the beijing center for chinese studies
COURSEs
TBC’s study abroad program adopts the ChinaLens system. Students take two core classes with the entire cohort, and also take classes specific to their academic interests either in the Business or Society category. There is also the required Chinese language course which is offered at all levels of Chinese. Students will be assigned to different levels according to the results of a Chinese language placement test. The program allows students to take 12-19 credits total.
Although subject to change, the ChinaLens class offering for Fall 2024 will be:
Compulsory Course
Engaging China: Silk Road Excursion
Course code: TBC 1100
3 CREDITS
Silk Road Excursion is to familiarize the student with the geography and history of the Qin through Qing Dynasties of China. Upon the conclusion of this course, students will have a broad understanding of the history, culture, and current situation of the societies and places in Western China and Central Asia.
Selecting Levels of Chinese Language Courses
Course code: TBC 1010、1020、1030、1040、2010、2020、2030、2040、2050、2060
3 CREDITS
This course extends students’ knowledge of Chinese vocabulary and grammar and improves their skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students will take selecting levels of Chinese language based on their Chinese level.
CORE COURSES
Chinese Art and Culture
Course code: TBC 1410
3 CREDITS
An examination of the cultural background and major visual art forms of China from prehistoric to early modern times.
Traditional Chinese Philosophy
Course code: TBC 1500
3 CREDITS
Students will investigate Chinese ancient philosophy in a way to let its own tendencies be sensed and appreciated. Topics include Confucianism, Mencius, Sunzi, Taoism, Legalism, Yin-Yang School, Tung Chung-shu, Chinese Buddhism and Neo-Confucianism. In addition, students learn about the relations among different schools or different thinkers in the same school. Comparisons between Chinese philosophies and western ones are encouraged.
BUSINESS TRACK
China in the World Economy
Course code: TBC 2200
3 CREDITS
Focus on China’s economic relations with the rest of the world and examine China’s trade and foreign investment during the reform era (1978-present).
Daoism
Course code: TBC 2510
3 CREDITS
Students will study the history and main ideas and practices of Taoism, are introduced to the various schools of Taoist philosophy, and get a feel for what it means to practice Taoism today.
Social TRACK
Modern Chinese History
Course code: TBC 1121
3 CREDITS
This course introduces students to what happened in China from 1840 to the 1990s. The aim is to learn how the Chinese Empire, a bright and advanced civilization in ancient times, became a semi-colony of the western powers, and how the Chinese people pushed forward the modernization of China.
Modern Chinese Literature in Translation
Course code: TBC 1142
3 CREDITS
This course is a survey of the modern Chinese literature from 1918 to the present. It will focus on the fiction, poetry, and essays during the 3 periods (1918-1949; 1949-1976; since 1976) in the 20th Century.