Curriculum | Certificate in Chinese and American Studies + Master of Arts in International Relations
Our graduates are known for being innovative thinkers and problem-solvers with the expertise to confront complex global challenges. The Certificate + MAIR program offers you the chance to study for one year at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center and obtain the Certificate in Chinese and American Studies and continue your studies in the Master of Arts in International Relations program at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). Intermediate to advanced proficiency in Mandarin is required prior to beginning your studies.
Both the Certificate in Chinese and American Studies and Master of Arts in International Relations programs feature relevant and timely courses and afford you the flexibility to tailor your program of study while deepening your knowledge of Sino-global relations.
Certificate in Chinese and American Studies
The one-year certificate, jointly awarded by Johns Hopkins SAIS and Nanjing University, is offered at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center, and gives you flexibility to select from a wide variety of courses offered on topics such as economics, international politics, Chinese studies, energy, and law.
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Master of Arts in International Relations
After completing the one-year certificate in Nanjing, China, students continue their studies at Johns Hopkins SAIS to complete the Master of Arts in International Relations degree requirements in one year. The school’s interdisciplinary curriculum emphasizes leadership, economic analysis, analytical conceptualization and reasoning, regional expertise, and real-world problem-solving. Students can pursue their studies at either campus in Washington DC or SAIS Europe, although they must spend at least one semester in Washington DC.
Requirements
Students must complete at least six courses during their year in Nanjing, five of which must be taught in Mandarin. Many students choose to take additional courses taught in English with their Chinese peers. Students may use up to 2 approved courses taught in English toward specific MAIR requirements.
Intermediate to advanced level proficiency in Mandarin is required prior to beginning studies. All applicants to Hopkins-Nanjing Center programs are required to take the Avant Assessment STAMP Chinese proficiency test. Applicants have typically completed three to four years of college-level Chinese and have spent time in China.
The recommended score on the STAMP Chinese proficiency test for the certificate program is 1200 or above.
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Students who complete the HNC certificate earn Advanced Standing credits toward their SAIS MAIR. Advanced Standing will reduce the total number of credits needed for the MAIR from 64 to 32-40, depending on how many courses were completed for credit during their time in the HNC certificate program. Advanced Standing credits do not fulfill specific MAIR degree requirements, and the student may be required to take more than the minimum number of overall credits in order to complete the MAIR.
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Students may use up to 2 approved courses taught in English toward specific MAIR requirements. Each semester prior to registration, the Office of Academic Advising (DC) will provide a list of approved English language courses and which MAIR requirement the course may fulfill. Students may use up to 2 approved courses taught in Chinese toward the China regional focus area.
Non-native Chinese-speakers who have completed the Hopkins-Nanjing Center Certificate automatically meet the Master of Arts in International Relations second language requirement through their proficiency in Chinese.
- Non-native English-speakers who have completed the one-year Hopkins-Nanjing Center Certificate must pass an English placement exam.
- Native Chinese-speakers who have completed the Hopkins-Nanjing Center Certificate must fulfill the Master of Arts in International Relations second language requirement. This can be fulfilled with English proficiency. If choosing a language other than English for proficiency, non-native English speakers must still pass the English placement exam prior to graduation.
This session covers the transition from Nanjing to DC for HNC Certificate +, SAIS MAIR candidates, credit transfers, degree mapping, and more.