The Chinese department offers courses that provide training in the Chinese language and in the critical appreciation of Chinese literature, both classical and modern. Language instruction in the first two years emphasizes a solid grounding in the basic skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing. A third year of Chinese brings students to a level where they can begin reading simple unedited original texts with the help of a dictionary. A semester course in classical Chinese is also offered to third-year level students to enable them to read classical texts in the original. Another semester course in the fourth year completes the cycle of Chinese language training at the undergraduate level.

The literature offerings include surveys in translation and selected topics in the original. The former, which may be taken as Chinese or literature courses, are designed to equip students with the most essential knowledge of the literary history of China. The latter are more in-depth studies of texts selected from a variety of periods and authors for students with a reading knowledge of Chinese.

Courses in related subjects such as Chinese intellectual history and Chinese-Western comparative literature are offered to place Chinese literature in broader cultural contexts. The Chinese department participates in the interdisciplinary humanities course, Foundations of Chinese Civilization. Chinese majors are required to take this course. A description of the course can be found in the humanities section of the catalog.

The Chinese House, a residence hall, is the center of extracurricular activities for students interested in Chinese and other Asian cultures. The Chinese resident fellow offers tutoring, conversation sessions, and other assistance to students taking Chinese.

The importance of a period of total immersion in a target language environment cannot be overemphasized for learners of Chinese. Chinese majors are strongly encouraged to apply to Reed-sponsored study programs in China. The Chinese department assists in the arrangement of such study trips and assesses the transcripts brought back from overseas for possible credit transfer.

Exclusive of work needed to meet general college and divisional requirements:

1. A minimum of five units at the 300 and 400 levels, including one unit of third-year Chinese, one unit of classical Chinese, and one unit of either classical Chinese literature or modern and contemporary Chinese literature.
2. Humanities 230-Foundations of Chinese Civilization.
3. A minimum of one unit in Chinese history to be taken in the history department.
4. Chinese 470.

Recommended but not required:

1. An additional unit in Chinese history.
2. Religion 261-Introduction to the Religions of Asia.
3. Any other Asia-related course that the college may offer.