APPLICATION DOWNLOAD: 2016 e-China Application

Tuition: $2,500

Introduction to U.S. Society and Culture for High School Students in China

Stanford University is offering an intensive, distance-learning course online to high school students in China beginning in fall 2016. This English-language course will cover a range of topics—introducing key issues in contemporary and historical U.S. society, with special attention to the U.S.–China relationship. Top scholars, experts, and former government officials from Stanford and other institutions will contribute as guest lecturers and discussion leaders.

What should a Chinese student understand about U.S. society before arriving to study at a university in the United States? Course topics—such as U.S. secondary and higher education; Chinese immigration to the United States; U.S.–China political and economic relations; racial and ethnic diversity in the United States; U.S. entrepreneurship; and religion in U.S. society—will help prepare students for academic life in the United States.

Students will also gain practical skills necessary to succeed. Real-time discussions will familiarize students with the dynamics of U.S. classroom participation and short writing assignments will improve critical thinking skills. Students will engage with pre-recorded, university-level lectures. To assist non-native English learners, however, the lectures are shorter and accompanied by a transcript. Importantly, Stanford e-China students will have an opportunity to interact online with high school students in the United States.    

Students will participate in 10–12 “virtual classes” online, September 3, 2016 through January 14, 2017. Classes will meet in real time 2 or 3 Saturdays per month at 9 a.m. Beijing time. Students should expect to allot 3–4 hours per week to prepare for class and complete assignments. Since this is a distance-learning course, however, students will be able to structure most of the work around their own schedules. The course will culminate in an independent research project.

The course will be conducted entirely in English. Up to 30 exceptional high schools students (高1 －高3) will be accepted. Students who are interested in attending a U.S. university and are able to participate in an English-only learning environment (both written and oral) will benefit the most from this experience.

Students who successfully complete the course will earn Stanford Continuing Studies Program (CSP) credit* and a Certificate of Completion from SPICE, Stanford University. Although intensive, Stanford e-China will equip students with a rare degree of expertise about U.S. society and culture and U.S.–China relations that may have a significant impact on their choices of study and future careers.

Stanford e-China is sponsored by the Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education (SPICE), which has been offering online courses promoting cross-cultural understanding to high school students in the United States and overseas for 13 years.

*Please note that Stanford CSP credit is different from Stanford University credit. Stanford CSP credit cannot be transferred to Stanford University, but may be accepted by other colleges or universities (depending on the institution).