CHINESE11 Chinese studies
Faculty of Arts
Chinese studies (CHINESE11) is a major worth 48 credit points, listing 26 units, taught at Clayton. It is offered in 3 courses, including Bachelor of Arts; and Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts.
- Credit points
- 48
- Units
- 26
- Campus
- Clayton
- Offered in
- 3 courses
The 2027 handbook has no page for CHINESE11. This is its 2026 entry, the latest one.
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Requisite map
Overview
The Chinese studies program combines intensive teaching in the Chinese language (Mandarin) with units that introduce you to the complexity, dynamism, and opportunity of China today.
Chinese studies offers instruction in the Chinese language from introductory to advanced proficiency, enabling both new language learners and background speakers to develop a high level of communicative competence in Chinese.
Beyond language skills, Chinese studies also offers cornerstone units that introduce you to modern and contemporary China, as well as capstone units where you engage with the scholarship on some of the most pressing issues in the relationship between China and the world today; including socio-political history and political culture, ethnic diversity, and the relationships between overseas Sinophone communities and China today.
Majoring in Chinese studies, you will develop proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in Chinese, deep knowledge of China’s past and present, critical engagement with such diverse disciplinary perspectives as anthropology, literature, political science, and sociology, as well as research and writing skills to facilitate independent and innovative research in Chinese studies and beyond.
Language entry level test
The Faculty of Arts retains the right to determine the language proficiency level for any student. To ensure that you are placed in the most appropriate language level according to your individual profile, all students, except beginners, are required to undertake placement testing prior to the start of their first semester of language study. You are not permitted to take classes that are below your tested language proficiency level. Once your place is determined, you will sequentially progress through the language unit levels (e.g., Introductory, Intermediate, Proficient and Advanced).
Overseas study
You 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. You must obtain approval from the Chinese program before enrolling in language study overseas units. You can similarly replace units through the China intensive language program.
For a list of units, refer to the Languages, Literatures, Cultures and Linguistics 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.
Structure
Rules
Entry point 1 - Introductory48 credit points
Level 1 gateway units
12 credit pointsLevel 2 cornerstone unit
6 credit pointsLevel 3 capstone unit
6 credit pointsLevel 2 and 3 language units
24 credit pointsEntry point 2 - Intermediate48 credit points
Level 2 cornerstone unit
6 credit pointsLevel 3 capstone unit
6 credit pointsLanguage units
36 credit pointsNote: Students who are background speakers with oral proficiency but with little or no knowledge of written Chinese must replace ATS2003 and ATS2004 with the following units: ATS1905 / ATS2438 (Chinese introductory for background speakers 1) and ATS1906 / ATS2844 (Chinese introductory for background speakers 2).
Entry point 3 - Proficient48 credit points
Level 2 cornerstone unit
6 credit pointsLevel 3 capstone unit
6 credit pointsLanguage units
36 credit points- ATS2005Chinese proficient 1No reviews yet6 cp
- ATS2006Chinese proficient 2No reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3007Chinese studies advanced 1No reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3008Chinese studies advanced 2No reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3009Chinese studies advanced 3No reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3946Asian languages advanced: Transnational intersectionsNo reviews yet6 cp
Entry point 4 - Advanced 1 and Advanced 248 credit points
Level 2 cornerstone unit
6 credit pointsLevel 3 capstone units
6 credit pointsLanguage units
24 credit pointsContemporary literature and Chinese translation units
12 credit pointsOption 1
12 credit pointsOption 2
12 credit pointsEntry point 5 - Advanced 3 and Advanced 448 credit points
Level 2 cornerstone unit
6 credit pointsLevel 3 capstone unit
6 credit pointsLanguage units
24 credit points- ATS2959Chinese translation 1: Building bilingual and cross-cultural competenceNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS2940Chinese translation 2: Enhancing bilingual and cross-cultural competenceNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3009Chinese studies advanced 3No reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3946Asian languages advanced: Transnational intersectionsNo reviews yet6 cp
Additional language units
12 credit pointsOption 1
12 credit points- ATS2043Chinese translation for professional purposes 1: Stylistic approaches to translationNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3243Chinese translation for professional purposes 1: Stylistic approaches to translationNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS2044Chinese translation for professional purposes 2: Problem solving in translationNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3655Chinese translation for professional purposes 2: Problem solving in translationNo reviews yet6 cp
Option 2
12 credit pointsEntry point 648 credit points
Level 1 gateway units
12 credit pointsLevel 2 cornerstone unit
6 credit pointsLevel 3 capstone unit
6 credit pointsLanguage units
24 credit points- ATS2043Chinese translation for professional purposes 1: Stylistic approaches to translationNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3243Chinese translation for professional purposes 1: Stylistic approaches to translationNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS2044Chinese translation for professional purposes 2: Problem solving in translationNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3655Chinese translation for professional purposes 2: Problem solving in translationNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3011Chinese studies advanced 5: Contemporary literatureNo reviews yet6 cp
- ATS3012Chinese studies advanced 6: Contemporary literature and popular cultureNo reviews yet6 cp
Courses that offer it
Notes
Elective study
For students wanting to undertake a Chinese studies unit as an elective utilising their free electives, please refer to the electives list in the Chinese studies minor. These elective units do not form part of the major, but are additional Chinese studies units available for those wishing to extend their learning in this field.
Intending honours students
If you are intending to enter honours in this area of study you must have completed a major in the discipline, with a minimum of 24 credit points of study at Level 3 to be eligible. Note: Double degree students are only required to complete 18 credit points of studies at Level 3.
Learning outcomes
- 1
Demonstrate linguistic competence at proficient level or higher in Chinese language;
- 2
Critically analyse China and global Sinophone communities through the in-depth study of their history, culture, society, politics, and relationship with the world;
- 3
Recognise the diversity of China and Sinophone communities and work across cultures with people of diverse backgrounds;
- 4
Critique the disciplinary approaches (cultural studies, history, politics, sociology, anthropology) through which knowledge about China is developed;
- 5
Combine Chinese language competence with other professional skills, including textual interpretation, research, translation, and interpreting.
Contacts
- Academic Coordinators
- Associate Professor Xiaoping Fang
Common questions
Which courses offer Chinese studies?
3 courses in 2026: Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts; and Diploma of Languages.