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Chinese
Chinese is a four-year direct honours programme which provides a concrete foundation in both classical and modern Chinese literature, a deeper understanding of Chinese language, and a broader perspective on Modern China and the Chinese Diaspora in Southeast Asia.
The programme aims to equip students with multidisciplinary research skills and bilingual capabilities. Our faculty members are dedicated to high quality in teaching and research. We have strong and active interests in Modern Chinese Literature, Chinese Language, and especially the Chinese Diaspora in Southeast Asia.
The Minor in Translation is another unique programme within the Chinese Programme. This programme is open to all NTU students who are interested in receiving practical and professional trainings in translation between Chinese and English.
We also partnered the National Arts Council to run a Chinese creative writing residencies programme. Critically acclaimed writers, both local and international, will work on a literary project of their own and teach creative writing courses in NTU. Eminent writers who have been in residence include Yeng Pway-Ngon (Singapore) and Su Wei-Chen (Taiwan).
Curriculum Structure
To graduate, students must complete two categories of requirements, totaling at least 128 Academic Units (AUs):
A. Major Requirements (69 AUs)
B. Interdisciplinary Collaborative Core (ICC)
- Common Core (17 AUs)
- Foundational Core (10 AUs)
C. Broadening & Deepening Electives (32 AUs)
| Curriculum Structure | AY2023-2024 Intake | ||||||
| A. Major Requirements | B. Interdisciplinary Collaborative Core (ICC) | C. Broadening & Deepening Electives (BDE) | Total (AUs) | |||
| Core | Prescribed Electives | FYP or Two HC4000 level courses | Common Cores | Foundational Cores | ||
| 24 | 37 | 8 | 17 | 10 | 32 | 128 |
Duration of study
The curriculum is designed as a four-year course. Well-prepared students can complete the degree in three and a half years.
A. MAJOR REQUIREMENTS (69 AUs)
The requirements for a Chinese major consist of 3 components:
A1. Chinese Core Courses (24 AUs)
A2. Chinese Prescribed Electives (37 AUs)
A3. Graduation Project (FYP) or 2 HC4000 level courses (8 AUs)
(The two HC4000 level courses are for those who are not eligible to do FYP.)
A1. Chinese Core (Compulsory) Courses (24 AUs)
Students majoring in Chinese are required to complete the following courses to earn 24 AUs.
| Chinese Major Core (24 AUs) | |
| Course Code & Title [Click here to view course descriptions.] | AUs |
| HC1001 Introduction to the Study of Literature and Culture | 3 |
| HC1002 Introduction to Chinese Language | 3 |
| HC2001 Directed Readings of Literary Works: Pre-Qin, Han, Wei and Jin | 3 |
| HC2003 Directed Readings of Literary Works: Tang and Song | 3 |
| HC2004 Directed Readings of Literary Works: Yuan, Ming and Qing | 3 |
| HC2006 Introduction to Chinese History | 3 |
| HC3001 Modern Chinese Literature | 3 |
| HC3003 Southeast Asian Chinese | 3 |
A2. Chinese Prescribed Electives Courses (37 AUs)
Students can pursue in-depth studies in any of the four categories in the Chinese programme such as (A) Chinese Literature and Culture, (B) Chinese History, Thought and China Studies, (C) Linguistics and Chinese Linguistics, or (D) Studies of Ethnic-Chinese. Click here to view course descriptions.
| Category A: Chinese Literature and Culture | |
| Course Code & Title [Click here to view course descriptions.] | AUs |
| HC2010 Classical Chinese Fiction | 3 |
| HC2011 Tang Poetry | 3 |
| HC2014 Chinese Theatre and Performance | 3 |
| HC2015 Coming of Age in Modern China | 3 |
| HC2017 Writing Places: Nativism, Ecology, Politics | 3 |
| HC2018 Book Culture, Chinese Print History, and Technology | 3 |
| HC3011 Studies of Su Shi's Literature and Art | 3 |
| HC3014 Cultural Study of Chinese Cinemas | 3 |
| HC3015 City and Culture in Modern China | 3 |
| HC3016 Readings of Classical Chinese Prose | 3 |
| HC3017 Text and Image Studies | 3 |
| HC3018 Posthumanism in Chinese Literature, Film and Culture | 3 |
| HC3019 Aesthetics of the South | 3 |
| HC4010 Classical Chinese Literary Theory | 4 |
| HC4013 Gender and Sexuality in Chinese Literature | 4 |
| HC4015 Special Topics in Classical Chinese Literature | 4 |
| HC4016 Comparative Literature Studies: Theory and Practice | 4 |
| HC4019 Chinese Literary Canon and Images of Art | 4 |
| HC4020 Literary Criticism and Critical Theories | 4 |
| HC4021 Hong Kong Literature and Culture in Global perspective | 4 |
| HC4022 Art and Revolution in Modern China | 4 |
| HC4023 Fiction and Society in Contemporary China | 4 |
| Category B: Chinese History, Thought and China Studies | |
| Course Code & Title [Click here to view course descriptions.] | AUs |
| HC2030 Pre-Qin Thought | 3 |
| HC2031 Confucian Thought | 3 |
| HC2032 Division and Integration: From the Spring-Autumn/Warring States to Sui, Tang and the Five Dynasties | 3 |
| HC2040 Understanding China | 3 |
| HC2041 Contemporary Chinese Politics and Society | 3 |
| HC3031 Conquering and Conquered Dynasties: From Song to Qing | 3 |
| HC3043 Chinese Ecological Thoughts and Philosophy | 3 |
| HC4030 Modern Chinese Intellectuals and Political Movements | 4 |
| HC4033 Special Topics in Chinese History and Thought | 4 |
| HC4035 Western Influences on Modern Chinese Thought | 4 |
| HC4040 Cross-Taiwan Straits Relations | 4 |
| HC4042 China and Globalisation | 4 |
| HC4043 Special Topics in Modern China | 4 |
| HC4044 Late Imperial and Modern China: History and Social Change | 4 |
| Category C: Linguistics and Chinese Linguistics | |
| Course Code & Title [Click here to view course descriptions.] | AUs |
| HC1050 The Science of Chinese Characters | 3 |
| HC1051 Modern Chinese | 3 |
| HC2050 Chinese Lexicology | 3 |
| HC2052 Language and Society | 3 |
| HC2053 Varieties of Chinese | 3 |
| HC2054 Understanding Classical Chinese Texts | 3 |
| HC3050 Sound and Prosody in Chinese | 3 |
| HC3051 Sociolinguistics and Bilingualism | 3 |
| HC3052 Chinese Language and Grammatical Theories | 3 |
| HC4050 Chinese Semantics | 4 |
| HC4051 Text, Rhetoric and Style | 4 |
| HC4052 Special Topics in Chinese Linguistics | 4 |
| HC4055 Chinese Language Acquisition | 4 |
| HC4056 Chinese Semasiology | 4 |
| HC4057 Conversational Pragmatics in Chinese | 4 |
| HC4059 Chinese-English Contrastive Linguistics | 4 |
| Category D: Studies of Ethnic-Chinese | |
| Course Code & Title [Click here to view course descriptions.] | AUs |
| HC1060 History of Singapore and Malaysian Chinese | 3 |
| HC2060 Chinese Education in Southeast Asia | 3 |
| HC2061 Chinese Literature in Singapore and Malaysia | 3 |
| HC2062 Chinese-language Cultural Production in Singapore | 3 |
| HC2063 Chinese Literature in Singapore | 3 |
| HC3062 Chinese Overseas and China | 3 |
| HC3063 Critical Study of Singapore Society and Culture | 3 |
| HC3064 Overseas Chinese in the United States | 3 |
| HC4060 Globalisation and Chinese Overseas | 4 |
| HC4061 Chinese Migration | 4 |
| HC4062 Special Topics in the Studies of Ethnic-Chinese | 4 |
| HC4063 A Study of Sinophone Culture in Singapore and Malaysia | 4 |
| HC4064 History and Issues: Transcultural Chinese Theatre in Singapore | 4 |
| HC4065 Overseas Chinese in the United States | 4 |
A3. Graduation Project (FYP) or 2 HC4000 level courses (8 AUs)
The two HC4000 level courses are for those who are not eligible to do FYP.
Important Note:
For the 37 AUs (MPEs), students must take at least 2 HC3000 level courses, and 4 HC4000 level courses.
All students whose CGPA earned by the end of their sixth semester placed them in line for Honours (Distinction) and Honours (Highest Distinction) will be required to complete the final year project (FYP). Those who opt out will be able to substitute this project with two additional HC4000 level courses.
B. OTHER REQUIREMENTS (59 AUs)
- ICC-Common Cores (17 AUs)
| Course Title | AUs |
| Inquiry and Communication in an Interdisciplinary World | 2 |
| Navigating the Digital World | 2 |
| Ethics & Civics in a Multi-Cultural World | 2 |
| Career and Entrepreneurial Development for the Future World | 2 |
| Science & Technology for Humanity | 3 |
| Sustainability: Society, Economy & Environment | 3 |
| Healthy Living & Well-being | 3 |
- ICC-Foundational Core (10 AUs)
| Course Title | AUs |
| Effective Communication II | 2 |
| Digital Literacy II | 3 |
| Internship | 5 |
- Broadening & Deepening Electives (32 AUs)
There are no restrictions on the selection of courses to make up broadening & deepening electives. Students can choose any of the following:
- Complete a 2nd Major.
- Complete a Minor in another discipline.
- Earn AUs under an International Exchange programme.
- Any course offered by any School as long as the pre-requisites are satisfied.
