hangzhou photo
It's only by leaving your casual surroundings that you can shed your fears and presumptions about others and find out who you truly are. Living in another country teaches you to trust yourself, your own thoughts and feelings, and not be afraid of strangers.
– Lyubov Zuyeva
Berea College

academic program/courses

The Central College Abroad academic program in Hangzhou includes:

This programming allows for flexibility in coursework for both Chinese and non-Chinese majors.

Just like their home institutions, students can choose the right combination of courses to complete their academic schedule. Students normally enroll in 12-24 semester hours. Classes are held Monday through Friday. One or two classes may be scheduled on a Saturday after the May holiday.

Required courses

These required courses are the foundation on which your academic program is built, providing the language, cultural and historical context of China for a broader understanding of your overall experience.

China seminar
This course facilitated by the resident director, and designed to help students examine and discuss their own experiences in China and discover the aspects of Chinese life and culture that underline them. Includes program excursions to explore Chinese culture including politics, philosophy, society, art, education, history and the media. Taught in English.


Intensive Chinese Language
A sequence of grammar, reading, writing and speaking courses focusing on the acquisition of basic skills in those four areas. Courses meet daily at Zhejiang University’s International College and students can choose to take this course for either a half semester or a whole semester. Courses are offered at a variety of language levels to accommodate students with or without previous Chinese language skills. Taught in Chinese.

Central College Abroad courses

Central College Abroad elective courses are taught by locally-appointed faculty. Course work is provided in English, ranging in areas from history to business. Central College Abroad also offers the unique opportunity to take ESL and TESOL courses for those interested in teaching English in the future.

Course offerings include:

  • Doing Business in China
  • Modern Chinese Literature in Translation
  • The History of China and Hangzhou
  • Teaching English as a Second Language

Please see course catalog for credits and course descriptions.

Affiliate university electives

Students have the opportunity to sit in on lectures in many fields and disciplines ranging from tea culture to business to computer sciences, all of which are taught in Chinese at Zhejiang University. Students can also enroll in selected University based electives for one credit each.

Please see our affiliate university information to learn more about your course options.

Internship and Service-learning

On Central’s study abroad programs, learning begins in the classroom, but continues in many different settings outside the traditional educational environment — offering you a more in-depth cross-cultural experience. Students can choose from either an internship or a service-learning option, both for academic credit. Central College Abroad programs offer these experiences as a way to more fully immerse yourself in the language and culture. Please see our section on internships and service-learning to discover your hands-on options.