About
The UVA China Gateway Program is specially designed by UVA faculty to compliment the university curriculum and to give students with little or no prior experience the opportunity to discover this fascinating country first hand. This program will allow students to earn UVA credit and grades, not simply transfer credit. Participants will take an interdisciplinary study of Chinese language, history, society, and culture that reinforces class lectures with guest speakers, field trips, andtravel. The director, a member of the UVA faculty with extensive experience in China, will accompany the group and integrate on-site resources into the program. Combining the study of language, history, and contemporary culture, with travel and individual exploration, the program is ideal for students who have never before traveled to China. A word of caution: Former participants in the program have said that it may very well change your life.

Panda Poses With UVA Student

Courses & Credits
Students will enroll in a single six-credit UVA course, Chinese Culture and Society (EAST 1310 and EAST 1320). Classes, composed solely of program participants, are held five days a week from 9 to noon and are divided into the following components.

Every day you will study "survival" Chinese for one and a half hours. Taught by experienced ECNU language teachers, this course is designed to enable you to use Chinese to move around the city, order food, and make purchases as soon as possible. Monday through Thursday, the program director will give a combination lecture/seminar course focusing on the role of Shanghai in the development of Modern China. The final component of the coursework consists of a series of guest lectures who will speak on current issues in China, such as education, population, government, economic reform, culture, and international relations.

Location & Housing
Shanghai is China's largest and most densely populated city as well as the financial and commercial center of the country. It offers all the opportunities of any world-class city: museums, art galleries, theater, ballet, music and night life, as well as some spectacular architecture and major historical sites.

East China Normal University is one of China's key universities. Program participants will live in an air-conditioned high rise dorm for international students, with the option of sharing with a Chinese roommate majoring in English. Rooms include desks, chairs, closets, television and phone. Students will have access to washing machines in the building at nominal cost. ECNU has several very inexpensive dining facilities on campus. Off-campus dining choices vary widely in prices and cuisine.

Field Study & Travel
Participants will take several field studies in Shanghai as a group including the Yu Gardens (Shanghai's "Old Town"), the Jade Buddha Temple, one of Shanghai's oldest active Buddhist temples and the Shanghai Museum. We'll also take an overnight trip to the nearby city of Hangzhou, an extraordinarily beautiful and historic city. The Program Director will also generate a list of other interesting optional excursions and may conduct some of these himself.

Midway in the program, participants will take a train to Beijing for four days of sightseeing, including visits to Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Summer Palace, and a Tibetan Temple. Once coursework in Shanghai is finished, the group will embark on a journey to the ancient capital city of Xi'an, to spend approximately three days visiting the provincial museum, the tomb of the Empress Wu from the Tang dynasty, the oldest city wall in China, and the tomb of China's first Emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi, who was buried with an army of terra cotta warriors, chariots and horses. From Xi'an, the group will fly to Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province in western China, where we will explore the city, the panda research base, and the Leshan Dafo, the largest sitting Buddhist sculpture in the world. From there we return to Shanghai prior to departure back to the United States.

Giant Buddha Sculpture of Leshan

Program Information

China Gateway:
Chinese Culture and Society
(EAST 1310 & 1320; 6 credits)

Program Participants at the Great Wall

Course Description
2010 Summer: EAST 1310/1320 Itinerary
2010 Summer: EAST 1320 Syllabus

Study Abroad Policies
Refund policy
Withdrawal and Refund Policy

Cost
The program cost and payment schedule will not be available until the end of Fall Semester. They will be listed under the "Budget Sheets" link at the top of this page. Program cost includes tuition for six UVA credit hours, accommodations, in-country transportation, welcoming and departure banquets, and field trips. In addition to these costs, students are also responsible for the following expenses:

• International airfare
• Airport taxes
• Textbooks
• Passports
• Optional non-credit classes
• Meals
• Personal travel and entertainment
• Laundry
• Personal expenses

Further Information
Program Director:
Bradly Reed
Associate Professor
Department of History
Director, East Asia Center
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA 22904
bwr4k@viriginia.edu
(434) 924-6399