Bachelor Thesis in China Studies

Undergraduate course

Course description

Objectives and Content

This course has two objectives. One is to provide students theoretical knowledge about the Chinese language as well as Chinese culture and society. The other is to help students get training in critical reading and academic writing. That is, students will learn to critically read various academic texts and write a bachelor thesis that observe academic conventions.

Learning Outcomes

After completing the course:

Knowledge:
The student

  • has deep knowledge about selected themes associated with Chinese society.
  • has acquired conventions for academic writing.

Skills:

The student

  • can participate in discussions on China-related topics by formulating arguments and contributing relevant knowledge.
  • is able to find serious literature about specific China-related topics and specify and use them in connection with writing.
  • can read academic texts in Norwegian and/or English critically, based on the knowledge they have obtained in the course
  • can formulate a thesis question within a China-related topic, reflect on concepts and terms, deal with sources, arguments and knowledge, and write about the topic in a reflective and thorough manner.

General competence:

The student

  • can acquire knowledge about a selected theme and write an academic text on this topic under supervision.
  • can receive and learn from critical comments on their own text, both with regard to structure, argumentation and formulations.

ECTS Credits

15

Level of Study

Bachelor

Semester of Instruction

Spring

Place of Instruction

Bergen
Recommended Previous Knowledge
Good skills in English
Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap
15 credits reduction if combined with KIN251.
10 credits reduction if combined with EAS250.
Access to the Course
The course is open to all with admission to the University of Bergen.
Teaching and learning methods

Lectures and seminars for 12 weeks:

  • 2 hours of lectures per week for five weeks
  • 4 hours of lectures/seminars per week for five weeks, all held jointly with EAS250 (Japanese programme students).
  • 2 hours of seminars per week for two weeks, for student presentations.
Compulsory Assignments and Attendance

Students must complete two supervision meetings in working with the term paper. Students must submit a draft of their term paper and attend supervision. In addition, students will do an oral presentation on their chosen topic of the term paper. It is compulsory to attend at least 75 % of the classes.


All compulsory assignments must be approved in the same semester. Approved compulsory assignments are only valid in the teaching semester.

Forms of Assessment
Supervised BA thesis of 5000 words on a self-chosen topic.
Grading Scale
The grading scale A-F is used, where F is a failing grade.
Assessment Semester
Spring
Reading List
Selected books and papers. The students search for relevant literature when writing their theses, in collaboration with the teachers.
Course Evaluation
The teaching will be evaluated according to the quality assurance system of the University of Bergen.
Programme Committee
The Programme Boards for Chinese and Japanese are responsible for the academic content and for the quality of this course.
Course Administrator
The Department of Foreign Languages at the Faculty of Humanities has the administrative responsibility for the course and the study programme.