Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization in Chinese Cultural Studies

 

Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization in Chinese Cultural Studies Pamphlet

Interested in adding a Chinese studies specialization to your resume/CV?

The Ohio State University's Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization in Chinese Cultural Studies (GIS in CCS) allows you to do just that, offering graduate students a basic familiarity with scholarship on a culture that comprises roughly a quarter of the world's population and that promises to play a steadily increasing role in the 21st century.

Whether you're a graduate student interested in one particular disciplinary approach to China (such as Chinese history, Chinese art history, Chinese literature, Chinese linguistics, Chinese anthropology, or Chinese politics) or a professional school student not majoring in Asian studies but interested in acquiring a basic familiarity with issues critical to working in or researching this part of the world, the GIS in CCS offers you an opportunity to gain what is sometimes a luxury in structured disciplinary graduate programs, the opportunity to make intellectual connections with faculty and students of related interests but from different disciplinary approaches. Such breadth of intellectual exchange—both in terms of content and methodology—will certainly strengthen your research in your own field; but more importantly, from a practical point of view, completing the program will better prepare you to assume responsibilities in positions that increasingly expect interdisciplinary qualifications.

Program Requirements

GIS in CCS students choose at least four semester courses (a minimum of 12 credits) from the GIS in CCS course list; courses not included on the list may be approved on a case-by-case basis by the Graduate Studies Chair. Three of the four courses must be selected from outside the student's home department. No more than two courses may be from a single department. And, no more than one course may be a language course, although Chinese language study is strongly encouraged as a background to the specialization.

Chinese Studies at OSU

OSU's GIS in CCS program additionally affords graduate students some of the intellectual and practical benefits that come with the strength of OSU's faculty in the area of Chinese Studies. Currently, more than 30 faculty members in a dozen departments focus their research and teaching on China.

In addition to the required curriculum, faculty in the specialization offer a rotating sequence of public lectures that are publicized by the Institute for Chinese Studies and enrolled students are invited to attend these events.

Program Administration

The GIS in CCS program is administered by a graduate studies committee made up of graduate faculty whose courses are included in the program's curriculum. Administration of the committee and the program is conducted by a faculty member who is serving simultaneously as Director of the Institute for Chinese Studies. All applications and program files are managed by the East Asian Studies Center.

Coursework

The below document is a list of pre-approved coursework for the GIS in CCS:

Additional courses may be approved on a case-by-case basis.

Application Procedure

The Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization in Chinese Cultural Studies (GIS in CCS) accepts applications from OSU graduate students year-round, utilizing the following procedure:

  1. The student completes the “Specialization Form” available on the Ohio State Grad Forms site which serves as application to enroll in the specialization. Note that this form requires specific coursework to be listed; please refer to the list of pre-approved courses for the GIS in CCS above.
  2. The Chair of the GIS in CCS Graduate Studies Committee reviews the Specialization Form electronically and approves or denies the application.
  3. The student must adhere to the curriculum as indicated on the approved Specialization Form. If changes in the approved curriculum are necessary, the student must communicate with the Chair of the GIS in CCS Graduate Studies Committee who will relay any approved changes to the Graduate School.
  4. Upon completion of the GIS in CCS coursework, the student must submit a “Transcript Designation Request Form” available on the Ohio State Grad Forms site. This form must be approved by the Chair of the GIS in CCS Graduate Studies Committee and the Graduate School in order for the designation to appear on the student’s transcript.

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