Faculty of Arts

 Chinese

Table of Contents

Subject Lists
    Language subjects
    Optional subjects
        First Year subjects
        First/Second/Third Year subjects
        Second/Third Fourth Year subjects
        Third Year subjects
        Third/Fourth Year subjects
        Fourth Year Honours subjects

The Melbourne Institute of Asian Languages and Societies offers subjects in Chinese language and Chinese literature, culture and society.

Two Majors are offered, one in Chinese Language and one in Chinese Studies. Students majoring in Chinese Language have the option of completing either a Major in Chinese Language or a double Major in Chinese Language and Chinese Studies. The double Major allows students to concentrate their studies on Chinese language and society.

Chinese is one of the world's most important languages, spoken in some form by almost one-quarter of the world's population. It provides access to the rich cultural traditions of East and, in part, Southeast Asia. Just as ancient Greek and Roman civilisations exercised a formative influence on European cultures, China served for almost 2000 years as the fountainhead of high culture in East Asia, exporting its script and institutions and influencing the language and customs of Japan, Korea and Vietnam. Chinese mercantile influence in more recent centuries has profoundly altered the societies of mainland and maritime Southeast Asia. For Australian students, the study of Chinese language and culture provides useful contrasts with attitudes and values derived from European civilisation.

 1. Language study streams

The Institute offers three streams of Chinese language study.

• Beginners

  • The beginners stream is for students who have little or no knowledge of Chinese. It is available to students at both First and Second Year, although students intending to complete a Major will need to commence their language study in their First Year.

• Post-VCE

  • The post-VCE stream is usually only available to students who have obtained a pass in VCE Chinese, or its equivalent.

• Students with a Chinese-speaking background

  • Four different streams are available to students who are from a Chinese-speaking background.

    • No knowledge of written Chinese

    • Knowledge of written Chinese limited to approximately 1000 characters

    • Some education in a Chinese environment

    • Substantial education in a Chinese environment

    Placement in one of these streams depends on a number of factors, such as spoken competence in Mandarin or a Chinese dialect and ability to read and write Chinese characters.

The Institute determines the language stream in which a student is to enrol. For all students with some prior knowledge of Chinese, the language stream will be determined by the Institute after an interview. Placement is based on VCE results, other language study record and, if necessary, a placement test.

Stream enrolment remains provisional until confirmed or, alternatively, altered according to the student's needs as determined by the Institute during the first two weeks of teaching. As far as possible, the Institute will notify students of any changes to their stream enrolment during the first two weeks of semester. Where a change is made in the third or fourth week of semester it will be reported to the Associate Dean (Academic Programs).

Students of other faculties may enrol in Chinese in any year of their course with the approval of their Faculty and the Faculty of Arts.

 2. Diploma in Modern Languages (Chinese)

The Diploma in Modern Languages (DML) enables students to gain a diploma in language study while completing an undergraduate degree at the University of Melbourne.

The DML usually involves a three-year sequence of language study, totalling a minimum of 100 points. It adds one year to the duration of an ordinary degree course.

The DML (Chinese) is offered in the beginners and post-VCE streams. Chinese subjects are taken alongside degree subjects in an integrated sequence of study. This must be approved by a Faculty course adviser and the Head of Program, MIALS. See Diploma in Modern Languages (DML).

 3. Requirements for a Major

 3.1. A Major in Chinese Studies

A Major in Chinese Studies usually consists of 112.5 points comprising:

• two First Year subjects in Chinese Studies (25 points) and;

• Second/Third Year subjects in Chinese Studies (totalling 87.5 points).

A Major in Chinese Studies is usually only to be undertaken in conjunction with a Major in Chinese Language. Subjects undertaken towards the Major in Chinese Studies must be in addition to those undertaken as part of a Major in Chinese Language and they would normally be subjects taken from the list below. Relevant subjects from outside the Institute may be taken as part of the studies Major with the approval of the Head of the Chinese program.

First Year Chinese Studies subjects
	110-027 Introduction to Chinese Studies	12.5
	110-047 Chinese Calligraphy	12.5
	110-046 Strategies for Business and Bureaucracy	12.5
	110-031 China Imagined and Perceived	12.5
	110-045 China in the 1980s and 1990s	12.5

Second/Third Year Chinese Studies Subjects
	110-048 Modern Chinese Literature	12.5
	110-052 Chinese Thought	12.5
	110-051 Classical Chinese Literature	12.5
	110-049 Chinese Linguistics	12.5
	110-054 Contemporary Chinese Society	12.5
	110-053 Taiwan	12.5

Third/Fourth Year Chinese Studies Subjects
	110-058 Chinese Religion and Ritual	12.5
	110-055 Chinese Research Methods	12.5

 3.2. A Major in Chinese Language

A Major in Chinese Language usually consists of 125 points comprising:

• four First Year subjects in Chinese Language (37.5 points) and;

• Second Year subjects in Chinese Language (totalling 37.5 points) and;

• Third Year subjects in Chinese Language studies (totalling 50 points).

Students intending to Major in Chinese Language are advised to complement their language studies with subjects in Chinese literature, culture and society.

 4. Structuring a Major in Chinese Language

A Major in Chinese Language usually takes one of the following forms:

 4.1. Beginners Stream

First Year
	110-023 Chinese 1A	12.5
	110-024 Spoken Chinese 1A	6.25
	110-025 Chinese 1B	12.5
	110-026 Spoken Chinese 1B	6.25

Second Year
	110-028 Chinese 2A	12.5
	110-130 Spoken Chinese 2A	6.25
	110-029 Chinese 2B	12.5
	110-030 Spoken Chinese 2B	6.25

Third Year
	Third Year subjects in Chinese language (totalling 37.5 points), together with a subject in either language or studies (totalling 12.5 points).

 4.2. Post-VCE stream

First Year
	110-028 Chinese 2A	12.5
	110-130 Spoken Chinese 2A	6.25
	110-029 Chinese 2B	12.5
	110-030 Spoken Chinese 2B	6.25

Second Year
	Second Year subjects in Chinese language and/or studies (totalling 37.5 points).

Third Year
	Third Year subjects in Chinese language and/or studies (totalling 50 points).

 4.3. Students with a Chinese speaking background

 4.3.1. No Knowledge of written Chinese

First Year
	110-035 Standard Chinese 1A	12.5
	110-037 Standard Chinese 1B	12.5
	One First Year subject in Chinese studies (12.5 points).

Second Year
	110-039 Standard Chinese 2A	12.5
	110-040 Standard Chinese 2B	12.5
	One Second Year subject in Chinese studies (12.5 points).

Third Year
	110-041 Standard Chinese 3A	12.5
	110-042 Standard Chinese 3B	12.5
	Two Third Year subjects in Chinese studies (totalling 25 points).

 4.3.2. Knowledge of written Chinese limited to approximately 1000 characters

First Year
	110-039 Standard Chinese 2A	12.5
	110-040 Standard Chinese 2B	12.5
	One First Year subject in Chinese studies (12.5 points).

Second Year
	110-041 Standard Chinese 3A	12.5
	110-042 Standard Chinese 3B	12.5
	One Second Year subject in Chinese studies (12.5 points).

Third Year
	110-043 Standard Chinese 4A	12.5
	110-044 Standard Chinese 4B	12.5
	Two Third Year subjects in Chinese studies (totalling 25 points).

 4.3.3. Some education in a Chinese environment

First Year
	110-041 Standard Chinese 3A	12.5
	110-042 Standard Chinese 3B	12.5
	One First Year subject in Chinese studies (12.5 points).

Second Year
	110-043 Standard Chinese 4A	12.5
	110-044 Standard Chinese 4B	12.5
	One Second Year subject in Chinese studies (12.5 points).

Third Year
	Four Third Year subjects in Chinese studies (totalling 50 points).

 4.3.4. A substantial education in a Chinese environment

First Year
	110-043 Standard Chinese 4A	12.5
	110-044 Standard Chinese 4B	12.5
	One First Year subject in Chinese studies (12.5 points).

Second Year
	Second Year subjects in Chinese studies (totalling 37.5 points).

Third Year
	Third Year subjects in Chinese studies (totalling 50 points).

 5. Honours entry

The prerequisites for entry to Fourth Year Honours in Chinese Language are:

• completion of all the requirements for the BA and;

• completion of a Major in Chinese and;

• an average grade of H2A or higher over the Second/Third Year subjects within the Major.

Entry to Honours must be approved by the Chinese Honours coordinator and the Faculty of Arts Honours course adviser.

Intending Honours students must submit a well defined proposal for an Honours research project in November of the preceding year, and make arrangements for appropriate supervision with advice from the Honours coordinator.

You are strongly encouraged to complement your study of the Chinese language by taking some subjects of Chinese culture and society, either in this Institute or in History, Politics, or Fine Arts.

 6. Honours requirements

 6.1. Pure Honours

Students undertaking pure Honours in Chinese must complete:

• 110-060 Chinese Honours Thesis (37.5 points) and;

• five Honours subjects in Chinese (62.5 points).

 6.2. Combined Honours

Students undertaking combined Honours in Chinese and another area of study must complete:

• 110-060 Chinese Honours Thesis (37.5 points) and;

• two Honours subjects in Chinese (totalling 25 points) and;

• three Honours subjects in the combined area of study (totalling 37.5 points).

or

• Honours thesis in the combined area of study (37.5 points) and;

• two Honours subjects in the combined area of study (totalling 25 points) and;

• three Honours subjects in Chinese (totalling 37.5 points).

 7. Studying overseas

Suitably qualified students completing Chinese in the Institute may undertake language study overseas for credit towards their Arts course. An application for credit must be lodged with the Department prior to proceeding overseas. Interested students should consult the Faculty Office for approval to receive credit for such studies. See Studying overseas for credit.

 8. Career opportunities

The importance of Chinese to Australia is growing both because of Australia's expanding links with China and other nations in the region, and because of the increasing size of the Chinese-speaking community within Australia. High rates of economic growth in China and elsewhere in East Asia make Chinese a good long-term option. Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts who have majored in Chinese have found employment in banking and the financial sector, in the diplomatic service and in other government departments, in private industry and commerce, and in secondary and tertiary teaching. Students studying for a professional degree such as Law, Commerce or Engineering are also likely to find career prospects enhanced by combining their studies with Chinese.

 9. For more information

Melbourne Institute of Asian Languages and Societies (MIALS)
Fifth Floor, John Medley Building, West Tower
The University of Melbourne
Victoria 3010
Tel: +61 3 9344 5555 or 9344 5554
Fax: +61 3 9349 4870
Email: enquiries@asian.unimelb.edu.au
Web: http//www.MIALS.unimelb.edu.au

Language subjects

110-023 Chinese 1A
110-024 Spoken Chinese 1A
110-025 Chinese 1B
110-026 Spoken Chinese 1B
110-028 Chinese 2A
110-029 Chinese 2B
110-130 Spoken Chinese 2A
110-030 Spoken Chinese 2B
110-131 Spoken Chinese 3A
110-035 Standard Chinese 1A
110-037 Standard Chinese 1B
110-039 Standard Chinese 2A
110-040 Standard Chinese 2B
110-041 Standard Chinese 3A
110-042 Standard Chinese 3B
110-043 Standard Chinese 4A
110-044 Standard Chinese 4B
110-134 Spoken Chinese 3B

Optional subjects

First Year subjects

First/Second/Third Year subjects

Second/Third Fourth Year subjects

Third Year subjects

Third/Fourth Year subjects

Fourth Year Honours subjects

Status:                   Official 2000
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