Global China Studies

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Global China Studies

China has again become a major force in the world, while increasingly the world is drawn to China. More than the scope of the conventional Area Studies, the innovative interdisciplinary major in Global China Studies allows students to build on the knowledge and critical skills gained from the core curriculum to deepen their understanding of global currents in China, whether at the level of state and society or of individuals, and in the context of commercial, religious, cultural, political and other interactions. At the same time, students will gain a greater awareness of the extraordinary complexity of what we call “China” and how that has come about. Global China Studies majors will further their formal language study, either by an additional year of modern Chinese or a year of classical Chinese, or, in consultation with the adviser, by a year’s study of another dialect or language of China. They will learn about digital humanities from the specific perspective of Global China Studies; and finally, are strongly encouraged to study abroad beyond the minimum one semester in order to expand their global experience. Majoring in Global China Studies at NYU Shanghai positions students to pursue graduate education and professional careers in a broad range of areas at the cutting edge of 21st-century experience.

Faculty Mentors
Student Testimonials
Recommended Courses in Spring 2018 for Freshmen and Sophomores
Degree Requirements


Faculty Mentors

Tansen Sen, Room 1218
Director of the Center for Global Asia, Professor of History
Email: ts107@nyu.edu

https://shanghai.nyu.edu/academics/faculty/directory/tansen-sen

 

Lena

Lena Scheen, Room 1222
Assistant Professor of Literature
Email:lms14@nyu.edu

https://shanghai.nyu.edu/academics/faculty/directory/lena-scheen

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Student Testimonials

Seaman-Annie1

 

“Global China Studies majors become proficient in Mandarin, well versed in Chinese history and politics, gain knowledge of Chinese art and culture and overall gain a comprehensive view of the country of China. We then place China in a world view and evaluate China’s role our global past, present, and future. ” – Annie Seaman, Class of 2018 


Zhao, Xuehan(Shirley)

“I have been asked for hundreds of times: ‘Why do you choose Global China Studies? You are Chinese?!’ Yes, I am a Chinese. I mean…WHY NOT?! My initial plan was actually Humanities, so I tried many Humanities courses. However, throughout the process, I have found myself getting extremely excited and attracted every time it came to be about China. Therefore, I decided to make Global China Studies my major, to learn and explore something that fastens my heartbeat. What do I like about this major? Besides that it stimulates the emission of dopamine in my body, it also 1) is supported by exceptional resources, 2) goes beyond Humanities, and 3) allows me to reexamine my country. Located in Shanghai and being an American university, NYU Shanghai is inexorably appealing for anyone who wants to learn about China from a global stance. Apart from humanities courses, I am also going to be exposed to China-related topics in other fields such as social science. As a Chinese, I know China, but knowing something too well from only one side is no better than ignorance. I just like the fact that I get to approach my homeland from new perspectives and to learn about a China that I didn’t know before.” – Xuehan Zhao, Class of 2019

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 Recommended Courses in Spring 2018 for Freshmen:

  • Writing as Inquiry
  • GCHN-SHU 110 The Concept of China / One GCS Required Course
  • Core Curriculum Course
  • English, Chinese, or General Elective

Recommended Courses in Spring 2018 for Sophomores:

  • GCS Required Course
  • GCS Elective/GCS Required Course
  • Core Curriculum Course
  • Chinese (International students are encouraged to complete Advanced Chinese II before studying away)

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Degree Requirements – 2016-17 Bulletin
Total: 9 Courses

Not every course listed is taught every semester, and in any given semester other courses may be offered that fulfill this requirement. Requirements may be met through equivalent courses in the Global Network with prior approval.

* = offered in Spring ’18 in Shanghai

REQUIRED COURSES: All Six
GCHN-SHU 110 The Concept of China *
Chinese Geographies course (choose one):

  • GCHN-SHU 250 China at the Center? An Exploration of Chinese Foreign Relations *
  • GCHN-SHU 164 The stuff of legends: The Many Meanings of the Early Silk Road(s) 
  • GCHN-SHU 270 Research Chinese Politics & Society
A Digital China Studies course (choose one):

  • SCA-SHU 9634 Global Connections: Shanghai 
  • INTM-SHU 249 Street Life & Street Food in the 21st Century City
  • INTM-SHU 184 Communities and Net Literature
  • INTM-SHU 193 Chinese Cyberculture 
  • INTM-SHU 225 Media and Participation
A Worldwide Chinese Diaspora course (choose one):

  • GCHN-SHU 263 Voices from the Margin: Modern Chinese and Sinophone Writers *
  • GCHN-SHU 264 Chinese Migrant and Diasporic Networks
  • HUMN-SHU 225 Topics in Asia-Pacific History
  • HUMN-SHU 230 Topics in the Humanities: Introduction to Asian American Studies
  • HUMN-SHU 267 Representing Ethnicity in Mainland China and Beyond: A Comparative Study 
Native Chinese speakers: Two additional courses from the “Global China Studies Electives List” below.

Non-Native Chinese speakers: Advanced Chinese I and II OR two Chinese language classes higher than the Intermediate II level such as:  

  • CHIN-SHU 402 Classical Chinese II *
  • CHIN-SHU 404 Readings in Chinese Culture II* 
  • CHIN-SHU 416 Introduction to Contemporary China II *
  • CHIN-SHU 429/BUSF-SHU 188 Chinese Business and Finance — A Bilingual Introduction *
  • GCHN-SHU 283 Reading and Viewing Modern China *
  • CHIN-SHU 411 Introduction to Business Chinese and Culture 
GLOBAL CHINA STUDIES ELECTIVES: Choose Three
  • BPEP-SHU 9042 Political Economy of East Asia *
  • CCSF-SHU 123 Contemporary Chinese Political Thought *
  • GCHN-SHU 200-001 Topics in GCS: Changing Roles of Women in China *
  • GCHN-SHU 200-002 Topics: Politics of History and Memory in China *
  • GCHN-SHU 200-003 Topics: Chinese Social Stratification in Comparative Perspective *
  • GCHN-SHU 243 Chinese Environmental Studies *
  • GCHN-SHU 252 20th-Century East Asia-U.S. Relations *
  • GCHN-SHU 263 Voices from the Margin: Modern Chinese and Sinophone Writers 
  • GCHN-SHU 283 Reading and Viewing Modern China *
  • HIST-SHU 250 China at the Center? An Exploration of Chinese Foreign Relations *
  • LIT-SHU 226 History of Chinese Cinemas *
  • LWSO-SHU 9251 (SOCS-SHU 251) Law Culture and Politics in China  *
  • MCC-SHU 9451 (MCC-UE 9451) Global Media Seminar: China  *
  • RELS-SHU 9270 (RELST-UA 9270) Religion and Society in China: Gods, Ghosts, Buddhas and Ancestors *
  • SOCS-SHU 331 Politics in China *
  • GCHN-SHU 997 Global China Studies Independent Study *
  • ECON-SHU 238 Modern Economic Growth: Exploring China From a Comparative Perspective 
  • HIST-SHU 153 (EAST/HIST-UA 9053) History of Modern China Since 1840 
  • HIST-SHU 226 5000 Years of Chinese History: Fact or Fiction 
  • HIST-SHU 302 History of Water 
  • HUMN-SHU 366 (266) Shanghai Stories 
  • SCA-SHU 9634 Global Connections: China 
  • SOCS-SHU 270 – Social Change in Contemporary China 
  • SOCS-SHU 272 US Constitution: Is It Relevant to China? 
  • GCHN-SHU 997 Global China Studies Independent Study  
  • CCCF-SHU 128 Contemporary Art & New Media 
  • HIST-SHU 313 China Goes Global: How China and the World Changed Each Other  
  • GCHN-SHU 224 Chinese Maritime History 
  • GCHN-SHU 230 Culture and Media in Urban China 
  • HIST-SHU 351 From Human Sacrifices to Illicit Sex at a Funeral: A History of Violence and Crime in Ancient China 
  • CCSF-SHU 122 Traditional Chinese Wisdom and Its Transformation in Modern Times 
  • CCSF-SHU 124 Growing Shanghai, Shrinking Detroit 
  • GCHN-SHU 240 Modern Chinese Governance 
  • GCHN-SHU 270 Research Chinese Politics & Society 
  • HIST-SHU 379 The Social Life of Things: Functions of Material Culture in Ancient Chinese Society and Beyond 
  • CCCF-SHU 121 History of Chinese Cinemas
  • CCCF-SHU 131 History of Chinese Cinemas II
  • CCSF-SHU 120 The Rise of Modern China (Modern China and World Economy)
  • CCSF-SHU 122 Traditional Chinese Wisdom and Its Transformation in Modern Times
  • CCSF-SHU 133 Governing the Local
  • GCHN-SHU 202 Archaeology in China
  • GCHN-SHU 203 Art of War in China
  • GCHN-SHU 204 Ethnic Diversity in China
  • GCHN-SHU 206 Global (Chinese)Texts
  • GCHN-SHU 207 20th Century Chinese Writers in Global Context
  • GCHN-SHU 220 Chinese Science
  • GCHN-SHU 221 Chinese Inventions in Global Context
  • GCHN-SHU 222 History of Chinese Medicine
  • GCHN-SHU 223 Muslim Science and China
  • GCHN-SHU 231 Social and Cultural Debates in 20th Century China
  • GCHN-SHU 232 From Qing to the Republic: Social Debates in China
  • GCHN-SHU 241 Chinese Revolutions
  • GCHN-SHU 242 Mao and the Chinese Revolution
  • GCHN-SHU 260 Modern Chinese Economy
  • GCHN-SHU 261 China and the Great Depression
  • GCHN-SHU 280 Play and Games in Early China
  • GCHN-SHU 281 Beliefs and Social Practice in China
  • GCHN-SHU 282 China and Global Religions
  • GCHN-SHU 262 China Trade in Global Context
  • GCHN-SHU 342/BPEP-SHU 9042 The Political Economy of East Asia
  • HUMN-SHU 225 Topics in Asia-Pacific History 
  • HUMN-SHU 229 (CCCF-SHU 129) Masters of Asian Cinema
  • HUMN-SHU 230 Topics in the Humanities: Introduction to Asian American Studies
  • HIST-SHU 120 The Mongol Conquest in World History
  • HIST-SHU 312 China Encounters the World
  • INTM-SHU 250 Street Food and Urban Farming
  • LWSO-SHU 9251 (SOCS-SHU 251) Topics in Law and Society: Law, Culture, & Politics in China

Minor Requirements

Four classes from the required and elective list of Global China Studies courses, of which at least one must be from the required list. Students may take up to two advanced or post-advanced language courses in fulfillment of this minor.

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