinese1
Intensive instruction in the reading of Chinese language materials, reflecting aspects of a changing China. Emphasis is on communicative skills. Liz Carter.
CHIN 205 - CHIN 206 and CHIN 305 or permission of the instructor. Course Format: CLS
Offered
Spring
CHIN 351Advanced Readings of Original Literary Works1
This course is equivalent to a fourth-year Chinese course or beyond, and may be repeated for credit if topic changes. This course involves close reading of a single literary work of an extensive length, shorter texts of a single author, or texts which have a common thematic interest. Emphasis is on baihua literature while samples of semi- wenyan texts are introduced. Through close reading and classroom discussion of the material, students are trained to approach authentic texts with linguistic confidence and useful methods. Course discussions and lectures are conducted in Chinese. Haoming Liu.
CHIN 306 or permission of the instructor. Not offered in 2026/27. Course Format: CLS
CHIN 360Classical Chinese1
This course is for students with at least two years of modern Chinese or the equivalent. It introduces students to the rudiments of reading Wenyan , or Classical Chinese (the Chinese equivalent of Latin), with an emphasis on early Chinese philosophical texts. In addition to learning Classical Chinese, students in this course work with and are tested on modern Chinese translations of the classical texts. Haoming Liu.
CHIN 205 - CHIN 206 or equivalent. Not offered in 2026/27. Course Format: CLS
CHIN 362Chinese Drama and Theatre1
(Same as DRAM 362 and MEDS 362 ) A study of Chinese culture and society through well-known dramatic genres - zaju, chuanqi, kunqu , Beijing Opera, regional operas, modern and contemporary Spoken Drama; a close reading of selected plays in English translation (or in Chinese upon students’ request). Scheduled films of performances convey Chinese theatrical conventions and aesthetics. Research projects are chosen by students or assigned by the instructor. Based upon students’ research presentations, discussions center on a variety of major themes and genres from East-West perspectives. Students are encouraged to use Chinese language in their research projects at their appropriate proficiency levels. Wenwei Du.
One 200-level course in language, literature, culture, Drama, Media Studies or Asian Studies; or permission of the instructor. Two 75-minute periods. Course Format: CLS
Offered
Spring
CHIN 367Chinese Linguistics1
(Same as ASIA 367 ) This course offers a systematic and comprehensive introduction to the history and nature of the Chinese language in terms of its phonology, morphology and syntax in comparison with English. It also highlights the construction and evolution of Chinese characters and explores social dimensions of the language such as language planning and standardization, relations of Mandarin with the dialects, and interactions between Chinese and other languages. Topics also include unique linguistic devices in the Chinese rhetoric and figure of speech. Classes are conducted and readings are done in English or bilingually. Students with background in Chinese can choose to do projects in Chinese at their appropriate levels. Wenwei Du.
Two courses in a combination of language, linguistics, literature, culture, or Asian Studies, or permission of the instructor. Two 75-minute periods. Not offered in 2026/27. Course Format: CLS
CHIN 370Early Chinese Literature: Spring and Autumn: Tradition According To Zuo and the Book of Odes1
(Same as ASIA 370 ) This intensive course reads selections from early Chinese literature including the Book of Odes , and Spring and Autumn: The Tradition According to Zuo , two of the five Confucian classics whose composition dates between 11th and 6th centuries BCE. Poems of later ages which bear clear traces of influence and borrowings may also be added to complement the reading and discussions of the archaic works. Crucial secondary literature and reference works are introduced. Requirements: texts to be read in the original; students should have near native proficiency in modern Chinese, elementary knowledge of literary Chinese a plus. Students are required to do research on assigned texts by using reference books and secondary sources. Memorization, identification and parsing of assigned passages or odes are also required. Haoming Liu.
Near native proficiency in modern Chinese. Basic knowledge of literary Chinese preferable. One 3-hour period. Course Format: INT
Offered
Fall
CHIN 371Intensive and Focused Study of Chinese Performing Arts1
Each student can choose one dramatic or performing genre for a historical survey or choose texts of various genres based on one thematic focus or one historical period for an in-depth study or research. Wenwei Du.
Permission of the instructor. Individual conferences with the instructor. Not offered in 2026/27. Course Format: INT
CHIN 372In-depth Study or Research on Aspects of Chinese Language1
Each student can choose one or a cluster of related topics on phonetics, morphology, syntax, figures of speech, dialects, literary and vernacular language, or language policy for an intensive study or research. Wenwei Du.
Permission of the instructor. Not offered in 2026/27. Course Format: INT
CHIN 373Chinese Cinematic Studies1
(Same as MEDS 373 ) This intensive course starts with a focused introduction to the history of Chinese cinema and follow with in-depth studies of the cinematic features of a cluster of internationally well-known Chinese films chosen by participating students based on their respective researches guided by the instructor. The format of the course: weekly lectures and discussions in small groups, individual conferences with the instructor, and presentations by students of their own research projects. Wenwei Du.
Permission of the instructor. Individual conferences with the instructor. Course Format: INT
Offered
Fall
CHIN 399Senior Independent Work
0.5 to 1 unit(s) One-half or one unit of credit given only in exceptional cases and by permission of the chair. Offered only pass/fail. The department.
