School Overview & Development History
In 1980, the Research Department of the Central Institute for Nationalities was renamed the Institute of Ethnic Studies of the Central Institute for Nationalities. Mr. Lin Yaohua was appointed as the director. There were more than 90 researchers. The ethnological research work that was suspended during the Cultural Revolution was restored. In 1983, the first national ethnology department was established, and Lin Yaohua was the head and director of the department. In 1986, the Department of Ethnology and the Institute of Ethnic Studies merged, teaching and research were equally important, and the lineup was strong. Wang Furen succeeded as the head and director of the department and established the first complete ethnology training base in China encompassing undergraduate, master, doctoral, post-doctoral mobile stations as well as professional talent training systems. In 1989, it was recognized by the State Education Commission as the first national key discipline of ethnology in China, and it was also the only national key discipline in the country’s ethnic-related colleges and universities.
In 1993, approved by the State Ethnic Affairs Commission (now the National Ethnic Affairs Commission), the MUC Department of Ethnology, the MUC Institute of Ethnic Studies, the MUC Department of Tibetan Studies, the MUC Ethnic Museum, the MUC Department of Ethnic Theory and Ethnic Policy, and the MUC Rock Painting Center all merged to form the Institute of Ethnology. In 2000, it was renamed the MUC School of Ethnology and Sociology. Song Shuhua was the first dean. From 1996 to 2011, Yang Shengmin was the second dean. In 2011, Ding Hong became the third dean. The school consists of the Department of Ethnology, the Department of Sociology, and the Department of Civil and Cultural Studies.
Talent Training Objectives
The school's basic goal is to train three kinds of talent: first, management talents engaged in ethnic affairs and work in ethnic areas; second, compound talents serving economic and social development in ethnic areas; and third, high-level teaching and research personnel engaged in ethnic social studies.
History of the College
The predecessor of the MUC School of Ethnology and Sociology was the Research Department of the Central Institute for Nationalities. In 1952, colleges and universities around the country experienced an overhaul. Authoritative scholars formerly at Yanjing University, Tsinghua University, Peking University, Zhongshan University, Xiamen University, Peking Research Institute as well as other units engaged in ethnology, sociology, anthropology, national history, and national language research relocated to Minzu University of China (at the time referred to as Central Nationalities College) and established the Research Department. The Research Department was the earliest ethnology teaching and research center after the founding of New China. It was also the place of highest concentration including China's top ethnologists, sociologists, national historians, and anthropologists, such as Weng Dujian, Pan Guangdan, Wu Wenzao, Wen You, Jian Bozan, Yang Chengzhi, Fei Xiaotong, Lin Yaohua, Feng Jiasheng, Fu Lehuan, Wang Mingyu, Wang Zhonghan, Chen Yongling, Song Shuhua and others that worked in the research department.
Historical Contribution
In the 1950s and 1960s, most of the scholars of the Ministry of Research participated in the national identification of the New China and the social history survey of ethnic minorities organized by the State Council and played a backbone role in various investigation teams and various efforts. This work laid the foundation for the formulation of new Chinese national policies and ethnic studies.
National Research Center for Ethnic Issues
In 1954, the Central Affairs Office of the Central Ethnic Affairs Commission began editing internal information about "Translation of Ethnic Issues." In 1955, the Research Department continued to edit and started to publish it publicly. From 1955, the Research Department started to publish the "China National Issues Research Collection" from time to time. Furthermore, "Translation of Ethnic Issues" and "The Collection of Chinese Ethnic Issues" became the most important ethnological and national theoretical publications of New China at that time. All the above work made the research department the center of the most important national issues research of New China at that time, and it was one of the most important research and consultation institutions for the country to formulate national policies and handle ethnic affairs.
Majors & Programs
Currently, there are 4 undergraduate majors (ethnology, museum studies, sociology, social work); 6 master's degree programs (ethnology, anthropology, archaeology and museum studies, sociology, national sociology, demography) 2 professional master's programs (social work, cultural relics, and museums); 3 doctoral programs (ethnology, anthropology, sociology), including ethnology and sociology as first-level doctoral programs; 2 postdoctoral mobile stations (ethnology, sociology) in the MUC School of Ethnology and Sociology. The school has a complete talent training system. More than 1,000 students are enrolled, and half of them are masters and doctoral students.
Undergraduate Programs (4-Year Programs)
- Ethnology
- Museum Studies
- Sociology
- Social Work
Professional Master's Programs (2-Year Programs)
- Social Work
- Cultural Relics and Museums
Academic Master's Programs (3-Year Programs)
- Ethnology
- Anthropology
- Archaeology and Museum Studies
- Sociology
- National Sociology
- Demography
Doctoral Programs (4-6 Year Programs)
- Ethnology
- Anthropology
- Archaeology
Post-Doctoral Programs:
- Ethnology
- Sociology
School Focus, Beliefs & Development Objectives
Teaching Mode: Practical Research Teaching Mode
The school implements the "practical research-based teaching model," which emphasizes the cultivation of students' practical abilities and scientific research innovation abilities, emphasizing that teachers use scientific research to drive teaching and integrate with students' social practice. In 2004, the “Ethnic Talents Training Model” of the school won first prize during the Beijing Education and Teaching Achievements; in 2007, the ethnology major was rated as a national-level discipline; the ethnic sociology discipline was awarded and recognized by the Ministry of Education as a talent training model innovation experimental zone. In 2009, ethnology was rated as an excellent national-level teaching base by the Ministry of Education. The textbook "Chinese Ethnography," written by the school teachers, was awarded the Beijing Excellent Textbook award. In 2009, Vice President Xi Jinping came to the school to inspect the classes and pointed out that "Chinese Ethnography" is an excellent course and all colleges and universities across the country should open this course.
Professional Status
The scholars of the school have always been at the leading position in the country in the fields of ethnology, anthropology, and national sociology. At present, the number and funding of major research projects at home and abroad are at the forefront of their national counterparts and have played an important role in the national work and policy consultation of the CCP and the state. For example, in 2000, the "China's 22 People With Less National Economic and Social Development Survey and Research" project and its "Research Report" hosted by the college leaders, became the basis for the CCP Central Committee and the State Council to formulate relevant policies and introduce a series of supportive populations. It became an important reference for policy measures for national development. In May and October 2004, Professor Yang Shengmin taught ethnic issues as one of the keynote speakers at the learning meeting hosted by President Jiang Zemin and the Central Politics Council chaired by President Hu Jintao. Since then, he has also been invited to explain China's frontier and ethnic issues to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the national-level and provincial-level leading cadre national seminars, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security. At the Politburo study meeting, Comrade Hu Jintao confirmed the lecture's significance on the spot and called on the party members and cadres, especially the leading cadres, to strengthen the study of the knowledge and theory of ethnology, sociology, and anthropology. This was the first time that China’s top leaders have given such high evaluation and attention to the disciplines surrounding ethnology. Such lectures won honors for the discipline and improved the influence of ethnology in national decision-making and policy consultation.
Research Projects
In 2005, several research reports of professors from the MUC School of Ethnology and Sociology on the issue of "Xinjiang Ethnic Relations" were reported to the Politburo and received favorable comments. The “White Paper on Xinjiang Ethnic Issues” published by the State Council in September 2009 also cited MUC School of Ethnology and Sociology research results. Professors of MUC School of Ethnology and Sociology, as chief experts, have been approved by the National Social Science Fund for significant research projects such as "Introduction to Ethnology," "Research on the Characteristics of Ethnic Conflicts and Governance in the Post-Cold War World" and "Ethnic Minority Overseas Chinese."
Our Talent
The MUC School of Ethnology and Sociology has a strong faculty and research team. Its comprehensive strength has always been that it is at the forefront of domestic ethnology and anthropology. It has extensive contacts and influence in international ethnology as well as anthropology. There are 55 full-time teachers. Among them, there are 24 professors, 18 associate professors, 48 doctorates, and 21 doctoral tutors. Most of the teachers have experience studying abroad. One-third of the faculty can teach in a foreign language. One of the teachers was awarded the “National High-level Talents Special Support Plan” (“Million Plan”), and the first batch of instructors were awarded the “National High-level Talents Special Support Program”. Three people were included in the Ministry of Education's "Cross-Century Excellent Talents Fund" and the National "Hundred Million Talent Project". Two people won the Outstanding Contribution Award of the National Civil Affairs Commission. 10 were selected as "Ministry of Education New Century Excellent Talent Support Program" recipients. Moreover, 2 were awarded the “Advanced Individual of Teacher Morality in Beijing.” In 2012, the Ministry of Education commissioned a third-party evaluation agency to conduct the national “985” undergraduate majors overall ranking evaluation. The three undergraduate majors of ethnology, museum science, and sociology ranked first, second and sixth respectively at a national level. In 2012, the Ministry of Education's Degree and Postgraduate Education Development Center ranked first overall amongst first-level disciplines with postgraduate training and degree-granting qualifications in the country. The discipline of ethnology ranked first, while the sociology discipline ranked tenth.
Full-Time Staff: 84
Professors: 29
Staff with Masters and Doctoral Degrees: 81
Academic Exchanges and Cooperation at Home and Abroad
The MUC School of Ethnology and Sociology has exchanges and cooperation with many major universities at home and abroad, such as the University of Washington, the University of Hawaii, Stanford University, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the University of Simon Fraser in Canada, the National Museum of Ethnology in Japan, and Seoul University and St. Petersburg University, etc., and has carried out many collaborative research projects. Each year, dozens of scholars from more than ten countries offer professional courses and academic lectures for undergraduates and graduate students. The MUC School of Ethnology and Sociology has also played an important role in the academic organization of the 16th International Conference on Ethnology and Anthropology, which was conducted in Kunming in 2009 and was well received by the international academic community. At present, the MUC School of Ethnology and Sociology has become China's pioneer and a world-renowned teaching and research institution for ethnology.
Examples of Internationally Active Scholars
Yang Zhuhui (杨筑慧), (Dong Ethnicity)
Ethnology Major (MUC School of Ethnology and Sociology)
Educational Experience
- 1995-1998: PhD of Ethnology, MUC
- 1987-1990: Master of Ethnology, MUC
- 1983-1987: Bachelor of History, MUC
Work Experience
- 1998 - Present: Associate Professor, MUC School of Ethnology and Sociology
- 1990-1995: Lecturer, Department of History, Yunnan Minzu University
Research Areas
- Ethnic history and culture
- Marriage and family in southern China
Scientific Research Achievements
She has presided over 1 National Social Science Fund project, 2 projects of the Ministry of Education, 1 project of the National Family Planning Commission, 3 school-level projects, she has published research regarding the fertility culture of southwest ethnic groups in China (MUC Press, 2006), Tradition and Modernity: Research on the Dai Social Culture in Xishuangbanna (China Social Science Press, 2009), Commentarial Biography of Song Shuhua (Ethnic Publishing House, 2009) and more than 10 other academic works. She has published more than 30 academic papers such as "Rubber Planting and the Change of Dai Social Culture in Xishuangbanna - Taking Menghan Town, Jinghong City as An Example" (Ethnic Studies, 2010, Issue 5), Nuo: A Visual Angle to Study the History and Culture of Ethnic Groups in Southern China (Guangxi ethnic studies, 2013, Issue 1).
Yu Zidong (余梓东), Manchu ethnicity
Marxist Theory Major (MUC School of Ethnology and Sociology)
Educational Experience
- 1998-2001: History of MUC, Ph.D
- 1979-1983: History of Northeast Normal University, Bachelor
Work Experience
- 2011-2019: Director, United Front Department of CPC, MUC
- 2007-2011: Director, Scientific Research Department, MUC
- 2004-2007: Director, Museum of Nationalities, MUC
- 1996-2004: Deputy Director and Minister of the Propaganda Department of the Party - Committee of the MUC
- 1994-1996: Deputy Director, Office of Institute of Ethnology, MUC
- 2003 - Present: Professor, School of Ethnology and Sociology, MUC
- 1993-2003: Associate Professor, Department of Ethnology, MUC
- 1988-1993: Lecturer, Department of Ethnology, MUC
Research Area
- Ethnic theory and policy
- Qing history
- Manchu history
Scientific Research Achievements
He has presided over 2 projects of the National Social Science Fund, 1 project of the Ministry of Education, 5 projects of the National People's Committee, 1 project of the Beijing Social Science organization, 4 projects of the United Front Department of Beijing Municipal Party committee, 3 projects of the Beijing Municipal People's Committee and more. He has published academic works such as "Research on Ethnic Policies in Qing Dynasty" (Liaoning Ethnic Press, 2003); "Analysis on the New Strategy of the CPC Central Committee for the Governance, Stability, and Construction of Xinjiang (Journal of Yunnan National University in Philosophy and Social Sciences Edition, Issue 1 (2014)), "New Strategy Analysis of China's Religious Work" (Journal of Yunnan National University in Philosophy and Social Sciences Edition, Issue 3 (2017)) and more than 40 other academic papers.
Zhuang Chenyan (庄晨燕), Han Ethnicity
World Ethnology and Anthropology Research Center
Educational Experience
- 2007-2011: Ph., Université Rennes 2, France
- 1999-2001: Master, Ecole Natinale d’Admi-nistration, France
- 1990-1994: Bachelor of French Language and Literature, Beijing Foreign Studies University
Work Experience
- 2019 - Present: Professor, MUC World Ethnology Anthropology Research Center
- 2012-2018: Associate Professor, MUC World Ethnology Anthropology Research Center
- 2004-2012: Lecturer and Associate Professor, Department of Foreign Languages, School of Foreign Affairs
- 1994-2004: Member, Entourage, 3rd Secretary, 2nd Secretary and Deputy Director of Translation Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Research Field
- Ethnic issues in Europe and Africa
- Sociology of development
- Comparative study of rural development governance in Europe and China
Scientific Research Achievements
She presided over one national social science fund project, one major project of the key research base of Humanities and social sciences of the Ministry of education, four projects of the National People's Committee, one project of the joint research and exchange program between China and Africa of the Ministry of foreign affairs, published Personal Action and Social Motivation: Research on Beijing Migrant Children's School (Paris, France: Youfeng Bookstore press, 2014), Charm of Nature (translated works Sanlian Bookstore press, January 2005) , the Story of Lynx (complete works of Levi Strauss) (translation, Renmin University of China Press, April 2006) and other academic works; also published National Conflict Reconciliation and Reconstruction: Taking the Practice of National Construction after Rwanda's 1994 Massacre as an Example (Journal of Central University for nationalities, No. 3, 2014), European Region Charter of Languages of Regions or Ethnic Minorities and Diversity Governance in France: Reflections on Western Election Politics (world ethnic group, issue 5, 2018), and more than 10 academic papers.
Xiao Xiaoyong (肖小勇), Han ethnicity
Archaeology, Culture and Museum Major
Chairperson/Professor of MUC Department of Archaeology / Culture and Museum
Educational Experience
- 2002-2005: Archaeology and Museology, Graduate School, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, PhD
- 1984-1988: Bachelor of Archaeology, Peking University
Work Experience
- 2008-Present: Head of Department of Ancient Culture and Museum, MUC
- 2017 - Present: Professor, Department of Ancient Culture and Museum, MUC
- 2005-2016: Associate Professor, Department of Ancient Culture and Museum, MUC
- 2001-2002: Deputy Research Librarian, Xinjiang Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology
- 1995-2001: Librarian, Xinjiang Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology
- 1988-1995: Assistant Librarian, Xinjiang Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology
Research Field
- Han and Tang archaeology
- Xinjiang archaeology
- Rock painting
Scientific Research Achievements
He presided over 16 scientific research projects, including 4 national-level projects and 2 provincial and ministerial level projects; Archaeological Research in the Western Region: Nomadism and Settlement (MUC Press, 2015), Survey Report on Rock Paintings in Juci Mountain (archaeological report, Guangming Daily Press, 2014), Beicheng Village: Neolithic Culture in the Central Hebei Plain (archaeological report, Science Press, 2014) ）He has published more than ten academic works, such as the Phenomenon of Using Fire in the Early Funerals in Xinjiang (Study of the western regions, No. 1 in 2016; the people's Congress copies the Journal of history, No. 6 full-text reprint in 2016), the Origin of the Archeological Culture in the Tarim Basin (Journal of the Central People's University, society edition, No. 4 in 2013; the Renmin University Congress copies the Journal of history, Reposted in the 12th issue of 2013) and more than 10 academic papers.
Chen Xinxiang (陈心想), Han ethnicity, Professor of Sociology Sociology Major
Educational Experience
- 2001-2009: Ph.D., Sociology, University of Minnesota
- 1998-2001: Master of Sociology, Renmin University of China
- 1994-1998: Education of Henan Normal University (guaranteed by secondary normal school), Bachelor
- 1991-1994: Henan Yongcheng Normal School, Secondary Normal School
Work Experience
- 2018-Present: Professor, School of Ethnology and Sociology, MUC
- 2009-2018：Mississippi State University, National Strategic Planning & Analysis Research Center, Research Associate III
- 2009-2018：Mississippi State University, National Strategic Planning & Analysis Research Center, Research Associate III
- 2001-2009：Universityof Minnesota, Department of Sociology, Teaching/Research Assistant & Instructor
- 2001-2009：Universityof Minnesota, Department of Sociology, Teaching Assistant, instructor, or Research Assistant
Research Area
- Sociology of economy
- Sociology of education
- Sociology of knowledge
- Chinese social transformation
Scientific Research Achievements
He presided over one national scientific research project, published "Dialogue with Fei Xiaotong, Local China" (Sanlian bookstore, 2017), "Let Education Be More Ideal" (East China Normal University Press, 2016), "Notes on Minnesota" (Peking University Press, 2012), and other monographs. He also published "Tolerance and Economic Performance in American Metropolitan Areas: An Empirical Investigation" (Social Forum, 2011), The Course of the Americanization of Sociology and Its Enlightenment on the Construction of Sociology with Chinese Characteristics (Sociological Research, Issue 1 (2019)) and more. Among them, "The Course of the Americanization of Sociology and Its Enlightenment on the Construction of Sociology with Chinese Characteristics" was reprinted by Xinhua Digest and Sociology.
Zhang Xi (张曦), Qiang ethnicity, Professor of Anthropology
Anthropology Major Major
Educational Experience
- 2000-2006: Ph.D., Anthropology, University of Tokyo, Japan
- 1998-2000: Master of anthropology, Tokyo University, Japan
- 1996-1998: Anthropology, Foreign Graduate Student, Tokyo University, Japan
- 1982-1986: Bachelor of Chinese Language and Literature, MUC
Work Experience
- 2006-Present: Lecturer
- Associate Professor
- Professor, School of Ethnology and Sociology (MUC)
Research Areas
- Cultural anthropology
- Applied anthropology
- Regional research
Scientific Research Achievements
He presided over one major commissioned project of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, one high-end think tank project of the Central Academy of Socialism, one National Social Science Foundation project, and published academic works such as Ethnic Corridor and Regional Society: Anthropological Thinking of Qiang Society and Culture (Social Science Literature Press, 2017), the Tibetan Language Investigation Manual (translation, Taiwan Nantian Book Company Limited, 1998). He has published more than 30 academic papers such as one regarding Earthquake Disasters and Cultural Generation (Journal of Southwest Minzu University, 2013, issue 6), Color and Cognition: Taking Qiang Color Vocabulary as an Example (Qinghai ethnic studies, 2016, issue 2).
School Slogan
"Rigorous yet austere, diligent yet benevolent."
Official Website: http://msy.muc.edu.cn/
