5 Chinese Studies Course Programs in North America

The East Asian Studies Department offers a multidisciplinary approach to understanding Japan, China, and Korea. Students in the major build language competency in Japanese or Chinese and learn to communicate effectively in English and an East Asian language. They critically interpret texts, artistic masterpieces, and cultural materials, and they develop research skills using primary sources and data.

At Grinnell, Chinese is an interdisciplinary major that explores the complex interaction between literary, philosophical, aesthetic, religious, political, and other important spheres of human life in China. Emphasis is placed not only on the diversity and uniqueness of Chinese civilization but also on its contributions to humanity and its heuristic values to the understanding of Western cultural traditions.

Our courses offer an intensive introduction to Chinese language, culture and business.

We will explore the main styles of Chinese art and artistic philosophy through paintings and sculptures. Zen will take the students through thousands of years of development in Chinese art. Finally, he will showcase some of his artwork and demonstrate the relevancy and potency of this ancient art form. Zen is a polymath renaissance man specializing in anything challenging and worthwhile. His art has won many awards and exhibited in galleries and public spaces in Canada and the USA. His films have premiered in Toronto and other communities in Ontario. He is a professional engineer with an MBA and a film diploma from Vancouver Film Board.

Leaders with Heart must understand a wide range of global forces to effectively navigate our rapidly changing interconnected world. What better way to develop these insights than by building an awareness of the business, linguistic and cultural practices of one of the most influential areas in the world.