The Chinese studies program is designed to enable students to develop a high level of communicative competence in the Chinese (Mandarin) language, including translation skills. Chinese studies offers instruction in the Chinese language from several possible entrance levels, catering for students ranging from introductory to advanced proficiency, and including background and non-background speakers of Chinese. Students will develop proficiency in speaking, reading, writing and research skills appropriate to their level and the program is intended to facilitate increasingly independent research in Chinese studies.
To ensure that students are placed in the most appropriate level according to their individual profile and the best outcome they can expect to achieve, all students, except beginners, are required to undertake placement testing prior to the start of their first semester of language study. Once your place is determined, you will progress through the language units in a designated stream. At each level, you have the option to enrol in an intensive in-country program as part of your stream component.
For students with an advanced level of Chinese language proficiency, a translation stream is available in addition to the mainstream language stream.
In addition to the compulsory language units, you will undertake studies on Chinese culture, history and politics and will be introduced to the language and issues of Chinese and international current affairs. You will also develop research and language skills to facilitate research through the medium of the Chinese language Internet.
Right of School to determine entry level and approve accelerated enrolment
The Chinese studies program convenor retains the right to determine the proper proficiency level for any particular student. Students are not permitted to accelerate their enrolment without first consulting the program convenor, nor can they elect to take classes that are below their proficiency level.
Students with advanced language proficiency
Students wishing to undertake a Chinese studies major who have completed VCE first language or second language advanced, or who have attended a school where Chinese was the language of instruction, should consult the Chinese studies program for advice.
Overseas study
Students can replace language units with equivalent language study overseas in semester one, semester two, summer semester, or over a full year, at approved partner institutions in the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong or Taiwan. Students must obtain approval from the Chinese program before enrolling in language study overseas units. Students can similarly replace units through the China intensive language program. For a list of units, refer to the Languages, Literatures, Cultures and Linguistics Study AbroadLanguages, Literatures, Cultures and Linguistics Study Abroad (http://artsonline.monash.edu.au/llcl-study-abroad/) webpage.
Availability
Chinese studies is listed in A2000 Bachelor of Arts at Clayton as a major and a minor, and in A0501 Diploma of Languages at Clayton as a major.
Outcomes
In addition to achieving the broad outcomes of their course, students successfully completing this major will be able to:
- understand key features of modern Chinese intellectual history and thought
- explain issues in translation and cross-cultural communication
- analyse and interpret China through textual and media sources (in Chinese or translation according to the language level of the student).
In addition, on successfully completing the translation stream of the Chinese studies major students will be able to:
- read, translate and interpret a range of Chinese formal texts, video and audio broadcast programs at a pre-paraprofessional level
Major requirements (48 points)
No more than 12 points at level 1 may be credited to the majormajor (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-07.html) and at least 18 points must be at level 3. Six language units (36 points) must be completed.
Entry point 1 - Introductory
For students with little or no knowledge of Chinese.
Students complete:
- Two level 1 gateway unitsgateway units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (12 points):
- One level 2 cornerstone unitcornerstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points) chosen from:
- ATS2039 Understanding modern China
- ATS2040 Understanding contemporary China
- One level 3 capstone unitcapstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points) chosen from:
- ATS3037 Chinese online media: Contemporary issues and perspectives
- ATS3038 Chinese online media: Current issues and perspectives
- Four language units (24 points):
Entry point 2 - Intermediate
For students with post-VCE/IB (second language basic stream) lower competence in Chinese.
Students complete:
- One level 3 cornerstone unitcornerstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points) chosen from:
- ATS2039 Understanding modern China
- ATS2040 Understanding contemporary China
- One level 3 capstone unitcapstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points), chosen from:
- ATS3037 Chinese online media: Contemporary issues and perspectives
- ATS3038 Chinese online media: Current issues and perspectives
- Six language units (36 points):
Entry point 3 - Proficient
For students with post-VCE/IB (second language basic stream) higher competence in Chinese.
- One level 2 cornerstone unitcornerstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points) chosen from:
- ATS2039 Understanding modern China
- ATS2040 Understanding contemporary China
- One level 3 capstone unitcapstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points) chosen from:
- ATS3037 Chinese online media: Contemporary issues and perspectives
- ATS3038 Chinese online media: Current issues and perspectives
- Six language units (36 points):
- ATS2005 Chinese proficient 1
- ATS2006 Chinese proficient 2
- ATS3007 Chinese studies advanced 1
- ATS3008 Chinese studies advanced 2
- ATS3009 Chinese studies advanced 3: Readings in modern literature
- ATS3010 Chinese studies advanced 4: Readings in modern literature
Entry point 4 - Advanced 1 and Advanced 2
For students with post-VCE/IB (high achievers from second language basic stream) or students who have the equivalent competence;
- One level 2 cornerstone unitcornerstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2018handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points), chosen from:
- ATS2039 Understanding modern China
- ATS2040 Understanding contemporary China
- One level 3 capstone unitcapstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2018handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points):
- ATS3083 Translating across cultures
- Six language units (36 points):
- ATS3007 Chinese studies advanced 1
- ATS3008 Chinese studies advanced 2
- ATS3009 Chinese studies advanced 3: Readings in modern literature
- ATS3010 Chinese studies advanced 4: Readings in modern literature
And either:
- ATS3011 Chinese studies advanced 5: Contemporary literature
- ATS3012 Chinese studies advanced 6: Contemporary literature
or:
Entry point 5 - Advanced 3 and Advanced 4
For students with post-VCE/IB (second language advanced stream) very high competence in Chinese or students who have the equivalent competence;
- One level 2 cornerstone unit (6 points) chosen from:
- ATS2039 Understanding modern China
- ATS2040 Understanding contemporary China
- One level 3 capstone unit (6 points):
- ATS3083 Translating across cultures
- Six language units (36 points):
- ATS3009 Chinese studies advanced 3: Readings in modern literature
- ATS3010 Chinese studies advanced 4: Readings in modern literature
And either:
- ATS2959 Chinese translation 1
- ATS2940 Chinese translation 2
- ATS3011 Chinese studies advanced 5: Contemporary literature
- ATS3012 Chinese studies advanced 6: Contemporary literature
Or:
- ATS2043 Chinese translation for professional purposes 1
- ATS2044 Chinese translation for professional purposes 2
- ATS2940 Chinese translation 2
- ATS2959 Chinese translation 1
Entry point 6
For students with post-VCE/IB (first language stream) or students who have the equivalent language competence.
- Two level 1 gateway units (12 points):
- One level 2 cornerstone unit (6 points), chosen from:
- ATS2039 Understanding modern China
- ATS2040 Understanding contemporary China
- One level 3 capstone unit (6 points):
- ATS3083 Translating across cultures
- Four language units (24 points):
- ATS2043 Chinese translation for professional purposes 1
- ATS2044 Chinese translation for professional purposes 2
- ATS3045 From translation to interpreting in Chinese 1
- ATS3046 From translation to interpreting in Chinese 2
Minor requirements (24 points)
No more than 12 points at level 1 may be credited towards the minor.
Students complete:
- Three units (18 points) from the Chinese language sequence under the major, following the entry point guidelines and taken in order.
- One unit (6 points) from the language major including language, cornerstone, capstone or elective units.
Elective list
Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.
- ATS1319 Global Asia
- ATS2341 Asian imaginaries: Bollywood, manga and other fictions in Asian worlds
- ATS2382Not offered in 2019 War and memory in the Asia Pacific: Legacies of World War II
- ATS2941 Asia's underside: Violence, crime and protest
- ATS3011 Chinese studies advanced 5: Contemporary literature
- ATS3012 Chinese studies advanced 6: Contemporary literature
- ATS3013 Chinese business translation 1
- ATS3014 Chinese business translation 2
- ATS3042 Chinese media analysis
- ATS3079 The fall and rise of modern China: From opium war to opening up
- ATS3089Not offered in 2019 Social institutions and power in Asia
- ATS3627 Global cultures, media flows: Creating and consuming (popular) culture
- ATS3816 The social context of language learning
- ATS3935 Professional practice
- ATS3940 Chinese cultural analysis
- Study overseas
International study tours
- ATS3064 Cultural intelligence: Building competencies for global leadership
Intending honours students
Students intending to enter honours in this area of study must have completed a major in the discipline, with a minimum of 24 points of study at level 3 to be eligible.
Diplomas
- A0501 Diploma of Languages
Bachelors
Single degrees
Successful completion of the minor or major can be counted towards meeting the requirements for the following single degrees:*
- A2000 Bachelor of Arts
- A2001 Bachelor of Global Studies - as part of the requirements for the cultural competence specialisation
Students in other single bachelor's degrees may be eligible to complete the minor or major by using 24 or 48 points of their free electives.
Double degrees
Successful completion of the minor or major can be counted towards meeting the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts component in the following double degrees:*
- A2004 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music
- A2005 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Fine Art
- B2006 Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Global Studies
- B2019 Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Arts
- B2020 Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Arts
- B2038 Bachelor of International Business and Bachelor of Arts
- B2039 Bachelor of Marketing and Bachelor of Arts
- B2046 Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Arts
- C2002 Bachelor of Information Technology and Bachelor of Arts
- D3002 Bachelor of Education (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
- E3002 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
- L3003 Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
- L3009 Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Global Studies
- S2003 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Global Studies
- S2006 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts
