Curriculum Overview The CET Chinese Studies & Internship in Shanghai program provides students with a general foundation in Chinese language and modern Chinese history and economics, while allowing students to pursue interests related to their career goals. Students select a core course: History of Shanghai in the Modern Era or The Chinese Economy and Asian Economic Integration. They also take Chinese language courses and may apply to the program's Internship Track, where they intern at an organization or company that specializes in an area of particular interest to them.
Internship Track All students are eligible to apply for the program's Internship Track. Students intern at an organization or company that specializes in an area of particular interest to them. Students participate in internships for eight or more hours per week and attend an internship course, Issues of the Chinese Workplace, which provides them a forum to discuss the observations they are making at their internship placements.
CET asks Internship Track students to provide information about the kind of internship that they would prefer. However, students must realize that placing students in internships is an intricate process that relies on many factors outside of CETs control, such as location, work schedule, availability of supervisor, overall work environment, etc. Therefore, final internship placement is determined by the program staff.
CET encourages Internship Track students to approach their internship opportunities with an open mind and understand that the ultimate goal of the internship is not merely gaining work experience but also learning about Chinese culture vis-à-vis typical Chinese work environments. With ten years of experience implementing internship programs in China, CET believes that often the most important discoveries are those which go against the student's preconceived notions of what he or she will find.
The following kinds of internships may be available:
Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise/Joint Venture (WFOE/JV) internship -- Students intern at a western company based in Shanghai. Students can expect to speak comparatively more English with their colleagues and will typically engage in more traditional clerical work--running errands, making copies, etc.
Special skills internship -- Typically the most successful type of internship, students are placed at organizations where they can put into practice their specialized knowledge or skills. These internships are generally suitable for students with unique talents, including speaking a third language fluently, using programming or website skills, performing, cooking or working in the arts.
NGO/NPO/Charity/Volunteer Organization internship -- There are ever increasing numbers of organizations in this category, some of which might be similar to the WFOE/JV category above as they are run and managed by Western personnel. In these types of organizations, students can expect to speak more English with their colleagues and engage in traditional clerical work related to the organization's mission. In locally run organizations, students would likely find themselves doing tasks like basic translation, English polishing, and grant-proposal writing.
Service industry internship -- Students take an entry-level position at a restaurant, a hair salon, a department store or the like, in an effort to better understand the lives of the people who typically engage in such work. This category of internship is challenging, but ultimately extremely rewarding and enlightening.
Embassy or consulate internship -- This category of internship is highly competitive and available only to outstanding applicants with strong resumes.
Public sector internship -- These internships include placements at orphanages, schools, hospitals or public offices. Internships such as these are rare and difficult to arrange, but do become available on occasion.
Connection-based internship -- For this kind of internship placement, the student comes to the program with an internship site selected and initial arrangements made, usually via personal or family connections. CET will vet the site on the student's behalf and provide a final stamp of approval.
This is a list of sites where CET students have worked in the past. Note that while the majority of the sites listed here are still available year-round to the right kind of candidate, students are never guaranteed specific placements before they start the program.
Addeco Fortune Global 500 company, world leader in HR solutions
BEAN The world’s largest young professional volunteering and networking group
bScope Venture capital firm that supports sustainable and socially responsible development
China Economic Review Award-winning magazine covering business, finance and economics in China
China Entrepreneurs Organization dedicated to fostering the growth of entrepreneurship in China
China Europe International Business School China’s leading business school, with all three programs ranked in the FT global Top 30
ChinesePod Podcast lessons in Chinese provided daily to a large paying subscription base
DaD Asia Business incubator with a focus on internet and technology businesses
Daedalum Films Independent filmmakers based in Shanghai that produce films and commercial videos
Devon International Group Worldwide sourcing company with a focus on health care and technology
eno Designs markets and retails eno-branded apparel, accessories and footwear in China
Ernst & Young A Big Four auditor and one of the largest professional services firms in the world
EyeBuyDirect Inc. Global prescription lab and optical retailer
frog design inc. One of the world’s most influential design firms
Gays.com LGBT social networking site run out of Shanghai
Genimex 35+ years developing and sourcing China products for sale in the US and Europe
The Global Supply Chain Council Asia’s largest supply chain, logistics and procurement management professional organization
Habitat for Humanity International NGO/NPO building simple and affordable housing worldwide
Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation - KKD Lotte Holdings Company, Ltd. Krispy Kreme’s franchisee in China, Japan and Korea
New Skilz Corporate training and consulting firm
Okura Garden Hotel Shanghai One of Shanghai’s bestknown luxury hotels and China’s only Okura Hotel
Ortus HR, PR, events, and advertising and a member of the fast-growing FiveTen Group
Pennsylvania Center Helping PA companies penetrate the Chinese market and attract Chinese investment
Petizens Shanghai-based social networking site for pets and their owners
Research Works The only Asian investment strategy firm based in China
Shanghaiist One of the most widely read English-language websites about China
Sherpa’s Shanghai’s largest food delivery service
Special Education Consulting Assists foreign families in customizing care for children with special needs
Split Works Influential China-based media
Urbanatomy Shanghai Producers of Shanghai’s lead entertainment magazine, website, and insider’s guide
White Factory Contemporary Art Small art gallery offering purchasable works from up-and-coming artists
Xinshiji Primary School Shanghai’s first locally-run private elementary school
Yuyintang One of the oldest underground live music houses in Shanghai
Credits and Transcripts Each area studies course is intended to be worth the equivalent of one semester-long course taken at the home institution. Fall and spring Chinese language classes are intended to cover the equivalent of one semester of college-level Chinese, and summer Chinese language classes are intended to cover the equivalent of one quarter (or half-term) of college-level Chinese. While CET recommends credit for each of its courses, actual credit is awarded by the student's home institution. CET issues transcripts to students; students must apply for credit at their home institution. For more information about transcripts and CET's recommended credit system, click here.
