In short, undergraduate OSU Flagship students are those seeking to complete all eight levels of Chinese available at Ohio State as well as a bachelor’s degree in a non-language field. This journey usually includes summer study in China and always culminates in a capstone year in China.
There are two formal outcomes for undergraduate Flagship students at Ohio State:
1) Combined Degree (M.A. in East Asian Languages & Literatures + Bachelor’s Degree(s))
The combined degree program is designed for students who would like to certify their achievement of professional-level Chinese ability by earning a master’s degree, and can begin taking graduate-level Chinese courses before completing their Bachelor’s degree.
Certification is for those students who do not have sufficient time or resources to complete all of the coursework required for the MA.
Alternatively, students who have received a Bachelor’s degree and completed Level 5 Chinese, either at OSU or elsewhere, may apply for the standalone 2-year OSU Flagship MA program.
Below is an example of how an incoming freshman starting with no Chinese ability could complete the combined degree program in 5 years. A more common 6-year plan and a complete listing of the Chinese courses to be completed can be found on the Coursework page. Satisfying nearly every student, these courses can be taken at different paces and in different locations, as described on the Pathways to Learning page.
Sample Accelerated Intensive Curriculum
(Semester System—Begins Fall 2012)
| Year/Rank | Chinese Coursework | Non-language Major and GECs | Exit Point Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Su AY1 Undergrad |  1st-level Chinese SPEAC Program10 semester credits | ||
| AY1 Undergrad | 2nd/3rd-level intensive 20 semester credits | GECs | |
| Su AY2 Undergrad |  4th-level intensive6 semester credits | ||
| AY2 Undergrad/Grad |  5th-level and domain tutorial17 semester credits | Major & GECs | |
| Su AY3 | Potentially GECs | ||
| AY3 Undergrad/Grad | 6th-level content classes and domain tutorial 17 semester credits | Major & GECs | |
| Su AY4 | Potentially GECs | ||
| AY4 Undergrad/Grad | 7th-level content classes 12 semester credits | Major & GECs | Graduate here with Bachelor's degree(s) and OSU Chinese Flagship Certification |
| Su AY5 Grad | Pre-capstone summer program | ||
| AY5 Grad | Capstone internship & Chinese university direct enrollment Defend master's project | Graduate here with Bachelor's degree(s) and MA in East Asian Languages & Literatures |