The Chinese major offers students a range of courses and activities which impart an understanding of the culture and civilization of China. With the completion of three years of the language, students will be prepared to to communicate effectively in written and spoken Chinese. Most majors pursue advanced studies in Chinese linguistics or literature, while others combine an interest in China with a degree in business, education, engineering or journalism. 

Visit our website for more information about the undergraduate studies in Chinese.

Study Abroad

Students may receive residence credit for study abroad through a variety of different programs in China, Taiwan, Singapore, and other countries through UW–Madison’s Study Abroad Programs.

Students may also receive credit, or gain experience, through various internship opportunities abroad. Please contact International Internship Programs for details.

Starting Coursework Toward the Major

Students may declare the Chinese major at any time. Before declaring the major, students may begin coursework to explore the language and fields of interest. Those students who have studied Chinese prior to coming to UW–Madison will have to take a placement test to determine the best class to enroll in on campus. 

How to Get in

Students declared in the Chinese Professional Communication certificate may not be declared in the Chinese major at the same time. Students who do wish to declare the Chinese major must first cancel their declaration in the Chinese Professional Communication certificate.

Placement Exam

The Asian Languages and Cultures department offers placement exams for students with prior language study or experience as a speaker of Chinese. For more information, see the department’s website.

University Requirements

All undergraduate students must complete both the following Core General Education (Core GenEd) and University Degree and Quality of Work requirements. The requirements below apply to students whose first term at UW-Madison or whose earliest post-high school college attendance at any institution is Summer 2026 or later. 

Students whose first term at UW-Madison or whose earliest post-high school college attendance at any institution occurred before Summer 2026 should refer to the archived Guide for the requirements that apply to them.

Core General Education (Core GenEd) Requirements

For more information see the policy.

University Degree and Quality of Work Requirements

All undergraduate degree recipients must complete the following minimum requirements. Requirements for some programs will exceed these requirements; see program requirements for additional information.

College of Letters & Science Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Science (BS)

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in the College of Letters & Science must complete all of the requirements below. Some courses satisfy more than one L&S degree requirement (visit College of Letters & Science: Requirements for details). 

This major can be paired with either the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degree requirements.

Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements

Non–L&S students pursuing an L&S major

Non–L&S students who have permission from their School/College to pursue an additional major within L&S only need to fulfill the major requirements. They do not need to complete the L&S Degree Requirements above.

Requirements for the Major

Residence and Quality of Work

• 2.000 GPA in all major courses
• 2.000 GPA on 15 upper-level major credits, in residence
• 15 credits in the major, taken on campus

Upper-level courses in the major:

Honors in the Major

Students may declare Honors in the Major in consultation with the Chinese undergraduate advisor.

Honors in the Major Requirements

To earn Honors in the Major, students must satisfy both the requirements for the major (above) and the following additional requirements:

• Earn a 3.300 University GPA
• Earn a 3.300 GPA for all courses accepted in the major
• Complete the following coursework, with a grade of B or better:
  • Either ASIAN 699 or another Capstone course (see list above) of 3–4 credits (excluding ASIAN 681 or ASIAN 682 or ASIAN 692) with the professor under whose guidance a student intends to write a thesis. This course must be taken before ASIAN 681.
    • Students who complete ASIAN 699 for the Capstone requirement will follow the department procedure for obtaining consent to enroll in a Senior Honors Thesis supervised by the faculty. Students must contact the undergraduate advisor for this major to initiate this process.
  • A two-semester Senior Honors Thesis in ASIAN 681 and ASIAN 682, for a total of 6 credits.

Learning Outcomes

1. Understand the content and cultural context of written texts and audiovisual materials with a large degree of independence, adapting style and speed of comprehension to different texts and purposes, and using appropriate reference sources selectively.
2. Spontaneously exchange ideas about various topics with relative ease.
3. State and support one’s own opinion while acknowledging others’ viewpoints.
4. Demonstrate an awareness of the importance of pragmatic, sociolinguistic, and rhetorical features of the target language.
5. Conduct library and/or internet-based research on topics relating to their particular interests and special fields of expertise, collecting and selecting relevant information using English and target language source materials.
6. Synthesize and critically evaluate source materials in both English and the target language.
7. Present (orally or in written language) their experiences and their introspection on these experiences in a coherent and effective manner.
8. Demonstrate cultural awareness across historical epochs.
9. Produce effective academic writing in English.

Four-Year Plan

This Four-Year Plan is only one way a student may complete an L&S degree with this major. Many factors can affect student degree planning, including placement scores, credit for transferred courses, credits earned by examination, and individual scholarly interests. In addition, many students have commitments (e.g., athletics, honors, research, student organizations, study abroad, work and volunteer experiences) that necessitate they adjust their plans accordingly. Informed students engage in their own unique Wisconsin Experience by consulting their academic advisors, Guide, DARS, and Course Search & Enroll for assistance making and adjusting their plan.

Advising and Careers

Declare or Cancel This Program

Please follow the process described on the Asian Languages and Cultures website.

Advising

If you like to plan, seeing your advisor is very important; it can make the difference between fitting in general education and major requirements before you graduate. Many students also try to complete more than one major or certificate, and discussing how you might be able to reach this goal is another primary role of your major advisor. Advisors can speak to you about course content, which courses fit best with your interest areas, and what kinds of courses might work best with your learning style. Any and all of these discussions can occur during your advising appointment.

The advisor is happy to meet with students as they explore the degree options, prepare for study abroad, or advance through their four-year plans. Schedule an appointment in Starfish.

Exploring Classes before Declaring

Students interested in the Chinese major can start exploring through any of these courses. The courses in these lists are open to first-year/freshmen students and have no prerequisites.

Students may declare the Chinese major at any time. Those students who have studied an Asian language prior to coming to UW–Madison will have to take a placement test for a language offered during the academic year to determine the best class to enroll in on campus.

Interested in the Chinese major? Try these courses:

Study Abroad

Learning in Letters & Science emphasizes discovery, growth, understanding different perspectives, and challenging yourself, which makes studying abroad an excellent fit for many L&S students: studyabroad.wisc.edu

As a university with global influence, we have more than 300 study abroad programs in over 80 countries. These vary in length, academic focus, teaching format, language requirements, cost, and level of independence. There are many programs to complement every major and any year of college (including the final semester)—and all meet UW–Madison’s high academic standards. Students admitted into Letters & Science can even choose a short program in the summer before they start college or their whole first year: studyabroad.wisc.edu/launch. Talk with your academic advisor about how studying abroad might fit with your academic plan.

SuccessWorks

SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps you turn the academic skills learned in your classes into a fulfilling life, guiding you every step of the way to securing jobs, internships, or admission to graduate school.

Through one-on-one career advising, events, and resources, you can explore career options, build valuable internship and research experience, and connect with supportive alumni and employers who open doors of opportunity.

• What you can do with your major  (Major Skills & Outcomes Sheets)
• Make a career advising appointment
• Learn about internships and internship funding
• Try “Jobs, Internships, & How to Get Them,” an interactive guide in Canvas for enrolled UW–Madison students

Resources and Scholarships

Department Scholarships

The Department of Asian Languages and Cultures has various scholarships to support meritorious students in our programs. Application information and deadlines.

Chou Kuo-p'ing Book Award