The IFSA (Institute for Study Abroad) headquarters are located in a safe, pleasant quarter of the city that features restaurants, small shops, street food, and recreational areas. A café with a patio where students often study is on the ground floor of the IFSA building. Across a small park is Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, whose cafeteria and other facilities are available for students’ use. Students will live in two- or three-bedroom apartments a few minutes away from the IFSA headquarters. Each apartment has its own living/dining area, kitchen, and bath. Students will room with other American students and a Chinese student from a nearby university, increasing the likelihood of true cultural immersion.

This program is suspended for Fall 2023. Program should resume Fall of 2024. 

The same as studying in Danville, plus a $375 deposit (surcharge/emergency fund/carbon offset) due 29 March 2023, and a $25 travel medicine fee, for a total of $400. Flights to the abroad site are also the responsibility of the student. All pre-departure meetings, including the travel medicine meeting held each semester, are mandatory. If you have significant financial need, you may also qualify for additional funding from the Center for Global Citizenship.
 

Students have the option of earning 12-15 Centre credit hours. All students take Chinese Society in the 21st Century (Sociology), for which they earn 3 credit hours. All students also take 6 credit hours of Mandarin language (8 contact hours, meeting two hours a day, four days a week). Students can then choose to complete an internship (3 hours) and/or an elective (each is 3 credit hours) from the following options:

ECON 360 – China: Economic Giant
INS 340 – Sino-U.S. Relations: Superpower and
Realignment
POL 350 – Contemporary Chinese Politics: State, Party,
People
ENS 385 – The City and the Environment
ARTH 260 – Survey of Art in China
ECON 371/FINC 370 – International Money and Finance
(Prerequisites: ECO 110 and ECO 340)
ECON 380 – International Trade: A Chinese Perspective
(Prerequisite: ECO 110)

Students who don’t participate in an internship have the option of taking two electives to bring their total hours to 15, which is the norm for other students participating in this IFSA program. Students can choose to take an elective and participate in an internship as well.

•The program sponsors a week-long field study trip to Southwestern China’s Yunan Province, including hiking in the famous mountainous areas, visiting small Yi and Miao minority villages, exploring the natural beauty of the Stone Forest and rain forest of Xishuangbanna., etc.
•Full schedule of excursions, events, and lectures designed to enhance understanding of China and the historical and modern influences that impact its culture and people.
•Classes in Chinese painting, calligraphy, cooking, Taiji or other martial arts.
•A one-week period for individual travel within China or to explore Shanghai and its region.

The Centre-in-China program is Centre’s only semester-long abroad option that includes a guaranteed internship—though any student not wishing to have an internship can substitute an elective (or two) course(s). Students who have studied some Mandarin will have an advantage for placements where Mandarin is helpful. IFSA arranges internships in an area of your academic or professional interest: in Chinese, joint-venture, or foreign-owned companies; research institutes; NGO’s; media and art studios.

• This program is open to all Centre students. No prior Chinese (Mandarin) language training is necessary. Because students study Mandarin (speaking, listening, reading, grammar) each morning and have both a Chinese “language buddy” and a tutor, they cover more than a year of language at the beginning level; if they’ve studied any Mandarin, their language ability improves dramatically. Being able to converse in Mandarin could be extraordinarily helpful to those thinking about future careers in areas where spoken Chinese would be helpful, such as government, business, the arts, banking, public relations, commerce, marketing, and travel.
• Apply online by Feb 16, 2023  at  Centre OnLine Forms
• The application process is normally discussed during the two campus-wide informational meetings dates to be announced. All students receive the email making them aware of these meetings. Submit your completed application no later than Feb 16,2023. Students who are selected must pay the non-refundable $375 deposit/surcharge, plus the $25 Travel Clinic for a total of $400 to the Cashier’s Office in Horky House by March 29, to hold their spot in the program.