Middlebury's program in China presupposes the student's general academic competence and sufficient ability in all four Chinese language skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening). The curriculum was designed for the specific needs of high intermediate and advanced Chinese language students. All students are required to take the One-on-One Content-Based Tutorial and the Area Studies Class pertinent to the host city. In addition, all students choose two elective classes from among those that are offered. All courses are conducted entirely in Chinese. Qualified students in their second semester may direct enroll in the university for one of their courses alongside local students, and/or pursue a credit-bearing internship.     

                           Course Options

Beijing Courses  - Hangzhou Courses - Kunming Courses


Credit
Middlebury College considers a semester or an academic year abroad as equivalent to a semester or an academic year in the United States. Undergraduates from other institutions should consult their home institution about credit transfer before enrolling. Middlebury College students receive 4 units of credit for one semester abroad, 5 units for one semester and one winter term, and 9 units for a full year. Typically, students who transfer credit to their home institutions receive 15-16 semester hours or 20-25 quarter hours per semester for four to five courses.

Program Structure
This program is structured with a management model that includes a Middlebury Academic Director who hires and trains local faculty and a CET Resident Director who manages all student life issues.

WINTER TERM IN BEIJING

Prior to spring semester:
Students planning to study at the School in China during the spring semester have the option to enroll in an intensive January program in Beijing operated by CET.  The program is ideal for students who are seeking reinforcement of their language skills prior to spending the spring semester in either Beijing, Hangzhou, or Kunming. Students interested in applying for this preparatory course should contact
internationalprograms@middlebury.edu [802.443.5745].

Following fall semester:
This program is designed to give School in China students the opportunity to apply their newly gained language skills following the fall semester in Beijing, Hangzhou, or Kunming. With the continuation of work in the individual student’s academic field of interest (usually delving deeper into the subject mater of the one-on-one tutorial in the fall) this program challenges students to conduct more in-depth research in the subject as it relates to Beijing. Each student will choose a topic and work one-on-one with a teacher (provided by CET-Beijing) for six hours a week while using the remaining time to undertake field trips, independent  research and social surveys on that topic. This course will require students to travel independently in the city, and interview people as part of their research. Students will be required to present their final projects orally to a panel of instructors and fellow J-term School in China classmates.  They will also be required to produce a well-researched term paper of up to 2,000 Chinese characters. 
    Students in this program will be housed at CET's center at the Beijing Institute of Education (not at Capitol Normal University), but unlike the other J-term students, they will have single rooms. Students will also have full access to the Chinese roommates in the program. They will have all meals at the center or will receive meal stipends.

Middlebury Language Pledge
To take full advantage of their stay abroad, students are expected to maintain the spirit of the Middlebury College Language Pledge and to speak only Chinese while in China. We expect that no English will be used, except for emergency consultations with the Director.  

Internships
Internships are possible for students in their second semester.
 
Language Requirement
Completion of a minimum of four semesters of college-level Chinese or the equivalent (comparable to Middlebury College's CHNS0202 "Intermediate Chinese").  Three years of college-level Chinese are recommended.  Attendance at Middlebury College Summer Language School is highly desirable for all candidates.

For further information and an application, please contact the Middlebury College Office of International Programs at       (802) 443-5745       or by e-mail at internationalprograms@middlebury.edu