ABOUT US

The Chinese Program at San Francisco State University offers one of the most comprehensive and unique degree programs in Chinese in the United States. Founded in 1959, the Chinese Program provides degree programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The joint emphasis on language proficiency in Mandarin Chinese (putonghua/guoyu) and an appreciation and understanding of Chinese literature, art, culture, and linguistics offers our students a balanced course of study.

After the basic language sequence (CHIN 101, 102, 103, 250) is completed (or waived), a minimum of 30 units of upper division work, nine of which are electives, is required for the B.A. The undergraduate Minor requires 21 units of upper division study. The classical literature/culture courses, taught in both English and Chinese, provide an understanding of one of the world's oldest civilizations, which may inspire the students to view the modern world from new perspectives. Courses on modern literature and film, taught in Chinese, reflect the dynamic transformations of contemporary Chinese society and culture. Training in the fundamentals of linguistics complements program goals by revealing the underlying structures of language and text. To prepare students as fully as possible for this Pacific Century, the Chinese Program balances traditional academic offerings with practical courses such as Business Chinese, Media Chinese, and Translation, which equip students with career-related language skills.

The M.A. in Chinese provides advanced linguistic, cultural, and practical training that provides a solid foundation upon which graduates can build in a variety of ways. Some of our students prepare for further study at the doctoral level, and others develop skills for China-related careers, including Teaching Chinese as a Second Language, international business and law, and translation and interpretation.

The Chinese Program Alumni Association boasts a membership of over 300 graduates in half a dozen states and several foreign countries. Furthermore, an obvious attraction for students interested in Chinese studies at San Francisco State University is the city of San Francisco itself, for in addition to its overall natural charm, it is also blessed with one of the largest and most visible Chinese communities outside of Asia. Thus, Chinese theaters, restaurants, bookstores, art and curio shops, and cultural and academic activities abound. The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, established in 1956, houses a world-renowned collection of Asian art and was one of only seven museums in the world chosen to display the 1975 exhibition of archaeological discoveries in the People's Republic of China. San Francisco's Chinatown is the largest of its kind in the western hemisphere.