Promoting and Expanding Access to Modern China Studies at CSUN

The College of Humanities at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) seeks funding for activities to expand access and interest in Chinese language study among incoming freshmen and current CSUN students from diverse major pathways. The overarching goal of the program is to increase access to Chinese language and area studies among historically underserved students. CSUN proposes to use grant funding for curriculum development and intensive outreach activities toward these objectives: (1) launching an interdisciplinary Modern China Studies minor, (2) increasing the number of heritage speakers and heritage learners from feeder high schools who continue studies at CSUN, and (3) increasing enrollment and academic diversity in the new minor by recruiting students campus-wide whose academic and career goals may be complemented by contemporary Chinese language and area studies. Curriculum development is to include a Gateway course, Chinese Business Communication, and a Service Learning course. With these and existing courses, the minor is being designed to (a) offer CSUN students a flexible minor that will enhance their résumés in economic and government sectors, (b) extend greater access to heritage speakers (inclusive of incoming freshmen with two years of Chinese language study) with professional, academic, or personal interests in Modern China Studies, and (c) advance eligibility for CSUN students who want to pursue study-abroad scholarship opportunities. Recruitment efforts include partnering with area high schools for cooperative Community Engagement activities as well as CSUN campus events.