Not necessarily. All applicants to the program must submit scores from the CAL Chinese language proficiency exam in order to demonstrate their Chinese language ability. Three or more years of Chinese usually results in an admissible score. Those with less classroom experience may apply, especially in the case of prolonged tenure in Asia or a family background involving Chinese. Admission into the master's degree program requires a higher level of Chinese proficiency than the Certificate program. Click here for more information on the Chinese language proficiency examinations.

No. Many students complete the Certificate program as a bridge between their undergraduate education and graduate school or between finishing their undergraduate degree and accepting a job in Asia. A number of students have already completed another graduate degree and/or have several years of work experience. The Master of Arts in International Studies (MAIS) degree offered in Nanjing is fully accredited by both The Johns Hopkins University and Nanjing University.

No. The Center welcomes applications from qualified applicants worldwide. Each year, approximately 10% of the International students studying at the Center are non-U.S. citizens. In the past, we have accepted students from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, India, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, the Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Uganda, the United Kingdom, and Zambia, among others.

"Background" refers to courses in Chinese history, political science, sociology, anthropology, economics, etc. It is not absolutely essential, but the majority of Center students have a background in these areas to draw upon. There are no specific prerequisites for students attending the Center, though M.A. candidates planning on pursuing a concentration in International Economics are expected to have taken at least introductory microeconomics and macroeconomics courses before enrolling.