Chinese civilization laid many of the foundations for what is now modern East Asia. With China's rise to global power, Australia is seeking to redefine its relationship with China and its own role in the Pacific. The Chinese Studies Major offers students an outstanding array of courses and guided research opportunities that engage deeply with China's contested pasts and imposing presence.
ANU's concentration of recognised Chinese Studies specialists offer courses in archaeology, business, culture, imperial and modern history, linguistics, literature, philosophy, modern and contemporary politics, social dynamics, and on Taiwan. The Major features a number of distinct pathways that students can follow or combine to build thematic expertise; for example, culture, history, and language of traditional China, modern China since the Opium Wars, or the politics and society of the present-day.
The Chinese Studies Major is designed to complement the Modern Chinese Language Major and the Literary Chinese Language Minor, though knowledge of the Chinese language is not required for courses in the Chinese Studies Major.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate a nuanced understanding of historical and current events and developments that have shaped China.
- Exercise critical thinking and judgment in identifying and explaining recent and current developments in China.
- Demonstrate the ability to evaluate historical and current events against the background of China's historical and cultural development.
- Understand and reproduce some of the processes and trans-disciplinary approaches through which current knowledge about Chinese Studies has developed.
- Identify and critique the socio-cultural and political systems of China.
- Analyse developments in China in their regional and global contexts.
Areas of Interest
- Anthropology
- Cultural Studies
- History
- Asian Studies
- Asia Pacific Studies
- Literature
Relevant Degrees
Requirements
The Chinese Studies Major requires the completion of 48 units, which must include:
24 units from the following compulsory courses:
ASIA2037 History of Modern China
ASIA3012 Readings in Asian Societies and Histories
ASIA3034 The Contemporary Chinese World
ASIA3039 Research Project in Asian Pacific Studies
A minimum of 18 units from the following Chinese studies courses:
ASIA2003 Chinese Literature
ASIA2014 China: Language, Discourse, and Political Culture
ASIA2026 The Politics of China
ASIA2044 Chinese History: The Imperial Period (221 BC - 1800)
ASIA2054 Chinese Philosophy: Creation and Development
ASIA2072 Taiwan: History and Culture
ASIA2099 Social Power in China: Family to Family-State
ASIA2203 Archaeology of China
ASIA2222 Taiwanese Society and Politics
ASIA2366 Foundations of Chinese Culture
BUSI3028 Business in China
INTR2012 Chinese Foreign and Security Policy
A maximum 6 units from the following contextual courses:
ASIA2016 The Mongol Empire in World History
ASIA2017 History of International Relations in Northeast Asia
ASIA2065 Asia's Changing Politics in Comparative Perspective
ASIA2067 Asian Economies
ASIA2074 Popular Culture in East Asia
ASIA2307 History of Empire in Asia
ASIA2311 Gender and Cultural Studies in Asia and the Pacific
ASIA3021 Engaging Asia: Australia and the Asian Century
STST2001 Security Concepts in the Asia Pacific
12 units from completion of the following course(s):
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ASIA 1066: Foundations Chin Stud A | ||
| ASIA2366 | Foundations of Chinese Culture | 6 |
| ASIA 1067: Foundations Chin Stud B | ||
| ASIA 2367: Foundations Chin Stud B |
36 units from completion of the following course(s):
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ARCH2050 | Archaeology of Southeast Asia | 6 |
| ARTV 2053: Contemporary Asian Art | ||
| ASIA1025 | Asia and the Pacific: Power, diversity and change | 6 |
| ASIA2001 | Language in Asia and the Pacific | 6 |
| ASIA2003 | Chinese Literature | 6 |
| ASIA2014 | China: Language, Discourse, and Political Culture | 6 |
| ASIA2016 | The Mongol Empire in World History | 6 |
| ASIA 2020: Engaging Asia | ||
| ASIA2026 | The Politics of China | 6 |
| ASIA 2034: Modern Chinese Fictions | ||
| ASIA2037 | History of Modern China | 6 |
| ASIA 2042: China through Film and Tel | ||
| ASIA2044 | Chinese History: The Imperial Period (221 BC - 1800) | 6 |
| ASIA2054 | Chinese Philosophy: Creation and Development | 6 |
| ASIA 2063: Development in China | ||
| ASIA 2066: The Chinese Art of War | ||
| ASIA 2071: Other Chinas | ||
| ASIA2072 | Taiwan: History and Culture | 6 |
| ASIA 2073: Chinese Calligraphy | ||
| ASIA2074 | Popular Culture in East Asia | 6 |
| ASIA 2077: Varieties of Chinese | ||
| ASIA 2078: Modern Arts in Taiwan | ||
| ASIA 2174: Mysticism | ||
| ASIA2203 | Archaeology of China | 6 |
| ASIA 2251: Buddhist Thought | ||
| ASIA 3006: Prac Assign in Asia Pacific | ||
| ASIA3012 | Readings in Asian Societies and Histories | 6 |
| ASIA 3013: Read Asian Soc & Hist_B | ||
| ASIA 3026: Special Topics in Asia and Pac | ||
| ASIA 3025: Tibet and China | ||
| ASIA 3051: Study Tour: ARCH in Asia | ||
| BIAN2130 | Ancient Medicine | 6 |
| BUSI3028 | Business in China | 6 |
| ECHI 2109: Asian Giants(P) | ||
| LANG 3023: Translation Workshop | ||
| LANG 3040: Critical Readings | ||
| LANG 4001: Translation in Asia | ||
| SOCY 2061: Contemporary Chinese Society |
