Course credit
3 credit hours
Course description
Historical treatment of significant elements of Chinese culture and major aspects of modern China's transformations since the mid-19th century.
Delivery
This course is available in a web-based format, utilizing web pages and WebCT, a computer conferencing program. WebCT requires Internet access and a web browser — no additional software is required. Students may need access to someone who can assist with computer set-up.
This course is available in a print-based format. Mail completed assignments to the GIS Office. We will forward them to the instructor for grading.
Prerequisites
none
Instructor
Taifa Yu, Associate Professor
Evaluation
12 assignments, 4 exams
Overview
This course, Non-Western Cultures: China, satisfies the Nonwestern requirement in the Liberal Arts Core. It is designed to help students understand China's past and present; progress it has achieved and problems such as population, social unrest, and political dissent that it is still facing today; and other facets of China including gender equality and the treatment of ethnic minorities.
A good portion of the course focuses on China's history. An in-depth study of its contemporary history helps us understand the collective experiences of the Chinese "nation"; the world view of not just Chinese elite but also many, not all, Chinese; and the crucial role that nationalism plays in mobilizing popular support for the modernization of the country and for the regime that can no longer count on Marxist ideologies to legitimize its grip on power. In addition, the study of contemporary Chinese history during the period between 1949 and 1976 allows us to sympathize with the tormenting life experiences millions of Chinese had when Mao Zedong and his party tried to transform Chinese society in an effort to create a truly equalitarian, just society.
China has made impressive progress in many fields of activities, particularly in economic development. Yet in spite of the economic progress it has made, China is still facing many problems, which include unpopular population control, gender inequality, labor unrest, environmental degradation, and rising political dissent. These problems, if not solved or kept under effective control, will undermine economic progress already achieved - and possibly the authoritarian regime itself. This course will also study these problems in an effort to understand their seriousness and implications for China's future.
Written assignments
For each unit, there is a written assignment. Some units may have two or three, or even four questions. Students should limit each answer to two pages.
Each written assignment is worth 5 percent of your grade; together all 12 assignments account for 60 percent of your final grade.
Exams
Each exam will cover three assignment units and have 25 multiple choice questions. Altogether there are four exams, which account for 40 percent of your final grade. That is, each exam accounts for 10 percent of the grade.
Grading
Your final grade will be assigned according to:
Textbook(s)
Ogden, Suzanne. Global Studies: China. 11th Edition. Iowa: McGraw-Hill/Dushkin Company, 2006.
Gittings, John. The Changing Face of China: From Mao to Market. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005.
Texts are available from the vendor of your choice or
University Book and Supply
1009 West 23rd Street, Cedar Falls, IA 50613
Phone: 319-266-7581 or 800-728-7581
Fax: 319-277-1266
E-mail: bookstore@panthersupply.com
To enroll
ONLINE
GIS enrollment information
IN PERSON
UNI Continuing Education
2637 Hudson Road (corner of 27th St. and Hudson Rd.)
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0223
Campus map (Look for Building 31)
For more information
Cindy Klodt, Guided Independent Study
UNI Continuing Education
319-273-2123 or 800-772-1746
ContinuingEd@uni.edu