Hopkins-Nanjing Center Blog

Grace Faerber (HNC MAIS International Politics ‘22) wraps up her master's degree at the HNC! I successfully defended my thesis! Just like I did with other steps throughout my process as a second-year MA in International Studies (MAIS) student - the most signature component of which is the thesis - I will write about my experience here and give some insight into what happens behind-the-scenes. For those who may be unfamiliar, the thesis defense is one of the last major milestones in the HNC MAIS program. In addition to completing all of your course requirements, you go through several steps when it comes to your last semester to qualify for graduation:   Written thesis  The first is completing your written thesis. I went through several rounds of edits and meetings with my thesis advisor before my final thesis draft was approved by her in May.    Paperwork After sending your final draft to HNC administration staff ,they share with you some paperwork requiring more inf...

So, you've started your Hopkins-Nanjing Center studies  and  the thought of choosing a concentration is making you feel a bit overwhelmed. You’re not alone – nearly every student has probably gone through the initial panic of “What is a concentration? What should I choose? What if I am interested in many different things?” Feeling a bit intimidated at first is natural, but this guide to the various concentrations will hopefully help you make the best decision possible for your academic and professional career.    Choosing classes for your first term at the HNC is certainly fun, but it can also be daunting. For many incoming students, the HNC curriculum offers more interesting courses than can possibly fit in even the most ambitious schedule. And, while the HNC encourages an interdisciplinary approach, including an expectation of taking some courses outside one's own concentration, MAIS students must choose a concentration by the end of their first semester. This can ...

Meet our new student blogger for the Hopkins-Nanjing Center, Hannah Sorenson! Hannah (MAIS '22) will be joining veteran blogger, Brandy Darling (HNC Certificate '20 + SAIS MA '21), in sharing her experiences studying at the HNC throughout the academic year. Hello, all! My name is Hannah Sorenson, and I am a MAIS student at the HNC  concentrating in China Studies . Although presently located in my home state of Minnesota, I am eagerly awaiting the opportunity to join my classmates and the rest of the HNC community in Nanjing. I graduated from St. Olaf College in 2019 with a BA in Political Science, Asian Studies, and Chinese.     While much of my life took place far from China, opportunities to study abroad in Shanghai, farm in Japan’s Tochigi prefecture, and conduct research with WWF-Hong Kong instilled in me a passion for interdisciplinary academic exploration and intentional learning communities. I first applied to the Hopkins-Nanjing Center as a college senior, eager t...

Mario Colella (HNC Certificate '19 + SAIS MA '20) shares his experience as  Editor-in-Chief of the China Studies Review and his inside scoop on research opportunities at SAIS. How did you hear about the China Studies Review and what drew you to apply to the Editor in Chief position? I heard about the China Studies Review (CSR) after a good friend of mine made me aware of the journal and the editorial position. I set up a meeting with the previous editor-in-chief and asked her about the responsibilities of the role, the scope of the challenges, and the experience of working as a managing editor. As I learned more about the position, I grew fascinated with the prospect of managing the publication myself and submitted my application to be the next editor-in-chief shortly after our meeting. You wrote last year for the SAIS Observer at the HNC. How does the CSR differ from the SAIS Observer? If I had to differentiate between the two, I would focus on the differences w...

Ever wonder who processes your STAMP tests, reads your applications, and posts on social media on behalf of the HNC? Meet the HNC international admissions team! We are based in Washington, DC so that we can support you every step of the way on your journey from applicant to student. You'll hear from us about everything from the application process and financial aid, to visas, billing, and pre-departure information. In addition, the Director of the Hopkins-Nanjing Center Washington Office is a graduate of the HNC certificate program and can speak firsthand to the student and alumni experience. To get in touch with a member of the HNC Washington Office team, email us at nanjing@jhu.edu . Lauren Szymanski , Director : Lauren is an alumna of the Hopkins-Nanjing Center Certificate program, and first joined the HNC Washington Office in summer 2012 following her graduation in Nanjing. She holds a bachelor’s degree from McGill University with a major in East Asian Studies, and a mino...

At the Hopkins-Nanjing Center (HNC), students come from a variety of backgrounds, all with differing educational and professional experiences. To introduce this year’s cohort, we asked current students to tell us about their road to the HNC In this post, meet Natalie Craig, starting the HNC Certificate + Johns Hopkins SAIS MA program this year, and Nick Henderson, a first-year student in the Master of Arts in International Studies (MAIS) program. Name : Nick Henderson Program : Master of Arts in International Studies Undergraduate Institution and Major : Franklin and Marshall College ‘17, Government major and Chinese minor How did you become interested in China? Have you had any prior experiences here? In high school I became very good friends with a Chinese exchange student who was staying with my best friend’s family. As I got to know him, I realized that because we had the common language of English, we could share and understand each other. I started studying Chinese in...

At the Hopkins-Nanjing Center (HNC), students come from a variety of backgrounds, all with differing educational and professional experiences. To introduce this year’s cohort, we asked current students to tell us about their road to the HNC. In this post, meet Noah Smith and Erica Carvell, two first-year students in the Master of Arts in International Studies (MAIS) program.  Name: Erica Carvell Program: Master of Arts in International Studies (MAIS) Undergraduate Institution and Major : Mount Holyoke College ‘16, International Relations How did you become interested in China? Have you had any prior experiences here? China is part of my personal background, but I only started studying the language in high school. Then in college I became interested in environmental studies and China’s role in those kinds of issues. The summer after my freshman year of college I studied in Beijing, and I spent my junior year in Kunming in another language intensive program. What professional...

Name: Benjamin Sinvany Program: Master of Arts in International Studies ’20 Hometown: Columbus, Ohio Undergraduate Institution and Major: Emory ’15, History Major How did you become interested in China? I started studying Chinese in middle school. In early high school I took a field trip to China with my class. We visited the Terra Cotta Warriors, silk factories, artisanal places, and did a lot of super touristy, but fun activities. One of my best memories is fighting over dumplings with my classmates. My Chinese teacher told me about the School Year Abroad China program, which gives high school students a chance to study abroad for a year. I spent nine months living with a host family and took 12 hours of Chinese class a week. I also did the Princeton in Beijing program and worked as a teaching assistant at a study abroad program after college. Could you tell us about the article you had published recently? I published an article in the Journal of Chinese Military ...

Student blogger Hope Parker reflects on the required First-Year Interdisciplinary MA Tutorial Course.  Every first-year Master of Arts in International Studies (MAIS) student at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center is required to take the interdisciplinary MA Tutorial Course during their first year. Before starting the course, I assumed it would be a research methods class in preparation for writing our theses. As it turns out, although master’s students do take a separate class that includes research methods later on in their studies, the tutorial is meant to help students start thinking about a variety of questions that we may encounter while researching and writing our theses. Given that every master’s student is required to take the course, there are Chinese and international students in each section, and the course is co-taught by an American and a Chinese faculty member. The professors take turns leading the course in English and Chinese, based on English and Chinese readings. Chines...

Student blogger Sam Olson describes a typical day at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center.  6:30-7:20am: Workout with my roommate   I start off the day with a workout with my roommate, Adam Zhang, to get myself going and mentally prepared for class. The Hopkins-Nanjing Center has its own gym with an excellent variety of weights and exercise machines. In addition, students that apply for Nanjing University student cards can use the gym at Nanjing University, and there are private gyms nearby.  The Hopkins-Nanjing Center gym 7:20-7:40am: Breakfast  After working out, I head upstairs to eat breakfast at the cafeteria. The cafeteria offers good food at fairly affordable prices. Beyond the on-campus options, there are multiple restaurants on the main Nanjing University Gulou campus, as well as coffee shops that sell coffee, pastries, and small breakfast sandwiches at low cost. 8:00am: Review readings for my international politics class and catch up on homework Next...

We hear from many students that they are debating between applying for the Master of Arts in International Studies (MAIS) or the HNC Certificate + Johns Hopkins SAIS MA. Both will prepare you for the next steps in your career, but there are significant differences in the study experience. Below, we have outlined the strengths of both options and we hope that this helps guide you in determining which program is the best fit for you. Master of Arts in International Studies The MAIS program is a great option for students who want to bring their Chinese language skills to an advanced professional level, develop strong research skills, and go into depth in one particular research area. Students spend two years at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center, and this program is the only master’s degree accredited in both China and the United States. Coursework and thesis component Students declare a concentration from one of the Hopkins-Nanjing Center’s areas of study (Chinese studies; international p...