Beijing Normal University

The School of Philosophy at Beijing Normal University, one of China’s premier institutes of higher education, offers a two-year Master’s Degree in Chinese Philosophy. The program offers a comprehensive range of courses in the major traditions of Chinese philosophy, including Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism, as well as an inclusive range of courses in the Chinese philosophies of history, ethics, and politics. Courses emphasize comparative and international perspectives while engaging with the Western and other great traditions of world philosophy. The program is conducted in English and is offered to students who intend to go on to pursue Ph.D. or other graduate-level international and professional studies in philosophy, comparative philosophy, or Chinese philosophy, as well as in international law, international political studies, and international cultural studies. It is also offered to students who intend to enter the professional work force at any international level with relevance to China. The International MA Program is fully accredited by Beijing Normal University and the Chinese Ministry of Education.

Aims of the Program ：

To provide English-speaking students from all parts of the world the opportunity to develop a deep understanding of the rich traditions of Chinese philosophy nurtured over the last three thousand years.

To direct a rigorous graduate-level academic program in which students develop a solid foundation for pursuing in-depth topics in Chinese philosophy.

To encourage personal growth through a close engagement with Chinese philosophy from comparative perspectives.

To enhance international philosophical and cultural exchange between China and other nations.

Course Details and Assessment

During the first three semesters, students must complete 32 credits of course-work, including the required nine compulsory courses in addition to electives. With the permission of the program director, students may also take courses offered by other departments at BNU to be counted as elective course credits.

By the end of the fourth semester, students are required to submit a master’s thesis. This requirement offers students the opportunity to conduct independent research in a field of Chinese philosophy of their own interest, and it intends to cap the academic experience of studying Chinese philosophy in China.