Chinese
Explore the Major
Why should you study Chinese?
Students in the Chinese major develop advanced proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing through three years of language study and coursework in linguistics, literature, and culture. The curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, persuasive writing, and public speaking, culminating in a senior capstone project involving original research in Chinese. Majors also benefit from study abroad, internships, and mentored learning experiences that extend their linguistic and cultural literacy beyond the classroom.
With China’s rise as a world economic and political power, those who know Chinese enjoy a comparative advantage as they seek jobs in business, government, law, the health sciences, and education. You will gain skills in analyzing and appreciating both traditional and modern literature, acquire effective research strategies, and learn to write clearly and persuasively.
Chinese MAPL - Master of Arts in Professional Language. An integrated master’s program in which students will earn their bachelor’s and master’s degrees concurrently. Open to students in their junior year. Students develop domain-specific fluency in Chinese at the ACTFL Superior level to prepare for employment in government, translation, business, and church positions.
Chinese Department Contacts
- Academic and Professional Development Manager: Cielle Davis
- Section Head: Rachel Yu Liu
- Internship Coordinator: Rachel Yu Liu
- Asian and Near Eastern Languages Department: Asian and Near Eastern Languages Department
- Chinese program: Chinese | Home
Competencies and Careers
Competencies Developed in the Program:
Students in the Chinese program can expect to develop strong competencies:
- Communication
- Information Literacy
- Cultural Navigation
Want to know more about these professional competencies? Career Readiness.
Common Career Fields:
Chinese students can use their degree to pursue careers in many fields!
Some of those include: Business Administration, Consulting, Marketing, Diplomacy, Law, Medicine, Education, and Translation and Localization.
Jobs in these career fields
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Would you like to know about specific jobs in these fields? Check out this pamphlet
Handshake:
Check out job postings in a career field that interests you!
Use Handshake, the ultimate job board for internships and entry level jobs. Use it to search for jobs, connect with alumni, and research companies.
Meet with your advisor!
Would you like to know more about the program to see if it’s a good fit for your goals? Would you like to know more about your career options? Do you have a career option in mind but you’d like resources to help you chart a path toward that goal? Come meet with your Academic and Professional Development Manager, Cielle Davis!
Contact the Liberal Arts Advisement Center to set up an appointment!
How to add the Chinese Major:
Chinese is an open enrollment program! Simply submit a major change request on your Progress Report to get started in the major.
Where do Chinese majors go after graduation?
Job titles: Manager, Sales Team, Research Fellow, Localization Engineer, Legal Clerk, Language Instructor, Intelligence Analyst, Financial Advisor, Client Relations Representative, Case Manager, Associate Consultant
Companies where they work: Air Force, Stride Mandarin LLC, MediaLocate, McCullough Law, Boston
Consulting Group, AptiveCareer fields:
FAQs
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Toggle ItemI have some Chinese language experience. Which class should I take first?
Did you study Chinese in school? Speak the language at home? Serve a Chinese-speaking mission? There is a rubric to help you determine which Chinese class is at your level. Check out this page to assess which Chinese class is right for you!
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Toggle ItemI have more questions about this major. Who can I talk to?
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Toggle ItemHow do I declare this major?
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Toggle ItemWhat if I want to double major in Chinese and another program?
Many Chinese students double major. You can petition to double major. Learn about the process here.
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Toggle ItemWhat is the language challenge exam? How do I take it?
The Challenge Exam allows BYU students who had a significant language immersion experience for which they did not receive academic credit to demonstrate their proficiency and to receive graded credit. The exam must be taken during your first Chinese language-focused class at BYU or your first Chinese language-focused class after your mission.
- Eligible classes: CHIN 201 or 202. See this website for details.
- Note: Native speakers cannot take the exam for credit.