In May 2008 Saint Joseph’s University inaugurated its new China Program aimed at undergraduates interested in spending a month exploring China while earning credit for a regular Saint Joseph’s course taught by a Saint Joseph’s faculty member. This year thirteen undergraduates visited Shanghai, Nanjing, Tiantai, Ningbo, Xi’an and Beijing, and paid a visit to a rural village where they were told that they were the first foreign visitors the village had ever had! Dr. David Carpenter, Director of the Asian Studies Program and Associate Professor in the Department of Theology, taught a course on Buddhism entitled "Mahayana Buddhism: The Great Way of Wisdom and Compassion," and Dr. Ann Green, Associate Professor in the Department of English, taught a service-learning course entitled "Writing through Race, Class and Gender." Both were GER courses. Students in Dr. Carpenter's class were able to visit many of the most important historical sites for the development of Chinese Buddhism, and students in Dr. Green's course were able to interact with Chinese students who were studying English in preparation for visits to the United States. As part of their course Dr. Green's students created a blog to record their impressions of China and its people, which can be read here. Dr. Weiping Wang. Executive Director of China Programs at Saint Joseph's, and a native of Nanjing, and Mary Ann Cloney, Director of China Programs, accompanied the group. Be sure to view the slideshow of pictures from the trip, using the link at the bottom of this page.
The Asian Studies Program plans to be able to offer a course for Asian Studies credit in China each summer. In the summer of 2009 Dr. Jay Carter of the Department of History will be offering HIS 2451, "Modern China: Struggle and Survival" which covers the social, political, and cultural history of China from 1840 to the present. In addition William McDevitt of the Department of Management will be offering BUS 2401/MGT 2971, "International Legal Environment of Business in China," and Dr. Ann Green of the English department will be offering ENG 2911 "Reading and Writing China," which is a service-learning course. For more on the 2009 China Summer Program download the brochure. The China Program is administered through the Center for International Programs. Look under "Study Tours" -> "Summer Programs" on the CIP web site.