College of Liberal & Creative Arts
Learn to communicate in the world’s most widely spoken language.
Learn Chinese at the largest and most comprehensive Chinese language program in the CSU system.
Learn Chinese at a federally-appointed Chinese Language Flagship — the only one of its kind in California.
Learn about Chinese food, music, literature, culture, society and much more through classes from freshman all the way to graduate level.
Study abroad options available at the most prestigious universities in the Chinese-speaking world.
Access the list of the major requirements to better understand the structure of the major.
The roadmap puts all of your graduation requirements into an easy-to-follow semester-by-semester plan so you know what to take to stay on track. Whether you are a freshman or a transfer student, you'll be able to find a roadmap that best fits you.
Besides your major requirements, students must complete their GE and University requirements. Be sure to make sure you've completed all of these requirements for graduation.
To learn more about this major, check out the major department’s website below. You can also find out how you can access their faculty advisors who can assist you not just with course choices, but also answer questions about the field and discuss your career plans.
Department of Modern Languages and Literatures: Chinese Program
Humanities (HUM) Building, Room 475
Phone: (415) 338-1421
Email: mll@sfsu.edu
Website: https://mll.sfsu.edu/chinese-program
Director and Associate Professor: Frederik H. Green
Chair: Charles Egan
Freshmen Student Advising Information
After choosing “Basic Subjects” GE courses in Steps 1-3 of your Orientation process (if you haven’t done so, log onto your Orientation Profile page to follow the “Pre-Orientation Advising Module”), STEP 4 Choosing Major Classes will show you if there are any classes you can take to satisfy major requirements for your first and/or second semester.
Once you have determined your Roadmap above, review the first section below and write down any course recommendations based on your corresponding major roadmap on your Freshmen Class Planner worksheet.
Students with demonstrated language proficiency (through an interview with a Chinese Program advisor) can skip directly to upper-division courses appropriate to the individual’s level of Chinese language proficiency (e.g., CHIN 401, 501, 507, 521, 530, etc).
Some lower and upper-division GE courses (e.g., courses from history, philosophy, humanities, Asian American studies, etc that are related to China and courses in linguistic or literary analysis) can count towards electives required for the major. Check with the Chinese Program advisor for specifics.
- 4 units awarded for AP Chinese score of 3 (equivalent of CHIN 101)
- 8 units awarded for AP Chinese score of 4 (equivalent of CHIN 101 & CHIN 102)
- 12 units awarded for AP Chinese score of 5 (equivalent of CHIN 101, 102, & 103)
Transfer Student Advising Information
Please see the box above labeled “Major Curriculum/Roadmaps & GE/University Requirements” for information on what courses to take in your first semester at SF State. View our Frequently Asked Questions for Transfers for helpful tips and additional information.