The Chinese Flagship Program at Brigham Young University (BYU) was established in 2002 by a grant from the National Security Education Program (NSEP) to develop high level proficiency in the Chinese Language.
The Chinese Flagship Center at BYU is highly individualized and allows students to successfully focus on the particular academic and professional interests.
The Advanced Flagship Program includes three main curriculum phases: 1) BYU on-campus directed study, 2) Direct enrollment at Nanjing University in China, and 3) an Internship in a Chinese institution related to the student's specific area of interest. Our first group of students began the program in 2003 and we are just beginning to welcome our ninth cohort of students on campus fall 2011. The success of our earlier cohorts in implementing the linguistic and cultural skills they learned throughout their course of study is receiving special recognition throughout the government, the community, BYU, and our Chinese partners.
Dr. Dana Bourgerie, Associate Professor of Chinese in the BYU Asian and Near Eastern Languages Department, is the Program Director assisted by academic director, Dr. Mathew Christensen. The program is affiliated with BYU's Center for Language Studies (CLS) in the College of Humanities, headed by Dr. Ray Clifford.
The purpose of the Chinese Flagship program is to prepare participants to function professionally in Chinese within their chosen field of interest and to prepare them for China-related careers. Students are expected to attain a high level of general proficiency in Mandarin Chinese (3/3+ on the government ILR scale or Superior on the ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) scale) as well as functional knowledge of the special language and culture of their chosen profession. (See correspondence of language proficiency scales)
The Flagship Program works in tandem with the Chinese Section of the Department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages to help students reach proficiency tailored to their educational and professional goals. The program provides a range of resources to applicants toward achieving their goals, including:
The Chinese Flagship Center is an intense Chinese language program at Brigham Young University (BYU) designed to prepare students for China-related careers. The Center is housed at BYU and funded through a federal grant from the National Security Education Program.
The Advanced program has typically had between 35-45 applicants each year and have accepted 15-20. However, we will be expanding the numbers accepted gradually over the next few years, which means we are working toward a bigger application pool of qualified students. The BYU Chinese Flagship Center is launching a new Early program designed ideally for beginning college-level Chinese learners (i.e. Chinese 101 – 201). We are expecting to receive between 50-60 applications for the Early Program with anticipated enrollment to range between 20-25 students.
Back to topBeginning with Fall 2009, the BYU Flagship Center initiated an Early Flagship Program to help early learners of Chinese begin the Flagship experience and to help them prepare for eventual application to the full advanced program. Early Flagship students are provided with a small stipend, special tutorial services, and dedicated advisement, along with increasing integration into the wider Flagship activities. By about the end of the sophomore year Early Flagship students apply for admission into the full advanced program.
Back to topEarly Flagship students should show promise as language learners through at least a first semester of Chinese language, student should have a solid general academic record, and have a clear goal to use Chinese professionally in the future. Candidates need to be recommended by a Chinese teacher to be considered.
Candidates for the Advance Flagship should have a well developed sense of their career goals and have done a substantial part of a major other than Chinese. They may or may not be Chinese majors or minors, but should have studied at least three semesters of Chinese at the time of application, which would indicate at least an intermediate-high rating on the ACTFL scale (see Testing). In addition, students should have a strong general academic background (minimum 3.3 GPA) and evidence of a strong work ethic.
Back to topThere are two main points of entry into the program: Freshmen students apply in their first semester of study to begin in their second semester (Winter) if successful. Students coming to the program with substantial Chinese ability may apply for entry directly into the Advanced program toward the end of the sophomore year for admittance in the Fall of their junior year. Other entry points may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Back to topThe Chinese Flagship Early Program application deadline is in November 15, 2011. Accepted students will begin participation during Winter semester, or January 2012. We are currently accepting applications and will review all applications in November. Decisions will be made and announced in December.
Our Advanced Program application deadline is in January 2012. Advanced Program students are anticipated to begin the program in Fall 2011. We will conduct assessment and interviews in February after we have received all the applications. Our goal is to announce the awards by the end of March, however, it may take slightly longer because of individual student circumstances.
We encourage prospective students to be aware of the funding deadlines. More information can be found on our Funding page.
Back to topThe time in the program depends on individual backgrounds and where a student enters the program. The full program is meant to be completed as an integral part of an undergraduate education, students must complete a minimum of four dedicated Chinese Flagship courses (12 hours) and at least four advanced Chinese electives (12 hours). After a student completes the BYU campus coursework, they participate in the overseas capstone program in China, beginning with direct enrollment at Nanjing University in Nanjing, China for one semester (~5 months) and culminating in an internship in China, which focuses on your specific career goals (~ 4 months).
Back to topAbsolutely. As we look at your academic record we take a variety of things into account. Your major is one among many. Most important is how your academic plans lead to your career goals—why the statement of intent is so important. Many Chinese majors want to pursue other fields either in practice or in graduate school and this is an excellent combination for our program.
Back to topNo, we’re interested in all students willing to apply. Many of our students have either a double major with Chinese or a minor with Chinese. We are looking for students with interests that can be applied throughout the job market in China. Our past and current students are majoring in areas such as Political Science, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Law, Accounting, Journalism, Business Management, and Biochemistry.
Back to topTo participate as an undergraduate, you must be a BYU student. BYU has phased out its post-BA certificate program. Our partner program at Indiana University is currently implementing a Flagship masters degree.
Back to topThe BYU Chinese Flagship Program was created at BYU in 2002 through a grant received from the National Security Education Program (NSEP). Through NSEP funding, Flagship programs were created nationally in Mandarin Chinese, Korean, Russian and Arabic. Brigham Young University was awarded an NSEP grant to develop curriculum in advanced Mandarin Chinese language instruction and was named the Chinese Flagship Pilot Program. Our pilot program status changed to a continuing status in 2005. Since the initial creation of Flagship, there are now programs at many universities throughout the nation in various Languages (African Languages, Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Persian, Russian) considered critical to U.S. national interests. See the National Flagship website for details.
Our curriculum model focuses on helping students to eventually use Chinese in the field of their interest. For example, we help an accounting student learn how to function in a Chinese accounting office by learning Chinese terminology and culture specific to accounting. Students are trained to be able to work in their field in China or act as a liaison between Chinese and American.
Back to topThe Chinese Flagship Program operates as an integral part of the BYU undergraduate program. Therefore, all students are required to gain admission to BYU if they have not already at the time of application.
Back to topTwo kinds of financial support are available from different sources, BYU and NSEP. The career goals of the student help to determine the source of scholarship funding.
No. However, BYU is a private University supported by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS). Admission to BYU and the Chinese Flagship program is not limited to members of the LDS church, but all students and faculty are asked to observe the university-wide honor code.
Back to topAs of 2009, the BYU Flagship Center will no longer accept post-BA applicants as it phases out its post-BA certificate program. Our partner program at Indiana University is currently implementing a Flagship masters degree.
Back to topThe Brigham Young University Chinese Flagship Program is an intense and rewarding language program that correlates with your career goals. It can be broken into three phases:
The BYU Chinese Flagship Program offers two tracks that lead to the culminating overseas capstone experience.
The Early Track is designed for students with elementary-to-intermediate Chinese language skills. The Early Track helps hone students' language skills and prepare them for the Advanced Track.More Info
The Advanced Track is designed for students with advanced Chinese language skills. It includes one year of domestic training at BYU. The Majority of applicants who enter this track go on to participate in the overseas capstone experience.More Info
After finished the Advanced Chinese Flagship track at BYU, students are sent to Nanjing University in China for the overseas capstone. The Capstone is a two-part experience:
Students accepted into the Chinese Flagship Program may be eligible for limited support for the overseas capstone program, overseas summer programs and domestic intensive language summer programs through the Chinese Flagship Center. Academic year Flagship funding is no longer available. Students are strongly encouraged to seek outside funding sources through private donors or scholarships to support their domestic and/or overseas component of the program. See links for various language scholarships.More Info
