Bachelor of Arts in International Studies, Major in Chinese Studies Program (AB-ISC)

AB-ISC Curriculum

Program Background
The Bachelor of Arts in International Studies program is an interdisciplinary program that equips students with the foundations of international relations and global society, the theoretical and practical knowledge from country, region, or area studies, and a cosmopolitan mindset that engages with diverse cultures and perspectives to cultivate an awareness of contemporary global issues and innovations and to proficiently navigate and meaningfully contribute to the globalized world.

Majoring in the Chinese Studies Program (AB-ISC) aims to equip students with practical knowledge of China’s history, its foreign relations, its economy, the nuances of its business culture, and the Chinese language. The design of the program enables students to become aware of the roots of China’s emerging power and strength, to understand what motivates China’s domestic and foreign policies, to appreciate the differences between China’s business culture and that of the West, and to lay the foundations of a functional understanding of the Chinese language. The overarching objective of this is to equip future entrepreneurs and captains of industry with the skills to identify opportunities for business within China. In addition, it seeks to equip practitioners and scholars of international relations with an understanding of Chinese strategic goals and state behavior to allow the Philippines to capitalize on its relationship with the People’s Republic.

Those who choose to pursue the AB-ISC program can expect a productive career in the private sector, either as entrepreneurs or professionals doing business with China. The program is also designed to provide the necessary functional skills to graduates who might want to pursue a career in mainland China. In the academe, graduates can either pursue a career in teaching or as a policy expert on Chinese affairs. Those who opt for the latter can work in think tanks both in the academe and the private sector. Further careers may be found in the public sector, such as at the Department of Foreign Affairs or the Department of Trade and Industry. Graduates may also elect to join international organizations as research analysts, or as staff members in non-government organizations doing research on Chinese policy. Moreover, graduates can specialize in trade, marketing, advertising, entrepreneurship, finance, and management when Chinese Studies is combined with a business course through the LIA-COM program of De La Salle University.

Program Learning Objectives

1. Demonstrate big picture thinking in analyzing global phenomena that shape the interactions and dynamics of global actors and institutions
2. Initiate meaningful agendas for inclusivity by generating platforms for diversity, multiculturalism, cosmopolitanism, and empowerment of minorities and marginalized sectors
3. Apply theoretical and practical knowledge from country/region/area studies in solving issues and problems encountered across industries and institutions
4. Exhibit effective communication skills, including written and oral foreign language competencies, to impart perspectives, analyses, and insights from socially relevant and policy-based research and creative works, demonstrating an immersive understanding of foreign cultures and languages
5. Develop a cosmopolitan mindset by engaging with diverse cultures and perspectives to cultivate an awareness of and adapting to contemporary global issues and innovations, to proficiently navigate and meaningfully contribute to the globalized world