Minor in Chinese Language

The Minor in Chinese Language is designed for beginning language learners with little or no background in a Chinese language. The program places emphasis on the building of proficiency in Mandarin Chinese and an appreciation and understanding of literature and culture, with the opportunity for language immersion through exchange programs in China and Taiwan.

NOTE: Native speakers of Chinese and international students who have completed secondary and/or tertiary education in Chinese language in a Chinese-speaking country are discouraged from choosing this minor. Instead, they may consider the Minor in Chinese Literature and Linguistics.

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Language and Linguistics: Students will speak, write and understand the Chinese language. They will also be able to analyze the language in its morphology and syntax.
  2. Culture: Cultural competence is gained through courses dedicated to culture and is further reinforced in the variety of advanced literature courses that students take to complete the major. Students will be familiar with the historical and cultural development of Chinese culture, especially in its international context. They will engage in cultural analysis not only of historical and geographical terms, but also as part of a debate about the very notion of culture.
  3. Writing skills: Students should be able to write coherent, engaging, and rigorous critical essays in Chinese that conform to accepted academic standards.

Advanced Placement


The following Advanced Placement (AP) scores in Chinese Language and Culture will result in the award of units that can be applied towards the Chinese major/minor. 

  • AP Chinese Score=3 results in award of 4 units to be used towards waiver of CHIN 101 First Semester Chinese.
  • AP Chinese Score=4 results in award of 8 units to be used towards waiver of CHIN 101 First Semester Chinese and CHIN 102 Second Semester Chinese
  • AP Chinese Score=5 results in award of 12 units to be used towards waiver of CHIN 101 First Semester Chinese, CHIN 102 Second Semester Chinese, and CHIN 103 Third Semester Chinese.

Chinese Language Minor — 15 units

The Minor in Chinese is aimed at beginning-level learners with little or no background in the Chinese Language.

A minimum of 6 upper-division units are required to complete the minor.

All coursework used to satisfy the requirements of the minor must be completed with a minimum grade point average of 2.0.

Note: Native speakers of Chinese and international students who have completed secondary and/or tertiary education in the Chinese language in a Chinese-speaking country are discouraged from choosing this minor.

Lower-Division Core (9 units)1

CHIN 101First Semester Chinese3
CHIN 102Second Semester Chinese3
CHIN 103Third Semester Chinese3
1

Up to 9 units from the lower-division core can be replaced with high school Advanced Placement (AP) examination credit (see University guidelines). With the permission of a Chinese Program advisor, students able to demonstrate a higher level of Chinese language proficiency may also replace lower-division core units with upper-division Chinese language units.

Upper-Division Core (6 units)

Select Two:

CHIN 303Intermediate Chinese3
CHIN 311Conversation and Reading3
CHIN 312Speech and Writing3

NOTE: REGARDING STUDY ABROAD (applies to all Chinese degrees, concentrations, and minors):
Students are encouraged to study abroad through the International Programs of the California State University and the Bilateral Programs of San Francisco State University. For students opting to study abroad, all study abroad units will count as units in residence and can be used for graduation credit, but no more than half of the units required for the major or minor may be taken outside of the home campus. Flagship Language Concentration students, however, may apply all of their Study Abroad units towards the major.