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The Certificate in Chinese Professional Communication provides students with the opportunity to develop proficiency in Chinese while pursuing majors in other subjects across the university. It emphasizes the development of communication skills that are applicable to various professional contexts that students may encounter in their future careers.

The certificate is open to all undergraduate students (except for those majoring in Chinese).  For more information about the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures see the department overview.

STUDY ABROAD IN CHINA

Students may receive residence credit for study abroad through a variety of different programs. Our faculty direct the summer UW Intensive Chinese Language program in Tianjin. Students on this intensive language program study Mandarin Chinese over the summer, earning up to a full year's worth of language credits. Please contact International Academic Programs for details. 

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

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.

DECLARING THE CERTIFICATE

Declaring the certificate is as easy as meeting with the undergraduate advisor and making an appointment to review requirements and discuss course plans on Starfish. Students may declare the certificate at any point in their language study.

Students declared in the Chinese major are not eligible to declare the Chinese Professional Communication certificate.

Required Prerequisite Language Courses

For non-heritage speakers:
ASIALANG 101 First Semester Chinese4
or
ASIALANG 110
ASIALANG 111
Elementary Chinese I
and Elementary Chinese II
4
and
ASIALANG 102 Second Semester Chinese4
ASIALANG 201 Third Semester Chinese4
ASIALANG 202 Fourth Semester Chinese4
For heritage Chinese speaking students:
ASIALANG 211 Heritage Chinese I3
ASIALANG 212 Heritage Chinese II3

Requirements for the Certificate

15 credits distributed as follows:

Business Language Course (required)
ASIALANG 379 Business Chinese3
Advanced Chinese Language Courses (complete 3 courses)9
Fifth Semester Chinese
Sixth Semester Chinese
Chinese Conversation
Advanced Chinese through Media
Advanced Chinese: Reading and Writing
Chinese Literature or Humanities Electives (complete one course):3
Introduction to East Asian History: China
Asia Enchanted: Ghosts, Gods, and Monsters
Introduction to East Asian Civilizations
Asian Religions in Global Perspective
Social Studies Topics in East Asian Studies
Social and Intellectual History of China, 589 AD-1919
History of Modern China, 1800-1949
History of the Peoples Republic of China, 1949 to the Present
Survey of Classical Chinese Literature
Survey of Modern Chinese Literature
China and World War II in Asia
Topics in Chinese Literature
Topics in Chinese: Study Abroad
Survey of Chinese Film
Introduction to Chinese Linguistics
History of the Chinese Language
History of Chinese Literature I
History of Chinese Literature II
Literary Studies in Chinese Drama
First Semester Classical Chinese
Second Semester Classical Chinese
Survey of Asian Art
From Tomb to Temple: Ancient Chinese Art and Religion in Transition
The Tastes of Scholars and Emperors: Chinese Art in the Later Periods
Chinese Economic and Business History: From Silk to iPhones
Chinese Politics
China in World Politics
Contemporary Chinese Society
Total Credits15

Residence and Quality of Work

  • Minimum 2.000 GPA on all certificate courses
  • At least 8 certificate credits must be completed in residence

This undergraduate certificate must be completed concurrently with the student’s undergraduate degree. Students cannot delay degree completion to complete the certificate.

  1. Explain in the target language their academic and professional experiences, and articulate their career objectives, both in writing and speaking.
  2. Manage basic everyday workplace (face-to-face, telephone, and email) communications in the target language (e.g., greeting, introducing oneself, making/changing appointments, making and receiving requests, obtaining permission, reporting, thanking, apologizing).
  3. With preparation, deliver a clear, concise, and connected presentation in the target language, with the effective use of visual images, on a subject they researched through online resources and/or interviews.
  4. Demonstrate an awareness of the significance of honorific and formulaic expressions and etiquette observed in the workplace within the target culture, which can be applied to their life-long learning.
  5. Demonstrate an awareness of diverse cultural perspectives, which may influence business and other professional practices, and a disposition to approach unfamiliar contexts with an open mind.

Advising

If you like to plan, seeing your major advisor is very important; it can make the difference between fitting in general education and major requirements before you graduateMany 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.

Rachel Weiss is the advisor for the undergraduate majors and certificates in the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures. She 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.

L&S career resources

Every L&S major opens a world of possibilities.  SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps students turn the academic skills learned in their major, certificates, and other coursework into fulfilling lives after graduation, whether that means jobs, public service, graduate school or other career pursuits.

In addition to providing basic support like resume reviews and interview practice, SuccessWorks offers ways to explore interests and build career skills from their very first semester/term at UW all the way through graduation and beyond.

Students can explore careers in one-on-one advising, try out different career paths, complete internships, prepare for the job search and/or graduate school applications, and connect with supportive alumni and even employers in the fields that inspire them.

FACULTY & Staff

Please visit the Asian Languages & Cultures website for a complete list of faculty, instructional, and academic staff.

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH

Students in the Asian Languages and Cultures (ALC) department academic programs are encouraged to become engaged in undergraduate research. There are numerous programs that provide research opportunities for undergraduates at UW–Madison including:

DEPARTMENT SCHOLARSHIPS

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

Chinese Language Learners Bridge Fund
Chinese Major Alumni Jarrett Wiesolek (Class of 2011) and Ali Dibble (Class of 2012) launched the Bridge Fund in 2016. CLLBF is designed to award scholarships to students who are passionate about learning Chinese and building bridges between UW–Madison and China. 

Chou Kuo-p'ing Book Award
Several awards will be given each year to undergraduate students who are studying and will continue to study Chinese during the following semester. This award is made possible through a donation by Professor Emerita Chou Kuo-p’ing, the founder of the Chinese program here at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Professor Chou, a dedicated teacher, devoted her entire career to teaching, promoting, and developing Chinese studies in Wisconsin. Professor Chou was very active during her teaching career, and often helped financially disadvantaged students, especially those who excelled in their academic careers despite economic difficulties. Although this award is based mainly on the applicant’s academic performance, special consideration is given to those who are financially disadvantaged in order to carry on this tradition.
 

Ellen and William E. Fisher Scholarship
Ellen and William E. Fisher have provided funding for an annual scholarship to be awarded to an undergraduate student at UW–Madison who is studying the Chinese language.  According to the terms of the gift agreement, the award is based on merit, therefore there is no application, but faculty will make a determination based on students progressing in the program. Mr. Fisher stipulated that the award must be made in the Fall semester, so that the recipient can use it in the Spring semester. 

Gwang-Tsai Chen Award
Professor Sabina Knight established this scholarship in honor of Gwang-Tsai (Arthur) Chen, Emeritus Professor of East Asian Languages and Literature at UW–Madison. The scholarship recognizes a rising undergraduate Chinese major. Student eligibility: must be a non-heritage language learner, freshman or sophomore standing, a GPA above 3.5.

Lawrence Louey Merit Scholarship
The Lawrence Louey Merit Scholarship is an annual competition recognizing an undergraduate Chinese major in the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures. Eligibility: You must be a graduating senior with a GPA above 3.75 and have taken at least three years of Chinese. An application is required for consideration, including a brief career plan, as well as a research paper from one of your major field courses. 

CAMPUS RESOURCES

Foreign Language & Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships
East Asian Studies FLAS Coordinator: Laurie Dennis, Assistant Director, ldennis@wisc.edu, 325 Ingraham Hall

FLAS fellowships are funded by the US Department of Education and administered by UW–Madison's National Resource Centers to assist students in acquiring foreign language and either area or international studies competencies. FLAS awards are only available for specific languages, and are contingent on federal funding. Please direct any questions to the FLAS Coordinator of your chosen language.

Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents of the United States. Applications by students in professional fields are encouraged. Preference will be given to applicants with a high level of academic ability and with previous language training. Academic Year and Summer FLAS awards are two separate competitions requiring two separate and complete applications.

Scholarships@UW–Madison
This is the primary campus-wide portal for applicants, current students, and everyone looking for scholarship opportunities on campus.

Undergraduate Academic Awards Office
We help UW–Madison undergraduates and recent graduates pursue nationally competitive scholarships and campus-wide awards for research, service, and leadership—activities at the heart of the Wisconsin Experience. We can help you:

  • Find scholarship opportunities that match your goals and interests
  • Navigate the scholarship application process
  • Review scholarship essays
  • Prepare for national scholarship interviews

Contact us to schedule an appointment​ to discuss which opportunities are right for you.

NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS

Boren Scholarships 
Campus Representative: Undergraduates with questions should contact Matt Geisler, Associate Director of International Academic Programs

These scholarships provide up to $20,000 to US undergraduate students to study abroad in areas of the world that are critical to US interests and underrepresented in study abroad, including Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East. The countries of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are excluded. (Full list of preferred countries) Additionally, all programs must include formal study of an appropriate foreign language. (Full list of preferred languages). 

Critical Language Scholarship Program
Campus Representative: Mark Lilleleht, Assistant Director for Awards at awards@iris.wisc.edu
The CLS program is part of the US Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. It is a fully-funded overseas intensive language and cultural immersion program for American undergraduate and graduate students. With the goal of broadening the base of Americans studying and mastering critical languages and to build relationships between the people of the United States and other countries, CLS provides opportunities to a diverse range of students from across the United States at every level of language learning. 
The fourteen CLS languages are: Arabic, Azerbaijani, Bangla, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Punjabi, Russian, Swahili, Turkish, and Urdu.

The CLS Program seeks participants with diverse interests, from a wide variety of fields of study, backgrounds and career paths, with the purpose of representing the full diversity of the United States. Thus, students from all academic disciplines, including business, engineering, law, medicine, science, social sciences, arts and humanities are encouraged to apply.

Gilman Scholarship Program
Campus Representative: Andy Quackenbush, Advisor, International Academic Programs

The Gilman Scholarship Program is an undergraduate grant program for US citizens of limited financial means to enable them to study abroad, thereby internationalizing their outlook and better preparing them to assume significant roles in the increasingly global economy.