China (CIEE--East China Normal University, Shanghai)

Qualified St. Lawrence University students have the opportunity to spend a semester in  Shanghai through the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE).  The CIEE study center, located at East China Normal University, hosts approximately 100 program participants from US colleges and universities who apply for one of three academic programs.  Shanghai– China’s largest city– is a dynamic city, revealing the forces of economic globalization.  It is at the leading edge of economic and cultural change in China and, therefore, is the perfect locale from which to observe the interplay of various forces from within China and from the international community.  Program excursions take students to Chengdu, North China, and Taiwan.

• Based in Shanghai
• Fall or Spring semester
• Pre-requisites: 3.0 GPA; an Asian Studies OR Chinese language course, OR a course with significant Asian related content.
• Must take Chinese while in China
• Live with homestay families

Click here to apply to the China program

Location     Academics     Co-curricular     Housing     

Calendar     Orientation      Program Contacts

Location

Shanghai -- China's largest city -- is a dynamic city, revealing the forces of economic globalization. It is at the leading edge of economic and cultural change in China and, therefore, is the perfect locale from which to observe the interplay of various forces from within China and from the international community. The modernization and economic development which China has been experiencing can easily be witnessed in this vibrant and cosmopolitan city although those in search of old Shanghai can still find remnants of its magnificent past.

The East China Normal University was established in 1951. The University, with over 16,000 students and about 1,000 international students, is located on the banks of the Liwa River northwest of the city. Known as the "Garden University", students have access to campus facilities including a library, playing fields, basketball courts, recreation center, small shops, and restaurants.

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Academics

Students participate in one of the following three programs. Students are required to take 15 credits hours in total. Students take the required Chinese language course, and 2 to 3 electives depending on their track. You can learn more about each program by clicking on the links to the program's page below:

·         China in a Global Context

·         Business, Language and Culture 

·         Accelerated Chinese Language

For detailed course syllabi, please click here

Please see some of the China courses and their corresponding major at St. Lawrence University. All courses taken in the China program can count towards a Chinese Studies minor. After you return to the campus and take another two Chinese language courses, then you will receive a Chinese Studies minor. For more information about the Chinese Studies Minor, please check http://www.stlawu.edu/modern-languages/chinese-studies-minor

We encourage our students to take the internship course in Shanghai. INSH 3003 SACS Organizational Internship can be counted toward Chinese Studies minor. 

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Co-curricular

The language courses are designed to help students practice and interact in Chinese with their homestay families and during site visits on the program. Field trips and lectures are integrated into the academic curriculum to provide a deeper understanding of what is learned in the classroom. Complementing the classroom work is a series of visits to Chinese companies and factories, government agencies, museums, temples, and other sites.

CIEE encourages students to get immersed in Chinese culture and to enrich their experience in Shanghai by:
• reimbursing students for their participation in local cultural activities, 
• offering peer language tutors
• offering volunteer opportunities
• organizing an optional language clinic for students who need additional help
• planning monthly group meals with Chinese speakers

Students have a mid-semester break during which they may travel around China.

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Housing

SLU students stay with Chinese host families, close to the office building which houses the CIEE program and within a 5 - 10 minute bike ride from the East China Normal University campus where they take their language classes. Living with a Chinese family, taking part in its daily routines, festive moments, and family concerns give students a unique and enriching insight into Chinese culture that they could not get otherwise. In the event that there are not enough host families to accommodate SLU students, CIEE will make other arrangements.

Students have their own room in the family's apartment and share the living room, kitchen, and bathroom with the host family. Students eat week-day breakfasts and evening meals with their families. They receive a partial board rebate to cover the cost of lunches and weekend meals.

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Calendar

Please click here to find the Program Calendar.

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Orientation

Pre-departure: The CIIS office organizes in-depth orientation sessions on-campus prior to the student's participation in the program. This includes a program specific session(s) in which the students will learn more about the program, local culture, academic expectations, and any other important information. There is also an orientation session by the CIIS office on culture shock, what to expect, as well as safety and security while abroad.

On-site: 

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Program Contacts

If you are interested in learning more about the China program please contact one of the following people.

CIIS Office: Helen Huang, Director of Asia Programs - Questions about eligibility, program logistics, and other off-campus opportunities.

Faculty Coordinator:  Zhenjun Zhang - Questions about program academics.

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Click here to apply to the China program