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Chinese Major & Minor Requirements

The Major

Effective fall 2019: Students matriculating in FL19 are required to take eight courses for a minimum of 24 upper-level (300 level or above) units.

The Chinese major and minor are available to students who matriculated prior to Fall 2021. [Note: Contact the EALC department to have the Chinese major/minor added to your record as these degrees are no longer available in WebSTAC.] Students who matriculate FL21 or later, please see the unified East Asian Languages and Cultures degree program

Prerequisites: 

The major in Chinese Language & Culture requires 24 upper-level (300-level or above) units.

  • 1st- and 2nd-level Modern Chinese or the equivalent
  • Chinese 227C (Chinese Civilization)

Requirements:

24 advanced (300-level) and above units to include:

  • Chinese 341 (Early and Imperial Chinese Literature)
  • Chinese 342 (Modern and Contemporary Chinese Literature)
  • 400-level Capstone course (prime majors)
  • Senior Capstone Experience (prime majors):  Students may satisfy the capstone requirement in one of two ways, both of which require a presentation in the EALC Senior Symposium in the spring.
  1. Successful completion of a senior honors thesis.  This option, which also entitles the student to Latin Honors, requires a minimum of a 3.65 GPA.  The thesis is researched and written over two semesters, for a total of 6 units which are in addition to the 24 upper-units required for the major.
  2.  Successful completion of an approved 400-level seminar course, to be taken during the senior year.  This course may be included among the required upper-level courses for the major.  The Capstone course must be an EALC home-based course within the student's area of focus. Writing Intensive courses cannot fulfill the Capstone requirement.


Additional Notes:

  • With advisor approval, students may include one course in a related area offered outside the department among the 24 advanced units.  (For example, a student with focus on China/Chinese may take one course in FMS or Art History that also focuses on China.)  With advisor approval, students may count one course from another area within the EALC department among the 24 advanced units. (For example, a student with focus on China/Chinese may take one course in either Korean or Japanese.)  The exception approval form is required in this case.
  • Students must earn at least a B- in language courses in order to continue to the next level. They must also maintain a B- average in all required courses for the major. Students who do not meet this requirement may either repeat the course/s in question or earn at least a B- in an approved equivalent course or courses (either during the summer or in a study abroad program).
  • Courses for the major and minor may not be taken Credit/No Credit.
  • Effective FL17: Up to 6 units of credit may be applied toward the major from one semester abroad and up to 12 units of credit from two semesters abroad.  Note that EALC no longer distinguishes study abroad credits earned in advanced language courses from those credits earned in other "content" (non-language) courses.  (Pre-FL17 matriculation policy: No more than 6 units of transfer or study abroad non-language courses may be applied to the major.)  Core courses (227C, 341, 342) should be taken in residence.
  • No more than 3 units of Independent Study may be counted towards the required upper-level 24 units.
  • Students can declare a major through WebStac

The Minor

Requirements:

The minor in Chinese Language & Culture requires 18 units. These 18 units must include:

  • Two semesters of Chinese language
  • Chinese 227C (Chinese Civilization)
  • Chinese 341 (Early and Imperial Chinese Literature)
  • Chinese 342 (Modern and Contemporary Chinese Literature)
  • At least 9 units must be 300-level or above


Additional Notes:

  • Students must earn at least a B- or above in language courses in order to continue to the next level.  They must also maintain at least a B- average in all courses taken to fulfill the minor requirements.  Students who do not meet this requirement may either repeat the course/s in question or earn at least a B- in an approved equivalent course or courses (either during the summer or in a study abroad program).
  • Courses for the minor may not be taken Credit/No Credit.
  • No more than 3 units of transfer or study abroad non-language courses may be applied to the minor. Core courses (227C, 341, 342) should be taken in residence.
  • Students can declare a minor through WebStac.

Placement Test & Back Credit

Placement Test

All students entering the Chinese Language Program must be placed in courses appropriate to their existing level of ability.  The elementary courses are designed for true beginners who have minimal or no background in the subject.

For those who have substantial aural-oral proficiency but with little or no ability in reading and writing, special courses--Chinese for Heritage Speakers (106, 107 and 206, 207)--are available, and admission to these courses is through a placement test. Students who have any previous exposure to the Chinese language, except through enrollment in Washington University courses, are required to take the placement test before enrolling in any language course above the elementary level. In addition, students returning from a non-Washington University study abroad must also take the placement test, even if they were enrolled in Chinese classes on campus before going abroad.  Because it is very important for both students and instructors that students are in the classes they are best suited for and which will help them the most to learn Chinese, there will be no exceptions to this requirement.

The placement test is comprised of five parts: listening comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and the oral interview. For reading, students have the option of simplified or traditional character version of text. It takes approximately 2 hours to complete. You do not need to prepare for this test, since it is designed solely as a means to determine your language proficiency.

The placement test is regularly administered each fall on the Friday before classes start. The test can also be done in Canvas.  After you take the test online, you must set up an appointment with one of the Chinese language faculty. Be sure to note your exam results. Those interested in taking the placement test should contact the Chinese Language Coordinator, Ms. Xia Liang for more information.


Back Credit

Placement tests are required for all students entering our language programs, with the exception of those students who have had no previous knowledge of the language and are planning to enroll in the first semester of the first year of instruction. Students who test into second-year Chinese and satisfactorily complete (with a grade of B– or better) at least one semester of language study may petition for 3 units of retroactive credit; students who test into third year or above and satisfactorily complete (with a grade of B– or better) at least one semester of language study may petition for 6 units of retroactive credit. Credit is limited to 3 units for testing into second year and 6 units for testing into third year or above.

L04 211 or 213 = 3 units for 102D
L04 360 or 361 = 3 units for 102D and 3 units for 212

Note, courses in the Heritage Chinese track are not equal to courses in the regular Modern Chinese track, and therefore, are not eligible for back credit. Native speakers are not eligible for back credit, so evidence of secondary or post-secondary study of the language is required.

Please note that students with native language proficiency as determined by the Chinese language section, as well as students who enroll in a course below their placement level, are ineligible for retroactive credit units. Students who misrepresent the extent of their background so as to gain entrance to a course at the elementary or intermediate level will be dropped from that course.