BA in Chinastudien

Why pursue a Chinese degree at North Central College?

One of the most sought-after world languages is Mandarin Chinese. From entertainment to business, there is a high industry demand for talented Chinese Speakers and experts on Chinese Culture. Through our Chinese language courses and learning curriculum, you will practice reading Chinese literature, writing with Chinese characters, and developing your Mandarin Chinese oral speaking skills. You'll master Chinese grammar as well as the distinctive tones and characters of the language. If you wish to teach, students find that a major or minor in Chinese is a great complement to East Asian studies, global studies, international business, or education.

Whether you are just starting to study modern Chinese or have an advanced Chinese linguistic understanding, we have a curriculum that will help you get to a fluent skill level and obtain a language certification.

You can also:

• Study abroad at the prestigious Peking University in Beijing.
• Take advantage of on-campus tutoring options and the Roberta I. Myers Language Resource Center.
• Enjoy the Chinese Corner’s speakers and cultural events, including its Chinese New Year celebration.
• Participate in cultural immersion experiences with nearby Chinese communities.
• Earn an English language learning (ELL) minor if you plan to teach abroad after college.
• Take advantage of internships with Chinese-American companies.
• Qualify for induction into Phi Sigma Iota, the honor society open to students studying Chinese.

Since 1861, North Central has been a place where new ideas lead to unlimited possibilities. We’re an independent college dedicated to the power of the liberal arts and sciences to transform students into leaders both in their careers and communities. Our nearly 3,000 students study across more than 65 undergraduate and graduate programs, with their education, made richer by supportive faculty and staff, world-class facilities, and countless opportunities to learn beyond the classroom.

A College on the move

Building on the foundation of more than 150 years of excellence, North Central continues to grow with numerous new facilities, programs, and initiatives in the works.

The College opened with 40 students in a single two-story building in Plainfield, Illinois. Since then we’ve changed names twice (to North-Western, then North Central), moved once (from Plainfield to Naperville), and grown steadily (to about 3,000 students).

Over the years, thousands of dedicated students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends have helped us thrive through the toughest challenges – wars, economic crises, social upheavals, and more – and build a future brilliant with hope and promise.

We’ve met the changing needs of students from Civil War veterans to millennial entrepreneurs. And we’ve always stayed true to our heritage of moral courage and forward-thinking.

Today we’re a top-ranked private comprehensive college of the liberal arts and sciences. U.S. News & World Report counts us among “America’s Best Colleges,” one of the top six schools in the Midwest for a “strong commitment to undergraduate teaching.” Students choose from more than 55 undergraduate majors and five graduate program areas.

Although the College originally discouraged organized athletics as a distraction from weightier matters, our 26 intercollegiate sports in NCAA Division III make our athletic department the largest in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW). North Central is proud of its 32 team national championships and 123 individual national champions.

Though affiliated with the United Methodist Church, we welcome and encourage students and staff of all faiths. We are thoughtfully expanding our academic programs to respond to the needs of our ever-changing world, recently adding Middle Eastern and North African Studies, along with Arabic. And we’re transforming our facilities – most dramatically with a new interdisciplinary Science Center located at the corner of Brainard Street and Van Buren Avenue.

It’s been an amazing 150+ years. But it’s clear that the best is yet to come!