Frequently Asked Questions

The ASU Chinese Language Flagship Partner Program is an intensive two-year honors-level program designed to take advanced Mandarin language learners to superior-level language proficiency. Students selected for the program can choose from any academic majors offered at Arizona State University. In addition, students are required to take a set of core courses specially designed for the Chinese Language Flagship Partner Program and taught exclusively in Chinese. Upon completing the first year at ASU, students will spend their second year at the prestigious Nanjing University in China. There they will further develop their Chinese language skills by taking courses, taught in Chinese, in their major field of study.

This program is designed for advanced Mandarin language learners determined to achieve superior language proficiency for use in their future career opportunities. Applicants should have advanced verbal and written Mandarin Chinese skills, a strong scholastic background and a strong commitment to personal and educational growth.

Yes, the ASU Chinese Language Flagship Partner Program welcomes all promising students regardless of background. However, the program is clearly not designed for native Chinese speakers who have graduated from Chinese high schools.

Absolutely. As we look at your academic record we will take a variety of factors into account. Your major is one among many. A clear connection between your academic plan and career goals is most important. Your statement of purpose is therefore an important part of the application. Many Chinese majors plan to pursue other fields after graduation, either in practice or in graduate school; this typically proves to be a good fit with the program’s objectives.

No. At this time, only ASU undergraduate students can be admitted to the program.

No. Qualified students who are pursing any academic major may apply. Many of our students have either a double major with Chinese or a minor with Chinese. We are looking for students with interests that can be applied throughout the job market in China. Students at other Chinese Language Flagship Programs have majored in areas such as political science, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, law, accounting, journalism, business management and biochemistry. We anticipate that students in the ASU program will similarly have a wide range of majors.

The application deadline for the 2008 cohort is January 31, 2008. We will assess language skills and conduct student interviews after we have processed all the applications. Our goal is to inform all qualified applicants by the end of March; however, it may take slightly longer because of individual student circumstances.

Yes, there will be an interview after we have reviewed all applications. The interview is one part of assessing language proficiency skills. Applicants will be interviewed either in person or by phone. The results of the interview and the language assessment will be considered in decisions about who will be admitted and who receives a scholarship. The interview also serves to evaluate whether students will be required to participate in an intensive summer language program.

Applicants are encouraged to apply for various scholarships available to them through Arizona State University and other private/public organizations. The top students selected to the Chinese Language Flagship Partner Program will receive funds to help cover tuition and provide living stipend support.

Admission and scholarship decisions will depend on the following criteria: 1) Mandarin language skill level, 2) academic transcript, 3) chosen academic or occupational area other than Chinese language and 4) additional factors, including letters of recommendation.

Completion time depends on the curriculum plan designed by the academic director and the student. Every student must complete two semesters of the Flagship coursework (approximately 12 course hours per semester). Second-year students will go to Nanjing University in Nanjing, China for a one-year immersion experience. Typically, they will spend one semester studying in their majors and other fields of interest through courses taught in Chinese and one semester participating in an internship program.

Only pre-Flagship students who need additional language training before beginning the Flagship program in the fall of 2008 will be required to attend the summer intensive language program at Sichuan University in the summer of 2008.