1. Master’s Program in English Language and Literature
Supervisors
3 professors (1 interdisciplinary professor included)
6 associate professors.
Research Areas
I. Research on English Literature
The basic characteristic of this program lies in the comprehensive understanding of research in this area both in China and abroad, and the fusion of ideas in such fields as literature, history and philosophy. It also lies in the study of foreign literatures in a cross-cultural perspective, with an emphasis on fostering awareness of communication, history and criticism across cultures and languages within literary study.
II. Research on British Literature
This program has pursued practical teaching and research on British literature under the broad horizon of world literature and comparative literature, especially in such areas as the history of British literary criticism, 20th century British Marxist literary criticism and Sino-British literary relations.
III. Research on American Literature
This program mainly concerns studies on contemporary American literary works and criticism, especially focusing on the research of Updike, feminist literature and poetic discourse theories.
2. Master’s Program in Comparative Literature and Cross-cultural Studies
Supervisors
2 professors
5 associate professors (1 associate professor, Ph.D. from the USA included).
Research Areas
I. Research on Overseas Dissemination and Reception of Chinese Literature and Culture
This program explores the methods of teaching and studying Chinese thought and culture in English or other foreign languages, explores comparative study of Chinese and Western thought and culture, and discusses the interaction of Western Sinology and domestic study of Chinese language, literature and civilization. More specifically, our objectives are:
i. To compare Sinology of different countries, as well as overseas Sinology and domestic study ofChinese language, literature and civilization.
ii. To explore the relationship between foreign languages instruction and the cultivation of Chinese literature and culture, and to nurture students’ ability to write about and translate Chinese literature and culture into foreign languages.
iii. To train overseas students in the study of Chinese culture through a master’s program which aims to cultivate their basic ability to study Chinese literature and culture, and to promote overseas communication and dissemination of Chinese culture.
II. Research in Sino-foreign literary and cultural relations
This involves the relationship and interaction between literature and culture within different countries and regions around the world from cross-cultural or cross-civilizational perspectives. The focus lies in the following aspects:
i. Study of contemporary cultural conflicts of international importance between China and Western countries.
ii. Examination of religious cultures and literatures in the world, especially in-depth study of the relationship between Chinese and foreign literature regarding the major religions in the world.
III. Research on Comparative Literature and Literary Criticism
This involves comparative study of literature and literary theories of different countries (mainly English-speaking countries).
IV. Interdisciplinary Research
This concerns the relationship between literature and such fields as political thought, religious philosophy, historical geography, and economic environment.
V. Research on the Humanistic Education Function of Literature in a Multi-cultural Environment
Against the background of globalization, literature (which expresses the common feelings and pursuits of human beings) shoulders more responsibility. Therefore, it is of great practical significance to explore the humanistic education function of literary works and writers of different countries and regions from a cross-cultural perspective.
3. Master’s Program in Foreign Linguistics and Applied Linguistics
Supervisors
4 professors
14 associate professors.
Research Areas
I.
This discipline benefits from abundant supervising staff and research achievements in such areas as linguistics, cross-cultural communication, applied linguistics, English for specific purposes, cognitive linguistics, semantics, pragmatics, language testing, and scientific research methods of linguistics. The students can obtain rich, advanced and professional knowledge and receive innovative research guidance. It is characterized by the interchange between linguistic theories and practical multilingual communication. The research vision extends into emerging fields such as pragmatics, applied linguistics and social linguistics. Special focus lies in solving practical problems of Sino-foreign cultural communication and economic activities with the application of linguistic theories.
II.
Modern linguistics reveals the laws of human cognition, which has a great impact on such disciplines as philosophy, psychology, medicine, computer science, artificial intelligence, and cognitive science. This discipline aims to describe and analyze linguistic facts through studying English language theories and schools, and to practice and apply linguistic research in such areas as language acquisition and communication, international communication and business. This research orientation applies and adapts a wide range of research achievements and methods from related disciplines, such as mathematical logic, computer science, psychology, anthropology, and sociology, which will also benefit from feedback in both channels of research achievements and methods. In the field of cognitive science, language rules will be addressed for use in linguistic and cultural research. The basic characteristic of the research of English for specific purposes is targeting foreign language phenomena in specific fields. It focuses on the practice of language and emphasizes the analysis of language features, laws, pragmatic effects and influences in specific fields.
4. Master’s Program in Translation Studies
Supervisors
1 professor
5 associate professors.
Research Areas
I. Research on language Comparison and Translation
This research mainly consists of comparison and translation of Chinese and foreign languages, such as comparison and translation of English and Chinese, and of German and Chinese. As an outstanding research direction of this university, it focuses on empirical translation studies based on specific linguistic theories and language research methods, such as translation psychology, corpus-based translation studies, and cognitive studies on translation.
II. Pragmatic Translation Studies
This research includes two distinguishing research fields: Sinology translation studies and the research on the translation of information and public opinions regarding the coal energy industry. As the unique research direction of this discipline, it carries out such studies as overseas promotion of Chinese culture, translation and China’s modernization, cultural translation, and translation policy and planning (such as translation and language management, translation of publicity materials, and translation standards of public signs and notices). It also launches such activities as editing and translating coal energy information, and monitoring and translating public opinions about the coal energy industry.
III. Research on Literary Translation
It studies the translation of literary works from different countries, such as literary translations in Britain, America and Germany.
5. MTI Program
Supervisors
3 professors (2 interdisciplinary professors included)
9 associate professors (2 interdisciplinary associate professors included)
Research Areas
This program combines characteristics of this university with market demand, actively explores the training mode for MTI translation talents, and emphasizes the construction of teaching quality, exchanges and communication. It strives for the unceasing development of MTI education and the cultivation of excellent professional translators. This program has successfully passed the specific evaluation of the Ministry of Education in 2014.
I. Strengthen the “Double Tutorial” System and Perfect the Teaching Team
According to the characteristics of MTI, this university has formed a strong tutor team on and off campus. Supervisors on campus are equipped with professional instructional skills, a solid theoretical foundation and rich practical experience; while off-campus supervisors are cherished for their abundant translating knowledge and experience. CUMT has actively explored channels to gradually improve the system of hiring off-campus supervisors and to protect and promote the “double tutorial” system.
II. Set Translation Course of for Specific Purposes and to Cultivate Excellent Translators
Whether the curriculum setting of translation courses is rational or not has a direct impact on the quality of personnel training, and reflects the interdisciplinary and practical nature of this discipline and the characteristics of a school. CUMT offers innovative MTI courses from multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives. For example, Translation for the Mining Industry stresses the disciplinary advantage of CUMT; Translation Technology is a course which keeps pace with the times; Terminology Translation and News Translation highlights the practical orientation of curriculum settings. Unique translation courses will improve students’ skills in English-Chinese bilingual translation and translation skills for scientific and technological materials.
III. Enhance Cooperation between CUMT and Enterprises and Promote the Comprehensive Competitiveness of Students
The characteristic of MTI is that it emphasizes students’ practical skills and makes specific requirements for students’ translation practice and internships. CUMT has made full use of internal and external resources, and actively promoted the establishment of a diversified translation practice base for MTI students in order to cultivate students’ practical skills and problem-solving abilities, to improve their comprehensive competitiveness and increase employment opportunities. At the same time, this school has carried out field assessments and demonstrated scientific management on a practice level, tracking and evaluating students’ practice sessions. The employment rate of SFS graduates has been maintained at over 98% over the past few years.
