KIN4510 – How to study Chinese Culture and Society

This course constitutes a basic module in the study of Chinese culture and society at the postgraduate level. Through interactive seminars you will:

• learn how to identify, access and process Chinese primary sources and Chinese and English secondary sources, including reference works, digital material, interviews, etc.
• work with methods, concepts and theories in order to help you produce independent academic analyses.
• develop new questions and ideas for projects based one existing research.
• experience in working both individually and in teams, also under the pressure of deadlines and with specific requirements.
• familiarize yourself with online learning tools, digital sources and resources, and datasets that are pertinent to China Studies.

The course includes a 2-day workshop - the academic survival kit (ASK) - sometimes together with students and academic staff from the Master’s program in Japanese studies. We explore how to combine theoretical-analytical and empirical work, and if possible we stay overnight in a place near Oslo. Students present their own ideas for thesis work and collection of data, and you will receive individual feedback and suggestions for the planning of your further studies and career.

You will gain:

• methodological and theoretical skills needed to identify and analyze sources that are key to understanding Chinese society, culture(s), politics and history.
• communication skills for engaging in academic and other forms of dialogue about research findings.
• techniques of academic writing, including how to develop an academic project and write a project description, how to write short summaries of key texts, and how to present findings in written form academically and for a broader audience.
• presentation techniques and methodological skills, both individually and in teams with other students.
• digital competence in identifying and using online resources and tools in independent research.

The course is available to students admitted to the MA programme option Chinese Culture and Society.

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

The course will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and workshops over 12 weeks. The course is taught for four hours per week (two hours for two days), with an additional compulsory two-day workshop. Active participation in class is expected.

Compulsory activities:

1. You are required to attend 60% of the teaching. In this course, you must attend at least 14 out of 24 seminars.
2. A two-day workshop (The Academic Survival Kit).
3. 1-3 oral presentations (individually or as part of team work) as assigned by the teacher
4. A project description for the proposed master`s thesis, 700 - 900 words plus list of references. To be submitted in Canvas within a given deadline.
5. Compulsory E-learning course in the protection of personal data (GDPR). The course will be delivered via Canvas.
6. Theme Package I: Written summary/analysis of a selection of academic papers in Chinese and/or English, 1200 - 1600 words plus list of references.*
7. Theme Package II: Written summary/analysis of a selection of academic papers in Chinese and/or English, 1200 - 1600 words plus list of references.*

* At least one of the Theme Packages will be a group assignment, and all students must contribute to the team work.

You will find more information about the requirements for the compulsory assignment(s) and the submission deadline in Canvas.

Oral presentations and approved project description are only valid for one semester. The rest of the approved compulsory activities remains valid for the 2 following semesters in which the course is offered. However, exceptions may arise if the course undergoes changes in its assessment format, teaching, or other significant modifications.

All compulsory activities must be approved to qualify for the exam. It is your responsibility to verify that you have obtained approval for all compulsory activities.

Absence from compulsory activities:

This course requires at least 60% attendance. This requirement is absolute.

The absence limit should cover normal absences due to illness, etc. You will therefore not be granted a valid excused absence based on a medical certificate, even if the absence is due to circumstances for which you cannot be blamed.

In special cases, for example, in the event of serious or long-term illness, you can apply for special needs accomodations. For questions about special needs accommodations, please contact studentinfo@ikos.uio.no

• Here you will find information about compulsory activities at the Department of Culture, Religion, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies

It is important that you familiarize yourself with the rules regarding absence from compulsory activities, to prevent being excluded from teaching and losing your eligibility to take the exam.

More information on compulsory activities at the University of Oslo:

• Common guidelines relating to compulsory activities - University of Oslo (uio.no)

Access to teaching:

A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.

Term paper and oral exam.

The term paper consists of an extensive MA research proposal including introduction, literature review and methodological reflections, which is of 3200 - 3500 words plus list of references. The paper should be based on both primary sources in Chinese, and secondary source readings in Chinese and English.

The use of AI is only allowed as a supplementary tool in the initial search for sources, etc., and the reliability of the information and the sources must be checked by the candidate. The use of AI is not allowed in the production or editing (including language editing) of the term paper, which should be produced in its entirety by the candidate him- or herself. Any use or non-use of AI must be declared by the candidate.

The oral exam consists of a conversation of up to approximately 15 minutes. Two examiners will ask questions regarding your term paper, including research question, material, methods and theoretical concepts. 

Detailed information regarding the exam format will be announced on Canvas.  

One grade is given for the entire course. The term paper counts for 70 per cent and the oral exam counts for 30 per cent of the grade. You must pass both exams to pass the course, in the same semester. 

You must submit the term paper in Inspera - see guides for digital exams.

You are personally responsible for familiarizing yourself with the requirements and deadlines for the exam.

All compulsory activities must be completed and approved in order to take the exam.

You can find more information about the exam on the semester page of the course.