Chinese

The Department of Transnational Asian Studies teaches Mandarin Chinese, the official language in China and Taiwan, through the fourth year of study, including courses for heritage learners at the second- and third-year levels. Every other year we offer Chinese for Medical Professions. Rice awards the Certificate in Language and Intercultural Communication in Chinese.

Chinese language courses can count toward the requirements for the Asian Studies major—including both the Transnational Asian Studies and Language concentrations—and fulfill the language requirement for the Linguistics major.

Course Sequence

Decorative infographic showing the sequence of Chinese courses. Language learners start with CHIN 141 to 142 to 263 to 264 to 301. After 301 they may take either 302 or 319 before taking 401 to 402. Heritage learners start with CHIN 206 and progress to 311. After 311 they may take either 312 or 319 before taking 401 and 402. Study abroad through Rice in Taiwan has a prerequisite of 256 and includes 307 and 308 which can be followed by 401.

Before registering for a Chinese course, fill out the Language Background Questionnaire to find out which course is right for you.

Study Abroad

Please visit CLIC's Study Abroad pages for information on our 6 week, 6 credit summer faculty-led Rice in Country study abroad programs and visit the CLIC Language Study Awards page for information on available funding. For additional study abroad opportunities, visit the Study Abroad Office’s website.

MOFA Travel Grant
The MOFA Travel Grant is sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan. This grant provides awards ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 for students selected to participate in the Rice-in-Taiwan summer study abroad program.

Mandarin Best Scholarship
The Mandarin Best Scholarship is offered by Ming Chuan University in Taiwan, a partner institution of Rice University and the host of the Rice in Taiwan program. This scholarship provides a stipend of $1,600 for students selected to participate in the Rice-in-Taiwan summer study abroad program.

Yuen Family Chinese Language Travel Fund

The Yuen family was pleased to create a fund that enables Rice students to study abroad with the purpose of increasing their Chinese language proficiency. Applicants for Rice in Taiwan will automatically be considered for this award. Students participating in other Chinese language programs in China or Taiwan may apply for the Yuen Family Chinese Language Travel Fund using the CLIC Language Study Awards application.