Study Abroad in
Chinese Studies

Department of Chinese Studies, UCSD
3084 Humanities and Social Sciences Building
http://chinesestudies.ucsd.edu/

The Department of Chinese Studies strongly encourages its students to study abroad. Rapidly developing economies combined with centuries of tradition and history make China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan top destinations for students studying Chinese languages or cultures. Asia is a living laboratory in which you can observe the political and social consequences of fast but uneven economic development, urban ecological problems, demographic and environmental change and complex international relations. Chinese Studies majors and minors can study through the University of California’s Education Abroad Program (EAP) or UCSD’s Opportunities Abroad Program (OAP). Intensive summer language programs, fall semester, spring semester, and academic year programs are available.

“Studying abroad in China is an experience I would never trade for anything. Besides being able to speak the language more fluently, understand the views of the Chinese culture in depth, and enjoy the warmth and hospitality as well as to learn how to deal with their criticisms, it has all been a positive and rewarding experience. It also teaches me independence, emotional growth, and many self-revelations about our society in this globalized world.”
Anna Huynh
Beijing Normal University

Why study abroad?

New Year's Dragon, Singapore

“Today’s workplace requires you to be quick on your feet and highly adaptable.  You will work for, and with, professionals from diverse backgrounds whose personal styles may be quite different from your own.  Study Abroad is an outstanding way to build your skills, to see the world through another’s eyes, and to demonstrate to employers that you are tested and ready to pursue the global workplace.” --Andrew T. Ceperley, Director, Career Services Center, UCSD

Regardless of your future career choice, study abroad will help you develop skills that are critical to a liberal arts education, not the least of which is fluency in a foreign language.

Consider your value to an employer or a graduate program if you’ve:

  • Participated in a different educational system and gained a new cultural perspective
  • Increased your proficiency in another language
  • Improved your critical thinking skills
  • Expanded your worldview by experiencing another culture firsthand
  • Developed self-confidence and independence
  • Prepared for a career in an internationally competitive world
  • Enhanced résumés and/or applications for graduate school

When should I study abroad?

While it is possible for Chinese Studies students to go abroad at almost any point in their academic careers, the particular quarter, semester, summer or year that you study abroad depends on your individual progress in your major and what courses you plan to take while abroad. 

Chinese Studies students must take a certain number of Chinese language courses before going abroad, depending upon the specific study center and program. See Requirements section below for more information.

Where should I study abroad?

You will find coursework relevant to your major in Chinese Studies at many EAP study centers. Program Wizard(eap.ucop.edu/programwizard) can help you find programs that meet your needs.

If you can’t find a program, university or country that suits your needs through EAP, try OAP! Two sites to helps you: http://studyabroad.com/ or http://goabroad.com/

Here are the universities where Chinese Studies majors and minors have studied:

Programs in English:

UC-Fudan University Joint Program in International Studies

Fudan University Spring Semester Economics and Business Program

National University of Singapore

Chinese University of Hong Kong

University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Programs in Chinese:

National Taiwan University, Taipei

East China Normal University, Shanghai

Beijing Normal University, Beijing

Peking University, Beijing

 

What will it cost?

Study on EAP/OAP can be comparable to the cost of study at UC. In some cases, it is less. EAP participants pay UC fees and continue to receive UC financial aid while abroad. Furthermore, EAP students are eligible for special grants and scholarships from UC, the host country, and other sources.

OAP students may retain all or some of their funding while abroad, but because of the variety of the programs found through OAP, costs for individual programs can also vary greatly.

Check here for specific information about scholarships and financial aid: http://programsabroad.ucsd.edu/pao/funding.htm

HINT: If you took courses in another language while abroad, have your proficiency tested immediately upon return.

 

What are my first steps?

  1. Attend a First Steps meeting at the International Center
  2. Visit http://programsabroad.ucsd.edu
  3. Start your research in the Programs Abroad Library
  4. Meet with a Programs Abroad advisor
  5. Schedule a visit with the advisor in Chinese Studies (jkwan@ucsd.edu or 858-534-6477)
  6. Visit your college advising office

Requirements

Subject to final approval by the program chair, EAP and OAP credits may be transferred back to UCSD to coordinate with on-campus offerings. However, at least six of the upper-division courses for the major must be taken at UCSD. Chinese studies minors are encouraged to talk with the program advisor for information on the number of courses they may petition.

What classes should I take?

EAP students automatically earn UC credit for the work they complete abroad. However, application of credit to major requirements is subject to the discretion of the department. EAP Coursefinder (eap.ucop.edu/coursefinder) lets you search courses taken by UC students over the last 5 years.EAP/OAP students can earn transfer credit for the work they complete abroad, and application of credit to major requirements is also subject to the discretion of the department.

The Great Wall

What happens when I return?

Students must bring all coursework material from their abroad program to the Chinese Studies advisor with a general petition for each course. The Faculty advisor of the program will review the petitions and make final approval on coursework – if courses are approved the information will be transferred to the appropriate colleges.

Yeah, but ...

Still not sure if study abroad is for you? Want to discuss it with your parents, or need to convince them?  Check out UCEAP’s “Top Ten Reasons to Study Abroad” (http://eap.ucop.edu/eap/whystudyabroad.shtm).

 

University of California, San Diego
OAP
Opportunities Abroad Program
If you don't find your perfect fit with EAP check out the infinite options for other academic programs available through UCSD's Opportunities Abroad Program (OAP). Follow the link below to find more information on OAP.
http://pao.ucsd.edu/pao/started.html
UCSD
Programs Abroad Office
International Center
Second Floor
 (858) 534-1123 
FAX  (858) 822-5726
abroad@ucsd.edu

programsabroad.ucsd.edu