Program Coordinator: Chris Wen-chao Li, wenchao@sfsu.edu
Undergraduate Advisers: Chris Wen-Chao Li, wenchao@sfsu.edu; Charles Egan, chega@sfsu.edu; Frederik Green, fgreen@sfsu.edu; Yang Xiao-Desai, yangxiao@sfsu.edu
Graduate Adviser: Chris Wen-Chao Li, wenchao@sfsu.edu
Flagship Program Director: Charles Egan, chega@sfsu.edu
Flagship Program Assistant Director: Frederik Green, fgreen@sfsu.edu
Study Chinese at San Francisco State University — with a vast selection of courses, dedicated full-time faculty and students from all corners of the globe, your experience in cosmopolitan San Francisco promises to be the experience of a lifetime. The Chinese program offers Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Chinese, together with a professionally oriented Chinese Flagship Program and a graduate-level Strategic Language Initiative (SLI) Translation-Interpretation Certificate Program. Explore the different degree options and find out more about studying Chinese at San Francisco State University.
Program Scope
Founded in 1959, the Chinese Program at San Francisco State University provides comprehensive degree programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. For all major and minor options, the Chinese Program offers electives taught in both English and Chinese which provide insight into one of the world’s oldest civilizations and inspire the student to view the modern world from alternative perspectives. Courses on modern literature and film, taught in Chinese, reflect the dynamic transformations of contemporary Chinese society and culture. Training in the fundamentals of linguistics complements program goals by revealing the underlying structures of language. To prepare students as fully as possible for future challenges, the Chinese Program balances traditional academic offerings with practical courses such as Business Chinese, Media Chinese, and Web Chinese, which equip students with career-related language skills.
The Bachelor of Arts in Chinese is divided into three separate concentrations: Chinese Language, designed for students with little or no background in Chinese language; Chinese Literature and Linguistics, aimed at native and near-native speakers of Chinese language; and Flagship Chinese Language, a federally funded honors program.
The Minor in Chinese Language is designed for beginning language learners, and is focused on the buildup of proficiency in the Modern Standard Language.
The Minor in Chinese Literature and Linguistics, is designed for native and near-native speakers, and requires coursework in advanced language, classical language, linguistics, literature, culture, and oratory.
The Master of Arts in Chinese provides advanced training in the areas of literature, linguistics and pedagogy, building a solid foundation for further study and language-related careers. Many of our M.A. graduates advance to study and research at the doctoral level, and others develop skills for China-related careers, including teaching Chinese as a second language, international business and law, and translation and interpretation.
Visit the current University Bulletin for complete course descriptions and class schedule.