This program provides an immersive experience of learning the history, culture, architecture, and economic environment of China. Besides the academic work, students will tour the traditional and modern architecture of multiple cities, visit contemporary business hubs, meet with local business leaders, and witness foreign firms doing business in China. China is the second-largest economy in the world and one of the U.S.'s most important trading partners. Its long history has shaped its business culture, from Confucian values emphasizing hierarchy and respect to traditional practices like guanxi (networking and relationship-building). China has undergone tremendous changes in the past 45 years. Seeing China firsthand, interacting with ordinary Chinese people, visiting places of both historical and contemporary significance, and meeting with local businesspeople will enable students to build a tangible framework of China, its people, history, present, and economic environment.
Past and Present - Chinese History, Culture, Architecture, and Economy
This joint IUSB-IUN Study Abroad in China Program is administered by the Office of International Programs at IU South Bend in collaboration with the Academic Affairs Office and the College of Arts and Sciences at IUN. This 12-day study abroad program (with two additional days of travel) is co-offered by the Department of History, Philosophy, Political Science, and Religious Studies at IUN and the Leighton School of Business and Economics at IU South Bend. During their stay in China, students will visit historically significant architecture and sights, such as The Great Wall, The Palace Museum (Forbidden City), Tiananmen Square, the Summer Palace, The Temple of Heaven in Beijing, Yu Yuan, the Bund and Nanjing Road, the Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai, the Terracotta Army in Xi’an and many other places. We will participate in various cultural activities and taste the delicious Chinese cuisine. We will experience the fast speed of bullet trains when traveling in China. We will see how foreign firms do business in China and how China takes part in the global economy. Visiting historical landmarks such as the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and ancient trade hubs like Xi’an can help students understand the historical context of business. Tours of major business districts in cities like Beijing and Shanghai give students first-hand experience of China's business practices & environment. History and business are connected, and the connection is profound and multifaceted. Understanding the historical context of China can provide invaluable insights into its business practices, cultural norms, and economic developments.
What You'll be Studying
Students will register for the following classes:
- HIST-T190 China: Past and Present through Chinese History and Architecture, and
- BUS-D300/301: International Business Environment, or
- BUS-B399: Business & Society
This program will be open to students from all IU schools and campuses. All participants must be registered IU students with a sophomore or above credit status in good standing and a minimum of 2.75 GPA.
The total cost for the program will be about $3,500, plus tuition for 6 credits during the 2025 seven-week Summer Session I (May 5-June 22). This fee includes round-trip airfare, housing, transportation, cultural activities, and most meals. All loans, grants, and scholarships for which participants are eligible at Indiana University can be used for the China Program.
International insurance, included in the price for the course, will be billed separately.
Applications are due Monday, December 2, and a deposit of $300 is due by Wednesday, January 15, 2025, with the balance paid in full (or by commitment from Financial Aid) by April 15.
Trip costs will be posted to each student’s account upon acceptance, and airfare may be nonrefundable after March 1, 2025.
Apply early, as space is limited.