Harvard offers a wide range of courses on China and Chinese Studies from across the arts, humanities, social sciences, and professional schools. Check out our full guide to courses for undergraduate and graduate students for the Spring 2026 semester below.
Language Courses
Harvard offers language courses at all levels in Chaghatay, Mandarin Chinese, Manchu, Mongolian, and Uyghur through the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations. Classical Tibetan and Colloquial Tibetan are offered through the Department of South Asian Studies. Other languages like Taiwanese/Southern Min are offered subject to petition and instructor availability.
For current details, be sure to check the Harvard Course Catalog: https://courses.my.harvard.edu/
Spring 2026: For Undergraduates and Graduate Students
| Course ID | Course Title | Course Description |
| ECON 1133 | Authoritarian Superpower: The Political Economy of Modern China David Yang | The rise of China is undoubtedly one of the great dramas of the 21st century. This course provides an overview of China’s economy and its politics, as well as China’s relationship with the world. We aim to understand modern China with an appreciation of China’s past and its connection to other parts of the globe. The course offers insights on a number of puzzles of a rising authoritarian superpower, and overturns several conventional wisdoms in political economy. In the course, you will learn about topics such as: (1) What drives China’s economic development? What explains its rise? (2) What are the key forces of stability and forces of change in modern China? (3) How does China engage with the world, and what are the implications of China’s rise for the world?The objectives of the course are three-fold: (1) to learn about important institutional and contextual knowledge of China; (2) to use China as a lens to understand authoritarian regimes, as well as basic political economy frameworks that are more generally applicable; and (3) to learn about empirical methods through exposure to big data on China, frontier academic research, and occasionally case-study style discussions. |
| HIST 38 | Modern China: 1894-Present Arunabh Ghosh | This lecture course will provide a survey of some of the major issues in the history of post-imperial China (1912- ). Beginning with the decline of the Qing and the dramatic collapse of China’s imperial system in 1911, the course shall examine how China has sought to redefine itself anew over the past one-hundred years. The revolutionary years of 1911, 1949, and 1978 will serve as our three fulcra, as we investigate how China has tussled with a variety of ‘isms’ (such as republicanism, militarism, nationalism, socialism, and state capitalism) in its pursuit of an appropriate system of governance and social organization. In so doing, we shall also explore the social, economic, cultural, and scientific changes wrought by these varied attempts at state-building. |
| CHNSHIS 146 | The Modern History of Rural China Michael A. Szonyi | It’s only in the last twenty years that China has become known as a place of cities and factories. Before then, the majority of Chinese people lived not in cities but in villages in the countryside, and made their living from agriculture. This lecture/discussion course, intended mainly for undergraduates, will introduce you to the modern history of rural China. We’ll approach that history chronologically, thematically, and historiographically. No background knowledge of China is required, but the course might interest you even if you have some previous background, because it will show you the People’s Republic of China from a very different angle than what you’ve likely encountered before: that of its villages and the people who live in them. You’ll come to appreciate their perspective better through taking their role in two interactive games. You’ll also learn why the fate of China’s countryside matters to the future not only of China but also the whole world. |
| EASTD 199 | China and the African Continent Daniel Koss | As Africa faces daunting challenges, the “Beijing model” invites intriguing alternative visions to the poorly performing designs by traditional foreign actors in the region. Moving from Chinese farm households in Mozambique to state-owned copper mines in Zambia, military bases in East Africa and the United Nations headquarters, this seminar critically assesses the potential for China’s presence to transform Sub-Saharan Africa. After identifying the intellectual stakes (week 1), and discussing anecdotal glimpses from the grassroot-levels (week 2), the class deals with traditional development assistance, along with Maoist attempts to revolutionize the “world countryside” – resulting in legacies such as a China-trained guerilla fighter serving as the President of Zimbabwe. We then discuss the current footprint of Beijing, including its influence on elite politics, Chinese public and private business interests, and the diversity of the one million Chinese migrants to Africa. Four sessions specialize on (1) resource extraction versus opportunities for human capital development (2) debt-traps of Western and Eastern origins (3) emerging tensions over human rights policies (4) and the military dimension, including China’s role in Peace-Keeping Operations. Finally, the course addressees how the Chinese presence may transform established multilateral institutions, and the challenges associated with African migration to China. Social science research will be read alongside journalistic accounts and primary documents, such as leaked diplomatic cables and strategy papers. Will Africa become “Beijing’s Second Continent,” of the neo-colonial or tributary kind? What promises does the China model hold for Africans? How do the partners on both continents react to experiences of disillusionment and retreat? The assignments are designed to train students for public policy work and require close group collaboration. |
| SOCIOL 1141 | Contemporary Chinese Society Ya-Wen Lei | This course will equip you with the basic literacy required to comprehend contemporary Chinese society, which is an increasingly essential skill for informed citizens in our present global context. No prior knowledge or language proficiency is necessary to enroll in this class. We will delve into the profound transformations that have occurred during the post-1978 reform period, including China’s shift to a market economy, the emergence of the digital economy, the implementation of population policy by the government, urbanization, rising inequality, and contentious politics. The course will analyze how these changes have influenced social relations and how they have been experienced and understood by individuals. From a sociological perspective, this course will address topics related to the state, development, market, population, migration, urbanization, inequality, gender, labor and work, civil society, the public sphere, and social movements. Although the course is listed in the sociology catalog, readings and topics covered in the course are situated at the intersection of sociology, political science, law, anthropology, and history. |
| EASTD 143B | Digital Tools and Methods in East Asian Humanities: Coding Approach Kwok-leong Tang | This course is designed for students in East Asian Humanities who are interested in adopting digital methods in their research with basic Python coding. It will introduce fundamental programming concepts, SQL and relational databases, popular Python libraries in data cleaning, text analysis, and supervised and unsupervised machine learning. Students completing the course will be able to integrate and apply the Python libraries taught in class into their research and to explore the rapidly growing newcomers without hurdles. |
| CHNSE 106B | Introduction to Literary Sinitic Matthew Wild | Introduction to pre-Qin philosophical texts. |
| CHNSHIS 135 | The Mongol Empire and World History: From Steppe Confederation to Eurasian Empire, c.1206-1368 Mark C. Elliott *This course will be taught by Dr. Aaron Molnar. | This course seeks to provide a comprehensive introduction to the study of Mongol Eurasia, anchored by the theme of globalization. The Mongol empire has variously been credited with the inaugural establishment of a globalized world with unprecedented religious toleration and socio-economic exchange. Yet, the Mongols have also been maligned for the mass slaughter of their conquests, brutal deportation policies, as well as the destruction of Islamic and Chinese urban societies. Between the twin poles of efflorescence and catastrophe lies a rich terrain to explore. Who was this steppe people who came to rule the largest contiguous empire in history? What underwrote their rise? How did they order such a vast realm? To what degree was the Mongol period a watershed for globalization? What legacy did the Mongols leave behind for successor states, cultures, and the globe? |
| WOMGEN 1216 | Women’s Voices in Asian and Asian American Literature Jung Choi | This course introduces students to the writings of both canonical and lesser-known Asian and Asian American women writers. The course especially examines the works by Chinese/ Chinese American, Japanese/ Japanese American, Korean/ Korean American women writers. Moving from the pre-modern to contemporary era, the course will explore a range of women’s voices and experiences as reflected through poetry, fiction, diaries, and epistles. Authors will include Murasaki Shikibu, Ban Zhao, Ono no Komachi, Lady Hyegyŏng, Qui Jin, Higuchi Ichiyo, Kim Wŏn-ju, Han Kang, Yoshimoto Banana, Maxine Hong Kingston, Julie Otsuka, and Min Jin Lee. Topics will include family, marriage, loyalty, motherhood, women’s rights, sexual violence, same- sex desire, censorship, and gender and race politics. |
| CHNSE 107B | Intermediate Literary Sinitic Matthew Wild | A continuation of Chinese 107a, introducing more prose styles as well as poetry and lyric. |
| CHNSE 143R | Odyssey Beyond Language Jing Cai | This course provides advanced language practice using adapted authentic texts and videos (e.g., history, business, international relations, and current affairs). It focuses on understanding Chinese cultural phenomena, practices and perspectives through interpretive, interactional and presentational communication with an interdisciplinary perspective.Fall 2025 Topic: Entrepreneurship & Innovation: Chinese Cases |
| CHNSE 142B | Advanced Conversational Chinese on Social Media Xiaocheng Chen | Continuation of 142a. This course builds on the foundation that students have gained through prior Chinese coursework, with a focus on improving oral expression. Classes take the form of presentations, discussions, debates, and other activities designed to strengthen both extemporaneous and prepared speaking ability. |
| CHNSE 150B | Topics in Chinese Culture and Society Jing Cai | Continuation of Chinese 150a. The course seeks to consolidate and hone students’ advanced Chinese ability through in-depth examination of Chinese society and culture. |
| TIBET 245B | Readings in the Oeuvre of Bcom ldan ral gri (1227-1305) Leonard W.J. van der Kuijp | This course will examine the breadth and depth of one of the most versatile and interesting scholars of Tibetan history. Being one of the most prolific writers of the 13th century, we will be reading a large number select passages from his main writings. This is a full year reading course. |
| TIBET 241 | Readings in the Oeuvre of Zur mkhar ba Blo gros rgyal po (1509-?1579) Leonard W.J. van der Kuijp | Zur mkhar ba was not only a famous traditional Tibetan physician, but he was also a poetician, a grammarian, and writer of epistles. In this course, we will examine his writings in various genres of Tibetan literature and examine a corpus of his letters that shed light on his social history. This is a reading course. |
| HAA 183K | Himalayan Art Jinah Kim | Understood as a divine abode in Indic mythology and envisioned as the immortal realm of “Shangri-la” by later western interpreters, the Himalayas abound with Hindu and Buddhist holy sites. This course explores the vibrant visual culture of the Himalayan region. Two learning goals are: 1) Understanding the historical development of distinctive artistic forms in paintings and sculptures of Nepal and Tibet during major moments of artistic innovations in the region, including the artistic responses to the current political situation; 2) Locating this knowledge in the context of the history of reception and collecting of Himalayan art in the west. |
Spring 2026: Primarily for Undergraduate Students
| School | Course ID | Course Title | Course Description |
| FAS | GENED 1068 | The United States and China William C. Kirby | Are the United States and China destined for conflict or can they lead the world in addressing common challenges? The United States and China are global economic and military powers. They have a rich history of commerce, friendship, alliance, and antagonism. Both countries have been shaped and re-shaped by the nature of their mutual relations. Their relationship is in crisis, the outcome of which will do much to define the world of the 21st century. This course invites students to examine together the present and future of U.S.-China relations in the light of their past. What are the enduring patterns and issues in China’s relations with the United States? How have these two countries perceived each other over time? How has trade defined the relationship from the Opium War to Huawei? How has war shaped experiences in the United States and China, and what are the risks of military confrontation today? What are the prospects for cooperation on global crises such as climate change? What is the role of American and Chinese universities, such as Harvard and Tsinghua, in shaping mutual relations in a time of global pandemic?The course emphasizes active, participant-centered discussions of major issues, texts, and contemporary events, and will engage with Harvard Business School cases, experts on the U.S.-China relationship, and the rich resources of Harvard’s schools and the Harvard Center Shanghai. In their final project, students, working in groups, will address a central challenge in the Chinese-American relationship and propose a solution. |
| FAS | GENED 1169 | What Is the Good China Story? Wai-yee Li & David Der-wei Wang | Why do stories have the power to bring China to the world and the world to China? The course takes as its point of departure President Xi Jinping’s call in 2013 to “tell the good China story,” and in 2020 to “tell the good China story of combating coronavirus.” What is the good China story? Is this the story China should tell about itself to the world? Is this about cultural self-perception, understanding the world, cross-cultural communication, or simple propaganda? More importantly, how can we tell China stories from perspectives outside of China?What seems beyond dispute is the power of stories to bring China to the world and the world to China. In exploring the “fictional turn” of contemporary Chinese cultural politics as it relates to the world, we will also trace its genealogy to earlier historical moments. Stories matter in China, not only in our times but also throughout history.Narrative fiction is one of the most effective ways to engage with the Chinese past and the Chinese present. Instead of presenting China as a monolithic civilization, this course uses stories to understand “the world of China” and “China in the world” from ideological, ethnic, cultural, and geo-political perspectives. The course highlights the variety and vitality of stories from both modern and pre-modern periods. In genres ranging from religious allegory to science fiction, from moral fable to fantastic romance, from philosophical anecdote to political satire, Chinese stories have enlightened, intrigued, puzzled, and scandalized readers, reflecting and constructing ever-changing worldviews. |
| FAS | HIST 1964 | The Social Life of Science in East Asia Ian J. Miller | Science and technology have very active social lives. They are present in nearly every aspect of modern life around the world, from the ways we feed ourselves to the ways we work, dress, and think. This class puts technology and science in their place, grounding them in specific environments and contexts. Our sites are all in East Asia—China, Korea, Taiwan, and especially Japan—with particular focus on the modern era, when East Asian factories and markets reshaped global economies and ecologies. You will learn to think differently about “nature” and “animals”, for example, to better understand what it meant to be “human” in 19th century Japan. You will explore mines, factories, fields, and households to gain a sense for the historiography of techno-science in the region. You will hear Gojira (aka Godzilla) roar and watch robots die as you think about “science” as both a product and producer of culture. No prior knowledge or East Asian language skills required, previous work in history or history of science courses a plus. |
| FAS | EASTD 98K | Economic Governance in East Asia Daniel Koss | East Asia has given rise to models of development with distinct visions for the relationship between the state and the market. Hallmarks of the designs are powerful ministries, gigantic conglomerates, state-supervised labor unions, and spectacular corruption. The first part of the tutorial revisits four decades of “miraculous” growth in Japan and the Asian Tiger economies (South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore), in order to illuminate underlying development strategies from a political science perspective, including through theories of late industrialization and varieties of capitalism. The second part of this course focuses on China, whose strategists have drawn on its neighbors’ experience. It highlights the vast differences between economic regions in China (the Pearl River versus the Yangtze Delta, versus lagging Western regions), as well as the significant transformation of the country’s approach over the last three decades. Students will develop a deeper comprehension of phenomena such as national champions, tycoons in the digital economy, Communist party control, international expansion, and slogans such as “Made in China 2025.” Throughout the course, we will occasionally go back in time to historical foundations of economic governance. This junior tutorial provides individualized support in the research process toward a final paper. |
Spring 2026: Primarily for Graduate Students
| School | Course ID | Course Title | Course Description |
| FAS/HDS | EABS 255 | Readings on Chinese Religions: Recent Scholarship on Chinese Buddhism and Daoism: Seminar James Robson | This seminar aims to discuss significant new works in the field of Chinese Religions by focusing on the historical, doctrinal, and philosophical development of the Buddhist tradition in China. |
| FAS | CHNSHIS 272 | Public and Private Institutions in Theory and Practice, 14th -17th Century China Peter K. Bol | This course examines major works on public and private institutions from the 14th to the 17th century. It will cover programs for ordering society through state policy and private initiatives and introduce major works on statecraft, programs for local government, and formation of new literati political associations. |
| FAS | CHNSHIS 232R | Topics in Han History: Seminar Michael J. Puett | Examines various topics in the history of the Han Dynasty. |
| FAS | COMPLIT 233X | Pioneers of Desolation: Eileen Chang and Katherine Mansfield Ursula Friedman | Eileen Chang (1920-1995), dubbed “the Greta Garbo of modern Chinese letters” and “the pioneer of desolation”, is known for her acerbic psychological forays into her characters’ inner turmoil during times of war and upheaval. This course pairs Chang with the New Zealand writer Katherine Mansfield (1888-1923), known for her strikingly modernist short stories and poems delving into her characters’ inner psychology. Though the two never met in person, Chang had likely encountered Mansfield’s works through a translation rendered by Xu Zhimo (1897-1931). Both authors describe natural images with poetic lyricism, internalize conflict, employ symbolic motifs to externalize emotion, and use writing to dispel personal and national trauma. In this course, we will pair excerpts from Mansfield’s Bliss and Other Stories (1920) and The Garden Party and Other Stories (1922) with Eileen Chang’s Love in A Fallen City (1943/2007) and Lust, Caution (1979). All readings and discussions will be conducted in English. |
| FAS/HDS | EABS 205 RELIGION 2710R HDS 3888 | Buddhist Studies Seminar: Early Tantra and Vinaya Text Janet Gyatso | This is a seminar for advanced Buddhist Studies doctoral and masters students, including doctoral students taking generals exams in Buddhist Studies. A minimum of two years study of at least one canonical Buddhist language is required for enrollment. The seminar takes a close look at selected canonical texts in their Sanskrit, Pali, Chinese and/or Tibetan versions, and the evolution of some of their contents, organization, and conceptual structure, not to mention editions and translations. The purpose of the seminar is to familiarize students with research methods in working with Buddhist canonical texts, from online resources and critical apparati to strategies of readings and pursuing themes of interest. This year the seminar will focus for half of the semester on ritual and physical structures of early kriyā and caryā tantras as available in Sanskrit or other Indic languages, Chinese, and/or Tibetan. The other half of the semester will compare versions of the Vinaya in Pali, Sanskrit, Chinese, and/or Tibetan, through the lens of particular foci of interest to students in the seminar; possibilities include gender issues, monastic structure, material culture, ritual structure, community versus personal values. The particular foci for both parts of the course will be decided by all members when the seminar convees. The seminar will also consider relevant modern academic Buddhological research relevant to our topics. |
| FAS | CHNSHIS 230R | Reading Local Documents for Ming-Qing History Michael A. Szonyi | This seminar introduces students to the different genres of documents that are found in private hands in villages, and explores how these materials can be used for historical research. Reading knowledge of modern and literary Chinese required. Topic for Spring 2026: land and property deeds. |
| FAS | CHNSLIT 253 | Chinese Aesthetic and Literary Thought Wai-yee Li | This course will introduce students to key concepts in Chinese aesthetic and literary thought through close analysis of primary texts. The goal is to understand the functions of keywords such as wen 文, zhi 志, qing 情, shen 神, yi 意, or qi 氣 in the contexts of broader arguments about tradition, language, socio-political order, and human nature. We will explore the meanings of authorship, intention, expression, communication, and interpretation in the Chinese tradition. The focus will be on pre-Qin and Han texts, but there will be forays into materials from later periods. |
| FAS | CHNSLIT 245R | Topics in Sinophone Studies – Modern Chinese Fiction on the Periphery David Der-wei Wang | Survey of modern Chinese fiction and narratology from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the Chinese Diaspora: polemics of the canon, dialogues between national and regional imaginaries, and literary cultures in the Sinophone world. |
Spring 2026: Graduate School Courses
| School | Course ID | Course Title | Course Description |
| HLS | HLS 3182 | Tibet and China Lobsang Sangay | This Reading Group will focus on the question of and solutions for Tibet. It will look at the historical status of Tibet and the current situation of the Tibetan people. The class will examine the guarantees and practices of national minority rights under the Constitution of the People‘s Republic of China in light of international human rights standards. Do China’s guarantees respecting national minority rights meet international standards regarding the right to self-determination or the protection of minorities. Might reference to the rights of indigenous people be helpful? The approach of the seminar will be to interrogate the best ways to address these issues and find solutions. We will look at the evolution and major changes in the stand of the Dalai Lama from seeking independence, to what he has described as a zone of peace for Tibet, and finally to “genuine autonomy for Tibetan people” within the framework of the Constitution of the PRC. His efforts have included nine rounds of dialogue between envoys of the Dalai Lama and the PRC government. We will also explore comparative issues of Hong Kong and Xinjiang to understand PRC approaches toward regional autonomy . The Reading Group will also explore the unique approach of the Dalai Lama in developing a democratic polity in exile, as well as complex religious issues relating to reincarnation and religious freedom. Finally, we will examine the US Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2020 to understand the role of the US government in respect of political, diplomatic and legal obligations relating to Tibet and its people. |
| HLS | HLS 2461 | Comparative Law: Why Law? The Experience of China William P. Alford | This course uses the example of China as a springboard for asking fundamental questions about the nature of law, and the ways in which it may (or may not) differ in different societies. Historically, China is said to have developed one of the world’s great civilizations while according law a far less prominent role than in virtually any other. This course will test that assertion by commencing with an examination of classic Chinese thinking about the role of law in a well-ordered society and a consideration of the nature of legal institutions, formal and informal, in pre-20th century China-all in a richly comparative setting. It will then examine the history of Sino-Western interaction through law, intriguing and important both in itself and for the broader inquiry into which it opens concerning the transmission of ideas of law cross culturally. The remainder (and bulk) of the course will use the example of the People’s Republic of China – which has, for example, gone from 3,000 to more than 650,000 lawyers in a few decades – to ask what it means to build a legal order. Simply stated, what is central and why, what is universal and what culturally specific and why, and so forth? In addition to examining the principal institutions of the Party-state and the uses to which law is put, the contemporary parts of the course will consider issues of the economy (e.g., corporate governance and trade), human rights, the family and much more. This course, which satisfies the Law School’s international legal studies graduation requirement for JDs, is intended to be inviting to individuals both with and without prior study of China. |
| HLS | HLS 3137 | China and the International Legal Order Mark Wu | In the Xi era, China has started to cast aside the long-standing maxim of keeping a low profile and biding one’s time in international affairs. What does China’s rise portend for the international legal order? In what ways is China seeking to reshape global norms versus uphold a status quo order exhibiting increasing fragility? This seminar examines this question for various domains of international law, including climate change, economics, sovereignty, human rights, and development. It will consider the ways in which history, geostrategic competition, domestic politics, and economic interests impact these questions. |
| HKS | IGA 108 | China and the World: Challenges, Competition and Cooperation Rana Mitter | How has China’s rise changed the world of the twenty-first century? And what are the forces and factors that shape its global behaviour? This course takes a range of themes to interpret contemporary China’s actions in the world, and understand how China’s history can explain important aspects of contemporary policy and decision-making. The course takes key themes and examines them in both contemporary and historical context. Among the themes explored are: China’s role in international organizations including the United Nations, influence in shaping regional and global norms and patterns on trade and technology, military expansion, action on climate change, development of identity as a leader of the Global South, and promotion of new forms of ideology. The course will examine ways that China conforms and embraces some aspects of the current global order, and confronts or revises others, including its relationships with the US, the Global South, and areas of cross-border concern (such as climate change or technological norms). We will examine the changing nature of China’s global thinking in the twenty-first century, and provide comparisons and contrasts with a range of historical events that have shaped that thinking, such as the conflicts with European empires in the late 19th century, the development of new forms of reformist and revolutionary political thinking in the early 20th century including ideas on class, ethnicity and gender, China’s war against Japan in the 1930s and 1940, and the revolutionary turmoil of the era Mao Zedong in 1949-76. The course will illustrate how much, and in what ways, China’s growing prominence has changed the world, and show that analysing China’s history and thought is a key tool for interpreting its actions and intentions in the present day. |
| GSD | HIS 4533 | Inscriptions: Experimental Architecture in Contemporary China K. Hays | “Let us consider architectural thinking. By that I don’t mean to conceive architecture as a technique separate from thought and therefore possibly suitable to represent it in space, to constitute almost an embodiment of thinking, but rather to raise the question of architecture as a possibility of thought, which cannot be reduced to the status of a representation of thought.” -Jacque Derrida, “Architecture Where the Desire May Live” A longstanding tradition in Chinese art emphasizes the interconnectedness of calligraphy and painting, which share a common techne for presentation in their use of ink, brush, and paper, and an association with the gongshi or scholar’s rock, which often served the literati as the focus of meditation and a source of inspiration. This advanced history and theory seminar will explore several openings for what might be called a contemporary synthetic poetics, which not only organizes and propels the imbricated machinery of these different arts of inscription, but also enables it to set into its structured field the system of architecture; or to be more precise, an architecture of inscription.The hypothesis of this course is that certain contemporary architectural and art practices in China— many in the Jiangnan region, the original site of literati practices , with its focus on perceptions of nature and materiality — reinscribe and map this tradition of inscription in contemporary work. What is more, we will show that it is poststructuralist thought (begun but never developed in architecture theory), that provides the most articulated access to the machinery of architecture’s inscription.Example: In his theoretical writings, the Ming painter-philosopher Shitao articulated the use of the “single stroke” of the brush (yi hua) as the generative “primordial line” —the conceptual and material support and expressive pulse of all his painting. Three hundred years later, the French psychoanalytic theorist Jacque Lacan returned to Shitao’s mark which he translated to French as the trait unaire, his reinscription of yi hua. For Lacan, the unpartitioned oneness of the originary stroke was the “primordial symbolic term,” the formalized trace-trait of which is the first step for entry into identification and language. Contemporary architects and artists are engaging the minimal formal structure of generative material marks to explore the related issues of site, place, and memory.This course will expand out from close symptomatic readings of these practices into the context of the poststructuralist theory that intersected with architectural practice in Europe, the Americas, and China. A renewed interest in architecture theory accompanied the new practices and was developed in architecture journals. We will follow that development with close examinations of architectural projects and theoretical text |
| GSD | SES 5527 | Shaping Chinese Megacity Regions: Design, Policy, and Planning Li Hou | This seminar examines the upsurge of megacity regions in China since the early 21st century, with a focus on how spatial planning, policy, and urban design have shaped this phenomenal process amid evolving state-market relations and growing global integration. We will analyze the development trajectories of select regions—including the Yangtze River Delta, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, and the China–Vietnam Red River Development Corridor—while examining their distinctive planning approaches and design strategies.The course situates these case studies within broader political traditions and institutional frameworks, revealing the social, economic, cultural, and environmental forces at play. Students will also be introduced to key tools and methods of spatial planning and design that apply to city-region planning worldwide.Through guest lectures and seminar discussions, students will engage with current debates and contribute their own perspectives, drawing on their academic and professional backgrounds to enrich a critical understanding of Chinese megacity regionalization. |
| HDS | HDS 3208 | Christianity and Modern China Xi Lian | This course is a search for historical understanding of how the rise of Christianity helped shape modern China and how, at the same time, the country’s modern upheavals left their imprint on Chinese Christianity. It explores ways in which the spread of Christianity facilitated momentous social changes—from the introduction of modern education, medicine, and journalism to the rise of women and the pioneering struggles for individual freedom and civil liberties. It also examines how China’s tortuous journey out of its dynastic past and its troubled encounters with modernity fashioned a Christian tradition characterized in turn by popular messianic exuberance and by prophetic political and cultural strivings. |