Chinese Specialization
On this page:
- Required Coursework
- Current Course Offerings
- Critical Concentration Courses
- Current Critical Concentration Offerings
Other links:
Undergraduate Coordinator:
Dr. Stephan Kory
304 Pugh Hall
skory@ufl.edu
352-392-7083
Overview
The Chinese specialization of the Foreign Languages and Literatures major provides a foundation for graduate-level work in East Asian studies or allied fields (anthropology, art history, history, linguistics, political science and religion). The major is excellent general preparation for entry to professional schools (business, journalism, law and medicine) or careers in foreign service, commerce, diplomacy, translation, business, import and export of information and culture, museums, libraries, and tourism.
Requirements for the Major
The Chinese specialization of the Foreign Languages and Literatures major consists of preparatory language study at the lower division (1000 and 2000 level), and 33 credits of advanced language, theory, and culture study in the upper division (3000 level and above).
All coursework for the major must be completed with minimum grades of C.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Foundation Coursework | ||
| Total depends on placement in language courses | ||
| CHI 1130 | Beginning Chinese 1 | 5 |
| CHI 1131 | Beginning Chinese 2 | 5 |
| CHI 2230 | Intermediate Chinese 1 | 4-5 |
| or CHI 2340 | Chinese for Heritage Learners 1 | |
| CHI 2231 | Intermediate Chinese 2 | 4-5 |
| or CHI 2341 | Chinese for Heritage Learners 2 | |
| Required Major Core Coursework | ||
| Advanced Language and Culture | ||
| CHI 3410 | Advanced Chinese 1 | 3 |
| CHI 3411 | Advanced Chinese 2 | 3 |
| Advanced Major Elective Coursework | ||
| Select 18 credits with at least six credits of CHT courses: | 18 | |
CHI 3403 | Chinese Calligraphy | |
CHI 3440 | Business Chinese | |
CHI 4050 | Fourth Year Chinese 1 | |
CHI 4051 | Fourth Year Chinese 2 | |
CHI 4850 | Structure of Chinese | |
CHI 4905 | Individual Study | |
CHI 4930 | Special Topics in Chinese Studies | |
CHI 4935 | Senior Thesis | |
CHI 4940 | Internship | |
CHI 4956 | Overseas Studies | |
CHT 3101 | Translation Method: Chinese to English | |
CHT 3110 | Chinese Literary Heritage | |
CHT 3123 | Pre-Modern Chinese Fiction in Translation | |
CHT 3124 | Modern Chinese Fiction in Translation | |
CHT 3302 | Tales of the Strange in Medieval Chinese Literature | |
CHT 3391 | Chinese Film and Media | |
CHT 3500 | Chinese Culture | |
CHT 3510 | All the Tea in China | |
CHT 3511 | Chinese Martial Arts Fiction | |
CHT 3513 | Taoism and Chinese Culture | |
CHT 3523 | Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the New Global Cinema | |
CHT 4111 | Dream of the Red Chamber | |
CHT 4603 | Journey to the West | |
CHW 4120 | Classical Chinese 1 | |
CHW 4121 | Classical Chinese 2 | |
CHW 4130 | Readings in Chinese Literature | |
CHW 4140 | Newspaper Chinese | |
| Critical Concentration | ||
| Select 9 credits from one concentration: 1 | 9 | |
Intensive Area Studies 2 | ||
Comparative Cultural Studies | ||
Film and Visual Culture | ||
Literary Studies | ||
Medieval and Early Modern Studies | ||
| Total Credits | 51-53 | |
- 1
Although courses may appear in more than one group they may be counted toward only one group.
- 2
Recommended for those planning to pursue careers requiring advanced level skills in Chinese or graduate work in Chinese studies.
Students must take the Chinese STAMP 4s Proficiency Test or the equivalent, with level 4 or above proficiency, during or immediately following the second semester of Advanced Chinese or other advanced level course.
Students also must achieve satisfactory faculty evaluation of a self-selected research term paper written for an upper-division course or senior thesis.
Overseas Study
UF in Chengdu at Southwestern University of Finance and Economics is a summer program that provides the equivalent of the UF courses Intermediate Chinese 1 and 2 (CHI 2230/CHI 2231) and Advanced Chinese 1 and 2 (CHI 3410/CHI 3411) through a 10-week summer session, and uses the same syllabus and required textbooks. Its transfer-credit program features courses in English, CHI 4930 and CHI 4956, that also may apply toward the Chinese specialization.
Placement
Students with previous training in Chinese, as well as those with heritage background in the language, should consult the undergraduate coordinator or the language coordinator of the Chinese specialization before enrolling in any CHI or CHW course. Placement tests are given at the start of each semester; refer to the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures for location and times.
Current Course Offerings (Fall 2025)
CHI1130 - Beginning Chinese 1
Beginning study covering four skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Materials are designed for learners with no prior exposure to the language. Those with native background or education for four years or more in a Chinese speaking country must take a placement test before enrolling in any Chinese language class.
Class #10807
Class #10808
Class #10809
EEP Eligible
Instructor: Elinore Fresh
Meet: Primary Classroom
Credits: 5
Department: Languages, Literatures & Cultures Chinese
Final Exam: 12/10/2025 @ 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Class Dates: 08/21/2025 - 12/03/2025
Class #10810
Beginning study covering four skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Materials are designed for learners with no prior exposure to the language. Those with native background or education for four years or more in a Chinese speaking country must take a placement test before enrolling in any Chinese language class.
CHI1131 - Beginning Chinese 2
Continued study of the four skills with additional vocabulary and grammar.
Credits: 5; Prereq: CHI 1130 with minimum grade of C, or S, or the equivalent.
Class #23330
EEP Eligible
Instructor: Elinore Fresh
Meet: Primary Classroom
Credits: 5
Department: Languages, Literatures & Cultures Chinese
Final Exam: 12/10/2025 @ 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Class Dates: 08/21/2025 - 12/03/2025
Continued study of the four skills with additional vocabulary and grammar.
Credits: 5; Prereq: CHI 1130 with minimum grade of C, or S, or the equivalent.
CHI2230 - Intermediate Chinese 1
Intermediate study of the four skills with new vocabulary and grammar.
Credits: 5; Prereq: CHI 1131 with minimum grade of C, or S, or the equivalent.
Class #10823
Intermediate study of the four skills with new vocabulary and grammar.
Credits: 5; Prereq: CHI 1131 with minimum grade of C, or S, or the equivalent.
CHI3410 - Advanced Chinese 1
Advanced study of the four skills with attention to more complex structures.
Prereq: CHI 2231 with minimum grade of C, or S, or the equivalent.
Class #10825
Advanced study of the four skills with attention to more complex structures.
Prereq: CHI 2231 with minimum grade of C, or S, or the equivalent.
CHI4050 - Fourth Year Chinese 1
Introduces and analyzes the documentary prose style used in Chinese newspapers and media. By studying a variety of short texts students develop skill in listening, speaking, reading and writing about issues commonly encountered in Chinese newspaper editorials and in television news programs, debate roundtables, or TV documentaries.
Prereq: CHI 3411 or equivalent with a minimum grade of C.
Introduces and analyzes the documentary prose style used in Chinese newspapers and media. By studying a variety of short texts students develop skill in listening, speaking, reading and writing about issues commonly encountered in Chinese newspaper editorials and in television news programs, debate roundtables, or TV documentaries.
Prereq: CHI 3411 or equivalent with a minimum grade of C.
CHI4905 - Individual Study
For those who seek independent work not offered in another course. Includes all individual study courses offered by the Chinese section.
Class #10826
---
Instructor: TBA
Meet: Primary Classroom
Credits: 1-5
Department: Languages, Literatures & Cultures Chinese
Final Exam: TBA
Class Dates: 08/21/2025 - 12/03/2025
For those who seek independent work not offered in another course. Includes all individual study courses offered by the Chinese section.
CHI4911 - Undergraduate Research in Language or Linguistics: UG RES LANG OR LING
Provides firsthand, supervised research in Language or Linguistics. Projects may involve inquiry, design, investigation, scholarship, discovery or application in Language or Linguistics.
Class #10842
---
Instructor: TBA
Meet: Primary Classroom
Credits: 0-3
Department: Languages, Literatures & Cultures Chinese
Final Exam: TBA
Class Dates: 08/21/2025 - 12/03/2025
Provides firsthand, supervised research in Language or Linguistics. Projects may involve inquiry, design, investigation, scholarship, discovery or application in Language or Linguistics.
CHT3110 - Chinese Literary Heritage
Introduces pre-modern Chinese literature in translation. Topics chosen from classical poetry, short stories, novels, and drama. Emphasizes the interplay between orthodox values and the folk tradition. All readings are in English.
Prereq: Minimum 15 credits earned in enrollment, test, or transfer credit.
Class #23331
EEP EligibleGen Ed: InternationalWriting: 6,000 Words
Instructor: Stephan Kory
Meet: Primary Classroom
Credits: 3
Department: Languages, Literatures & Cultures Chinese
Final Exam: 12/12/2025 @ 7:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Class Dates: 08/21/2025 - 12/03/2025
Introduces pre-modern Chinese literature in translation. Topics chosen from classical poetry, short stories, novels, and drama. Emphasizes the interplay between orthodox values and the folk tradition. All readings are in English.
Prereq: Minimum 15 credits earned in enrollment, test, or transfer credit.
CHT3302 - Tales of the Strange in Medieval Chinese Literature
Introduces traditional Chinese tales of the strange and primary sources that contributed to their development. Also covers cross-cultural literary theories of the fantastic and uncanny; interdisciplinary literary, discourse, and narrative theories; and three common medieval Chinese worldviews.
Prereq: One CHI or CHT or CHW course.
Class #26092
Introduces traditional Chinese tales of the strange and primary sources that contributed to their development. Also covers cross-cultural literary theories of the fantastic and uncanny; interdisciplinary literary, discourse, and narrative theories; and three common medieval Chinese worldviews.
Prereq: One CHI or CHT or CHW course.
CHT4603 - Journey to the West
Exploration of traditional Chinese religious culture, cultural history and literacy expression through a 100 chapter novel known as Journey to the West, or Monkey.
Prereq: one course in Chinese culture or instructor permission.
Exploration of traditional Chinese religious culture, cultural history and literacy expression through a 100 chapter novel known as Journey to the West, or Monkey.
Prereq: one course in Chinese culture or instructor permission.
Concentration Courses
CRITICAL CONCENTRATION COURSES
9 Credits from One Concentration
Although courses may appear in more than one group, they may be counted toward only one group.
Intensive Area Studies | Chinese | Option 1
Recommended for those planning to pursue careers requiring advanced level skills in Chinese or graduate work in Chinese studies.
Option 1 | China
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CHI 3403 | Chinese Calligraphy | 3 |
| CHI 3440 | Business Chinese | 3 |
| CHI 4050 | Fourth Year Chinese 1 | 3 |
| CHI 4051 | Fourth Year Chinese 2 | 3 |
| CHI 4850 | Structure of Chinese | 3 |
| CHI 4930 | Special Topics in Chinese Studies | 3 |
| CHI 4935 | Senior Thesis | 3 |
| CHI 4940 | Internship | 1-6 |
| CHT 3110 | Chinese Literary Heritage | 3 |
| CHT 3123 | Pre-Modern Chinese Fiction in Translation | 3 |
| CHT 3124 | Modern Chinese Fiction in Translation | 3 |
| CHT 3391 | Chinese Film and Media | 3 |
| CHT 3500 | Chinese Culture | 3 |
| CHT 3513 | Taoism and Chinese Culture | 3 |
| CHT 3523 | Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the New Global Cinema | 4 |
| CHT 4111 | Dream of the Red Chamber | 3 |
| CHT 4603 | Journey to the West | 3 |
| CHW 4120 | Classical Chinese 1 | 3 |
| CHW 4121 | Classical Chinese 2 | 3 |
Intensive Area Studies | Chinese | Option 2
Option 2 | Comparative Studies East Asia
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANT 3364 | Peoples and Cultures of China | 3 |
| ANT 4930 | Special Topics in Anthropology (Ethnicity in China) | 3 |
| ARC 3291 | Special Studies in Architecture | 1-6 |
| ARH 3552 | Chinese Art and Archaeology 2000 BCE | 3 |
| ARH 3555 | Late Imperial and Modern Chinese Art, 1907 - present | 3 |
| ARH 4533 | Asian Monuments and Heritage Conservation | 3 |
| ARH 4559 | Archaeology of Death in Ancient China | 3 |
| ARH 4931 | Art History Seminar (Art in Tombs) | 3 |
| ASH 3442 | Modern Japan | 3 |
| ASH 3931 | Special Topics in Asian History (The Japanese Empire) | 3 |
| ASH 3931 | Special Topics in Asian History (Asia & the World) | 3 |
| ASH 3931 | Special Topics in Asian History (Modern China) | 3 |
| ASH 3931 | Special Topics in Asian History (Asian Borderlands) | 3 |
| ASH 3931 | Special Topics in Asian History (Women & Gender Modern Asia) | 3 |
| ASH 4930 | History Research Seminar: Asia (Pacific War) | 3 |
| REL 3318 | Chinese Religions | 3 |
| REL 3336 | Religion in Modern India | 3 |
| REL 3938 | Special Topics in Religion (Buddhist Meditation) | 3 |
| VTT 3500 | Vietnamese Culture | 3 |
Comparative Cultural Studies
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ABT 3500 | Arabic Culture | 3 |
| ABT 4131 | The Qur'an as Literature | 3 |
| ARA 3510 | The Arab Woman | 3 |
| CHI 3403 | Chinese Calligraphy | 3 |
| CHT 3500 | Chinese Culture | 3 |
| CHT 3510 | All the Tea in China | 3 |
| CHT 3513 | Taoism and Chinese Culture | 3 |
| CZT 3564 | Modern Czech Culture and Society | 3 |
| FRT 3004 | Monuments and Masterpieces of France | 3 |
| FRT 3561 | Women in French Literature and/or Cinema | 3-4 |
| FRT 4500 | East-West Encounters | 3 |
| GET 3003 | German Culture and Civilization 1 | 3 |
| GET 3004 | Modern German Culture and Civilization | 3 |
| GET 3200 | Medieval Literary Culture | 3 |
| GET 3201 | Early Modern Literary Culture | 3 |
| GET 3501 | History, Literature and Arts of Berlin | 3 |
| GET 3580 | Representations of War in Literature and Visual Media | 3 |
| GET 3930 | Variable Topics in German Studies (German Fairy Tales) | 3 |
| GEW 4401 | Cities as Cultural Centers | 3 |
| HAI 3930 | Topics in Haitian Language and Culture | 3 |
| HAT 3503 | Haitian Culture and Literature in Translation | 3 |
| HAT 3564 | Haitian Culture and Society | 3 |
| HAT 3700 | Introduction to Haitian Creole Linguistics | 3 |
| ITT 3431 | Italy and Pilgrimages | 3 |
| ITT 3443 | Dante's Inferno (English) | 3 |
| ITT 3540 | Murder Italian Style: Crime Fiction and Film in Italy | 3 |
| ITT 3541 | Gangsters and Godfathers: Italian Mafia Movies | 3 |
| ITT 3700 | The Demolition of Man: Italian Perspectives on the Jewish Holocaust | 3 |
| ITT 3930 | Special Topics in Italian Literature and Culture | 3 |
| JMT 3500 | Jamaican Creole, Reggae, and Rastafari | 3 |
| JPT 3500 | Japanese Culture | 3 |
| JPT 3521 | Monsters and Horror in Japan | 3 |
| JPT 3702 | Japanese Visual Culture | 3 |
| JPT 4502 | Japanese Folklore | 3 |
| JPT 4510 | Representations of Japan's Modern Empire | 3 |
| RUT 3443 | War and Peace | 3 |
| RUT 3500 | Russian Cultural Heritage | 3 |
| RUT 3501 | Contemporary Russian Culture and Society | 3 |
| RUT 3503 | Violence and Terror in the Russian Experience | 3 |
| RUT 3504 | Russia Today | 3 |
| RUT 3506 | Creative Lives: Writers, Artists, and Extraordinary People | 3 |
| RUT 3514 | Russian Fairy Tales | 3 |
| RUT 3530 | Russia's Struggle with Nature: Legacies of Destruction and Preservation | 3 |
| RUT 3600 | The Twentieth Century through Slavic Eyes | 3 |
| RUT 3601 | The Culture of the Cold War | 3 |
| RUT 4450 | Russian Modernism | 3 |
| VTT 3500 | Vietnamese Culture | 3 |
| YOT 3500 | Yoruba Diaspora in the New World | 3 |
Film and Visual Culture
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CHI 4930 | Special Topics in Chinese Studies | 3 |
| CHT 3391 | Chinese Film and Media | 4 |
| CHT 3523 | Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the New Global Cinema | 4 |
| FRT 3520 | French Cinema | 4 |
| FRT 3561 | Women in French Literature and/or Cinema | 3-4 |
| FRT 4500 | East-West Encounters | 3 |
| FRT 4523 | European Identities, European Cinemas | 4 |
| GET 3520 | Early German Cinema to 1945 | 4 |
| GET 3580 | Representations of War in Literature and Visual Media | 3 |
| GET 4521 | Women and German Cinema | 4 |
| GET 4523 | New Cinema 1945 to the Present | 4 |
| GET 4930 | Variable Topics in German Studies | 3 |
| HBR 4930 | Special Topics | 3 |
| ITT 3521 | Italian Cinema | 4 |
| ITT 3540 | Murder Italian Style: Crime Fiction and Film in Italy | 3 |
| ITT 3541 | Gangsters and Godfathers: Italian Mafia Movies | 3 |
| ITT 3930 | Special Topics in Italian Literature and Culture | 3 |
| JPN 4930 | Special Topics in Japanese Studies | 3 |
| JPT 3391 | Introduction to Japanese Film | 4 |
| JPT 3521 | Monsters and Horror in Japan | 3 |
| JPT 3702 | Japanese Visual Culture | 3 |
| RUT 3524 | Russia through Film | 3 |
| RUT 3601 | The Culture of the Cold War | 3 |
| SSA 4930 | Special Topics in African Studies | 3 |
Literary Studies
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ABT 3130 | Arabic Literary Heritage 1 | 3 |
| ABT 4131 | The Qur'an as Literature | 3 |
| CHI 4930 | Special Topics in Chinese Studies | 3 |
| CHT 3110 | Chinese Literary Heritage | 3 |
| CHT 3123 | Pre-Modern Chinese Fiction in Translation | 3 |
| CHT 3124 | Modern Chinese Fiction in Translation | 3 |
| CHT 3302 | Tales of the Strange in Medieval Chinese Literature | 3 |
| CHT 4111 | Dream of the Red Chamber | 3 |
| CHT 4603 | Journey to the West | 3 |
| CHT 3511 | Chinese Martial Arts Fiction | 3 |
| FRT 3004 | Monuments and Masterpieces of France | 3 |
| FRT 3561 | Women in French Literature and/or Cinema | 3-4 |
| GET 3200 | Medieval Literary Culture | 3 |
| GET 3201 | Early Modern Literary Culture | 3 |
| GET 3501 | History, Literature and Arts of Berlin | 3 |
| GET 3580 | Representations of War in Literature and Visual Media | 3 |
| GET 3930 | Variable Topics in German Studies | 3-9 |
| GET 4930 | Variable Topics in German Studies | 3 |
| HAT 3503 | Haitian Culture and Literature in Translation | 3 |
| HBR 4930 | Special Topics | 3 |
| HBT 3223 | Identity and Dissent in the Hebrew Short Story | 3 |
| ITT 3431 | Italy and Pilgrimages | 3 |
| ITT 3443 | Dante's Inferno (English) | 3 |
| ITT 3540 | Murder Italian Style: Crime Fiction and Film in Italy | 3 |
| ITT 3700 | The Demolition of Man: Italian Perspectives on the Jewish Holocaust | 3 |
| ITT 3930 | Special Topics in Italian Literature and Culture | 3 |
| JPT 3100 | Tales of Kyoto | 3 |
| JPT 3120 | Modern Japanese Fiction in Translation | 3 |
| JPT 3121 | Contemporary Japanese Literature: Postwar to Postmodern | 3 |
| JPT 3140 | Modern Women Writers | 3 |
| JPT 3150 | Classical Japanese Poetry | 3 |
| JPT 3300 | Samurai War Tales | 3 |
| JPT 3330 | Early Modern Japanese Literature | 3 |
| JPT 3521 | Monsters and Horror in Japan | 3 |
| JPT 3330 | Early Modern Japanese Literature | 3 |
| JPT 4130 | The Tale of Genji | 3 |
| JPT 4502 | Japanese Folklore | 3 |
| JPT 4510 | Representations of Japan's Modern Empire | 3 |
| PLT 3930 | Special Topics in Polish Studies | 3 |
| RUT 3101 | Russian Masterpieces | 3 |
| RUT 3441 | Tolstoy and Dostoevsky | 3 |
| RUT 3442 | Themes from Russian Literature | 3 |
| RUT 3443 | War and Peace | 3 |
| RUT 3452 | Russian Literature of the Twentieth Century | 3 |
| RUT 3503 | Violence and Terror in the Russian Experience | 3 |
| RUT 3506 | Creative Lives: Writers, Artists, and Extraordinary People | 3 |
| RUT 3514 | Russian Fairy Tales | 3 |
| RUT 3530 | Russia's Struggle with Nature: Legacies of Destruction and Preservation | 3 |
| RUT 3600 | The Twentieth Century through Slavic Eyes | 3 |
| RUT 3601 | The Culture of the Cold War | 3 |
| RUT 3930 | Variable Topics in Russian Studies | 3 |
| RUT 4440 | Pushkin and Gogol | 3 |
| RUT 4450 | Russian Modernism | 3 |
| SST 4502 | African Oral Literature | 3 |
| SSW 3303 | Swahili Oral Literature | 3 |
| SSW 4713 | African Women Writers | 3 |
| VTN 4930 | Special Topics in Vietnamese Studies | 3 |
Medieval and Early Modern Studies
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARA 3510 | The Arab Woman | 3 |
| CHT 3110 | Chinese Literary Heritage | 3 |
| CHT 3123 | Pre-Modern Chinese Fiction in Translation | 3 |
| CHT 3302 | Tales of the Strange in Medieval Chinese Literature | 3 |
| CHT 3511 | Chinese Martial Arts Fiction | 3 |
| CHT 3513 | Taoism and Chinese Culture | 3 |
| CHT 4111 | Dream of the Red Chamber | 3 |
| CHT 4603 | Journey to the West | 3 |
| GET 3200 | Medieval Literary Culture | 3 |
| GET 3201 | Early Modern Literary Culture | 3 |
| ITT 3431 | Italy and Pilgrimages | 3 |
| ITT 3443 | Dante's Inferno (English) | 3 |
| JPT 3300 | Samurai War Tales | 3 |
| JPT 3330 | Early Modern Japanese Literature | 3 |
| JPT 3521 | Monsters and Horror in Japan | 3 |
| MEM 3003 | Introduction to the Medieval World | 3 |
| MEM 3300 | Castles and Cloisters: An Introduction to Medieval Communities | 3 |
| MEM 3301 | Palaces and Cities: An Introduction to Early Modern Communities | 3 |
| MEM 3730 | Studies in the Holy Roman Empire | 3 |
| MEM 3931 | Variable Topics in Medieval and Early Modern Studies | 3 |