China Scholars Program
Application period closed
This course will not be offered in spring 2024. Instead, we will be offering a new course, U.S.–China Co-Lab on Climate Solutions. Please visit the program page for more information.
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Introduction to Contemporary China
The China Scholars Program (CSP) is an interactive, synchronous online course for high school students in the United States—one of Stanford University’s SPICE Programs in Pre-Collegiate Global Learning, running since 2004. Students will explore key issues in contemporary China, spanning politics, economics, social issues, culture, and the arts, and with an emphasis on its relationship with the United States.
Real-time, “virtual classrooms” with leading scholars, experts, and former government officials from Stanford University and other institutions, provide a rigorous learning experience. The program also includes an opportunity to meet with high school students in China participating in SPICE’s Stanford e-China Program.
The CSP selects about 20 exceptional high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors from throughout the United States to engage in a one-semester, intensive study of contemporary China. The experience offers a rare degree of expertise about China and its relationship with the United States and may significantly impact students’ future academic and professional careers.
Students accepted to the Fall 2023 program must be available to participate from late August through December 2023, including attendance at 12 or 13 real-time “virtual classrooms” on Thursday evenings, 6pm Pacific Time (specific dates TBA). Coursework includes weekly reading and writing assignments, culminating in an independent research project. Final research projects will be shared with peers, and students are also required to share with their home schools or local communities.
Students should expect to devote approximately 6 hours per week to complete the lectures, discussions, readings, and assignments. Since this is a distance-learning course, however, students can structure most of the work around their individual schedules. Students do not need to know the Chinese language or have prior experience in China to participate in this course.
Students who successfully complete the course will earn Stanford Continuing Studies Program credit and a Certificate of Completion from SPICE, Stanford University.
For more information, please see the Frequently Asked Questions. Contact Dr. Tanya Lee (tanyalee@stanford.edu), China Scholars Program Instructor, with further questions.
CSP in the News
- "China Scholars Program and Stanford e-China Alumnae Launch Project 17." September 6, 2022.
- "High School Students in China and the United States Collaborate." July 9, 2021.
- "How SPICE’s China Scholars Program Accelerated My Love for International Relations." May 4, 2021.
- "China Scholars Program Instructor Dr. Tanya Lee Interviewed by US-China Today." November 10, 2020.
- "China Scholars Program: East Asia Through a STEM Lens." September 1, 2020.
- "The China Scholars Program: Continuing a 45-year Tradition of Bridging Stanford and Schools." October 8, 2018.
