A US Education in a Unique Location

In 50 years China has gone from a mostly rural society to the technological and economic powerhouse it is today. Shanghai, in particular, has been at the center of this rapid change. Words alone can’t describe the massive growth this city has seen since the 1990s, but, luckily, pictures can help!

Shanghai’s strategic location has made it an important gateway into China for the rest of the world. This is evident while walking alongside the beautiful and historic waterfront area known as the Bund. There are stunning European-style buildings lined up overlooking the Huangpu River. They are beautifully contrasted with the modern Shanghai skyline across the river, with its mega-tall structures, including the second-tallest building in the world. Of course, as all global hubs must have, international cuisines are readily available. For example, your favorite New York–style pizza, Italian food to die for, and some of the most authentic Turkish food outside of Istanbul. Not to mention all of the delicious regional varieties of Chinese food from all over the nation. 

The students consider the city their campus, thanks to our unique location in Shanghai. We are so excited to extend this to our new campus, which will open next fall. Its design will mix Western and Chinese architecture to embody our school’s collaborative spirit. It will be located where the Shanghai World Expo took place in another central hub. This area will see many recreational and cultural amenities at its doorstep. Some examples include the Oriental Sports Center, brand-new malls, museums, and parks. Similar to our current campus, the new campus will be right by a major metro stop. Itʼs very important to continue to allow our community continued easy access to the rest of the city. 

The city’s accessibility not only makes it appealing for students to explore but essential for professors to include in their classes. For example, students in Professor Anna Greenspan’s The Cultivated City class will explore Shanghai’s various urban green spaces. They will also work toward planting an urban garden at our new campus. In Professor Lena Scheen’s Shanghai Stories, students read fiction that takes place in Shanghai. Then they use the city as a classroom to experience the city’s past. Through our This Is China workshops, students can even learn traditional culture in a more hands-on approach. Think pottery, dim sum cooking, Chinese opera, and even martial arts!

“Every single week, they have to go to a location that’s mentioned in the stories they’re reading—it gets them out into the city and makes them read the text in a different way.” —Professor Lena Scheen

Additionally, there are many opportunities to travel out of the city to enhance the learning experience. Students can sign up for the Jiuhua Mountain Writing Retreat in Jiuhuashan (九华山), one of China’s four holy Buddhist mountains. Here, students can peacefully reflect upon themselves. As a change of pace, students might also consider the Innovation, Shenzhen Style course, which includes an optional two-day trip is Shenzhen, the Silicon Valley of hardware. While there, students will interact with professionals in order to understand the manufacturing process. They will even be able to build actual prototypes in the world’s largest electronics market! 

Because learning isnʼt limited to the classroom, the rest of the country is also open for exploration. With the largest high-speed rail network in the world, China is wide open. Students will often find themselves traveling for fun and meeting locals from all over. Between the beaches in the south, mountain ranges to the west, and deserts up north, there is so much to explore.