Founded in 1957, the Center for Chinese Studies is now one of the most active and respected research centers in the nation. The Center puts on a full program of public activities each semester. These include lectures, colloquia, film screenings, performances, and scholarly conferences. CCS also hosts individual visiting scholars from many countries, and coordinates the visits of Chinese delegations and other China-related activities on campus. CCS provides research grants annually to Berkeley faculty in Chinese studies, and hosts an annual postdoctoral fellowship in Chinese studies. The Center also provides various forms of support for graduate student research on every aspect of Chinese studies, and across many different disciplines.

Research sponsored by the Center focuses on Chinese culture and society in the People's Republic of China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and other countries. Over 50 core faculty members in twenty-five departments on the Berkeley campus are affiliated with the Center. The current research and outreach agenda of the Center for Chinese Studies focuses on the humanities and social sciences, and also the professional schools.

Jerome Cohen on CCS History 1960–1963

Read an essay by Jerome Cohen about the Center for Chinese Studies from 1960 to 1963.

CCS Faculty Chairs

2019 - Current   Sophie Volpp, East Asian Languages & Cultures
2014 - 2019    You-tien Hsing, Geography
2008 - 2014    Andrew Jones, East Asian Languages & Cultures
2005 - 2008    Kevin O'Brien, Political Science
2004 - 2005    Jeffrey Riegel, East Asian Languages & Cultures
2000 - 2004    Liu Xin, Anthropology
1994 - 2000    Wen-hsin Yeh, History
1990 - 1994    Tom Gold, Sociology
1988 - 1990    David Keightley, History
1983 - 1988    Joyce Kallgren, Political Science
1979 - 1983    Lowell Dittmer, Political Science
1972 - 1979    Frederic Wakeman, History
1967 - 1972    Chalmers Johnson, Political Science
1963 - 1967    Franz Schurmann, History
1961 - 1963    Choh-ming Li, Economics
1957 - 1961    Walter Galenson, Economics