Are you interested in using your superior level of Chinese to study international affairs, business, history, or Chinese literature alongside Chinese students? Are you hoping to work in China following your college experience? Then this program is for you. The Advanced Chinese Studies program offered at the CIEE Study Center at Peking University supports students in enrolling in one of four schools or departments both administratively and intellectually. You'll learn about important topics in Chinese from a Chinese perspective, while developing professional writing and research skills in Chinese.
What You'll Learn
The goal of the Advanced Chinese Studies program at Peking University is to provide support for superior language students interested in taking coursework completely in Chinese alongside Chinese peers. This goal is achieved by enrolling directly in one department or school at Peking University based on academic interest; weekly tutorials with Chinese peer tutors; a required core course focusing on using Chinese in a professional context; on-campus, homestay, or independent housing options; and individual research.
Program Snapshot
- Hosted by Peking University, considered by many to be China's most prestigious undergraduate institution; supported direct enrollment into specific academic departments or schools
- Knowledgeable and experienced full-time on-site CIEE staff with experience training superior-level Chinese language students
- Weekly one-on-one tutorials with Peking University peer tutors; target Chinese language meals with peer tutors and staff
- Cultural and educational activities such as visits to the Beijing Opera, classical and popular concerts, acrobatic performances, Tiananmen Square, and Dashanzi Art District
- Excursions to places such as the Great Wall, Ming Tombs,the Temple of Heaven, and a weekend trip to an area outside Beijing such as Xian, Hangzhou, or Wu Tai Mountain
- Cultural reimbursement
- Volunteering
Subjects
Business
History
International Relations
Linguistics
Literature
Mandarin Chinese
Eligibility
- Students must take Peking University's (PKU) initial placement test in Beijing to be qualified to directly enroll at PKU. Typically, students that speak and write at the superior level on the ACTFL scale are likely to pass the PKU placement test. These students have often completed Third Year Chinese or the equivalent at the college level. Students who do not pass this test are required to enroll in the CIEE Intensive Chinese Language program at the advanced level.
Students are encouraged to provide a current HSK (National Chinese Language Proficiency Test) score along with their application to expedite the admissions process. The minimum HSK requirement is level 6 but level 8 is highly recommended.
- 3.0 GPA
- Junior standing and above
- Note: Peking University will not accept students who are citizens of the People's Republic of China (PRC), Taiwan ROC, Hong Kong SAR, or Macau. This includes those who are U.S. permanent residents.
Academic Program
The CIEE Study Center at Peking University was founded in 1980. The Advanced Chinese Studies program, opening in 2009, offers support for superior Chinese language students interested in taking content classes completely in Chinese with Chinese undergraduate students. Students are required to pass a placement exam taken upon arrival in Beijing. Once students pass, they enroll in one of four schools or departments: the Department of Chinese Language and Literature; the Department of History; The School of International Studies; or the Guanghua School of Management. A CIEE Advanced Research and Writing course supplements direct enrollment courses at Peking University.
The School of International Studies
The School of International Studies (SIS) of Peking University is the first school focusing on International Studies set up in the Chinese university system. It is an important teaching and research school devoted to training students in international studies, international political economy, and diplomacy. SIS is organized into three departments and three institutes: the Department of International Studies; the Department of Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs Management; the Department of International Political Economy; the Institute of International Relations; the Institute of Afro Asian Studies; and the Institute of World Socialism.
The Guanghua School of Management
The Guanghua School of Management at Peking University is one of the best business schools in China. The School is staffed with about 100 full-time teaching faculty. The School offers undergraduate, Master?s, and Doctoral programs, with a total enrollment of more than 3,000 students. Guanghua offers undergraduate degrees in accounting, finance, and marketing, as well as various M.A., M.B.A., E.M.B.A., and doctoral degree programs.
Department of Chinese Language and Literature
The Department of Chinese Language and Literature at Peking University, tracing back to 1898, is the earliest department of its field in China. The department includes three major areas of study (Chinese literature, Chinese language, classical literature and documents), two research institutes (classical literature and documents and comparative literature), and two research centers (Chinese language studies and 20th Century Chinese culture).
Department of History
The Department of History at Peking University can be traced back to the University's former days as Metropolitan University in 1899, and is considered to be China?s earliest department focused on the study of history. Currently, there are 68 full time teachers and staff (33 professors, 19 associate professors and 16 lecturers), many acting as leading experts in the field of history research. The school offers undergraduate and postgraduate levels in B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. The department employs many scholars from China and abroad and organizes seminars, reports, and updates on the latest research results and information for teachers and students in the department.
Academic Culture
Students attend classes Monday through Friday and take all courses within one department or school. The academic culture of each department or school varies. Classroom size can range from 20-200 students depending on the course and teaching styles and course requirements vary from course to course. Syllabi may or may not be provided depending on the professor. There is a Teacher?s Assistant (TA) assigned to each course, and international students are expected to communicate with their TAs for specific course information and to address any issues. Students are expected to be both independent and diligent in regard to the requirements of each course.
Due to the dates of the Chinese academic calendar, students may enroll for the spring semester or the entire academic year. Semester students take three direct enrollment courses and the CIEE core course. Academic year students take seven courses; they do not need to repeat the CIEE core course in the spring.
Where You'll Study: Peking University
As one of China's most prestigious universities, Peking University was founded in 1898 and has a long tradition of scholarly excellence and political activism. Its primary mission is to train scholars for advanced research in the natural and social sciences. More than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students are enrolled. The Peking University campus is comprised of a blend of traditional and modern buildings and architectural structures.
Program Requirements
Students must take three Peking University courses each semester in addition to the CIEE course. Academic year students do not repeat the CIEE course in their second semester.
Credit
Total recommended credit for the semester is 16 semester/24 quarter hours and 31 semester/46.5 quarter hours for the academic year program. Typical courses have 75 contact hours and 5 semester credits/7.5 quarter hours over the course of 18 weeks.
Application Deadlines
Spring 2009: 11/1/2008
Fall 2009: 4/1/2009
Duration-Please check the CIEE website for current program dates.
Spring 2009: 18 weeks: after Lunar New Year - late June
Fall 2009: 18 weeks: after Lunar New Year - late June
CIEE Fees-Please check the CIEE website for current program fees.
The CIEE fees for 2008-09 include an optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time program leadership and support, tuition, housing, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, field trips, pre-departure advising, visa fees, and a CIEE iNext travel card which includes insurance and other travel benefits. Students placed in homestays will receive breakfast and dinner during the week and most weekends.
Orientation
A mandatory orientation session, conducted at the beginning of the program, introduces students to the academic culture at Peking University and life in China. An integral aspect of the orientation is several group sessions involving CIEE students and their peer tutors. Orientation is maintained on an individual and group basis throughout the program.
Housing and Meals
Students live in the foreign student's complex at Peking University and are housed two to a room; single rooms are not available. Students may only be placed off-campus after all rooms in the on-campus dormitory have been filled as required by Peking University. Meals are not included in the program fee and are the responsibility of the student. Students typically take meals in one of the many diverse eateries available both on- and off-campus and shop at local markets.
A limited number of homestays may be available, with two meals per day included in the program fee.
Housing for academic year students between the fall and spring semesters is arranged and included in the academic year fee. Students remaining in China between semesters typically travel to other areas of the country during this period to enhance their fluency and cultural understanding. Academic year students may also arrange independent housing options near Peking University with the permission of their sending institution prior to the second semester of study on the program.
Internet
There is Internet access in the Peking University library and computer center. However, Internet access can be quite erratic and slow. Students can also access the Internet from their dormitory rooms for a small fee by opening a personal account at the computer center. CIEE pays for the first month of Internet access. Internet availability at each homestay will vary from location to location. Students are encouraged to bring wirelessenabled laptops.
Cultural Activities and Field Trips
Guided field trips are organized to historic and cultural sites in and around Beijing such as the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Dashanzi Art District, and various other famous sites of interest. Cultural activities may include the Beijing Opera, Laoshe Tea House, and an acrobatic show. Although there are no formal community service activities on this program, volunteer opportunities can be arranged by CIEE staff. Classes in calligraphy, painting, taijiquan, stamp cutting, and traditional Chinese musical instruments are also offered.
Cultural Reimbursement Program
As a means of encouraging students to enrich their study abroad experience in Beijing, CIEE offers a Cultural Reimbursement Program, allowing students to be reimbursed for their participation in local cultural activities such as Chinese film screenings, theater performances, traditional music concerts, and visits to local museums and historic places of interest. Students are encouraged to invite peer tutors to such events when possible.
Extended Weekend Excursion
An extended weekend excursion to Xian, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Shanxi Ping Yao, or Wu Tai Mountain allows students to learn about areas outside of Beijing and to utilize their Chinese language skills under the leadership of the Resident Director. The location is selected prior to each term and changes each semester. Several Chinese students accompany the group to help foster a Chinese speaking environment on the trip. The entire trip is conducted in Chinese and students are expected to maintain their language commitment during all program activities.
Peer Tutors
Program participants are paired with Peking University students for weekly one-on-one tutorials. The tutorials are overseen by the Resident Director. These tutorials provide students with guided support in academic writing and research in a Chinese context which is integrated into the required CIEE core course, Tutorial for Advanced Research and Writing.
Target Language Meals
To encourage students to utilize their Chinese in an informal setting, CIEE arranges bimonthly group meals for students, their teachers, peer tutors, and resident staff. Students attending the optional meals are required to speak only Chinese.
