Program History
NEW! Major in Chinese Studies Minor in Chinese Studies: Language and Culture
UND students can now major in Chinese Studies! In the spring of 2008, with the soaring interest in China, the Major in Chinese Studies and the Minor in Chinese Studies: Language and Culture, both offered through the Department of Modern and Classical Languages were approved. To date, eight students have graduated with the Major in Chinese Studies, some as part of a double major. Language is an important component of the new major and minor, and additional courses that satisfy the requirements are offered through various departments including Languages, Geography, History, Political Science, Religion and Philosophy, Business Administration, and Art. The new Minor in Chinese Studies is specifically aimed at those students who are unable to participate in any type of study abroad or internship program.
Minor in Chinese Studies: Culture and Business
The College of Business and Public Administration offers a multi-disciplinary minor in Chinese Studies: Culture and Business open to all majors across campus. The primary goal of the program is to provide an opportunity for students to develop the necessary background, skills and knowledge to conduct business and other activities effectively in China. A second goal is to provide an opportunity for students to gain a practical understanding of the language, history, politics, geography, literature, art, customs and modern business culture of China. The program provides an in-depth examination of the region with special emphasis on applied cross-cultural skills. Unique among UND programs, the Chinese Studies: Culture and Business minor requires both a full year of language study and either an extended period of residence in China or participation in the China Summer Study Program plus a number of area studies courses.
Study Abroad and Internships in China
For students wishing to pursue the study of Mandarin Chinese in a Chinese environment, there are several possibilities. Students can study in China through a number of programs through the International Center administered by other organizations such as Global Alliance and CIEE or in programs of their choosing through prior arrangements with the Chinese Studies advisor (Colleen Berry).
In 2000, the College of Business and Public Administration began offering a four-week China Summer Study Program [Please link to Study Abroad], conducted by UND instructors. It is open to students across campus regardless of major and no previous language study is required. Over one hundred UND students have participated in this program to date, with another group scheduled for summer 2010. Students visit Beijing and one other city such as Xi’an or Guilin, and then spend three weeks in Shanghai completing their independent field research projects, visiting U.S. government and commercial services, shadowing at businesses in their fields of interest, making home visits, taking in cultural events, and meeting with local specialists. Living on a medical school campus, students have opportunities to interact with Chinese students, resulting in a variety of cross-cultural exchanges. Several UND students have returned to China for internships and jobs in Shanghai and Beijing. In the fall of 2005, the first semester-long study abroad internship program in Shanghai was initiated.
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