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Faculty of Arts

Chinese studies

1. Language study streams
2. Diploma in Modern Languages (Chinese)
3. Requirements for a major
    3.1. A major in Chinese studies
    3.2. A major in Chinese language
4. Structuring a major in Chinese language
    4.1. Beginners stream (students commencing in 2001)
    4.2. Post-VCE stream (students commencing in 2001)
    4.3. Students with a Chinese speaking background
        4.3.1. No knowledge of written Chinese
        4.3.2. Knowledge of written Chinese limited to approximately 1000 characters
        4.3.3. Some education in a Chinese environment
        4.3.4. A substantial education in a Chinese environment
5. Honours entry
6. Honours requirements
    6.1. Pure honours
    6.2. Combined honours
7. Studying overseas
8. Career opportunities
9. For more information

Subject Lists
    Language subjects
    First year subjects
    Second/third year subjects
    Third year subjects
    Third/fourth year subjects
    Fourth year subjects
    Subjects not offered in 2001
        First year subjects not offered in 2001
        Second/third year subjects not offered in 2001
        Fourth year subjects not offered in 2001

The study of Chinese language and culture is essential for students interested in banking, trade, financial, diplomatic services and a range of other careers in the Chinese-speaking world. Chinese language classes cater for a range of competencies, from students who have little or no knowledge of Chinese to advanced-level speakers. These targeted levels of language proficiency provide students with the means for a contextualised approach to Chinese language, society and culture.

Chinese studies addresses modern and classical aspects of Chinese language, literature, film, philosophy and religion. Cultural and linguistic knowledge provides a foundation for the exploration of contemporary Chinese social organisation and strategies for business, trade and international relations in evolving global communities. Chinese studies is one of a number of programs that constitute the Melbourne Institute of Asian Languages and Societies (MIALS). The Institute was established in 1998 as a major teaching and research initiative of the University of Melbourne. MIALS serves to strengthen the University's role as a major international centre for the development of studies in Asian languages and societies. Students who specialise in Chinese studies develop transferable skills that will enhance their career options. Alternatively, they are able to expand on their interest and knowledge through an articulated structure of higher degree study options at the University of Melbourne.

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 with no background in Chinese who have obtained a pass in VCE Chinese, or its equivalent.
Students with a Chinese-speaking background
- Four different levels 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 levels 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. Interviews and placement tests will be held in the week preceding the first week of semester.

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, post-VCE, and Chinese background 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.

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 Chinese Studies: Culture and Environment 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

First year Chinese studies subjects

	110-027 Chinese Studies: Culture and Environment	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 Chinese Elite and Popular Literature 12.5

110-049 Chinese Linguistics 12.5

110-054 Contemporary Chinese Society 12.5

110-053 Taiwan 12.5

Second/third year Chinese studies subjects

	110-048 Modern Chinese Literature	12.5
	110-052 Chinese Thought	12.5
	110-051 Chinese Elite and Popular 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 (students commencing in 2001)

First year

110-023 Introductory Chinese 1A 12.5

110-024 Spoken Introductory Chinese 1A 6.25

110-025 Introductory Chinese 1B 12.5

110-026 Spoken Introductory Chinese 1B 6.25

First year

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

Second year

110-028 Introductory Chinese 2A 12.5

110-130 Spoken Introductory Chinese 2A 6.25

110-029 Introductory Chinese 2B 12.5

110-030 Spoken Introductory Chinese 2B 6.25

Second year

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

Third year

110-162 Chinese 3A 12.5

110-163 Chinese 3B 12.5

Two subjects in either Chinese language or Chinese studies (25 points)

4.2. Post-VCE stream (students commencing in 2001)

First year

110-160 Chinese 1A 12.5

110-161 Chinese 1B 12.5

One first year subject in Chinese studies (12.5 points)

Second year

Students commencing first year Post-VCE steam in 2001 will enrol in the following new subjects in 2002:

Chinese 2A (12.5 points)

Chinese 2B (12.5 points)

One second year subject in Chinese language or Chinese studies (12.5 points)

Third year

110-162 Chinese 3A 12.5

110-163 Chinese 3B 12.5

Two third year subjects in Chinese language or Chinese studies (25 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 (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 (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 (50 points)

Third year

	Four third year subjects in Chinese studies (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)

Second year

	Second year subjects in Chinese studies (totalling 37.5 points)

Third year

Third year subjects in Chinese studies (totalling 50 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:

110-532 Chinese Thesis or 110-533 Chinese Thesis (MYE) (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:

110-532 Chinese Thesis or 110-533 Chinese Thesis (MYE) (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).

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 Institute 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 8344 5990 or +61 3 8344 5555
Fax: +61 3 9349 4870
Email: enquiries@asian.unimelb.edu.au
Web: http://www.MIALS.unimelb.edu.au

Language subjects

First year subjects

110-027 Chinese Studies: Culture and Environment
110-046 Strategies for Business and Bureaucracy
110-047 Chinese Calligraphy

Second/third year subjects

110-048 Modern Chinese Literature
110-049 Chinese Linguistics
110-052 Chinese Thought
110-053 Taiwan
110-054 Contemporary Chinese Society

Third year subjects

110-055 Chinese Research Methods

Third/fourth year subjects

110-058 Chinese Religion and Ritual

Fourth year subjects

110-532 Chinese Thesis
110-533 Chinese Thesis (MYE)

Subjects not offered in 2001

Search : Index : Faculty of Arts

Status:                   Official 2001
Last Modified:            Wednesday May 23 22:24
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Authorised by:            Academic Registrar
Email Enquiries:          Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au

Third year

	110-162 Chinese 3A	12.5
	110-163 Chinese 3B	12.5
	Two subjects in either Chinese language or Chinese studies (25 points)

First year

	110-160 Chinese 1A	12.5
	110-161 Chinese 1B	12.5
	One first year subject in Chinese studies (12.5 points)

Second year

	Students commencing first year Post-VCE steam in 2001 will enrol in the following new subjects in 2002:
	Chinese 2A (12.5 points)
	Chinese 2B (12.5 points)
	One second year subject in Chinese language or Chinese studies (12.5 points)

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 (25 points)

Third year

	110-043 Standard Chinese 4A	12.5
	110-044 Standard Chinese 4B	12.5
	Two third year subjects in Chinese studies (25 points)