Course Description (BA)
The aim of the Single Honours degree scheme is to lay the academic groundwork for students to become specialists or to advance to MA or other forms of research in the broadly defined areas of Chinese language, Chinese culture and society. Like similar BA degree schemes running in other universities in the UK, the Single Honours BA in Chinese Studies places its emphasis upon Chinese language and literature studies. However, distinguishing Lampeter from similar schemes in other universities, a more extensive and systematic coverage of Chinese culture, history, philosophy, religion and film is provided, equipping students not only with best language skills but also with a thorough knowledge of traditional Chinese culture and modern society.
Our Chinese language lecturers are all Mandarin Chinese native speakers, while other members of academic staff are experts on Chinese culture, history, management, film and media, philosophy and religions.
It is anticipated that at the end of the course, students will find a good variety of career opportunities in both the private and the public sectors, where the demand for staff with a good knowledge of Chinese language and Chinese culture continues to rise.
Course Structure
Chinese Studies at Lampeter is offered as Single and Joint Honours degree programmes. A Single Honours (SH) degree allows you to concentrate on the many aspects of Chinese studies offered here, whilst still allowing you the flexibility to take modules of interest taught by other departments if you wish. In a Joint Honours (JH) degree programme, Chinese Studies is therefore studied in combination with another academic subject taught in Lampeter, for instance Theology & Religious Studies or English with Teaching English as a Foreign Language.
All students at Lampeter need to complete modules worth 120 credits per year studying full time (part time students can register for fewer modules each year but will take more than three years to complete their degree).
In each year of the Single Honours Chinese Studies programme, students are required to take 70 credits of compulsory modules and to take 50 credits modules from a variety of option courses. By right, students can each year take 20 credits of optional modules offered by other departments (and up to 40 credits with the agreement of both departments.)
For students on Joint Honours programmes, including Chinese Studies, it is anticipated that they will register for modules worth 60 credits per year with each of their two departments. However, with the agreement of both departments, you may take modules worth 80 or even 90 credits in Chinese Studies.
Individual module titles are listed (click on the module name for more information).
BA Studies Booklet [pdf]
Introduction [1mb]
Single Honours [1.2mb]
Joint Honours [800k]
Examples of Modules Offered:
Credit Level 4
Chinese Language
Premodern Chinese History
Chinese Mythology
Chinese Conversation
Daoism and Confucianism
Introduction to Contemporary China
Introduction to Chinese Culture
Credit Level 5
Chinese Language
Modern Chinese History
Classical Chinese
Confucianism
Chinese Literature
Chinese Reading and Writing
Chinese Philosophy and Religion
Chinese Cinema: Politics and Aesthetics
Credit Level 6
Chinese Language
Confucianism
Chinese Poetry
Chinese TV Drama
The Films of Zhang Yimou
Classical Chinese Readings
Chinese Reading and Writing
Chinese Philosophy and Religion
Year in China
As part of the Single Honours degree scheme, you will have the opportunity to spend one year in China; students will study either at Beijing Union University in Beijing or at Hebei University in Hebei province in the north of China. You will experience Chinese culture first-hand, improve your language skills, develop an understanding of Chinese culture and become familiar with Chinese society. This year abroad is an integral part of the Single Honours study programme and is essential for your successful completion of the course.
China Experience
Joint Honours students are also offered the opportunity to study Chinese language, culture and society through a personal experience. Students who have successfully completed Level 5 modules and intend to do this module as part of their Level 6 study will be expected to submit a research proposal at the beginning of Term 3 of Year 2. The proposal should include an outline of the subject to be investigated, a brief literature review and an initial practical arrangement. After being approved, the students will go to China during the summer vacation and spend a minimum of four weeks there, preferably taking a relevant academic/language programme provided by a partner University. Following the China Experience, all students are required to submit a long essay of no less than 8000 words at the beginning of Year 3.
Teaching and Assessment
The BA Chinese Studies Single Honours degree programme at Lampeter allows you to concentrate on the many aspects of Chinese studies offered here, whilst still allowing you the flexibility to take modules of interest taught by other departments if you wish. All full-time students are expected to complete 120 credits per year; students studying Chinese Studies Single Honours are required to take 70 credits of compulsory modules and to take 50 credits worth of modules from a variety of optional courses. Students may choose to take up to 40 credits worth of their optional modules with other academic departments, through agreement with both departments.
Chinese language modules are taught through a variety of methods, including interactive lectures and seminars, tutorials and conversation classes in small groups.
Most undergraduate modules are assessed by a combination of coursework and examination. Coursework may be assessed by a variety of means and may include:
essays
time tests
oral presentations
dissertation
Part-time Study Opportunities
All of our undergraduate courses may be undertaken through part-time study, allowing you to manage your studies around other commitments. Studying for a degree part-time takes between 6 and 10 years, depending upon how many credits you can accumulate each year. If your circumstances change, you may swap between full-time and part-time study to suit.
If you are applying as a part-time student, you may apply directly to the University. The academic year begins in late September and runs through to June or September of the following year. You should ensure that we receive your application in time for the beginning of your course of interest. Please contact The Academic Registry for an application form:
The Academic Registry
University of Wales Lampeter
Ceredigion
SA48 7ED
UK
Tel: 01570 424831
admissions@lamp.ac.uk
Special Features
As part of this degree scheme, you will also have the opportunity to visit China; Single Honours students will spend one year in China, either at Beijing Union University in Beijing or at Hebei University in Hebei province in the north of China. You will experience Chinese culture first-hand, improve your language skills, develop an understanding of Chinese culture and become familiar with Chinese society. Joint Honours students will also have an opportunity to go to China during the summer vacation following the successful completion of their Level 5 modules. Students will spend a minimum of four weeks in China, usually following a relevant academic/language programme provided by a partner University.
Student Views
"Coming here to Lampeter to study Chinese was one of the best decisions I ever made. The tutors are so friendly and are always there to help.You become part of the Chinese community and relationships between the lecturers and students are very strong. If you join this course, you will love your time here!"
Samantha Louise Pryce, BA Chinese Studies and Media Studies
"Studying Chinese in Lampeter has really helped me to expand my knowledge, not only of the Chinese language but also in other aspects such as Chinese history and culture. Lampeter also offers the opportunity to experience Chinese culture as there are many Chinese students on campus. The lecturers are very supportive and approachable and they encourage us to have a language partner to help with our Chinese language."
Lisa Thorn del Campo, BA Chinese Studies and Classical Studies
"Having always had an interest in Far Eastern cultures I decided that I should come to Lampeter to learn more about China, her history and people. Despite knowing more about the culture than most people, I was immediately surprised by how little I actually knew. China has such a vast history and deep culture that there is always something new to learn, which means that the topic is always interesting. The close-knit Chinese community makes studying here feel like being a part of a family and the foreign students always have time to help anyone studying Chinese. With such a supportive community and such a friendly atmosphere, I am sure that the course here will go from strength to strength."
Matthew Philip Llewellyn, BA Chinese Studies and Film Studies
Career Opportunities
Potential career opportunities include:
Teaching
Translation
Diplomacy
Media
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University of Wales, Lampeter,
Ceredigion, SA48 7ED.
Tel: 01570 424879
Fax: 01570 424987
E-mail: chinesestudies@lamp.ac.uk