Schwarzman Scholars was designed to equip young leaders with the skills they need to enhance mutual understanding and strengthen the geopolitical landscape of the 21st century.
The Schwarzman Scholars curriculum is designed to build students’ leadership abilities and deepen their knowledge of China and global affairs. All Schwarzman Scholars share a core curriculum that builds connections and serves as an anchor for the rest of their studies. In addition to the core curriculum, Scholars choose elective courses from a variety of academic disciplines. As the Schwarzman Scholars curriculum is refined each year to better meet our mission and goals, course offerings may change slightly each year. This section highlights our course offerings.
All Schwarzman Scholars share a core curriculum that serves as an anchor for the rest of their studies and builds connections as a class. Schwarzman Scholars will complete much of the core curriculum together early in the program, in the fall of their year in Beijing.
Scholars will choose between an offering of leadership courses, which have been designed to analyze leadership characteristics from interdisciplinary perspectives and multiple cultural and professional settings. Scholars are required to take 4 credits from the “Leadership” course cluster, with at most two courses from the 1-credit, practitioner-led “Leadership in Practice” series.
A Global Affairs course, introducing Scholars to current and future challenges in global affairs, and the governance and ethical issues that will confront them as leaders.
A course on Chinese institutional and social transformation in contemporary China
In addition to China-focused electives, Scholars choose elective courses from a variety of academic disciplines. Students are not required to focus their electives in any one area and can design an individualized academic plan focusing on different critical questions within global affairs. Scholars can also choose courses offered through other English language master’s programs at Tsinghua University in law, public health, public policy, international relations, environmental studies, business, education, and more.
These courses offer Scholars the chance to delve deeper into examining China’s role in the world through a variety of academic viewpoints.
These courses allow Scholars to further individualize their academic experience, and are drawn primarily from the fields of public policy, economics and business, and international studies.
The Capstone Project is the culmination of students' Schwarzman College experience and a final presentation of student's classroom and experiential learning. Students can choose to complete an individual or group capstone.
Each year, the Schwarzman Scholars curriculum is evaluated and refined to ensure that Scholars are well prepared to meet current and future challenges in global affairs. This results in an academic program that is innovative, dynamic, and unique to Schwarzman Scholars.
The hallmark of the Deep Dive course is an intensive one-week themed field trip to regions throughout China that provides students with the opportunity to explore broader themes of economic, social, and political development through visits to leading companies, government agencies, and cultural sites.
The two-credit, graded course prepares students for the trip by providing foundational knowledge about China through lectures and excursions around Beijing. After the field trip, weekend excursions and lectures provide students with more opportunities to learn about China.
Business Development trips take students to cutting edge companies, state-owned enterprises, business incubators, and government agencies to better understand what drives innovation and economic growth. Previous trips have included Shenzhen (high tech), Hangzhou (e-commerce), Xiamen (logistics and Belt & Road), Chengdu (Western regional development), and Suzhou (pharmaceuticals).
State-led Development trips enable students to understand how local governments approach issues such as economic development, education, an aging population, and poverty alleviation through visits to government agencies, schools, nursing homes, community centers, agricultural co-ops, and local companies. Previous trips have included Baoji, Shijiazhuang, Baoding, Kunshan, Xi’an, and Hangzhou.
Political Shadowing trips enable students to follow a local official for a week in order to see first-hand what a week in their life is like. Students have previously shadowed district and city officials from agencies including Urban and Rural Housing, Water Resources, Education, Science & Technology, Development & Reform, Agriculture, and Legal Affairs.
Rural Development field trips enable students to see first-hand the challenges facing rural China and how the government and communities are working to alleviate poverty. Scholars are able to stay with a local family and participate in community life for the week.
Language courses are mandatory in Module One, then become optional. International students can take Chinese language instruction from beginner to advanced. Chinese and international students can take advanced English language classes, focusing on academic and business writing.
We encourage scholars pursuing internships to take advantage of the strong relationships our program has with diverse Beijing-based organizations. Students may arrange an internship on their own, or reference the job portal for available intern and volunteer opportunities. Organizations include businesses, state-owned enterprises, international organizations, non-governmental agencies, and schools.
Each Scholar will select a mentor from a pool of leaders in business, academic, government, and NGO communities, primarily based in Beijing. Our mentors provide a space for students to learn and experience various leadership styles and gain new perspectives on China and China’s role in the world. Opportunities to engage with our entire network of mentors are available throughout the year.
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