Beijing, China Semester:
Levinson Program students normally spend either their junior spring semester or senior fall semester in Beijing at Peking University (commonly known as “Beida”), one of China’s most prominent universities. They take three courses: 1) CAPS 4001 China in Transition, which is taught in English by a Cornell faculty; 2) CAPS 4002 Chinese Perspectives on International and Global Affairs, which is taught in English by a member of the faculty at the School of International Studies; and 3) a Chinese language course at a 3000 level or above (CHIN 3351 or CHIN 3352; CHIN 4451 or 4452; equivalent to regular Cornell courses CHIN 3301 and CHIN 3302, CHIN 4411 and 4412, respectively). A Chinese language course at a 3000 level may be available for minors and other participating students. Majors are strongly encouraged to take 4000-level Chinese course during the CAPS semester in Beijing. Students are also encouraged to take other available courses offered by Beida faculty under CAPS 4888 for Cornell credit. To learn more about experiences during the Beijing semester, click here.
In Beijing, students hold internships with government agencies, businesses, the media, think tanks, research programs, or other organizations. The Levinson Program Office in Beijing provides advice and assistance for students’ internship placement, while students are also encouraged to find an internship by themselves. Students are advised to find ways to coordinate their internship assignments with their coursework at Peking University. Students may opt to conduct a summer or winter internship in Beijing or other Chinese cities before or after their semester at Beida, which may substitute for an internship in the semester. This alternative internship must be approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies in advance.
Qualifying applicants to the Honors program have the option of taking their language course as an independent study, whereby their tutors may help them conduct Chinese-language research for their Honors thesis during the semester in Beijing.
Students are strongly encouraged to interact with Chinese students while studying at Beida. They will find a lot to explore and experience in Beijing and around the country.
To learn more about the Beijing semester, please contact us at caps@cornell.edu.
Washington, D.C. Semester
The Levinson Program offers CAPS majors and minors an optional semester in Washington, D.C., under a cooperative arrangement through Cornell in Washington (CIW). Students take one CAPS core course (CAPS 4998) and additional CIW courses, while holding China-related internships in government agencies, embassies, newspapers, television networks, businesses, law firms, think tanks, NGOs, and other organizations.
The CIW schedules for the orientation sessions and more information about the semester in Washington, D.C. are posted on the Cornell in Washington website.
Note: For students interested in attending a D.C. semester, please schedule a meeting with the Program Administrator by email caps@cornell.edu.
