Language: Chinese
Young Kyun Oh
About this opportunity
As one of the major Chinese language and culture programs in the US, the Chinese Program at SILC emphasizes proficiency in reading, writing and speaking Mandarin and in reading classical Chinese. It provides an in-depth understanding of the fundamentals of the rich Chinese cultural tradition, centered on primary Chinese texts (in Chinese and in English translation) from the literary, intellectual and religious cultures of Chinese-speaking societies. Students in the program have a number of options available to enhance their education through study abroad. Highly-motivated students interested in learning Chinese to professional-level proficiency are encouraged to inquire about the Chinese Language Flagship Program. Students with higher levels of linguistic competency may enroll in targeted courses (conducted in Chinese) offered as part of the Chinese Flagship track. Students majoring and minoring in Chinese have worked on a wide range of topics including literature, linguistics, film and media, religious and thoughts, and urban culture.
Our program has always prided itself on the personal contact with its students. You are very much encouraged to make an appointment with the advisor or anyone teaching about China in SILC for that matter, to get personally acquainted. Any Barrett student who is considering majoring or minoring in Chinese should contact the lead FHA, Young Kyun Oh.
Thesis
Students from Barrett Honors College are encouraged to take these courses to discover for themselves the specific topics they would consider researching for their honors thesis, along with the instructor with whom they would like to do their work. Students are more than welcome to meet with anyone on our faculty. To successfully complete the thesis as Barrett Honors major in Chinese, a student must meet both Chinese and Barrett Honors requirements. An honors thesis can be done either in a traditional written thesis or in a creative project, depending on the consent of the student’s thesis committee.
- Students wishing to write an Honors Thesis in the Chinese Program must be Chinese Majors or Minors. Find details of major/minor requirements and a major map for Chinese BA online.
- All Barrett students must complete a thesis/creative project information session prior to enrolling in thesis credit (492 or 493). This may be a workshop/session offered by Barrett or an on-line workshop offered via ASU Canvas through Barrett.
- The Thesis Committee should be made up of the thesis director (an ASU faculty-line member) from the Chinese Program in the School of International Letters and Cultures and at least one other committee member who does not have to be an ASU lecturer or faculty-line member. TAs and graduate students may not serve on committees.
Academic Preparation
- The topic can be chosen from any aspects of Chinese culture and society in which our Chinese faculty members have their expertise. Find information about the faculty areas of research online.
- There are a number of courses in which students can develop a topic and research for the chosen topic. Example courses include:
CHI 120 Introduction to Chinese Culture
CHI 307-308 Introduction to Literary Chinese I and II
CHI 321-322 Chinese Literature I and II
CHI 333 China
CHI 336 Interpreting China’s Classics
CHI 338 The Daoist Bible: Daode jing
CHI 345 Chinese Film and Civilization
CHI 380 The Chinese Language
CHI 450 Classical Prose
CHI 451-452 Chinese Cultural History I and II
CHI 461 Classical Vernacular Performance Literature
CHI 470 Modern Chinese Literature and Culture
CHI 482 History of Chinese Language - An Honors Thesis/Project Prospectus is to be submitted to the Chinese Honors Advisor, Young Kyun Oh, by October 1 for a defense in the following spring semester, or by March 1 for a defense the following fall. The prospectus should contain the student’s contact information, the topic as well as a working title for the thesis; a list of Committee Chair and Second Reader, and a tentative timeline (first draft, second draft, defense). This may be the same as the prospectus which the student submits to the Honors College, as long as it conveys the information described above.
Recommended Timeline
- Contact potential thesis advisors, preferably with a project in mind, at least two semesters before the defense (E.g., Spring semester for a defense in the following spring semester)
- Make a two-semester plan for the thesis with the selected advisor
- Honors Thesis/Project Prospectus is to be submitted to the Chinese Honors Advisor (Young Kyun Oh), by October 1 for a defense in the following spring semester, or by March 1 for a defense the following fall.
Other Honors Opportunities
There are a number of courses in the Chinese program you can enroll with Honors Enrichment Contract. All upper-level courses, depending on the semester they are offered, can be considered, including, 300 and 400, some 400 (sometimes combined with 500), CHI 120, and some 200-and 300-level language courses upon the approval of the instructor.
Examples:
- CHI 120 Introduction to Chinese Culture
- CHI 307-308 Introduction to Literary Chinese I and II
- CHI 321-322 Chinese Literature I and II
- CHI 336 Interpreting China’s Classics
- CHI 338 The Daoist Bible: Daode jing
- CHI 345 Chinese Film and Civilization
- CHI 380 The Chinese Language
- CHI 450 Classical Prose
- CHI 461 Classical Vernacular Performance Literature
- CHI 470 Modern Chinese Literature and Culture
- CHI 482 History of Chinese Language
Upper-level (especially 400 or above) courses may require advanced reading knowledge of Chinese. Students are advised to contact instructors before making decisions.