For Students
Georgetown offers a variety of China-related programs and courses to its students.
- Undergraduate Programs
- Study Abroad
- Graduate Programs
- Scholarships and Awards
- Chinese Students and Scholars at Georgetown
- Summer Program in China for High School Students
- Resources for Travel to China
- Search the university's course listings for courses on China.
Chinese Major: The Chinese major combines thorough training in spoken and written Chinese language with the development of critical approaches to a broad range of Chinese cultural phenomena including classical and modern literature, visual arts, film, popular culture, and underlying aspects of philosophical and social thought. Most courses are conducted in Chinese with readings in Chinese.
Regional and Comparative Studies Major: Open to undergraduate students in the School of Foreign Service, this major allows students to concentrate on either one or two geographical regions, drawing from across a variety of academic disciplines. The major requires a total of ten courses, as well as language proficiency in a modern language appropriate to the region studied. Under this major, students can explore topics such as Chinese language, literature, culture, politics, economics, and foreign policy.
History Major: The History Major offers students the opportunity to take a wide variety of courses related to the history of Chinese politics, culture, and society. Students must take two semesters of general education courses and nine elective courses, up to six of which may be focused on a specific region.
Chinese Minor: The Chinese minor requires seven courses, at least six of which must be Chinese language courses or advanced courses conducted in Chinese. The seventh course may be taught in either Chinese or English and must have Chinese literature, culture/civilization, or linguistics as a substantial component.
Asian Studies Certificate: Open to all undergraduate students, the certificate requires a minimum of six semester courses, including the study of more than one Asian society or national group. Specific requirements include one course in Asian history, one course in humanities, one course in politics, one course in economics of the Asian region, and two elective courses in Asian Studies. A minimum of two years of study of an Asian language is also required.
During 2008, 88 Georgetown undergraduates studied abroad in China through the by Office of International Programs.
For the academic year, Georgetown offers programs located in:- Beijing (Associated Colleges in China, The Beijing Center, and Peking University)
- Harbin (Harbin Institute of Technology)
- Hong Kong (Chinese University of Hong Kong and University of Hong Kong)
- Nanjing (Nanjing University)
- Shanghai (East China Normal University)
- Taipei (National Chengchi University)
- Beijing (Peking University)
- Hong Kong (Comparative Business: the Asia-Pacific Perspective)
- Shanghai (Fudan University School of Public Health)
For Graduate Student Study Abroad, see Graduate Programs
MBA and IEMBA Global Residencies: For the past several years, MBA and IEMBA students have studied business conditions in China and conducted consulting projects for Chinese companies as part of a Global Integrative Course, culminating in a week-long residency. During the residencies, student teams present their results to client companies and visit a number of Chinese businesses.
The School of Business is currently seeking consulting projects from either small or large companies or organizations, located in the US or anywhere else in the world, which have interests in China. Projects can focus on market and industry analysis, financial valuation, production and operations, social issues, or any specific functional or management issue that confronts management of the sponsoring organization. For more information, see this introduction to the project.
Law-Asia Program: Law-Asia’s mission is to encourage scholarly communication between the faculty and students of Georgetown and their counterparts in East Asia; to focus the academic strengths of the Georgetown law and foreign policy faculty on legal issues arising out of Asia’s growing economic power; to ensure that Georgetown’s graduates will be equipped to practice competently and ethically in a global context shared with the nations of East Asia; and to make its expertise in law, legal pedagogy and foreign policy available to coming generations of US and Asian lawyers and policy makers. The program is co-directed by Viet Dinh and James Feinerman.
Global Law Scholars Program: In 2000, Georgetown inaugurated the Global Law Scholars Program in response to the changing nature of legal practice and in recognition of the Law Center’s prominent positioning—both academic and geographic—in the field of International Law. The GLS Program is small and selective, accepting only about 20 students each year. GLS students have enjoyed summer positions at law firms abroad—most recently, for example, in Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Egypt, France, Japan, Switzerland, Russia, and the United Kingdom—or at companies that operate across borders—for example, at General Electric International in China and Belgium.
Semester Abroad at Tsinghua University Law School: Students at the Law Center have the opportunity to spend a semester abroad at Tsinghua University Law School. These students are able to participate in the LL.M program in Chinese Law while at Tsinghua. It is the first of its kind in China and is taught entirely in English. Georgetown students will take classes with other foreign law students and legal professionals. Students will be able to earn up to 12 credits through coursework completed at Tsinghua.
International Programs for Medical Students: Medical students can spend part of their academic program at Fudan University's Huashan Hospital. Students find this is an excellent way to apply their medical skills and knowledge, as well as receive a culturally diverse medical experience.
Asian Studies Graduate Certificate: The Asian Studies Graduate Certificate is open to individuals already admitted to a Georgetown University graduate program. For graduate students interested in China, the program offers classes in Chinese government, history, economics, sociology, anthropology, philosophy, and culture/society.
Henry Chen Memorial Scholarship: Awarded annually by the Asian Studies Faculty to a student who exemplifies the qualities and ideals to which Professor Chen’s life was devoted. The $500 scholarship supports overseas study of Chinese language and culture. Students interested in this award are required to submit a proposal and resume by mid April to the School of Foreign Service, Asian Studies Program, 513A ICC, or via e-mail to asianstudies@georgetown.edu.
Chinese Government Scholarship: Since 2006, the Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC), in conjunction with the Chinese Embassy in Washington, has awarded full scholarships for Georgetown students to study in China for one year. In 2008, three Georgetown students received this award.
Fulbright Awards: Georgetown students have been consistently competitive in receiving Fulbright Awards to do research in China. The most recent winner is Alexander Davenport (SFS ’08), who will explore the role of education in the future of migrants within Shanghai society. Other recent winners include Maria Repnikova (SFS'06), who researched Chinese labor migration into Russia, Christine Fu (SFS'04), who studied the economic development of minorities in Yunnan Province, and Meredith Oyen (G'04, G'07), who did research on her doctoral dissertation, "Allies, Enemies, and Aliens: Migration in US-Chinese Relations, 1943-65.
"Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students (Greater Washington Metroplitan Area): This competition, sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Education, is held annually at the Confucius Institute at the University of Maryland. A Georgetown student has received first prize in this competition every year since its inception in 2002. Recent winners include Brian Timm-Brock (SFS '09), Nicholas Miller (SFS '10), Christian Perlingiere (SFS '07), and Angela Clubb (SFS '07).
Chinese Students and Scholars at Georgetown
During the 2007-2008 academic year, there were over 140 students from China enrolled at Georgetown. Overall, there are more Chinese students at Georgetown than any other foreign nationality except Korean. There are also currently about 95 scholars from China working at Georgetown, with the largest group at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Chinese Student and Scholars Association (CSSA): The Chinese Student and Scholars Association is an officially registered graduate student organization at Georgetown University. Currently, CSSA has more than 230 members who are mainly students, scholars, and faculty and staff originally from China. CSSA has been active and influential in sponsoring and organizing activities on the Georgetown University campus and in the Chinese community of Washington, DC.
Chinese Student Alliance (CSA): The Chinese Students Alliance was founded in 1991 as China Circle, and has grown into an organization that not only reaches students of Chinese descent at Georgetown, but engages the whole Georgetown community in cultural, political, and social events.
Summer Program in China for High School Students
During the summer, high school students have the opportunity to travel to China to collaborate with Georgetown faculty and local nongovernmental organizations to examine water quality, river stewardship, and other pressing environmental issues through visits to Beijing and Yunnan Province. For details, visit Georgetown Abroad: Discover China.
Resources for Travel to China
Students planning travel to China are encouraged to consult travel.georgetown.edu.You will find practical information on planning your visit, as well as funding opportunities.
