May 14 – June 6, 2010
Arguably, no country is undergoing more rapid social, technological and environmental change than China in the new millennium. Through a written history of over 5,000 years, China has experienced massive effects of geographic expansion, revolutions, colonization, environmental turmoil and now globalization. As one of the largest economies in the world and the last remaining communist nation-states, China has a profound and growing global influence in almost every domain—including politics, environmental change and human rights. It is the roaring dragon. 
This 23-day transdisciplinary study abroad program focuses on two of China’s most dynamic cities. Beijing is the political and cultural capital of China; the center for past and present political regimes; and a repository of cultural relics and treasures from the imperial era. The cosmopolitan and very different city of Shanghai is China's chief industrial center and one of the world's leading ports, embodying a global city where western and eastern cultures meet and processes of globalization are accentuated. Drawing on such fields as anthropology, archaeology, history, sustainability, global health, urban studies, political science and sociology, our China program focuses attention on two central and accessible topics that allow us to understand both the genesis and the results of these massive changes in China, and where things are going next: food and environmental health. This also gives us a wonderful reason to eat lots of amazing food and explore as much of the city and countryside as we can.
This 6-credit-hour traveling program is a traveling one in which we emphasize experience outside the classroom, investigating first-hand how Beijing and Shanghai have transformed and are transforming in modern, fascinating China. Planned activities include an overnight stay at the Great Wall, walking in the Ming and Qing dynasties’ emperors’ footsteps at the Forbidden City, a short homestay with a local Beijing family, visiting a tea plantation in Hangzhou, learning traditional healing, cooking and calligraphy techniques and exploring the water town of Zhou Zhuang. All scheduled activities and excursions are included in the program fee. Accommodation is in well-appointed foreign student dorms and 4-star hotels, and senior ASU faculty accompany the group.
This program does not require any background in the Chinese language nor the topical foci, and is suitable for students from a wide range of majors.
The estimated program fee for 2010 for the China program is $2,579, and covers all accommodations, all scheduled excursions, cultural events, program-related ground transportation and group meals. Tuition (6 credit hours at normal ASU rates), international airfare (approximately $1,300), incidentals and remaining meals are additional.
Planned courses include:
- ASB 200/SSH 200 Food and Culture (3)
Fulfills General Studies (L or SB) & C
- ASB 355 Traditional Healing and Shamanism (3)
Fulfills General Studies HU or SB
- ASB 410/SSH 400 Poverty, Social Justice and Global Health (3)
Fulfills CLAS Science & Society; also fulfills General
Studies (L or SB) & G
- ASB 443/SSH 403 Cross-Cultural Studies in Global Health (3)
Fulfills CLAS Science & Society; also fulfills General
Studies SB & G
- ASM 414/SSH 414 Urban and Environmental Health (3)
Fulfills CLAS Science & Society; also fulfills General
Studies SB
Call for applications opens in October and closes February 20, 2010. Places in the program are awarded in the order of application, so early application is always advised to be sure of securing a space.
Apply to the Program
Frequently Asked Questions
Sample Syllabus
Sample Itinerary
Photo Gallery
More about China
Contact
For more information, e-mail or call the School of Human Evolution and Social Change's study abroad program assistant at (480) 965-1366.
