China Studies

1.Graduate program brief introduction

Shanghai University (SHU) is an international comprehensive university located in one of the world’s most international metropolis. Each year we admit students from more than 70 countries making the university a rich and diverse learning environment.Shanghai University (SHU) offer a wide range of graduate programs to international students including 84 master programs and 29 doctoral programs in 27 different departments. Mode of study for the master programs is 2-3 years (full-time).

2. OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM

China Studies is an English-taught post-graduate program specially designed for international students. It is a sub-field of the multi-disciplinary Post-graduate Program of Global Studies (PPGS) at Shanghai University. The graduate students are expected to get a deep understanding about the economy, culture and society of China, especially social and political development of contemporary China by taking courses in History, Economics, Sociology, Philosophy, Language, Literature, Politics, etc.

Upon completion of the program, the graduate students should have a solid foundation of basic theories and required specialized knowledge and skills to conduct researches independently.

3. DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

The Postgraduate Program of China Studies at Shanghai University is a cross-disciplinary one, which involves History, Sociology and Economics. Students can get an MA Degree of History, or Sociology, or Economics.

1)Credits: 46 Credits in total

At least 46 credits are needed to get a degree, among which 19 credits are from the compulsory courses, 24 are from the optional courses and 3 are from academic seminars.

2)Degree Requirements

Publication

At least one academic paper must be published (in English, Chinese, or mother language) during the period of study before the Degree is awarded.

Course Requirements

To get a specific degree, students must take 5 relevant optional courses and complete a thesis in the specific discipline. For instance, to get a degree of History, students must take 5 history courses and complete a master’s thesis on history.

Language of the Thesis

The master’s thesis must be prepared in English with an extra Chinese abstract of about 1500 characters.

Thesis Defense

After the successful oral defense and evaluation by the Academic Degrees Committee of the Shanghai University, the graduation certificate and a diploma of master degree of People’s Republic of China will be issued.

4. DURATION

The required minimum time for the MA students of this program is 2.5 years, and the maximum time is five years.

4. COURSE STRUCTURE

The Postgraduate Program of Global Studies at Shanghai University is a cross-disciplinary one that involves History, Sociology, Politics and Economics, which allows students to take courses that cover a variety of different fields in the context of globalization.

All the courses are taught in English.

1)Compulsory Courses
Overview of China (3 credits)
Chinese Language (6 credits)
Theories of Global Studies (4 credits)
China and Globalization (3 credits)
Modern History of China (3 credits)

2) Optional Courses

History Module

(1) Selected Readings on Chinese Classics (4 credits)
(2) History of Ancient China (4 credits)
(3) Religion and Chinese Society (4 credits)
(4) Global History (6 credits)
(5) Politics, Economy and Society of Contemporary China (3 credits)
(6) Confucianism and Chinese Culture (3 credits)

Economics Module

(7) Econometrics (4 credits)
(8) Micro Economics (5 credits)
(9) Macro Economics (5 credits)
(10) Chinese Foreign Trade (4 credits)
(11) International Finances (3 credits)
(12) Theory and Policy of International Trade (3 credits)

Sociology Module

(13) Social Changes in Contemporary China: 1978 – Today (4 credits)
(14) Cultural Diversities in Contemporary China: Religion, Ethnicity, and State (4 credits)
(15) Government, Law and Society in China (4 credits)
(16) Social Stratification and Social Mobility in Contemporary China (4 credits)
(17) Changes of Labor Relation in China’s Market Reform (4 credits)
(18) Modern Social Work and Transformation of Chinese Society (4 credits)

3) Academic Seminars (3 credits):

During the graduate studies, the graduate students should attend at least 30 lectures or talks on History, Economics, Sociology, Politics, and etc. so as to expand their knowledge scope and strengthen their capacity of conducting academic research.

CURRICULUM

Course Type		Course Name	Academic Hours	Credits	Term
Compulsory Courses		Overview of China	30	3	1
		Chinese Language	240	6	1-3
		Theories of Global Studies	40	4	2
		China and Globalization	30	3	3
		Modern History of China	30	3	2
Optional Courses	History	Selected Readings on Chinese Classics	40	4	2
		History of Ancient China	40	4	1
		Religion and Chinese Society	40	4	4
		Global History	60	6	1
		Politics, Economy and Society of Contemporary China	30	3	3
		Confucianism and Chinese Culture	30	3	4
	Economics	Econometrics	40	4	1
		Micro Economics	50	5	2
		Macro Economics	50	5	2
		Chinese Foreign Trade	40	4	1
		International Finances	30	3	3
		Theory and Policy of International Trade	30	3	3
	Sociology	Social Changes in Contemporary China: 1978-Today	40	4	1
		Cultural Diversities in Contemporary China: Religion, Ethnicity and State	40	4	1
		Government, Law and Society in China	40	4	2
		Social Stratification and Social Mobility in Contemporary China	40	4	2
		Changes of Labor Relations in China’s Market Reform	40	4	3
		Modern Social Work and Transformation of Chinese Society	40	4	3
Academic Seminars				3	1-8
Master’s Thesis					5-9

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

I. COMPULSORY COURSES

(1) Overview of China

This course is an introduction to Chinese culture and society, especially after the Reform and Opening-up. It provides students with an understanding of the cultural, social, ideological, educational, economic, and political environments in China. Through lectures, readings, and particularly, presentations and discussions, students will learn the fundamental knowledge of China from a historical and global perspective.

(2) Chinese Language

This course is designed to help overseas students to learn Chinese language and culture. It starts from Pinyin (phonetic transcriptions of Chinese characters) and trains the students’ ability in speaking, listening and writing Chinese step by step. Through leaning the language skills, the students can also deepen their understanding of Chinese culture.

(3) Theories of Global Studies

This course introduces to students Global Studies as a new independent discipline and key concepts and theories of Global Studies, such as globalization, globalism, global governance, evolution of global system, culture and globalization, nation-state and globalization, global civil society and so on.

(4)China and Globalization

This course focuses on the process of China’s transformation in the context of globalization; reform and the opening up in early 1980s; the social, cultural and ideological elements underlying the role of contemporary China; the increasing role of China in the global world

(5)Modern History of China

This course focuses on the historical transformation of Modern China since 1840; changes in Chinese social character; the establishment of the People’s Republic of China; China’s process of socialism and modernization

II. OPTIONAL COURSES

i. History Module

(1) Selected Readings on Chinese Classics

This course is designed for the students to develop a deep understanding of Chinese traditional culture through readings of Chinese Classics, such as the Analects of Confucius, Laozi and other philosophers’ works of ancient China.

(2) History of Ancient China

This course is about the process of Chinese civilization and changes of the dynasties since the very beginning till 1840. It will introduce to the students the historical background knowledge about Chinese civilization, especially the characteristics of political systems of China

(3) Global History

It offers a general view of world civilization, the differences between the East and the West, especially between ancient Greece and China; it will also present the Medieval history, the great discovery and the process of globalization in the modern era.

(4) Religion and Chinese Society

This course covers the relationship between religious institutions and the society in China; the impact of religious ideas, practices, and organizations on social, political and economic processes; the role of religion in the consolidation of individual, communal, and national identity; sociology of religion; the impact of Chinese religious and philosophical traditions: Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, as well as other religions such as Islam and Christianity, on the internal sociopolitical structure of China and their role in shaping power relations on the international level

(5)Politics, Economy and Society in Contemporary China

This course focuses on Chinese political systems and economy; the economic reform and social transformation since 1978; the government structure, policies and ideologies that have served as the practical basis of the political systems, status and problems

(6) Confucianism and the Chinese Culture

This course introduces the foundational concepts of Confucianism; the rise of Confucianism, its historical changes, and the Neo-Confucianism; Confucianism and impacts on Chinese philosophy and culture

ii. Economics Module

(1) Econometrics

This course provides the students with the basic econometric knowledge in order for them to handle the economic analysis understand other's researchers and conduct their own research, specially handling the empirical analysis on the thesis degree.

(2) Microeconomics

This course surveys the main ideas and concepts involved in modern Economics and provide students with an understanding of how the economy works, what type of problems economists try to solve, and how they set about trying to solve them. We are primarily concerned with the analysis of individual decision making units and the behavior of firms and industries in the Economy.

(3) Macroeconomics

This course provides intermediate level knowledge of macroeconomics and related fields of macro finance. The students are required to master the macroeconomic analytical tools to solve both theoretical problem and practical matters.

(4) Chinese Foreign Trade

This course helps students to apprehend the basic status and future trend of Chinese foreign trade; understand the background and reasons of the current trade issues of China and grasp the primary theory and methods of the research in Chinese foreign trade.

(5) International Finances

This course provides the latest information regarding the movements in the international financial markets. Being equipped with analytical tools, students should be able to understand how exchange rates, international debt crisis and other topics in the international finance.

(6) Theory and Policy of International Trade

This course is designed to enhance each student's ability to make informed decisions involving international economic issues from the standpoint of rigorous microeconomic analysis. Lectures will emphasize the theory needed to hold relevant discussions of international trade issues.

iii. Sociology Module

(1) Social Changes in Contemporary China: 1978 - Today

This course launches an investigation into the cultural and social changes in Chinese society from the time of the open-door policy until today. It develops a broad understanding of the current state of Chinese society from a historical perspective with focus on political, social, demographic and cultural factors. In examining the strengths and weaknesses of the Chinese society, the course also assesses the changing societal reform agenda and the problems and prospects of social change.

(2) Social Stratification and Social Mobility in Contemporary China

This course aims to introduce to the students both the theories of social stratification and empirical research on social inequalities in contemporary China. It explores the theories and concepts that social scientists employ to describe and analyses social inequalities and discusses key issues and research methods of social mobility research. By looking into the scholarly debate on social stratification and social mobility in the contemporary Chinese society, the students will enhance their understanding of the development in this particular field of research as part of China studies.

(3) Changes of Labor Relation in China’s Market Reform

This is a course in labor study that has a thematic focus on the changing situation of the labor relation in China. The case of China’s reform complicates contemporary grand theories by challenging their underlying assumption about socialism and working class. By exploring theories of labor study and examining how social scientists, both from and out of China, apply these theories to cases ranging from the workers’ democracy under the period of Mao to the role of Union nowadays, from the struggle of the lay-off workers to the protest of young migrant workers, we will enrich our understanding both of the labor theory and of Chinese society.

(4) Government, Law and Society in China

This course introduces to students the basic knowledge about the operation of the Chinese legal system or legal institutions. It examines how laws are used in the social, economic, and political activities of the Chinese people and focuses not on the Chinese laws per se but on how laws are used in people’s daily lives. Examples or cases will be used extensively in the course to illustrate the topics included.

(5) Modern Social Work and Transformation of Chinese Society

This course aims to bring students critical perspectives from social work to understand, analyze and reflect on the current Chinese society. It explores the concept of transformation of China in terms of public-private, collectivism-individualism, society-individual and tradition-modernity. It also focuses on the definition of modern social work and the role of modern social work in the transformation of Chinese society in various dimensions.

(6) Cultural Diversities in Contemporary China: Religion, Ethnicity and State

This course is designed as a survey of the ethnic minority peoples in China and introduces the general concept of religion, ethnicity, and nation state in the context of modern Chinese nation building. Through lectures, films and ethnographic readings, this course will explore the complexity of the cultural diversities against the backdrop of the Chinese nation-building and the global consumerism.

III. Academic Seminars
As part of this China Studies program, a series of lectures or talks on History, Economics, Sociology, Politics, and etc. will be offered to the graduate students by renowned scholars. It is aimed to expand the students’ knowledge scope and strengthen their capacity of conducting academic research.

1.Non-Chinese citizen without physical and mental problems.
2.Master program applicants must have a bachelor degree. The date due to obtain a bachelor degree should be prior to the admission date.
3.Doctoral program applicants must have a master degree. The date due to obtain a master degree should be prior to the admission date.
4.Applicants for programs taught in Chinese must complete the Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK) band 4 (minimum score 180): for humanities in Chinese, HSK5 (minimum score 180) is required, for economics and management in Chinese, HSK4 over 210 points, science and arts, HSK4 over 195 points. International students who obtained the degree from a Chinese program in China are exempt.
5.Applicants for programs taught in English must complete the IELTS (minimum score 5.5) or TOEFL (minimum score 80). International students whose first language are English, or obtained the degree from an English program in an English speaking country are exempt.

1. Photocopy of valid passport

With name, passport number & expiration date, and photo included

2. Passport photo

A recent passport-sized photo of the applicant

3. Undergraduate school transcript

4. Bachelor's degree diploma

Graduation certificate in languages other than Chinese or English should be translated into Chinese or English and be certified by notarization.

5. TOEFL over 80 points or IELTS5.5 and over (non-English speaking applicants for programs in English)

6. 2 recommendation letters

7. Study or research plan

Question: What is the cost of applying through ACASC?

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Answer: Yes. ACASC gives the applicants, the chance to directly apply to their desired universities through our online application portal. We have synchronized our system to create a simple platform that connects universities and colleges in China to international students all around the world.

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Question: How to deal with a pending application?

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The main cause of a pending application is usually incomplete application documents. As a result you will be requested by the school’s admission office to re-check and modify all submitted application documents or perhaps even add extra documents and then re-submit them.

To avoid further delays, carefully read the university’s comments, modify your application form on ACASC, and re-upload the required application documents. You can contact ACASC on admission@acasc.cn for any help with regards to your pending application

How long does it take to process my application?

Processing time varies for different applications. For example to process a degree program application requires more time than a Chinese language application. Confirmation for Chinese language application by the admission office usually takes 2 to 4 weeks. However, time for degree programs application differs. For example fall semester application processing is after March, and it takes a period of 1 to 2 months. This also depends on your qualification and the number of applicants.