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A Reed College student uses a traditional brush to write Chinese characters on a sheet of paper

What You’ll Study in the Bachelor’s Degree in Chinese

In an era dominated by China's rise as a global superpower, studying this country’s history and culture has become more crucial than ever. As a Chinese major at Reed College, become fluent in Mandarin and delve into China's 5,000-year-old heritage with our expert professors and immersive learning opportunities.

Roadmap to the BA in Chinese at Reed

The Chinese department offers a variety of courses that illuminate medieval to modern-day China and analyze important cultural works, from novels to films. Reed also sponsors study abroad programs and research opportunities that will build your language, writing, and analytical skills, preparing you for your future.

Year One

Begin Your Reed Journey

Start your Chinese studies by taking a beginning Mandarin course or testing into our intermediate or advanced classes. Explore the breadth of Reed’s offerings by taking a course outside your major. And, of course, participate in the great Reed tradition of completing Humanities 110 to build your writing and critical thinking skills.

Discover Humanities 110

Why Study Chinese at Reed College?

Advanced Language Studies in Small Classroom Sizes

When you're studying a new language, small class sizes make all the difference. Reed’s Chinese department prioritizes personalized attention, with an average class size of 16. We also provide one-on-one office hours, conversation practice with our resident language scholar, and peer tutoring.

At Reed, you can go beyond the standard three years of language study. Our literature classes offer supplemental Chinese instruction so you can read and engage with original texts.

Specialized Chinese Courses

Our robust Chinese humanities course offers a comprehensive exploration of Chinese history and culture. This two-part class is team taught by literature, history, religion, and art history professors, ensuring you leave Reed with a well-rounded understanding of Chinese history and culture. You can also learn Classical Chinese in modern Chinese, as opposed to being taught in English.

Study Abroad and Research Opportunities

Enrich your understanding of the Chinese language and culture through studying abroad. At Reed, we strongly encourage Chinese majors to apply to our programs in China and Taiwan.

We also provide research opportunities to help you gain experience studying primary documents, translating, and more. Apply for Reed grants, such as the Ruby-Lankford Grant and the President's Summer Fellowship, which can help fund your work.

My Favorite Courses

Chinese BA course catalog

Careers for Chinese BA Graduates

With their high proficiency in Mandarin and strong critical thinking and writing skills, graduates of the Chinese major pursue a variety of careers, including the following: 

  • Attorney, The Vora Law Firm
  • Journalist, National Public Radio
  • Paralegal, Chen & Mu Law Office
  • Policy analyst, RAND Corporation
  • Policymaker, Portland Housing Bureau
  • Senior brand manager, Nike, Inc.
  • Senior project architect, OTJ Architects
  • Translator, Tzu Chi Foundation

Learn About Career Paths and Possibilities

Graduate Program Placement for Chinese Majors

Graduates of Reed’s Chinese department continue their studies at many renowned universities:

  • Harvard University
  • Middlebury College
  • National Taiwan University
  • University of California, Berkeley
  • University of Chicago
  • Washington University St. Louis

Learn About Graduate Studies

Reed College faculty member Jing Jiang looks into the distance in this portrait photo

Meet Our Faculty

Meet the dedicated professors in our Chinese department. They are experts in topics from Chinese classical texts to philosophy. Discover their teaching approaches and research interests—who knows, you may even contribute to their publications!

Chinese Department Faculty Profiles

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