Business Chinese Certificate

The Business Chinese certificate is a three-course program offered by the Chinese Program, Department of Modern Languages and Literatures. Designed to equip students with the linguistic skills and cultural understanding necessary to navigate the business landscape in China and other Chinese-speaking regions, the certificate curriculum develops student proficiency in business communication, intercultural competence, and understanding of Chinese business practices and cultures.

Completion of the Business Chinese certificate will be recorded in official undergraduate transcript, making student accomplishment readily recognizable to employers and graduate school programs.

As China continues to rise as a global economic powerhouse, proficiency in Mandarin and an understanding of Chinese business practices are critical across multiple sectors. Multinational corporations, financial institutions, and government agencies seek students interested in international careers who can navigate China’s complex business environment. A certificate in Business Chinese will give students a competitive edge in the job market, positioning them as valuable assets to multinational companies and organizations involved in China’s economy. Thus, such a program may not only complement the study of Business but is also valuable to students pursuing studies in film production, engineering, international relations, communication, and other disciplines of applied social sciences and humanities.

The program aligns with LMU’s mission to encourage learning, educate the whole person, and promote social justice. The certificate offers students the opportunity to develop valuable skills in Mandarin Chinese, one of the most spoken languages in the world, while understanding the nuances of Chinese business culture. The certificate supports the development of the whole person by integrating linguistic skills with cultural understanding, empathy, and ethical business practices. It encourages students to move beyond language as an academic exercise and engage with the social, political, and cultural contexts in which business is conducted.

Upon completion of the Business Chinese certificate,

Students should know
• Basic Chinese expressions for general business interactions
• Principal aspects of contemporary Chinese business culture

Students should be able to
• Communicate in Chinese, orally and in writing, at an intermediate level in business settings with an understanding of formal and informal registers
• Engage in cross-cultural negotiation by exhibiting cultural sensitivity and the ability to adapt communication styles to suit the Chinese business environment

Students should value
• Multilingualism and multiculturalism
• An appreciation and a critical understanding of the ethics, practices, and perspectives in contemporary Chinese business culture.
Consisting of 12 semester hours, the Business Chinese certificate program allows students to pursue a structured yet flexible series of courses to fulfill its requirements.

Prerequisites:
- CHIN 1101 Chinese 1 4 semester hours
- CHIN 1102 Chinese 2 4 semester hours
Three of the following courses, the selection of which depends on language placement and/or approval of the program coordinator:
- CHIN 2103 Chinese 3 4 semester hours
- CHIN 2104 Chinese 4 4 semester hours
- CHIN 3105 Chinese 5 4 semester hours
- CHIN 3106 Chinese 6 4 semester hours
- CHIN 3705 Business Chinese I 4 semester hours
- CHIN 3706 Business Chinese II 4 semester hours
All students must take at least one Business Chinese course and are encouraged to take both. The pre-requisite of Business Chinese I is Chinese 4, and the prerequisite for Business Chinese II is Chinese 5 or Business Chinese I.