New B.A. in Chinese Studies

By Michael Watanabe
Daily Forty-Niner

A bachelor of arts program in Chinese Studies will be implemented at Cal State Long Beach next semester, if it receives a positive review from the California State University Chancellor's Office.

"I think it would be a great addition to the campus curriculum," said Armando Contreras, executive assistant to the CSULB President Robert Maxson. "It's great for the campus, especially if there's an interest among our students to have that."

The quest for the program started last semester. The proposed program began in the Asian-American Studies department, then moved on to the College of Liberal Arts, said Freeda Thompson, administrative support coordinator in Asian-American Studies.

The revised program was then sent to a university committee, before being submitted to the Chancellor's Office for review, Thompson said. If passed, a BA in Chinese Studies will be available in spring 2001.

Tim Xie, a Chinese language professor, said he feels that the implementation of this program will coincide perfectly with China achieving admission into the World Trade Organization.

"China will be a part of the WTO," he said. "The huge market of China will be open to the whole world."

Many American businessmen will be seeking businesses in China, once trading barriers are eased and would want someone who knows the Chinese language and Chinese customs, Xie said.

Another business venture possible with a Chinese Studies degree is Web site design, he said. E-business in the Chinese language would be a great commodity, since most of the population of China does not speak English.

There is an increasing demand for Chinese Studies, Xie said, as well as an increased demand for Chinese-related research.