Urban Specialist and China Scholar

INTL/POLI 480 China in Transition

China in the last quarter of a century is a country undergoing unprecedented reform and transformation. This class will trace how China is making the transition from a planned economy to a market economy and what implications this transition has on the political, social, and urban landscape. Class discussions will be grounded on a basic understanding of China's modern history and regional geography. Students will be engaged in active learning activities, such as synthesizing reading materials, identifying questions for class discussion, and working in groups to develop issue papers.

This course will be taught in a seminar style and require active participation. Prior to class, students are expected to read the materials and complete the reading notes (when required), which will be centered on the reading materials. At the end of the course, students will be able to:

  • Be aware of the different models of economic transition,
  • Understand the process and uniqueness of China's economic transition,
  • Be knowledgeable of the social and spatial implications of China's transition,
  • Understand how China is integrating with the global economy, and
  • Appreciate the different path China has taken in modernization.

INTL/POLI 480 Syllabus (Fall 2008)