I. Program Goals and Course Objectives

Over the last two decades, China has gained phenomenal growth and prominence in the world economy and regional and global affairs. China ’s dramatic economic growth and changing foreign policy behavior have all had an unprecedented impact in the region and around the world, particularly on relations between China and the United States and other major world powers. Recent reactions to the rise of China by the US Congress, the media, and the general public attest to a compelling need to enhance our understanding of what has happened and what is likely to happen in the years, particularly of China ’s foreign policy behavior in the 21st century.  The rise of China not only presents tremendous opportunities for business with China but also for learning and working in the country. The timing is propitious and the climate is right for creating such a summer program in China to prepare students for their future career development in foreign policy areas and international organizations concerning China .

This course aims to help students gain first-hand knowledge of Chinese foreign policy and culture, broaden students’ views and knowledge, and deepen their understanding of US-China relations through intensive three-week lecture series and a variety of educational activities and field trips to governmental, non-governmental, business, and cultural organizations. Program ends with an extended cultural tour for the fourth week in China to enhance students’ first hand experience and knowledge of China ’s culture, history, people, society, and economic and human development. 

II. Learning Outcomes and Assessment

 Help students develop ability to examine and analyze China ’s foreign policy from multiple disciplines - China ’s culture, history, people, political development, politics and government, ideology, economy, society, military, environmental and human sources.  Ability to analyze and explain the general questions from different perspectives, particularly those questions relating to China rising, its domestic and international environments, challenges and problems, determinants of its foreign policy behavior, new thinking in foreign policy strategy, and its implications for the US-China relations and the rest of the world.

 Formats of the instruction will be class lectures.  The student class performance will be evaluated by instructors as well as by SFSU guide professor who organizes the trip.  Students from the study program at PKU will be awarded with a PKU certificate and academic credits (3 units) may count toward their major as electives or to be transferred to their home institutions if students are not SFSU students.

 III. Program/Course Administration

This summer program will be a collaborative program to be offered by the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences (BSS), its departments, Political Science and International Relations, through the Short-Term Study Abroad Program at the College of Extended Learning (CEL), and hosted at School of International Studies (SIS) of Peking University (PKU) in China.  Dr. Sujian Guo, faculty of the BSS, will lead the program as Program Director, responsible for working with CEL staff in compliance with the university policies and procedures, contacts at SIS of PKU, developing the program, preparing students for travel abroad, and organizing the lectures and field trips in China . CEL staff will administer registration, recruitment, and selection of participated students from San Francisco State University (SFSU) and from other CSU campuses.  Program activities and budgets will be prepared by Dr. Sujian Guo in negotiation with SIS of PKU, and submitted to the Dean of BSS College for approval, and to the CEL program coordinators.