In response to student demand over the last few years, Binghamton University students will be able to major in Chinese studies starting next fall.
Binghamton University’s Harpur College Council voted last week in favor of the creation of a Chinese studies major as a part of the department of Asian and Asian American studies (DAAAS).
“The discussion of the Chinese major began at the committee level, the curriculum committee,” said Peter Spaet, vice chair of the HCC and vice president for academic affairs of the Student Association. “The idea was then pushed up to the council and the vote last week in favor was either unanimous or near unanimous.”
A simple majority within HCC, the legislative body for Harpur College which is made up of students, faculty and administrators, is needed to create a new major, council members said.
According to the program summary, which is what the body voted on, the premise for the major is that the study of China cannot be grasped without an understanding of its “distinct and diverse local traits, history, social and cultural heritage.” The new major is designed to not only provide students with a fluency in Mandarin Chinese, but also an understanding of traditional and modern Chinese culture.
DAAAS, which was created last April and marked the first time a new department had been added to Harpur College since the late 1980s, already offers students a major in Asian and Asian American studies with an option of specializing in Chinese. The Chinese specialization has a language requirement of two years, which allows students to have a broad array of courses in other areas.
The new Chinese major, on the other hand, will require four years of language courses.
The new major was created by Harpur officials in hopes of satisfying the growing student demand for Chinese language and culture programs on campus, the document stated.
“The creation of this major reflects internal demand for new curriculum and also our effort to keep up with global trends,” said Nick Kaldis, director of the Chinese program in the DAAAS. “Chinese is one of the fastest growing global interests.”
When the major is instated in the fall of 2009, BU will become one of two SUNY schools to offer a bachelor’s degree in Chinese. The University at Albany also offers the degree.
“This makes us one of the leaders in bringing Chinese studies to the forefront of college education,” Kaldis said. “There is a great need for Chinese studies in the SUNY system.”
The Chinese studies major is the first of the East Asian cultures to be added to the DAAAS. There are Japanese and Korean minors in place, and there are plans to make both of these into majors in the near future.