NOTE: Beginning fall 2024, the Chinese major and minor will no longer be offered at Carthage. Students who enrolled in the program before fall 2024 will still be able to take Chinese courses to complete their degree.
Deepen your knowledge of all things Chinese, lighting the way to abundant careers in today’s global age. You’ll master spoken and written Mandarin systems with guidance from Carthage’s Target Language Experts — native Chinese speakers who bring energy and authenticity to their classes. You’ll also be steeped in the culture, politics, religion, and economy of China and broader East Asia. Majors also study in a Chinese-speaking country for at least a semester.
The Chinese program at Carthage goes beyond mastering the language. It is a four-year program with curriculum courses in Chinese history, film, politics, culture, and Asian religion.
Carthage offers a major and minor in Chinese. Students who study Chinese at Carthage will enjoy small classes, individualized attention, and a program centered on helping students achieve their personal and professional goals. You’ll be guided by dedicated professors and Target Language Experts, who bring authenticity to their teaching as native speakers from Chinese-speaking countries and regions like Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, and Singapore.
Courses are designed to cultivate skills for the workforce, and all majors study abroad in a Chinese-speaking country for at least a semester.
“I received the Modern Language Scholarship for Chinese. This scholarship means everything to me since I would not be attending Carthage without it.”
“I learned Chinese during my K-12 education, and I wanted a college that would allow me to further my Chinese acquisition.”
“I chose Carthage primarily because of its size and the majors offered here. I came from a very small high school, so Carthage’s size made it a very easy transition.”
“Carthage professors are clearly passionate about the subjects they teach, and it’s easily reflected in the students’ learning.”
“International political economy is an amazing major that isn’t offered in many other schools. It is for those students who wish to dive into international relations, politics, and even the business realm.”
Courses you’ll take
All classes in the major are taught in Chinese. Here’s a sampling of required and elective offerings:
If you test into a course and then earn a “C” or better, you can earn up to 12 free retroactive credits. That’s three times more than you’ll get from any AP or college-level class that offers college credit!
Outside the classroom
Chinese Lunch Table
During the weekly Chinese Lunch Table, students chat in Chinese with each other, professors, Target Language Experts, and international students from China.
Chinese Club
Chinese Club is a student-run organization that hosts meetings and events for students interested in China. Expand your knowledge of China and its culture outside of class. International students from China are regular and integral members of the club.
Field Trips
The Chinese program organizes field trips every semester to locations like Chinatown and the Chinese American Museum of Chicago. Experience first-hand cultural practices, tea ceremonies, Chinese cooking, and calligraphy demonstrations.
J-Term and Study Abroad
Faculty from various academic departments at Carthage regularly lead J-Term study tours to China. Students of all majors can study the country’s incredible history, growing economy, and rich culture. Modern language majors are also required to spend at least one full semester abroad.
China, which has the second-largest economy in the world, is on the rise. Chinese, spoken by 1.3 billion people, is the second largest language (next to English) in the world.
Studying Chinese at Carthage leads to jobs in business, marketing, healthcare, computer science, recruiting, teaching, interpreting, tourism, and more.
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