This course seeks to understand the tumultuous events of 20th century China by examining the central historical figure of this era, namely Mao Zedong. Through a variety of course material, including biography, fiction, film, and primary source material, students will explore topics including the Pacific War, the Chinese Civil War, the Great Leap Forward, the Cultural Revolution, and the critical dilemma of how post-Mao leaders in China have sought to manage the historical memory of Mao and Maoism. In addition, the course will grapple with the question of how personalities may (or may not) affect the course of history.

This course is designed for graduate and undergraduate students who are current or future Chinese language educators. We will review different approaches and methods for language teaching in general, while focusing on specific issues related to Chinese pedagogy (e.g., the orthography system, Chinese heritage speakers, and teaching culture through language). It specifically aims to prepare the students to teach the Chinese language in the school setting in the US. Therefore, it highlights an integrated approach and emphasizes techniques to create a communicative, interactive, and effective language classroom. The course will also provide ways of incorporating technologies and the social media for Chinese pedagogical purposes, and help the students to become a lifelong learner through practices such as peer observation and teaching reflections. All students enrolled in this course are expected to have completed at least the advanced level Chinese language courses (or the equivalent).

This course asks how the city was understood and urban space was experienced in China from the late imperial period to the twentieth century, from the walled cities of Ming and Qing to the neoliberal remaking of Beijing and Shanghai, passing through the modernist experiments of the Communist and Republican periods. Examining some of the key social, cultural and political factors that shaped urban life, we will address such questions as: how did changes in media shape conceptions of urban space and one's place within it, what did the Chinese urban landscape look like, what were some of its key features, and how did political changes at the national level affect life and governance in the city? Our investigations will also lead us into the realm of cultural and intellectual history. We will look at how such notions as cosmopolitanism, nation-mindedness, and scientific rationality developed in and around the city. In more general term, we will use the case of China to investigate how a history of "modern urban life" and urban space can be written, and what its significance might be. This course maintains a focus on the distinctive character of various Chinese cities while attempting to elucidate deeper commonalities and similarities that shape urban experience in China and elsewhere. Comparisons with other national experiences as well as theoretical reflections on issues of urbanism and urban life will then be integral part of the course.

Survey of political, social, economic and cultural transformations undergone by China from ca. 1800 to the present. Provides students with a sense of both the major themes and the substance of the last two centuries of history of one of the world's major civilizations, as well as a better understanding of China's prominent position in the world today.

Analysis of the role of women in Chinese society with equal emphasis on traditional and modern periods.

Introduction to the theory and practice of English-to-Chinese and Chinese-to-English translations including study of the role of translation in China-West encounters and learning the craft of translation.

Survey of the developments and trends in Chinese foreign relations in the modern period, focusing mainly on the relationship between the theoretical and actual objectives of China's foreign policies from 1949 to the present.

This course is an introduction to the the major themes and genres of Chinese literature from the Song (960-1279) to the Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. Primary readings will be in Chinese, though translations will be available. Secondary readings will be in English. The course is intended to be an opportunity for advanced language learners to use their skills to read and translate premodern literature, and for graduate students to gain an understanding of major trends in the study of premodern Chinese literature.

This course is an introduction to the major themes and genres of Chinese literature from the pre-imperial period (before 221 BCE) to the Tang (618-907 CE) dynasty. Primary readings will be in Chinese, though translations will be available. Secondary readings will be in English. The course is intended to be an opportunity for advanced language learners to use their skills to read and translate premodern literature, and for graduate students to gain an understanding of major trends in the study of premodern Chinese literature.

This course investigates social, cultural, economic, and political aspects of mass media and visual culture in China. It examines various types of media, including print, mechanical, electronic, and digital media. It focuses on major theoretical perspectives and models.