Chinese (CHIN)

CHIN 1101 - Beginning Mandarin I (6 Credits)  
Designed for complete beginners, providing a thorough grounding in conversational and reading skills. Students with any previous background or training in the language will need to take the Mandarin Placement Test to determine which Chinese course will best suit their needs. For non-heritage learners only.
Enrollment Information: Permission of instructor required.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG), (OCL-IL)  
Exploratory Studies: (EALANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021  
CHIN 1102 - Beginning Mandarin II (6 Credits)  
Designed for beginners, providing a thorough grounding in conversational and reading skills. Students with any previous background or training in the language will need to take the Mandarin Placement Test to determine which Chinese course will best suit their needs. For non-heritage learners only.
Prerequisites: grade of C+ or higher in CHIN 1101.  
Enrollment Information: Permission of instructor required.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG), (OCL-IL)  
Exploratory Studies: (EALANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022  
CHIN 1109 - Beginning Chinese Reading and Writing for Students of Chinese Heritage I (4 Credits)  
Intended primarily for students whose family language is Mandarin but who have had little or no formal training. The focus is on reading, writing and speaking, as well as culture, and current events in the Chinese speaking community.
Enrollment Information: Placement test required.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG), (OCL-IL)  
Exploratory Studies: (EALANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021  
CHIN 1110 - Beginning Chinese Reading and Writing for Students of Chinese Heritage II (4 Credits)  
Continuation of CHIN 1109. Intended primarily for students whose family language is Mandarin but who have had little or no formal training. The focus is on reading, writing and speaking, as well as culture, and current events in the Chinese speaking community.
Prerequisites: grade of B- or higher in CHIN 1109, or placement by instructor.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG), (OCL-IL)  
Exploratory Studies: (EALANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022  
CHIN 1121 - Beginning Mandarin for Professional Students I (4 Credits)  
This course helps students develop basic skills in Mandarin Chinese, at a moderate pace. For non-heritage learners only.
Enrollment Information: Professional degree students (Dyson School, Johnson School, Hotel School, and Law School) are encouraged to enroll. Beginning Mandarin students in the College of Arts and Sciences should take CHIN 1101. Students with any previous background or training in the language will need to take the Mandarin Placement Test to determine which Chinese course will best suit their needs. For non-heritage beginners only. Permission of instructor required.  
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021  
CHIN 1122 - Beginning Mandarin for Professional Students II (4 Credits)  
A continuation of CHIN 1121. This course helps students develop basic skills in Mandarin Chinese, at a moderate pace. For non-heritage learners only.
Prerequisites: grade of C+ in CHIN 1121, or permission of instructor.  
Enrollment Information: Students with any previous background or training in the language will need to take the Mandarin Placement Test to determine which Chinese course will best suit their needs.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG)  
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022  
CHIN 1123 - Beginning Mandarin for Professional Students III (4 Credits)  
A continuation of CHIN 1122 . This course helps students develop basic skills in Mandarin Chinese, at a moderate pace. For non-heritage learners only.
Prerequisites: grade of B- in CHIN 1122, or permission of instructor.  
Enrollment Information: Students with any previous background or training in the language will need to take the Mandarin Placement Test to determine which Chinese course will best suit their needs.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG)  
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021  
CHIN 1124 - Beginning Mandarin for Professional Students IV (4 Credits)  
A continuation of CHIN 1123 . This course helps students develop basic skills in Mandarin Chinese, at a moderate pace. For non-heritage learners only.
Prerequisites: grade of B- in CHIN 1123, or permission of instructor.  
Enrollment Information: Students with any previous background or training in the language will need to take the Mandarin Placement Test to determine which Chinese course will best suit their needs.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG)  
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022  
CHIN 2200 - Mandarin CASE (3 Credits)  
CHIN 2201 - Intermediate Mandarin I (4 Credits)  
Continuing instruction in written and spoken Chinese with particular emphasis on consolidating basic conversational skills and improving reading confidence and ability.
Prerequisites: CHIN 1102 with grade of B- or above, or equivalent as determined through placement exam and permission of instructor.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG), (FLOPI-AS), (OCL-IL)  
Exploratory Studies: (EALANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021  
CHIN 2202 - Intermediate Mandarin II (4 Credits)  
Continuing instruction in written and spoken Chinese with particular emphasis on consolidating basic conversational skills and improving reading confidence and ability.
Prerequisites: grade of B or higher in CHIN 2201 or by placement exam.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG), (FLOPI-AS), (OCL-IL)  
Exploratory Studies: (EALANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022  
CHIN 2209 - Intermediate Chinese Reading and Writing for Students of Chinese Heritage I (4 Credits)  
This course focuses on reading and writing Chinese at the intermediate level for Chinese heritage students who grew up speaking Chinese with family members . Students will read authentic texts written by iconic Chinese figures such as Xu Dishan and Hu Shih (a Cornell alumnus, class of 1914), and practice writing while exploring various aspects of Chinese culture. Students will exit the course with a book of their own in Chinese as the course project documenting their learning during the semester. This course helps students further solidify their foundation for Chinese study at the next level as well as enhance their awareness of and overall competence in cross-cultural communication. If you grew up hearing and speaking Chinese and have very limited reading and writing proficiency, but have a goal of becoming a true bilingual of English and Chinese, this course is designed with you in mind.
Prerequisites: a grade of B in CHIN 1110 or equivalent as determined through placement test.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG), (FLOPI-AS), (OCL-IL)  
Exploratory Studies: (EALANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021  
CHIN 2210 - Intermediate Chinese Reading and Writing for Students of Chinese Heritage II (4 Credits)  
If your long-term goal is to move past the intermediate Chinese learning plateau and gain the ability to participate fully in the Chinese-speaking world, this course is the next step you need to take. This course uses a combination of short essays written by well-known Chinese writers and news articles from a wonderful news platform and focuses on how to read and write effectively through 1) learning both semi-formal and formal vocabulary, modern idiomatic expressions, advanced sentence structures and the major features that characterize advanced Chinese; 2) exploring the different aspects of Chinese culture or events that interest you; 3) completing a book or a magazine in Chinese as the course project applying what students learn during the semester. This course helps students further solidify their foundation for advanced-level study in Chinese, as well as enhance their awareness of and overall competence in cross-cultural communication.
Prerequisites: Grade of B or higher in CHIN 2209 or by placement.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG), (FLOPI-AS), (OCL-IL)  
Exploratory Studies: (EALANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022  
CHIN 3301 - High Intermediate Mandarin I (4 Credits)  
Continuing instruction in spoken and written Mandarin Chinese via text and authentic multimedia materials.
Prerequisites: grade of B+ or higher in CHIN 2202, or equivalent as determined through placement exam.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG), (FLOPI-AS), (OCL-IL)  
Exploratory Studies: (EALANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021  
CHIN 3302 - High Intermediate Mandarin II (4 Credits)  
Continuing instruction in spoken and written Mandarin Chinese via text and authentic multimedia materials.
Prerequisites: grade of B+ or higher in CHIN 3301, or equivalent as determined through placement exam.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG), (FLOPI-AS), (OCL-IL)  
Exploratory Studies: (EALANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022  
CHIN 3309 - Business Chinese in Global Context I (3 Credits)  
First part of a two-semester sequence for advanced mandarin learners. This course aims to equip students with the linguistic and intercultural skills necessary to thrive in a Chinese business environment. The main vehicle of exploration is Zhihong Chen's newly updated multimedia book When China Meets the World: Bilingual Business-Finance Cases (Oxford University Press, 2024) which provides a wide range of real case studies to showcase China's continuous integration with the larger outside world. Through the learning and discussion of real business cases in Chinese, students will not only develop linguistic tools vital to doing Business in China, but also obtain cultural understanding to the Chinese way of conducting business with the outside world. In addition to business case analysis, students will also gain hand-on experience in skills that can be applied in the fields of Finance, Consulting, Accounting and the like. The course will also allow students to interact with entrepreneurs and experts in the field, as well as utilize language skills gained in the course within a mock business interaction.
Prerequisites: two years (on heritage track) or three years of Chinese, or equivalent.  
Distribution Requirements: (CA-AG, FL-AG), (FLOPI-AS, GLC-AS), (OCL-IL)  
Exploratory Studies: (EALANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2023, Fall 2020, Fall 2019, Fall 2018  
CHIN 3316 - Mandarin Language Across the Curriculum (LAC) (1 Credit)  
This 1-credit optional course aims to expand the students' vocabulary, and advance their speaking and reading skills as well as enhance their knowledge and deepen their cultural understanding by attaching to non-language courses throughout the University.
Prerequisites: CHIN 3301/3302, CHIN 1109/1110 or equivalent.  
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2024, Fall 2023, Spring 2023, Fall 2021  
CHIN 3351 - High Intermediate Mandarin I: CAPS in Beijing (4 Credits)  
Continuing instruction in spoken Chinese and in various genres and styles of written Chinese.
Prerequisites: CHIN 2202 or equivalent.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG), (FLOPI-AS)  
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021  
CHIN 3352 - High Intermediate Mandarin II: CAPS in Beijing (4 Credits)  
Equivalent to CHIN 3302. Continuing instruction in spoken Chinese and in various genres and styles of written Chinese.
Prerequisites: CHIN 3301 or CHIN 3341 or permission of instructor.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG), (FLOPI-AS)  
Exploratory Studies: (CU-ITL); (EALANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2021, Spring 2019  
CHIN 4406 - Readings in Chinese History and Business Culture (3 Credits)  
Crosslisted with CAPS 4406  
This course is designed for those who have completed Mandarin of advanced level (or equivalent). It aims to further improve students' Chinese proficiency in a business history and transcultural context to provide students with a greater preparation for future studies and career endeavors in a native Chinese environment. China's rapid economic growth has aroused keen interest in discussion of China's business and economy on a global scale. To aid students in understanding China's unprecedented rise, authentic Chinese materials selected from a variety of sources will be introduced in class. These course materials introduce both China's past, present, and future, as well as its current role and challenges in the global economy. Key topics for discussion provide insight into the Chinese way of doing business and the multifaceted nature of China's micro and macro business environment.
Prerequisites: two years (on heritage track) or three years of Chinese, or equivalent.  
Distribution Requirements: (CA-AG, FL-AG), (FLOPI-AS, GLC-AS)  
Exploratory Studies: (EAAREA)
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2023, Fall 2020, Fall 2019, Fall 2018  
CHIN 4411 - Advanced Mandarin I (4 Credits)  
Reading, discussion, and composition at advanced levels.
Prerequisites: grade of B+ or higher in CHIN 3302, or equivalent as determined through placement exam.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG), (FLOPI-AS), (OCL-IL)  
Exploratory Studies: (EALANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021  
CHIN 4412 - Advanced Mandarin II (4 Credits)  
Reading, discussion, and composition at advanced levels.
Prerequisites: grade of B+ or higher in CHIN 4411, or equivalent as determined through placement exam.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG), (FLOPI-AS), (OCL-IL)  
Exploratory Studies: (EALANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022  
CHIN 4427 - High Advanced Mandarin I (4 Credits)  
This advanced course aims to further develop the four communication skills in Chinese: speaking, listening, reading, and writing, through learning materials and activities on various topics related to China Studies. These include authentic Chinese texts and TV programs, class discussions on contemporary issues, and written compositions. Students can also expect to broaden their knowledge of Chinese culture and society through this course. Classical Chinese will be introduced to help students further develop their understanding of written and formal Chinese, as well as deepen their appreciation of Chinese culture.
Prerequisites: CHIN 2210 or CHIN 4412 with a grade of B+ or above, or equivalent as determined by instructor.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG), (FLOPI-AS)  
Exploratory Studies: (EALANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021  
CHIN 4428 - High Advanced Mandarin II (4 Credits)  
This course aims to help students achieve an advanced level of proficiency in both speaking and writing through reading authentic Chinese materials, watching TV shows, engaging in various writing exercises, and participating in class discussions on social and cultural topics on contemporary China. Classical Chinese will be introduced in this course through supplementary readings.
Prerequisites: CHIN 4427 with a grade of B+ or above, or equivalent as determined by instructor.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG), (FLOPI-AS)  
Exploratory Studies: (EALANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022  
CHIN 4431 - Directed Study (1-4 Credits)  
Intended for advanced language study.
Exploratory Studies: (CU-UG); (EALANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021  
CHIN 4432 - Directed Study (1-4 Credits)  
Intended for advanced language study.
Exploratory Studies: (CU-UG); (EALANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022  
CHIN 4451 - Advanced Mandarin I: CAPS in Beijing (4 Credits)  
Reading, discussion, and composition at advanced levels.
Prerequisites: CHIN 3302 or equivalent.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG), (FLOPI-AS)  
Exploratory Studies: (CU-ITL); (EALANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2019  
CHIN 4452 - Advanced Mandarin II: CAPS in Beijing (4 Credits)  
Equivalent to CHIN 4412 . Reading, discussion, and composition at advanced levels.
Prerequisites: CHIN 4411 or CHIN 4441 or permission of instructor.  
Distribution Requirements: (FLOPI-AS)  
Exploratory Studies: (CU-ITL); (EALANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2019, Spring 2018  
CHIN 4453 - High Advanced Mandarin I: CAPS in Beijing (4 Credits)  
This course is designed for students who have satisfactorily finished CHIN 2210 or CHIN 4412, or the equivalent. The focus of the course is on formal Chinese, and the main aim of this course is to help students achieve an advanced level of Chinese performance, so that they may combine Chinese with their work in their majors. The course material will be formal Chinese writings by native speakers, mostly for native speakers, related to students' majors and fields of interest. In addition, classical Chinese will also be introduced through readings as a means to enhance student's understanding of the language.
Prerequisites: CHIN 2210 or CHIN 4412 or equivalent as determined by instructor.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG), (FLOPI-AS)  
Exploratory Studies: (CU-ITL); (EALANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2020  
CHIN 4454 - High Advanced Mandarin II: CAPS in Beijing (4 Credits)  
This course is designed for students who have satisfactorily finished CHIN 4427 or the equivalent. The focus of the course is on formal Chinese, and the main aim of this course is to help students achieve an advanced level of Chinese performance, so that they may combine Chinese with their work in their majors. The course material will be formal Chinese writings by native speakers, mostly for native speakers, related to students' majors and fields of interest. In addition, classical Chinese will also be introduced through readngs as a means to enhance students' understanding of the language.
Prerequisites: CHIN 4427 or equivalent as determined by instructor.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG), (FLOPI-AS)  
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2021, Spring 2019  
CHIN 4455 - Directed Study: CAPS in Beijing (1-4 Credits)  
Intended for advanced language study.
Exploratory Studies: (CU-ITL, CU-UG); (EALANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021  
CHIN 4456 - Directed Study: CAPS in Beijing (1-4 Credits)  
Intended for advanced language study.
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2022, Spring 2021  
CHIN 5509 - Business Chinese in Global Context I (3 Credits)  
Crosslisted with NBA 6150  
First part of a two-semester sequence for advanced mandarin learners. This course aims to equip students with the linguistic and intercultural skills necessary to thrive in a Chinese business environment. The main vehicle of exploration is Zhihong Chen's newly updated multimedia book When China Meets the World: Bilingual Business-Finance Cases (Oxford University Press, 2024) which provides a wide range of real case studies to showcase China's continuous integration with the larger outside world. Through the learning and discussion of real business cases in Chinese, students will not only develop linguistic tools vital to doing Business in China, but also obtain cultural understanding to the Chinese way of conducting business with the outside world. In addition to business case analysis, students will also gain hand-on experience in skills that can be applied in the fields of Finance, Consulting, Accounting and the like. The course will also allow students to interact with entrepreneurs and experts in the field, as well as utilize language skills gained in the course within a mock business interaction.
Prerequisites: two years (on heritage track) or three years of Chinese, or equivalent.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG)  
Exploratory Studies: (EAAREA, EALANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2023, Fall 2020, Fall 2019, Fall 2018  
CHIN 5519 - Graduate Studies in Chinese (3-4 Credits)  
Topics vary by semester in relation to student needs.
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021  
CHIN 5520 - Graduate Studies in Chinese (3-4 Credits)  
Topics vary by semester in relation to student needs.
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022  
CHIN 6606 - Readings in Chinese History and Business Culture (3 Credits)  
This course is designed for those who have completed Mandarin of advanced level (or equivalent). It aims to further improve students' Chinese proficiency in a business history and transcultural context to provide students with a greater preparation for future studies and career endeavors in a native Chinese environment. China's rapid economic growth has aroused keen interest in discussion of China's business and economy on a global scale. To aid students in understanding China's unprecedented rise, authentic Chinese materials selected from a variety of sources will be introduced in class. These course materials introduce both China's past, present, and future, as well as its current role and challenges in the global economy. Key topics for discussion provide insight into the Chinese way of doing business and the multifaceted nature of China's micro and macro business environment.
Prerequisites: two years (on heritage track) or three years of Chinese, or equivalent.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG)  
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2023, Fall 2020, Fall 2019, Fall 2018  
CHIN 6616 - Mandarin Language Across the Curriculum (LAC) (1 Credit)  
This optional course aims to expand the students' vocabulary, and advance their speaking and reading skills as well as enhance their knowledge and deepen their cultural understanding by attaching to non-language courses throughout the university.
Prerequisites: two years (on heritage track) or four years of Chinese language learning, or equivalent.  
Enrollment Information: Enrollment limited to: graduate students.  
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2024