Search
Close this search box.

Global China Studies with tracks in Chinese History, Political Science and Religious Studies

Global China Studies with tracks in Chinese History, Political Science and Religious Studies [1]


Is China a state? Is it a nation? Is it a culture defined by a language? Or is it still something else? What do teenagers practicing tai ji quan at American schools and Chinese Christians have in common? How is the Belt and Road initiative reshaping our world? This major invites you to ask and attempt to answer questions like this. If you think you know what Chinese history, politics and religion are, the Global China Studies curriculum is aimed at making you question your previous assumptions.


Our interdisciplinary core starts from the assumption that “China” has a lot of meanings. Because of this, you can decide how you approach the interdisciplinary core, choosing from courses divided into 4 core themes:  statehood, visual culture and history, economy and trade, and language.  Whatever path through the core you chart though, you will gain a broad and interdisciplinary understanding of China.


But that’s not the end of the choices you’ll make. The major can be further customized to your individual interests by choosing one of the three tracks, in History, Religious Studies, and Political Science. (Students in the Class of 2025 and previous classes  may also complete tracks in Economics and Philosophy.) The History track does not just teach you the what of Chinese history (what happened during the Tang dynasty?), but also the how: how can you design and execute a research project? The Religious Studies track offers a wide array of course options that will allow you to pursue your own questions in understanding what the immense appeal of Chinese religions (Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism, among others) is inside and outside of China. Finally, the Political Science track will teach you how to compare Chinese politics with those outside of China, paying attention both to the specifics of Chinese politics but also pointing out how China can be seen as deviating from or conforming to broader global patterns. The major in Global China Studies prepares students for a life of researching China around the world. It prepares you for graduate school programs in East Asian Languages and Literatures, East-Asian Religion, East-Asian History, Chinese Studies, among other programs. Careers in journalism, policy-making, and consulting are other options. If you liked the first-year common core course China in the World, this major is for you. If you like to have lots of choices in the classes you take, this major is for you. If you want to become someone who mediates between China and the rest of the world, as a diplomat, a business professional, or a translator, this major is for you. 

 

 

Major Requirements

(Not every course listed is offered every term, and the course list will be updated periodically. Please refer to the online Course Catalog for Courses offered in 2023-2024.)

Global China Studies / Chinese History

Divisional Foundation Courses

Course Code

Course Name

Course Credit

SOSC 101

Foundational Questions in Social Science

4

ARHU 101

The Art of Interpretation: Written Texts

4
Interdisciplinary Courses

Course Code

Course Name

Course Credit

Choose one course from the following courses on Chinese statehood

GCHINA 201

From Empire to Nation

4

GCHINA 202

Modern Chinese Politics

4

Choose one course from the following courses on Chinese visual culture and history

GCHINA 203 / ARTS 203

Visual China

4

HIST 217/ ARTS 217[2]

Arts of China

4

Choose one course from the following courses on Chinese economy and trade

GCHINA 301/ POLECON 302

China’s Economic Transition

4

HIST 301

China in Global Perspective 1: China and the Silk Roads World: 500-1500

4

Choose one course from the following courses on language. Students who choose an A+B option must complete consecutive courses.

GCHINA 303

Translating and Using Chinese Non-fictional Sources For Academic Purposes

4

CHINESE 301 A+B

Advanced Intermediate Chinese 1

2+2

CHINESE 302 A+B

Advanced Intermediate Chinese 2

2+2

CHINESE 401 A +B

Advanced Chinese – Issues in Modern China 1

2+2

CHINESE 402 A+B

Advanced Chinese – Issues in Modern China 2

2+2

CHINESE 407

Readings in Classical Chinese

4

JAPANESE 101

Beginning Japanese 1 (only fulfills requirement if student can display advanced working proficiency in Chinese)

4

And complete the following courses

GCHINA 390

Junior Seminar: Advanced Topics

4

GCHINA 490

Senior Seminar: Advanced Topics

4
Disciplinary Courses

Course Code

Course Name

Course Credit

HIST 201

History Methods and Research

4

HIST 101 / PHIL 102

Ancient Chinese History and Philosophy

4

HIST 102

Medieval Chinese History

4

HIST 103

Premodern Chinese History

4

And one 4-credit Chinese History course (200-400 level) from among the electives recommended for this major

4

And one 4-credit non-Chinese History course (100-400 level) not listed among the electives recommended for this major

4
Electives

Courses listed in the table below are recommended electives for the major. The course list reflects the most recent intellectual organization of major electives. Depending on the academic year in which you matriculated, some of the courses below may be requirements for your major. To verify required courses, always consult the requirements for the relevant class year in the bulletin of the year in which you matriculated unless you have been approved to complete the major requirements of a subsequent year.  (See Ability to Meet Major Requirements Published in Years Subsequent to Year of Matriculation.)

Course Code

Course Name

Course Credit

China from Within

HIST 205

Shanghai: From Treaty Port to Global Metropolis

4

HIST 305

Special Topics course in History of Chinese Institutions

4

CULANTH 306

Borders, Boundaries and Ethnic Peoples in China

4

HIST 217 / ARTS 217[3]

Arts of China

4

HIST 305

Special Topics course in History of Chinese Institutions

4

CULANTH 306

Borders, Boundaries and Ethnic Peoples in China

4

CHINESE 417 / LIT 217

Li Yu and Seventeenth-century Chinese Pop Culture

4

China and Beyond

RELIG 108

History of God in Seven Paintings

2

ARTS 218/ HIST 218

Women in East Asian Art

4

HIST 301

China in Global Perspective 1: China and the Silk Roads World: 500-1500

4

HIST 302

China in Global Perspective 2: The Internationalization of Modern China

4

HIST 303

China and the US Comparative 1: The United States and China in War and Revolution

4

HIST 304

China and the US Comparative 2 The World of Universities in China and the United States

4

HIST 306

The United States and China in War and Revolution

4

WOC 206

Debating Scenarios for Sustainable Futures

4

INFOSCI 302

Introduction to Geographical Information Science

4

CULANTH 302[4]

Ethnographic Field Methods

4

LIT 313

Anatomy of Emotions: Literature and Psychoanalysis

4

POLSCI 317/ SOSC 317

Politics of Organization

4

SOSC 320

Data in the World: Applied Social Statistics

4

 

 

 

Global China Studies / Political Science

Divisional Foundation Courses

Course Code

Course Name

Course Credit

SOSC 101

Foundational Questions in Social Science

4

ARHU 101

The Art of Interpretation: Written Texts

4

STATS 101

Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods

4
Interdisciplinary Courses

Course Code

Course Name

Course Credit

Choose one course from the following courses on Chinese statehood

GCHINA 201

From Empire to Nation

4

GCHINA 202

Modern Chinese Politics

4

Choose one course from the following courses on Chinese visual culture and history

GCHINA 203 / ARTS 203

Visual China

4

HIST 217/ ARTS 217[5]

Arts of China

4

Choose one course from the following courses on Chinese economy and trade

GCHINA 301/ POLECON 302

China’s Economic Transition

4

HIST 301

China in Global Perspective 1: China and the Silk Roads World: 500-1500

4

Choose one from the following courses on language. Students who choose an A+B option must complete consecutive courses.

GCHINA 303

Translating and Using Chinese Non-fictional Sources For Academic Purposes

4

CHINESE 301 A + B

Advanced Intermediate Chinese 1

2+2

CHINESE 302 A+B

Advanced Intermediate Chinese 2

2+2

CHINESE 401A +B

Advanced Chinese – Issues in Modern China 1

2+2

CHINESE 402A+B

Advanced Chinese – Issues in Modern China 2

2+2

CHINESE 407

Readings in Classical Chinese

4

JAPANESE 101

Beginning Japanese 1 (only fulfills requirement if student can display advanced working proficiency in Chinese)

4

And complete both of the following

GCHINA 390

Junior Seminar: Advanced Topics

4

GCHINA 490

Senior Seminar: Advanced Topics

4
Disciplinary Courses

Course Code

Course Name

Course Credit

POLSCI 101

International Politics

4

POLSCI 104[6]

Comparative Politics and Institutions

4

ETHLDR 203

Conceptions of Democracy and Meritocracy

4

POLSCI 303

International Politics of East Asia

4

POLSCI 302

Public Opinion

4

Electives

Courses listed in the table below are recommended electives for the major. The course list reflects the most recent intellectual organization of major electives. Depending on the academic year in which you matriculated, some of the courses below may be requirements for your major. To verify required courses, always consult the requirements for the relevant class year in the bulletin of the year in which you matriculated unless you have been approved to complete the major requirements of a subsequent year.  (See Ability to Meet Major Requirements Published in Years Subsequent to Year of Matriculation.)

Course Code

Course Name

Course Credit

The China Context

CULANTH 306

Borders, Boundaries and Ethnic Peoples in China

4

CULMOVE 115

Displacement and Identity: Stories of Diasporic Migration in China and the World

2

CULMOVE 301

Social Science Perspectives on China: From the Socialist Past to the Global Present

4

MEDIART 208[7]

Chinese Mass Media

4

PUBPOL 106

Urbanizing China: Spatial and Social Dynamics in Chinese Cities

2

POLSCI 303

International Politics in East Asia

4

China and the World – International Relations

POLECON 105

China and the Global South

2

RELIG 108

History of God in Seven Paintings

2

POLECON 201

International Political Economy

4

POLSCI 210

International Relations in East Asia

4

POLSCI 216

War and Peace: Foundations of the International Political Order

4

POLSCI 221

US/China Relations

4

POLSCI 303

International Politics of East Asia

4

POLSCI 316

Sino-African relations in History and Present

4

POLSCI 317/ SOSC 317

Politics of Organization

4

China in Comparative Perspective

POLSCI 208

Political and Social Inequality

4

POLSCI 209

Democratic Erosion

2

POLSCI 214

Authoritarianism and the Struggle for Democracy in Latin America

4

POLSCI 302

Public Opinion

4

SOSC 320

Data in the World: Applied Social Statistics

4

Political Economy

POLECON 301

Development

4

POLSCI 307

Political Economy of Institutions

4

PUBPOL 315/  ECON 315

Public Sector Economics

4

POLECON 401/ GCHINA 401

Political Economy of the Chinese Reform

4

 

Global China Studies / Religious Studies

Divisional Foundation Courses

Course Code

Course Name

Course Credit

SOSC 101

Foundational Questions in Social Science

4

ARHU 101

The Art of Interpretation: Written Texts

4
Interdisciplinary Courses

Course Code

Course Name

Course Credit

Choose one course from the following courses on Chinese statehood

GCHINA 201

From Empire to Nation

4

GCHINA 202

Modern Chinese Politics

4

Choose one course from the following courses on Chinese visual culture and history

GCHINA 203 / ARTS 203

Visual China

4

HIST 217/  ARTS 217[8]

Arts of China

4

Choose one course from the following courses on Chinese economy and trade

GCHINA 301/ POLECON 302

China’s Economic Transition

4

HIST 301

China in Global Perspective 1: China and the Silk Roads World: 500-1500

4

Choose one from the following courses on language. Students who choose an A+B option must complete consecutive courses.

GCHINA 303

Translating and Using Chinese Non-fictional Sources For Academic Purposes

4

CHINESE 301 A + B

Advanced Intermediate Chinese 1

2+2

CHINESE 302 A+B

Advanced Intermediate Chinese 2

2+2

CHINESE 401A +B

Advanced Chinese – Issues in Modern China 1

2+2

CHINESE 402A+B

Advanced Chinese – Issues in Modern China 2

2+2

CHINESE 407

Readings in Classical Chinese

4

JAPANESE 101

Beginning Japanese 1 (only fulfills requirement if student can display advanced working proficiency in Chinese)

4

And complete both of the following

GCHINA 390

Junior Seminar: Advanced Topics

4

GCHINA 490

Senior Seminar: Advanced Topics

4
Disciplinary Courses

Course Code 

Course Name 

Course Credit 

RELIG 101 

Comparative Religious Studies 

4 

RELIG/CULMOV 205 

Religion, Power, and Social Change 

4 

RELIG 302[9] 

Religion and the Environment 

4 

Choose two of the following courses on different religious traditions 

RELIG 201 

Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism 

4 

RELIG 203[10] 

History of God 

4 

RELIG 206 

Animism, Shamanism, and Mediums 

4 

And choose one of the following courses 

RELIG 305 

Modern Religion 

4 

HIST 201 

History Methods and Research 

4 

 CULANTH  101 

Introduction to Cultural Anthropology 

  4 

GCULS 105 

Critical Comparative Studies 

  4 
       
Electives

Courses listed in the table below are recommended electives for the major. The course list reflects the most recent intellectual organization of major electives. Depending on the academic year in which you matriculated, some of the courses below may be requirements for your major. To verify required courses, always consult the requirements for the relevant class year in the bulletin of the year in which you matriculated unless you have been approved to complete the major requirements of a subsequent year.  (See Ability to Meet Major Requirements Published in Years Subsequent to Year of Matriculation.)

Note: Students mainly interested in furthering their knowledge of Chinese religions can choose the Chinese religions track. Those interested in broader comparisons can choose Chinese religions compared. Those interested in non-Chinese religions can choose the non-Chinese religions track.

Chinese Religions

PHIL 102/ HIST 101

Ancient Chinese History and Philosophy

4

HIST 102

Medieval Chinese History

4

HIST 103

Premodern Chinese History

4

RELIG 202

Modern Buddhism

4

RELIG 108

History of God in Seven Paintings

2

CULANTH 206

Ethnography of China: New Directions

4

HIST 109

Everyday Maoism in Objects: Revolution, Culture, and Life

2

CULANTH 306

Borders, Boundaries and Ethnic Peoples in China

4

HIST 217 / ARTS 217[11]

Arts of China

4

HIST 301

China in Global Perspective 1: China and the Silk Roads World: 500-1500

4

MEDIART 108

Love and Dreams on the Chinese Stage

2

Chinese Religions Compared

PHIL 103

Chinese and Mediterranean Philosophy

4

RELIG 204

The Problem of Evil

4

RELIG 107

Readings in Religious Literature

2

CULMOV 202

Culture and Social Movements

4

CULANTH 405

Medical Anthropology

4

GCULS 301

Religion and Sexuality

4

GCULS 402

Digital Tribes

4

RELIG 303

The Human Condition

4

RELIG 304

Ethics in Religious Perspective

4

Non-Chinese Religions

RELIG 103

Law and Revelation

4

RELIG 102[12]

The Historical Jesus

4

RELIG 104

Myth and Nation

4

RELIG 105

Gods and People

4

CULMOVE 206

Ethnic and Religious Diversity in the Middle East

4

POLSCI 312

Islamic Political Thought

4

[1] Note that students in the class of 2025 and previous classes could also major in Global China Studies with tracks in Economics and Philosophy.  Please consult the Bulletin from the relevant year to learn the requirements of those majors and tracks.

[2] This course was named and numbered HIST217/MEDIART 217 Ancient and Imperial Chinese Art prior to fall term 2023.

[3] This course was named and numbered HIST217/MEDIART 217 Ancient and Imperial Chinese Art prior to fall term 2023.

[4] This course was named CULANTH 302 Field Methods prior to fall term 2022.

[5] This course was named and numbered HIST217/MEDIART 217 Ancient and Imperial Chinese Art prior to fall term 2023.

[6] This course was numbered and named POLSCI 201 Political Institutions and Processes prior to fall term 2022.

[7] This course was named MEDIART 208 Comparative Media Systems and Chinese Mass Media prior to fall term 2023.

[8] This course was named and numbered HIST217/MEDIART 217 Ancient and Imperial Chinese Art prior to fall term 2023.

[9] This course was named RELIG 302 Religious and Philosophical Thought on the Environment prior to the fall of 2023.

[10] This course was named RELIG 203 Judaism, Christianity, and Islam prior to the fall of 2023.

[11] This course was named and numbered HIST217/MEDIART 217 Ancient and Imperial Chinese Art prior to fall term 2023.

[12] This course was named RELIG 102 Prophets and Priests prior to the fall of 2023.