SOAS, University of London (The School of Oriental and African Studies)

Structure

Year 1

Core Course

Choose one unit from List A, based on language ability. Except: Chinese 101 and Chinese 102 are taken together as an accelerated double unit. Core courses must be passed in order to proceed to the following year of study.

Compulsory Course

• Chinese 103: History and Culture of China - 155901001 (1 Unit) - Full Year

1 Optional Unit

Choose one unit from List C or D.

1 Open Option Unit

Choose one unit from any list or an open option.

Year 2

Core Course

Choose one unit from List A, based on language ability. Core courses must be passed in order to proceed to the following year of study.

1 Optional Unit

Choose one unit from List B

1 Optional Unit

Choose one unit from List C or D.

1 Open Option Unit

Choose one unit from any list or an open option.

Year 3

1 Optional Unit

Choose one unit from list A or B

1 Optional Unit

Choose one unit from List C or D.

1 Optional Unit

Choose one unit from any list.

1 Open Option Unit

Choose one unit from any list or an open option.

LIST A - Modern language units available

Available to students depending on their language ability

Elementary level

Only one of these units can be studied a year. Except: Chinese 101 and Chinese 102 are taken together as an accelerated double unit.

• Chinese 101: Elementary Modern Chinese Language 1 - 155901217 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Chinese 102: Elementary Modern Chinese Language 2 - 155901218 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Special Course in Chinese 2 - 155900829 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Lower intermediate level

Only one of these units can be studied a year

• Special Course in Chinese 3 - 155901097 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Special Course in Chinese 4 - 155901144 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Higher intermediate level

Both of these courses can be studied in the same year, or in subsequent years.

• Chinese 301: Intermediate Modern Chinese Language 1 - 155901224 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Chinese 302: Intermediate Modern Chinese Language 2 - 155901225 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Advanced level

Both of these courses can be studied in the same year, or in subsequent years.

• Chinese 401: Advanced Modern Chinese Language - 155901229 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Chinese 405: Styles of Modern Chinese Literary Language - 155901332 (1 Unit) - Full Year

LIST B - Classical language units available

Elementary Level

• Chinese 104: Introduction to Classical Chinese - 155901219 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Lower intermediate level

• Special course in Chinese: Reading Classical and Literary Chinese - 155901234 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Higher intermediate level

• Chinese 304: Traditional Chinese Language and Literature 1 - 155901227 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Advanced level

• Chinese 404: Traditional Chinese Language and Literature 2 - 155901232 (1 Unit) - Full Year

LIST C - Language-based disciplinary courses and regional languages (subject to prerequisite)

Elementary level

Prerequisite: Chinese 101/102 or Special Course in Chinese II

• Elementary Spoken Hokkien (Minnanyu, Taiwanese) - 155901249 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Lower intermediate level

Prerequisite: Special Course in Chinese IV

• Chinese 303: Modern Chinese Film and Theatre - 155901226 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Chinese 305: Elementary Cantonese - 155901228 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Higher intermediate level

Prerequisite: passed at least one modern language courses at 300-level

• Chinese 403: Modern Chinese Literature - 155901231 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Advanced level

Prerequisite: passed at least one modern language course at 300-level; those doing a dissertation on a classical subject must have completed Chinese 404 or must take Chinese 404 in the same year

• Chinese 402: BA Dissertation in Chinese Studies - 155901230 (1 Unit) - Full Year

LIST D - Non-language based disciplinary courses

Before selecting a course, student's must first check that the course is at the correct level. They must also ensure that they meet any pre-requisites.

Anthropology

Available to year 2 or 3 students only. Prerequisite: “Introduction to Social Anthropology” to be taken in in Year 1 as an open option. CATS 2

• Ethnography of a Selected Region - China - 151802050 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Art and Archaeology

All Year 2 – Year 4 courses in Chinese art & archaeology are available to students on this programme without prerequisite. CATS 2/3

Politics and International Studies

Available to 2nd or 3rd year students. CATS 2/3

• Taiwan's political and economic development - 153400072 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Government and politics of China - 153400071 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Law

'Law and Institutions of Contemporary China,' is available to third-year students only. Prerequisite: 'Chinese Law,' to be taken in Year 1 or Year 2 as an open option. CATS 3

• Chinese law - 155200055 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Religious Studies

• African Missionaries - 15PSRH043 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Sages Through the Ages: Confucius and Laozi - 158000133 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2012/2013
• Situating China I: China and Other World Views Before 'Westernization' - 158000152 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2012/2013
• Situating China II: Missionaries and Misfits in the British Construction of China - 158000153 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2012/2013

History

All are CATS 2/3

• H298 Manchu Society and Culture: An Alternative History of China (1600-1997) - 154800267 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2012/2013
• H299 Traders, Believers, Rebels: A Social History of Islam in China (650-2008) - 154800272 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2012/2013
• H382 Opium & Empires: China's Narcotic Trade and Culture in Global Context (I) - 154800192 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• H399 Christianity in China (1600-1949): Historical Impact and Interpretations (I) - 154800268 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2012/2013

Music

'Musical Traditions of East Asia' Prerequisite: some background in music required; convenor’s permission required. CATS 2/3

• Pop and Politics in East Asia - 155800077 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Musical Traditions of East Asia - 155800078 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2

Programme Specification

• BA Chinese Studies Programme Specifications 2012/13 (pdf; 41kb)

Teaching & Learning

Year abroad

This programme does not have a year abroad.

Destinations

As a graduate who specialised in China and Inner Asia, you will have gained competency in language skills and intercultural awareness and understanding. Familiarity with the region will have been developed through a study of language in combination with literature, development studies, economics, geography, history, history of art and archaeology, law, linguistics, music, politics, social anthropology or religion.

Graduates leave SOAS not only with linguistic and cultural expertise, but also with a portfolio of widely transferable skills which employers seek in many professional and management careers, both in business and in the public sector. These include written and oral communication skills, attention to detail,analytical and problem-solving skills, and the ability to research, amass and order information from a variety of sources.

Graduates have gone on to work for a range of organisations including:

Types of roles that graduates have gone on to do include:

For more information about Graduate Destinations from this department, please visit the Careers Service website.

How to apply

How to apply

• How to Apply
• UCAS website
• Funding options
• English language requirements
• Tuition Fees
• Admissions Contacts

Scholarships

For further information visit the Scholarships section