Honors Majors and Minors

The department is very tight, figuratively and literally. And within a minute the entire Chinese department came in and we just had this great back and forth. It was intense but friendly and fascinating... to have all these incredibly talented minds in a small room talking about a minute point... it’s just incredible.

— John H. Dolan ('01)

Requirements for the Honors major in Chinese essentially are the same as those for the course major, excepting the culminating exercise. An Honors Major in Chinese will consist of exams in Chinese language, literature, and culture. Work done through Study abroad may be incorporated where appropriate. Students interested in the Honors program in Chinese should consult with the section head of Chinese as soon as possible.

Honors Major in Chinese Requirements

  • a minimum of 9 credits
  • must complete the following courses: 020, 021, 033 or equivalent; at least one course in translation on modern Chinese literature/film, and one on pre-modern literature/culture
  • study abroad in a program approved by the Section is strongly recommended; transferred credits normally may be counted toward the major
  • a minimum of 6 credits of work must be completed at Swarthmore
  • 1 credit can be earned from another department on a China-related subject with the approval of the Chinese Section
  • honors preparations: two-credit seminars; designated pairs of courses (or one-credit attachments to designated one-credit courses); or a two-credit thesis
  • Senior Honors Study (up to 1 credit), normally arranged on an individual basis for the spring semester of the senior year
  • three Honors exams: 3-hour written exam and 30-minute oral exam

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Honors Major Requirements — Interdisciplinary Chinese Studies

  • a minimum of 10 credits
  • must complete the following courses: 012 or highter; at least two additional courses on language/literature/culture/film, one concerning the modern period and one the pre-modern period
  • study abroad in a program approved by the Section is strongly recommended; transferred credits normally may be counted toward the major
  • a minimum of 6 credits of work must be completed at Swarthmore
  • up to 3 credits can be earned from other departments on China-related subjects with the approval of the Chinese Section
  • two honors preparations, each consisting of a two-credit seminar, a designated pair of courses (or one-credit attachments to designated one-credit courses), or a two-credit thesis
  • Senior Honors Study (up to 1 credit), normally arranged on an individual basis for the spring semester of the senior year
  • three Honors exams: 3-hour written exam and 30-minute oral exam

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Honors Minor

  • choose either an Honors minor in Chinese language or in Chinese literature in translation
  • a minimum of five credits of work in courses numbered 4B and above
  • at least one course in classical or modern literature/culture/film in translation
  • a minimum of 3 credits of work must be completed at Swarthmore
  • study abroad in a program approved by the Section is strongly recommended; transferred credits normally may be counted toward the minor
  • one credit can be earned from another department on a China-related subject with the approval of the Chinese Section
  • one honors preparations — either a two-credit seminar or a designated pair of courses (or one-credit attachments to designated one-credit courses)
  • Senior Honors Study (up to 0.5 credit), normally arranged on an individual basis for the spring semester of the senior year
  • one Honors exam: 3-hour written exam and 30-minute oral exam

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