Chinese, B.A.
Acquire superior levels of Chinese language skills and become a global professional.
Bachelor of Arts in Chinese
The Department of Modern Languages in the College of Liberal Arts offers the B.A. in Chinese major. Students attain strong language competence in listening and reading comprehension, speaking, and writing skills as well as the cultural knowledge necessary for interacting with Chinese-speaking people in professional or informal contexts. They may pursue the Chinese major as well as participate in the Chinese Language Flagship Program, one of only 8 federally funded Chinese language programs in the nation.
Chinese Language Flagship Program
Students admitted into the Chinese Flagship Program follow an intensive 5-year plan. The federally funded program supports students abroad and provides more faculty and tutors for additional support on campus. Students must complete an application by January 10.
The Value of Chinese Proficiency
A bachelor's degree in Chinese empowers and prepares graduates to deal with complexity and change through a broad knowledge of the world. People who fluently speak a foreign language have better job opportunities. As globalization continues to expand in scale and scope, American companies will depend on workers who not only speak Chinese but also have a deep level of cultural understanding to promote their business.
Related careers to Chinese include international business, banking, tourism, journalism, law, translation, government/foreign service, cultural affairs, military service, non-profits, health care, and more.
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Program Information
Degree
B.A. in Chinese
Required Credit Hours
120
Program Type
Major
Minor
Program Location
School
Duration
4 years
Degree Requirements
Find out about credit hour and course requirements in the 2025-26 academic catalog.
Students in the College of Liberal Arts earning the B.A. degree have a common set of 48-50 hours of general education. The specific courses taken to complete the categories of general education may differ between majors.
Categories of General Education:
- First Year Writing I, II
- English Literature Survey
- Modern or Ancient Language
- History
- Additional Humanities
- Fine or Performing Arts Appreciation
- Mathematics
- Social Sciences
- Natural Sciences
To see the details for these general education requirements, visit the UM online catalog or the degree sheet attached at the top of this webpage.
Students in the B.A. in Chinese complete 30 credit hours beyond the 200 level courses. Students must complete a minimum of 9 credit hours of advanced courses at UM; they may complete a maximum of 15 credit hours through an approved study abroad program. Grades lower than C in Chinese courses will not be counted toward the major. Students in the BA degree also complete a required minor field of study (or second major).
Students interested in the Chinese Language Flagship Program must apply by January 10 and be admitted into the program. They follow a five-year intensive track beginning in the summer before freshman year, which includes required study abroad.
Chinese Language Flagship Roadmap:
- Pre-Freshman Summer of intensive elementary Chinese at UM
- Intensive Chinese courses each fall and spring semester at UM
- At least one summer-long study abroad program
- Capstone fifth year abroad in Taiwan
Students pursuing a minor in Chinese must complete 15 hours of Chinese courses at the 300 level or above. A maximum of 9 credit hours for the minor may be taken through an approved study abroad program. Grades lower than C in Chinese courses will not be counted toward the minor.
Department Opportunities
What can I do with a degree in Chinese?
- International Tax Hedge Fund Analyst, Deloitt
- General Manager, GNC China
- Physician, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
- English Teacher, Korea
- International Program Coordinator, Ohio State
- Faculty, Copenhagen School of Business
- Business Reporter, Los Angeles Times
- Social Media Specialist, Entergy
- Planner, City of Indianapolis
- Cyber Analyst, Looking Glass Cyber Solutions
- Associate Manager, Newell
- Brands Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice
- Researcher, Institute for Defense
- Foreign Affairs Officer, U.S. Department of State
- Telecomm. Policy Specialist, U.S. Department of Commerce
Double Major: Chinese and International Studies
Enhance your Chinese degree with a B.A. in International Studies, an interdisciplinary major that focuses on the connections between politics, economics, and culture at the international level.
Students in the Croft Institute:
- Have access to small, discussion-based Croft courses with the Institute's professors who foster discussion, reflection and analysis.
- Specialize in a foreign language and study abroad for at least one semester in a country where that language is spoken.
- Can apply to Croft Scholars program, a prestigious scholarship which can be combined with other forms of financial assistance.
Welcome to the College of Liberal Arts
As Coordinator of Student Recruitment for the College of Liberal Arts, I work with students, and their parents, who are interested in attending UM for their undergraduate degrees. I coordinate personalized visits to our departments, answer questions about the majors and programs in the CLA and handle all recruitment communications from the CLA. Please feel free to send me any questions you may have. It is my job to make sure you have everything you need to make an informed decision on where to spend your college career, and I hope it will be with the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Mississippi!
Annabelle Harris
Admissions Counselor
Future CLA Students
College of Liberal Arts Undergraduate Students
We invite future undergraduates to learn about the College of Liberal Arts, the value of the liberal arts education, our programs, career opportunities, and resources to help you succeed. You can also request a personalized degree sheet.
Next Steps
Explore Affordability
We have a variety of scholarships and financial aid options to help make college more affordable for you and your family.
Apply to the University of Mississippi
Are you ready to take the next step toward building your legacy?