Chinese school brochure

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Chinese Studies School of Cultural Studies

www.uwtsd.ac.uk

Why study Chinese Studies at Lampeter?

China is one of the world’s great civilisations, with a rich cultural heritage providing the backdrop to a dynamic contemporary society. Thanks to a generous gift of books by benefactor Thomas Phillips (1760-1851), China has had a firm place in the curriculum of the university - then St David’s College - from the very beginning. The idea was then, and is now, that our knowledge and understanding in any field is incomplete unless we take the Chinese experience, both that of the past and of the present, into account.

Our 4-year programme includes a one-year placement at a Chinese university. The year-inChina programme is generously supported by UWTSD bursary schemes and Chinese government scholarships.

Lampeter offers the opportunity to combine Chinese Studies with other subjects in a range of unique Joint Honours programmes. In a Joint Honours degree such as Anthropology and Chinese Studies you will not only be trained in an areas studies subject but also

receive a solid grounding in the methodology and key themes of a ‘systematic’ discipline, an excellent preparation for postgraduate study.

Students with prior knowledge of Chinese can enter the language programme at a level appropriate to their knowledge, ranging from Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Further Advanced to Higher Advanced level. For example, students with good GCSE or A-Level results in Mandarin can expect to take Intermediate Chinese in their first year.

Building on a solid linguistic foundation in modern and classical Chinese, the Lampeter course focuses on the study of China’s history, philosophy, religions (particularly Daoism), film and literature, exploring how China has historically evolved to become the country it is today. Our modules examine China’s transformations both from a Chinacentred perspective as well as from the point of view of its manifold interactions with other countries and civilisations.

We are one of the very few Chinese Studies programmes in the UK with a focus on China’s classical culture. You will gain access to the richness of this culture by studying its vast textual, archaeological and artistic heritage.

“One of the few programmes in the UK that teach students to read classical Chinese.”

91% of students in Chinese Studies felt they were offered excellent academic support and advice

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Careers with Chinese Studies A degree in Chinese Studies equips you with transferable skills that allow you to work in a wide range of roles and capacities in many areas of employment. Obviously, Chinese Studies graduates have excellent chances in all those areas where a good knowledge of Mandarin and intercultural competence are essential.

a UK university, sales representative with Mercedes in China, in the global logistics business, tourism or as translators or interpreters.

Some graduates have relocated to China and set up their own businesses there. Many graduates have successfully applied for postgraduate study in various subjects at prestigious universities in the UK, China and elsewhere.

Recent graduates have found employment as overseas recruitment and marketing officer in

Year-in-China Programme One of the highlights of our Chinese Studies programmes is the Year in China—year 2 of your 4-year degree. Spending an extended period at a Chinese university offers you the opportunity to fully immerse yourself in Chinese life and bring your language skills and firsthand knowledge of the country to a whole new level. The year abroad is open to students in all degree

programmes. Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban) and the Chinese Government operate generous scholarship schemes for students wishing to study in China. Scholarship recipients typically receive free tuition and accommodation plus a monthly allowance of approxately ÂŁ140 (RMB Yuan 1,400).

Teaching Excellence

100%

Teaching in Lampeter distinguishes itself from comparable degree programmes by small class sizes, outstanding pastoral support, but above all by the number and variety of additional academic activities for our students. Whether you become involved in our student research journal, present a paper at the British Conference for Undergraduate Research, contribute to our annual exhibitions or regular school workshops, you will have plenty of opportunities to apply your knowledge and skills to real life tasks related to an aspect of Chinese Studies.

Field trips to exhibitions and cultural events related to China will be a vital part of your Chinese Studies experience in Lampeter.

Our modules examine key themes from a theoretical perspective. However, we also place due emphasis on the real-life implications of Chinese philosophy and religion by exploring, for instance, how they shape the moral and social life of Chinese communities across the world.

of Chinese Studies students stated that staff had been available when needed

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Explore Our Degrees

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BA Chinese Studies (4 years) UCAS Code: 5DN2

The aim of this 4-year course is to provide the linguistic training as well as the analytical and intercultural skills necessary to operate effectively in a Chinese speaking environment or to engage in teaching and research related to China. Based on intensive language training in modern Mandarin and Classical Chinese, our students take specialist modules on aspects of Chinese culture, history, society, philosophy, literature and religion.

Chinese Studies students learn to critically engage themes and theories across academic disciplines, using diverse materials and information sources. Students spend the second year of their course at a university in China.

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Modules to Look Out For: From Empire to Nation: Moder n History of China:

This module will introduce students

to key developments in modern Chinese history, tracing events from the end of the Qing dynasty until the present day. We will examine the impact of republicanism after the revolution of 1911 and the vast changes experienced by China since the Communist victory in 1949.

Throughout the module, close attention will be paid to China’s relationship with the West, from the conflicts of the nineteenth century to the ongoing embrace of capitalism.

Confucian Ethics: The aim of this module is to engage the central themes of Confucian ethical and philosophical thinking, and to understand the main characteristics of Confucianism as an ethical tradition that has been dominant or influential in East Asia for two thousand years. We will evaluate Confucian solutions concerning perennial ethical problems and examine as well as experience the value of the Confucian emphasis on ‘knowing is doing’.

Chinese Cinema: Politics and Aesthetics:

Yangsheng and Daoist Body Philosophy:

The module analyses Chinese cinema - including films from mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan - from the 1980s to the present by critically discussing key theoretical frameworks such as cross-cultural analysis and transnational cinematic culture. We will examine the internationalisation of Chinese cinema. Lectures will be accompanied by screenings of representative films.

This module focuses on the historical development of Daoist philosophy and Daoist yangsheng (“nurturing life”) exercises in both China and the West. The term yangsheng broadly refers to a set of wellbeing exercises, including practices surrounding ‘self care’, ‘health maintenance’, ‘green medicine’, ‘natural life style’, ‘life preservation’, and ‘environmental protection’. Students will be encouraged to reflect upon this

body of tradition and practices in relation to their own cultural and religious assumptions. Extracurricular activities offered by the module tutor will give you a practical insight into Chinese ways of pursuing a happy and fulfilled life.

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Chinese Studies Joint Honours

In our “Chinese Studies” joint honours programmes students complete the language programme of the BA Chinese Studies and choose additional subject modules in each subject. Thematic modules from both disciplines dovetail with each other. For example, second year students on our Chinese Studies and Anthropology programme study field work methods as part of their anthropology course in year 2. They can then apply these methods in their third year Chinese Studies modules, for example in a module on Daoist medicine and wellbeing practices. Chinese Studies joint honours are particularly suitable for students who already have a clear preference for one field within the wider scope of Chinese Studies, for example history or philosophy, or who would like to 10 | www.uwtsd.ac.uk

combine a geographical area with a traditionally defined discipline.

• BA (Joint Honours) Chinese Studies and Digital Humanities (35MV)

• BA (Joint Honours) Chinese Studies • BA Chinese Studies with Heritage and English (TQ13) Management (34Z1) • BA (Joint Honours) Chinese Studies • BA Chinese Studies with Education and Philosophy (TV1M) Studies (836R) • BA (Joint Honours) Chinese Studies and Anthropology (TL16) • BA (Joint Honours) Chinese Studies and History (46N3) • BA (Joint Honours) Chinese Studies and Medieval Studies (TV11) • BA (Joint Honours) Chinese Studies and Religious Studies (TV16) • BA (Joint Honours) Chinese Studies and Heritage Studies (5B29)

Modules to Look Out For: Anthropology in Context: An Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology: This module will explore aspects of the history of anthropology, beginning with the discipline’s humble and problematic beginnings as the ‘handmaiden of colonialism’ and culminating in a consideration of the important roles that anthropologists play in the contemporary world. Students will be introduced to some of the prominent social theorists who helped shape the discipline, and their ethnographic subjects.

Consideration will be given to the social, political, historical and economic contexts which led to the formulation of their ideas, and discuss what directions the discipline might take in the future.

People’s Worlds: Lives and Livelihoods: ‘Are humans on, in or of the world?’

Planet earth offers a wide variety of territories or habitats to the organisms that live with it. In association with this wonderful variety, People’s Worlds considers the numerous methods (and often colourful) conclusions humans use to live by (and with) the different geoecoclimatic circumstances they find themselves in. To do this the course examines a different society nearly every week and reflects not only on how people live in different locations but also how the interaction between location and the living things within it contribute to the cultures humans create.

What makes civilisation?

Using various case studies from different parts of the world, this module introduces students to the key concepts ‘civilisation’, ‘society’ and ‘culture’, thus preparing you for the comparative study of ancient civilisations. Key themes will include religion, state (emergence and collapse), kingship, economy, elite culture, private sphere, identity, literacy/orality, as well as cultural memory.

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Chinese Civilisation Joint Honours

“Chinese Civilisation” joint honours do not include Chinese language modules - except optionally in the first semester of year 1 - but instead offer you the chance to study a greater range of thematic modules across two disciplines. Chinese Civilisation joint honours are suitable for Chinese native speakers or students whose academic interests lie in areas other than language.

BA (Joint Honours) Chinese Civilisation and English (T13Q) BA (Joint Honours) Chinese Civilisation and Philosophy (T1V5) BA (Joint Honours) Chinese Civilisation and Anthropology (T1L6) BA (Joint Honours) Chinese Civilisation and History (6Y3W) BA (Joint Honours) Chinese Civilisation and Medieval Studies (T1V1) BA (Joint Honours) Chinese Civilisation and Religious Studies (T1V6)

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“90% of students agreed that the Chinese Studies programmes were well organised and ran smoothly.”

Certificate of Higher Education in Chinese

The Certificate of Higher Education in Chinese (Cert HE in Mandarin) is a fully accredited universitylevel (Level 4) course in Chinese (Mandarin). The course is equivalent to the linguistic part of the BA Chinese Studies. It aims to offer Mandarin language training for full-time and part-time learners who do not wish to or are unable to commit to an entire undergraduate programme in Chinese Studies but would like to concentrate on learning Chinese instead.

The course is suitable for: • professionals with a first degree who wish to use Chinese in a professional context

The programme is aimed at students with no prior knowledge of Mandarin or with a level of Mandarin up to HSK Level 4. It is taught on our campuses in Lampeter and Swansea.

• students who are interested in a career in or involving China and thus want to learn Chinese • graduates who would like to do postgraduate study in a China - related area but so far lack the necessary language skills • students on a gap year who would like to learn Chinese before embarking on a degree course or enter work

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Core academic staff in Chinese Studies Dr. Yanxia Zhao (PhD Wales)

specialises in Chinese religion and philosophy, especially Daoism and Daoist body philosophy.

She is the Director of the Centre for Daoist Studies.

Dr. Duo LUAN (PhD Wales)

holds a first degree in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language and a PhD in Film and Media Studies. Her research interests are in the areas of Chinese television drama and Chinese as a second language.

Dr Thomas Jansen (PhD Munich)

specialises in Chinese history and culture, especially the early medieval period (200600 Ad) and the role of religion in the making of modern China. Thomas is also the Director of the Confucius Institute at UWTSD.

Confucius Institute Trinity Saint David is home of the first Confucius Institute in Wales. The Institute offers scholarships, holds Chinese proficiency tests, and enriches life on campus through a wide range of cultural and academic events.

Visit us at: www.uwtsd.ac.uk/confucius-institute/ Facebook: “Confucius Institute at UWTSD�

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Further information For further information, please contact Dr Thomas Jansen: t.jansen@uwtsd.ac.uk

The information contained in this booklet is correct at the time of publication, but is subject to change as part of the University’s policy of continuous improvement and development.