Getting Started - Chinese

College: HFA

 (Revised Spring 2019)  

Information below is meant to guide first year students in getting starting with this major and choosing appropriate courses.  More advanced students interested in this major would also likely start with proposed foundation/pre-requisite courses. Please refer to the Major page located in the left menu bar to learn about the full major requirements.

How to Explore/Get Started in the Major

Suggested General Education Courses

All Undergraduates are required to satisfy the General Education Requirements. Guidelines for students are available at https://www.umass.edu/gened. Students should choose a wide variety of Gen Ed courses, providing breadth of experience.

ANTHRO 102 (SBDG), ANTHRO 104 (SBDG) , ANTHRO 105 (SBDG), ART-HIST 115 (ATDG), ENGLWRIT 112 (CW),  HISTORY 114 (HSDG), HISTORY 115 (HS), JAPANESE 135 (IDG), LINGUIST 201 (R2), SOCIOL 212 (R2) or STATISTC 111 (R2).

Suggested Major and Pre-requisite Courses

The prerequisite for this major is a 24-credit language sequence: CHINESE 126, 246, 326 and 327.
*Chinese 126 can be replaced by a combination of Chinese 110 and Chinese 120.

First-year students who wish to pursue the major should take:

  • CHINESE 126, then CHINESE 246
  • CHINESE 136, 140, 141, 150, 197D, 197Q, 197S; HISTORY 114, 115 (select one or two courses)

NOTE: For students starting in the Spring semester, the course sequence should be CHINESE 110, then CHINESE 120, followed by CHINESE 246

How to Declare/Change into the Major

For current & admitted students: This major is unrestricted, which means any student may declare the major. Unrestricted majors may still have an entry process such as meeting with an advisor or attending an informational meeting. The best time to apply is during the freshman year, but students can also apply as sophomores.

Minimum GPA or grades in prerquisite courses (if any):
Language courses require a grade of "C" or better in specific prerequisites.

Transfer Students:

Students should consult with their assigned advisor at the beginning of the semester; do not wait until the advising period.

Summary of Requirements for the Major

Mimimum total # of credits required: 55 (including the four-semester, 24-credit language sequence in intensive modern Chinese). Refer to the Major page located in the left menu bar to learn more.

  • Two semesters of advanced modern Chinese
  • Two semesters of pre-modern Chinese
  • One semester introduction to Chinese linguistics
  • Six credits in Chinese literature in translation/history/culture
  • Nine credits in advanced language, literature or linguistics
  • Junior Year Writing and Integrative Experience

Is there a minor?
Yes, a minor is available! Refer to the Minor page located in the left menu bar to learn more

For further information, contact:
Professor Elena Chiu                          OR     Professor David K. Schneider
East Asian Languages and Cultures              East Asian Languages and Cultures
333 Herter Hall; (413) 545-5840                 442 Herter Hall; (413) 545-4954
chiu@llc.umass.edu                                    dkschneider@asianlan.umass.edu