Marymount Manhattan College

What you'll study

This programme blends core Philosophy courses with dedicated coursework on Chinese philosophical traditions, language study, and cultural topics. You will study classical and modern texts in translation and, where appropriate, in the original language, exploring Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist and contemporary Chinese philosophical thought, alongside comparative and analytic approaches to ethics, metaphysics and political philosophy.

• Core philosophy modules: symbolic and analytic logic, epistemology, ethics, history of Western philosophy, and contemporary philosophical methods.
• Chinese philosophy modules: introductory surveys of Confucianism, Daoism (Taoism), and Chinese Buddhist thought; advanced seminars on key figures and texts such as the Analects, Mencius, Laozi and Zhuangzi; and courses on modern Chinese intellectual history and Marxist, republican and socialist thought in China.
• Language and literature: progressive Mandarin Chinese language courses emphasising reading and translation skills, classical Chinese reading seminars, and studies in Chinese literature and poetry to contextualise philosophical texts.
• Culture and practice: courses in Chinese cultural history, religion and ritual, calligraphy, aesthetics, and contemporary Chinese society and media.
• Comparative and applied topics: comparative ethics, philosophy of religion, political thought in East and West, and applied ethics topics such as business ethics, bioethics and technology ethics from an East Asian perspective.
• Capstone experience: a senior seminar or thesis project integrating philosophical research and language skills, often supervised by faculty with expertise in Chinese thought; internships with cultural institutions, NGOs or research centres are encouraged as part of the degree.

Entry requirements

Admission is at the undergraduate level to Marymount Manhattan College and to the Philosophy major; applicants should present a strong secondary-school academic record with evidence of interest in humanities, languages or social sciences. Typical materials include a secondary-school transcript, a personal statement outlining academic interests and goals, and at least one academic reference.

Applicants whose first language is not English will be asked to demonstrate English proficiency through recognised testing or other accepted evidence; international applicants should also indicate any prior study of Mandarin or East Asian studies. Transfer applicants should provide college transcripts and, where available, syllabi for courses they wish to transfer. Placement testing may be required for language courses.

Career prospects

Graduates with a background in Chinese Philosophy and Culture combine critical reasoning, cross-cultural literacy and language competence — skills valued across multiple sectors. Career paths commonly followed by alumni include:

• Education and academia: teaching, secondary-school world languages and humanities, or further graduate study in philosophy, religious studies, East Asian studies or comparative literature.
• Public and cultural institutions: work in museums, cultural centres, archives, publishing, and arts organisations with a focus on East Asian collections and programming.
• International relations and public service: roles in diplomacy, policy analysis, NGOs and international development where regional expertise is an asset.
• Language-based careers: translation, interpretation, localisation, and editorial work involving Chinese–English language skills.
• Private sector and emerging fields: business roles requiring intercultural communication, corporate social responsibility/ethics positions, or ethics and policy roles in technology firms dealing with AI and global markets.

Why study at Marymount Manhattan College

Marymount Manhattan College offers a small-college setting in the heart of New York City, enabling close faculty mentoring and small seminar-style classes alongside abundant cultural resources. Philosophy faculty bring expertise in comparative and non-Western traditions, and students benefit from access to Manhattan's museums, libraries, consulates and community organisations for study, internships and cultural engagement.

The college’s liberal-arts curriculum encourages interdisciplinary work, so you can combine philosophy and Chinese studies with courses in politics, literature, theatre and media. Practical opportunities such as internships, study-abroad arrangements in East Asia, public lectures and language conversation groups complement classroom learning and prepare graduates for a wide range of professional and academic paths.