ObjectivesThe objectives of the Bachelor of Arts are to provide students with an outstanding education in the humanities, social sciences and languages as well as a broad
understanding of selected fields of study outside these areas. The degree is designed so that a Bachelor of Arts graduate should be able to:
* Demonstrate a detailed knowledge and understanding of selected fields of study in core disciplines in the humanities, social sciences and languages.
* Reflect a general understanding of the concepts and principles of selected areas of study outside core disciplines of the humanities, social sciences and languages.
* Access and appreciate national and international debates in their specialised areas of study.
* Demonstrate an independent approach to knowledge that uses rigorous methods of inquiry and appropriate theories and methodologies that are applied with intellectual honesty and a
* respect for ethical values.
* Apply critical and analytical skills and methods to the identification and resolution of problems within complex changing social contexts.
* Act as informed and critically discriminating participants within the community of scholars, as citizens and in the work force.
* Communicate effectively and, in the case of those students undertaking a language major, to read, write and speak another language with fluency and appreciate its cultural context.
* Qualify for employment in a wide range of occupations.
* Commit to continuous learning.
* Be proficient in the use of appropriate modern technologies, such as the computer and otherinformation technology systems, for the acquisition, processing and interpretation of data.
Academic titleBachelor of Arts (Chinese Language)
Course descriptionChinese language is available as both a major and minor sequence of study for BA students. Most Chinese majors are a standard 100 points in length, and all minors are 75 points. A major in beginners level Chinese is 125 points.
Chinese is taught across 5 streams of study to suit the language acquisition level of students upon first enrolling. They are:
* Beginners Stream
* Post VCE Stream (Non-background Speakers)
* Background Speakers Stream 1 (Minimal Literacy)
* Background Speakers Stream 2 (Limited Literacy)
* Background Speakers Stream 3 (For students who have completed Secondary Education in a Chinese environment)
Chinese: Beginners Stream
Beginners Stream Level 1
Subject Semester Credit Points
110-143 Chinese 1A
This is an introductory course in Chinese for students with no previous knowledge of the language. By the end of this subject students should be familiar with the Pinyin system of romanisation and be able to read and write approximately 250 Chinese c... Semester 1 12.50
110-145 Chinese 1B
This subject is an introductory course in Chinese for students who have completed Chinese 1A . By the conclusion of this subject students should be able to speak with an acceptable standard of pronunciation, and read and write approximately 500 Chine... Semester 2 12.50
Beginners Stream Level 2
Students undertaking a major in this stream must complete the following subjects. Students completing a minor only complete Chinese 2A and Chinese 2B.
Subject Semester Credit Points
110-028 Chinese 2A
This is a post-elementary subject in Chinese. By the end of this subject students should know 750 Chinese characters and should have a good grasp of basic grammatical structures as well as furthering their knowledge of Chinese cultural practices. Semester 1 12.50
110-029 Chinese 2B
This is a continuation of Chinese 2A. By the conclusion of this subject students should have mastered the basic grammatical structures of Modern Chinese and have a vocabulary of approximately 1000 characters. Students should have sufficient listening... Semester 2 12.50
110-206 Chinese 2C
This subject is designed to consolidate and extend students' oral and listening skills while building on and extending the grammatical knowledge and vocabulary introduced in Chinese 2a. Students will be able to communicate in Chinese on a variet... Semester 1 12.50
110-207 Chinese 2D
This subject builds upon the linguistic abilities developed in Chinese 2A and 2C while broadening studentsÂ’ knowledge of Chinese culture. Semester 2 12.50
Beginners Stream Level 3
Students undertaking a major in this stream must complete the following subjects. Students completing a minor only complete Chinese 3A and Chinese 3B.
Subject Semester Credit Points
670-398 Chinese 3A
This course builds on the knowledge acquired by students in Chinese 2D or Chinese 2F (previously offered as Chinese 1B) . Students should broaden their listening comprehension and speaking skills and gain confidence and independence in handling writt... Semester 1 12.50
670-399 Chinese 3B
This subject will further develop the range of students' listening and speaking skills; expand their experience of Chinese prose styles; and improve their ability to communicate in written Chinese. Semester 2 12.50
110-302 Chinese News Analysis
This subject is an advanced unit introducing the techniques of Chinese newspaper analysis for fields such as politics, international affairs, intellectual debates etc. Students will use current reading materials to study a range of social and politic... Semester 2 12.50
Beginners Stream Level 3 Electives
Students undertaking a major in this stream must complete one subject from the following list.
Subject Semester Credit Points
110-303 Intensive Chinese Program: China
This subject is intended to provide an in-country study experience for those students who are unable to study overseas for the longer period of time required by the University's exchange programme. Students will experience Chinese culture and so... Summer 12.50
671-301 Modern Chinese Literature
This subject examines developments in modern Chinese literature from the Literary Revolution to the present with a focus on the contemporary period. Students will study Chinese texts in class as well as read widely for the lecture. By the end of the ... Semester 1 12.50
671-308 Great Chinese Classics
This subject offers an introduction to literary Chinese (wenyan) which was the formal written language of imperial China and the foundation of modern written Chinese. A knowledge of literary Chinese is thus indispensable in attaining higher level lit... Semester 1 12.50
Chinese: Post VCE Stream (Non-background Speakers)
Post VCE Stream Level 1
Subject Semester Credit Points
110-160 Chinese 2E
This subject is for students who have completed a course of study in Chinese at secondary school level. In building on the knowledge students already have, particular attention will be paid to expanding vocabulary, ensuring a good grasp of the basic ... Semester 1 12.50
110-161 Chinese 2F
This course will further enhance students' knowledge of vocabulary, the basic grammar of spoken Chinese, and reading, writing and oral/aural skills. Semester 2 12.50
Post VCE Stream Level 2
Students undertaking a major in this stream must complete the following subjects. Students completing a minor only complete Chinese 3A and Chinese 3B.
Subject Semester Credit Points
110-039 Chinese 3A
This course builds on the knowledge acquired by students in Chinese 2D or Chinese 2F (previously offered as Chinese 1B) . Students should broaden their listening comprehension and speaking skills and gain confidence and independence in handling writt... Semester 1 12.50
110-040 Chinese 3B
This subject will further develop the range of students' listening and speaking skills; expand their experience of Chinese prose styles; and improve their ability to communicate in written Chinese. Semester 2 12.50
110-048 Modern Chinese Literature
This subject examines developments in modern Chinese literature from the Literary Revolution to the present with a focus on the contemporary period. Students will study Chinese texts in class as well as read widely for the lecture. By the end of the ... Semester 1 12.50
Post-VCE stream Level 3
Students undertaking a major in this stream must complete the following subjects. Students completing a minor in this stream must complete either Great Chinese Classics or Chinese Economic Documents, and either Chinese News Analysis or Advanced Translation.
Subject Semester Credit Points
110-302 Chinese News Analysis
This subject is an advanced unit introducing the techniques of Chinese newspaper analysis for fields such as politics, international affairs, intellectual debates etc. Students will use current reading materials to study a range of social and politic... Semester 2 12.50
671-308 Great Chinese Classics
This subject offers an introduction to literary Chinese (wenyan) which was the formal written language of imperial China and the foundation of modern written Chinese. A knowledge of literary Chinese is thus indispensable in attaining higher level lit... Semester 1 12.50
Post VCE Stream Level 3 Electives
Students undertaking a major in this stream must complete one of the following subjects:
Subject Semester Credit Points
673-365 Chinese Economic Documents
This subject is a reading course on Chinese economic and business documents. Students will be given a guided introduction to a variety of economic documents, including official policy statements, statistical material, newspaper reports and comments, ... Semester 1 12.50
110-303 Intensive Chinese Program: China
This subject is intended to provide an in-country study experience for those students who are unable to study overseas for the longer period of time required by the University´s exchange programme. Students will experience Chinese culture and so... Summer 12.50
110-304 Advanced Chinese Translation
In this subject students will learn to translate from Chinese to English and English to Chinese. The selection of texts will be limited to modern literature and to documents and news items on politics and international affairs. In their translations ... Semester 2 12.50
Subject Semester Credit Points
110-121 Chinese 4A
This subject is for students who have a Chinese-speaking background and minimal literacy skills. By the conclusion of this subject students should have built on their knowledge of Chinese and be able to read original Chinese material on current affai... Semester 1 12.50
110-123 Chinese 4B
This subject is a continuation of Chinese 4A. At the conclusion of this subject, students should be able to independently read a variety of original Chinese material and to write modern standard Chinese in an acceptable style. They should also be abl... Semester 2 12.50
Background Speakers Stream 1 - Level 2 subjects
Subject Semester Credit Points
670-217 Chinese 5A
This is a subject for students who have limited literacy in Chinese. Students will build on their previous study and be able to read relatively complex texts as well as increasing their knowledge of traditional Chinese culture. They should be able to... Semester 1 12.50
670-218 Chinese 5B
This subject is a continuation of Chinese 5A. It involves advanced spoken and written Chinese. Students will read a variety of extracts from Modern Chinese and improve their writing and speaking skills. Semester 2 12.50
Background Speakers Stream 1 - Level 2 Electives
Students undertaking a major in this stream must complete one of the following subjects:
Subject Semester Credit Points
110-048 Modern Chinese Literature
This subject examines developments in modern Chinese literature from the Literary Revolution to the present with a focus on the contemporary period. Students will study Chinese texts in class as well as read widely for the lecture. By the end of the ... Semester 1 12.50
110-133 Great Chinese Classics
This subject offers an introduction to literary Chinese (wenyan) which was the formal written language of imperial China and the foundation of modern written Chinese. A knowledge of literary Chinese is thus indispensable in attaining higher level lit... Semester 1 12.50
670-242 Chinese Cinema
This is a multimedia subject, which will examine contemporary Chinese literature and film, focusing on major developments in the post-1978 era. The subject introduces students to current uses of the Chinese language through the study of contemporary ... Semester 2 12.50
Background Speakers Stream 1 - Level 3
Students undertaking a major in this stream should complete 3 subjects from the following list. Students completing a minor should complete two of the subjects from the following list.
Subject Semester Credit Points
673-365 Chinese Economic Documents
This subject is a reading course on Chinese economic and business documents. Students will be given a guided introduction to a variety of economic documents, including official policy statements, statistical material, newspaper reports and comments, ... Semester 1 12.50
110-303 Intensive Chinese Program: China
This subject is intended to provide an in-country study experience for those students who are unable to study overseas for the longer period of time required by the University's exchange programme. Students will experience Chinese culture and so... Summer 12.50
110-304 Advanced Chinese Translation
In this subject students will learn to translate from Chinese to English and English to Chinese. The selection of texts will be limited to modern literature and to documents and news items on politics and international affairs. In their translations ... Semester 2 12.50
110-305 Analysis of Contemporary Chinese Society
This subject introduces systems of social division in contemporary China, and examines some of the ways in which Chinese society is classified and analysed. The subject is delivered in Chinese. Discussion will be based on original Chinese literary an... Semester 2 12.50
110-310 Advanced Seminar in Chinese
This subject is designed to enable students to engage with Chinese language specialised academic research on humanities topics. Disciplines covered may include linguistics, social sciences, literary studies or culture studies. Students will acquire s... Semester 1 12.50
Subject Semester Credit Points
110-041 Chinese 5AThis is a subject for students who have limited literacy in Chinese. Students will build on their previous study and be able to read relatively complex texts as well as increasing their knowledge of traditional Chinese culture. They should be able to... Semester 1 12.50
110-042 Chinese 5BThis subject is a continuation of Chinese 5A. It involves advanced spoken and written Chinese. Students will read a variety of extracts from Modern Chinese and improve their writing and speaking skills. Semester 2 12.50
Background Speakers Stream 2 - Level 2
Students undertaking a major in this stream must complete the following subjects. Students completing a minor must complete Chinese Cinema, and one other subject from the list below.
Subject Semester Credit Points
110-048 Modern Chinese Literature
This subject examines developments in modern Chinese literature from the Literary Revolution to the present with a focus on the contemporary period. Students will study Chinese texts in class as well as read widely for the lecture. By the end of the ... Semester 1 12.50
110-204 Chinese Economic Documents
This subject is a reading course on Chinese economic and business documents. Students will be given a guided introduction to a variety of economic documents, including official policy statements, statistical material, newspaper reports and comments, ... Semester 1 12.50
670-242 Chinese Cinema
This is a multimedia subject, which will examine contemporary Chinese literature and film, focusing on major developments in the post-1978 era. The subject introduces students to current uses of the Chinese language through the study of contemporary ... Semester 2 12.50
Background Speakers Stream 2 - Level 3
Students undertaking a major in this stream must complete 3 of the following subjects. Students completing a minor must complete Advanced Seminar in Chinese, and either Advanced Chinese Translation or Analysis of Contemporary Chinese Society.
Subject Semester Credit Points
110-303 Intensive Chinese Program: China
This subject is intended to provide an in-country study experience for those students who are unable to study overseas for the longer period of time required by the University's exchange programme. Students will experience Chinese culture and so... Summer 12.50
110-304 Advanced Chinese Translation
In this subject students will learn to translate from Chinese to English and English to Chinese. The selection of texts will be limited to modern literature and to documents and news items on politics and international affairs. In their translations ... Semester 2 12.50
110-305 Analysis of Contemporary Chinese Society
This subject introduces systems of social division in contemporary China, and examines some of the ways in which Chinese society is classified and analysed. The subject is delivered in Chinese. Discussion will be based on original Chinese literary an... Semester 2 12.50
110-310 Advanced Seminar in Chinese
This subject is designed to enable students to engage with Chinese language specialised academic research on humanities topics. Disciplines covered may include linguistics, social sciences, literary studies or culture studies. Students will acquire s... Semester 1 12.50
Background Speakers Stream 3 (Students who have completed Secondary Education in a Chinese Environment)
Level 1
This stream is only available as a minor area of study in the Bachelor of Arts and is not available as breadth study outside the BA.
Students completing the 75 point minor in this stream must complete the following subjects:
Subject Semester Credit Points
110-190 Chinese Cinema
This is a multimedia subject, which will examine contemporary Chinese literature and film, focusing on major developments in the post-1978 era. The subject introduces students to current uses of the Chinese language through the study of contemporary ... Semester 2 12.50
670-109 Modern Chinese Literature
This subject examines developments in modern Chinese literature from the Literary Revolution to the present with a focus on the contemporary period. Students will study Chinese texts in class as well as read widely for the lecture. By the end of the ... Semester 1 12.50
Background Speakers Stream 3 - Level 2
Subject Semester Credit Points
110-204 Chinese Economic Documents
This subject is a reading course on Chinese economic and business documents. Students will be given a guided introduction to a variety of economic documents, including official policy statements, statistical material, newspaper reports and comments, ... Semester 1 12.50
110-304 Advanced Chinese Translation
In this subject students will learn to translate from Chinese to English and English to Chinese. The selection of texts will be limited to modern literature and to documents and news items on politics and international affairs. In their translations ... Semester 2 12.50
Background Speakers Stream 3 - Level 3
Subject Semester Credit Points
110-305 Analysis of Contemporary Chinese Society
This subject introduces systems of social division in contemporary China, and examines some of the ways in which Chinese society is classified and analysed. The subject is delivered in Chinese. Discussion will be based on original Chinese literary an... Semester 2 12.50
110-310 Advanced Seminar in Chinese
This subject is designed to enable students to engage with Chinese language specialised academic research on humanities topics. Disciplines covered may include linguistics, social sciences, literary studies or culture studies. Students will acquire s... Semester 1 12.50