Peking University, Beijing

With the rapid development of information technology, the amount of information data has grown exponentially. The analysis and processing of massive amounts of complex data requires advanced visualization techniques. This course explores how to create effective visualization methods, including science and information visualization. This course is for students who are interested in using visualizations or engaging in visual research.

As the Chinese economy grows, China has transformed itself from a traditional aid recipient from international organization to an emerging donor. President Xi Jinping coined the strategy "One Belt One Road" during his visit to Kazakhstan and Indonesia and called for the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank which is in the making. Another New Development Bank, espoused by Chinese government, has already opened its office in Shanghai. As a major funding sources of these new international development banks, China needs more talents that are suited to work in international organizations. The purpose of this course is three fold: to introduce the theories and histories of international organizations; to introduce basic management tools in international organization; and to create competent and innovative professionals and leaders of international organizations.

This course is a practical study of Chinese characters focuses on the history and evolution of Chinese characters, their origins, forms, and development, and their use in current written Chinese, together with the different uses of similar characters in different contexts. Text: LEARNING CHINESE CHARACTERS SYSTEMATICALLY by Dasui LI. Assessment: class participation, midterm exam, final exam.

This course follows the intermediate conversation course that students take in the Intensive Language Program prior to the first semester. It focuses on raising their conversational skills level through exercises in listening, speaking, and reading conducted in the classroom. Text: SPOKEN CHINESE-INTERMEDIATE LEVEL Assessment: homework, class dictation, practice (40%), and exams (60%).

This is a compulsory language course that covers pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar of modern Chinese systematically. It focuses on the training of reading and writing skills in Chinese and consequently improves communication ability. There are 2 levels according to the textbooks and the vocabulary. The students learn about 5000 new words and 207 grammar items; after this course, the students' language level should be equivalent to the HSK level 8. Text: Boya Chinese Intermediate level III (Boya hanyu Chongci 1) Assessment: three tests (70%), homeworks (15%), participation and class performance (15%).

This language course teaches pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar of modern Chinese systematically. It focuses on the training of students' reading and writing in Chinese and consequently improves students' communication ability. There are three levels according to the textbooks and teaching pace. In level 2 the students learn about 10000 new words and over 500 grammar items; after this course, the students' language level should be equivalent to the HSK level 11. Text: BOYA CHINESE ADVANCED level II (Boya hanyu Feixiang 2). Assessment: tests, homework, participation and class performance.

This course teaches the history of Chinese characters, the use of radicals, methods of guessing characters, and other intricacies of Chinese character writing. The course teaches more than 804 Chinese characters, including certain patterns in Chinese characters such as common sounds, meanings behind certain radicals, and how to guess at unknown characters through the use of tools taught in class. Text: Dasui Li, CHINESE CHARACTERS, A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH. Assessment: homework (20%), midterm exam (40%), final exam (40%).

This course provides an opportunity to approach study of international politics by tackling `low politics` issues as the starting point of inquiry. It covers how to appraise the complexities embedded in the search for ways and means of addressing a transnational issue. This appraisal begins with knowledge about descriptions of an issue. Among other useful analytical approaches, the course investigates the domestic-international connections (and their lack of) in public policy, while paying particular attention to economic and technology factors that affect conflict/dispute resolution of transnational challenges. The course also discusses the applicability of mainstream international political theories for understanding the phenomena under examination.