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Study in China - Chinese Language in China
Program Information | Location Information | Courses Available | Eligibility | Costs | Deadlines & Dates | Orientation | Housing | What's Next? | Photos | Helpful Links
| PROGRAM TERMS | May 18 - June 28, 2008 |
| CLASS STANDING | Junior, Senior |
| DEADLINE TO APPLY |
May 2008: February 22, 2008 |
| FEES | $4, 057* [2007-2008] |
| FINANCIAL AID | Yes |
| GPA | 2.5 |
| LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION |
Mandarin Chinese, English |
Program Information
Students participating in the May session program in China will study language and culture in Beijing, Shanghai and Qingdao, China. This unique program will give students the opportunity to visit the cities of Beijing and Shanghai and study for four and one-half weeks at Ocean University in Qingdao, China. The program will be led by University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) Professor Zhuangyi Liu. Faculty from the Ocean University of China will provide instruction. Students earn 6 credits of 1xxx level Chinese language (FSt 1399).
BEIJING: Monday, May 19 through Thursday, May 22
Participants will spend time in the capital city of China learning about Chinese history and culture. While in Beijing, students will visit Tiananmen Square, Peoples’ Congress, the Forbidden City, and the Great Wall, along with many other cultural and historic sites.
QINGDAO: Thursday, May 22 through Tuesday, June 24
Ocean University, located in Qingdao, will host the students for classes in Chinese language instruction. Students will be housed in the International Students Dormitory. Classes will be held for four hours each morning. Afternoons will consist of Chinese culture lectures, field trips to some of Qingdao’s major companies, and excursions. Some afternoons will be free for your exploration of the City of Qingdao and the surrounding area. Students will also have a four day field trip to Xi'an to visit the Terracotta Warrior Museum.
SHANGHAI: Tuesday, June 24 through Saturday, June 28
Shanghai is a city of contrasts – the old and the new. Some of the highlights of your time in Shanghai will be a visit to the Shanghai Museum, the Bund area on the Huangpu River, and the Shanghai City Planning Exhibition to mention a few. Participants will depart from Shanghai for Minnesota on Saturday, June 28.
Location Information
China has a population of over 1.31 billion people, making it the most populous country in the world. It is also the among the largest in total area as well as the second largest in land area. China's economy is rapidly growing and ranks among the largest in the world in terms of economy, purchasing power parity and export/import.
Beijing, the capital of China, is the second largest city in China. The historical city serves as the political, educational and cultural center of China. It also is a major transportation hub for railways, roads and international flights. The Great Wall of China stretches across the northern part of the municipality. Other historical attractions in the city are Tiananmen Square, Peoples’ Congress and the Forbidden City.
Qingdao is surrounded by the sea on three sides, and is located in the southeast part of Shandong Province. To the east, a short distance across the Yellow Sea, lie Korea and Japan, making Qingdao an important city for international trade. For thirty three years, up to 1949, Qingdao was a colony of Germany and Japan. Thus, Qingdao has a great deal of European architecture. This foreign architecture – a remnant of the colonial past – now beautifies this seaside city. The red roofs, green trees, blue sea, and azure sky form a bright and colorful picture of Qingdao. The city is sometimes known as the Switzerland of the Orient.
Shanghai, the largest city in China, lies on the banks of the Yangtze River Delta. It is a highly modern city serving as an important economic, cultural, financial, commercial, industrial and communication center. This center of Chinese finance and trade has one of the world's busiest ports.
Courses Available
Students will complete CHIN 1399 / FST 1399 Chinese Language in China, which is a 6 credit language course. Students may participate in Mandarin courses from beginning level to advanced beginning level depending on student proficiency. The course will consist of 75 in-class hours. Participants will also learn about the Chinese culture through fieldtrips and guided city tours.
Eligibility
Participants MUST have a passport, valid for at least 6 months after their return to the U.S. Students also should be in good academic standing with a GPA of at least 2.5.
Costs
The program package is approximately $4,057. A non-refundable deposit will be due upon acceptance to the program. The remainder of the program fee will be billed through Student Accounts Receivable.
The program package includes:
- Tuition for 6-credit course
- Course books
- Roundtrip airfare from Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN to Beijing, China -- return flight from China will be from Shanghai to Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN
- Train from Beijing to Qingdao and airfare from Qingdao to Shanghai
- Housing in Beijing, Qingdao and Shanghai
- Fieldtrips to Xi'an and Mount Hua
- Cultural Insurance Services International health insurance
- International Student Travel Card
- Chinese visa
Students are responsible for the cost of their own meals. The estimated cost is approximately $500 for the six week period. Other items not included are the cost of obtaining a passport and personal spending money. It is recommended that all participants bring additional money for personal and miscellaneous expenses.
Fluctuating currency exchange rates may increase or decrease the cost of your international experience. Financial aid may be applied toward the cost of the program if you are enrolled as a full-time student (6 credits is full-time for May/Summer). There are several study abroad scholarships for University of Minnesota students.
Deadlines & Dates
The registration deadline is Friday, February 22, 2008. Early registration is strongly encouraged, as space is limited and the class will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Program dates are May 18 to June 28, 2008. (Beijing: Monday, May 19 through Thursday, May 22 -- Qingdao: Thursday, May 22 through Tuesday, June 24 -- Shanghai: Tuesday, June 24 through Sunday, June 28, 2008)
Orientation
At least one pre-departure orientation will be held. Pre-departure orientation will include information about financial aid information, international insurance, classwork, travel tips and a general study abroad handbook.
Housing
Housing facilities for students at the various locations are arranged by the program.
What's Next?
Before applying, it is a good idea to follow the steps under steps to studying abroad. The IEO website also provides information on financing, health & safety and other important information to consider when choosing to study abroad. When ready to apply, the UMD study abroad application may be downloaded from the IEO website. Please complete the application with required accompanying materials and return it to IEO.
Contact Dr. Zhuangyi Liu for program questions. For application/registration and location questions, contact Leigh Neys at (218) 726-7053 or email: lneys@d.umn.edu.
