Dive into the language and culture of China by studying the Chinese language. Gain knowledge of Chinese culture and learn history, values, philosophical and religious beliefs and aesthetic traditions.
Students can choose to earn an Associate in Arts and follow the Chinese Transfer Pathway or take Chinese courses to meet general education requirements.
COD offers Chinese courses in the traditional format where classes meet weekly and students have the opportunity to interact with an instructor and their peers. Students will take courses in Chinese civilization and culture and elementary and intermediate Chinese.
Studying Chinese courses also offers the opportunity to live and study abroad in Xi’an, China. Students will take the following courses:
Determine Your Path
Increase your job prospects by studying Chinese, as it is the most spoken language in the world.
College of DuPage offers a world of educational opportunities in your own backyard. At COD, you'll find:
- Dedicated instructors with years of professional experience.
- Instruction utilizing our state-of-the-art facilities.
- Affordable courses to help you achieve success without creating overwhelming debt or draining your savings account.
- Small class sizes to ensure you receive personalized attention.
Chinese Transfer Pathway
The Chinese Transfer Pathway, Associate in Arts represents a typical course schedule or sequence for a student planning to complete the Associate in Arts degree within two years, then transfer and major in a specific discipline.
The study of Chinese offers many benefits including:
- Communication
Mandarin is currently spoken by nearly one-fifth of the world’s population. Since China is of one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, Chinese is also an official United Nations language. Chinese is one of the few world languages which remain pictographic. The writing of the language in itself can be described as an art form. - Cultural Knowledge
The study of Chinese opens up a unique window into one of the world’s most ancient civilizations. Studying the Chinese language ultimately leads to learning Chinese history, cultural values, philosophical and religious beliefs and aesthetic traditions. The more proficient you become in the language, the more you will be able to appreciate and understand China’s past and present. You will also understand and enjoy more when visiting historical sightseeing places. - Career Opportunities
The People’s Republic of China currently boasts the second largest economy in the world and is widely expected to become a major geopolitical force in the new millennium. Graduates with proficiency in Mandarin will be well positioned for jobs in government, international relations, finance, tourism, translation and teaching. With China having a population of 1.28 billion people, the market share of fields and businesses which work with China continues to grow. - Fun
Chinese is a tonal language consisting of four tones. This adds one more dimension to understanding and speaking the language. Learning how to write characters is rewarding and an interesting experience for many new learners. These characteristics provide a lifetime of intellectual stimulation.
Get Started Today
The first step to getting started in the Chinese Languages program is to apply for admission.
Academic and Career Pathways give you a roadmap to achieving your career goals. Follow a pathway based on your degree that outlines which classes you need to take and when so you graduate on time or move on to the next phase in your career.
Students who complete courses in any of the Foreign Languages disciplines will:
- Communicate effectively in more than one language in order to function in a variety of situations and for multiple purposes
- Interact with cultural competence and understanding
- Connect with other disciplines and acquire information and diverse perspectives in order to use the language to function in academic and career-related situations
- Develop insight into the nature of language and culture in order to interact with cultural competence
- Communicate and interact with cultural competence in order to participate in multilingual communities at home and around the world
College of DuPage has several languages transfer agreements in place with four-year colleges and universities to save you time, money and make the transfer process easier.
Many of these agreements with other colleges and universities have specific course requirements and a pre-determined course plan that needs to be followed to be eligible to transfer. Contact a program faculty member or academic advisor to learn more as course requirements vary by institution.
