I. Applicable Discipline

Marxist Theory (first-level discipline, category of Law, discipline code: 0305)

II. Training Objectives

To cultivate talents who are oriented toward modernization, the world, and the future, develop morally, intellectually, and physically in an all-round way, possess a solid foundation in Marxist theory, have the ability to engage in independent academic research, and can make creative achievements, so as to serve the needs of building socialism with Chinese characteristics.

III. Research Directions

Marxism and Social Development

Theory and Practice of the Sinicization of Marxism

History of Marxist Development

Ideological and Political Education in the New Era and Contemporary Social Trends

Foreign Marxism and Contemporary Western Trends of Thought

Modern and Contemporary Chinese Political Culture

IV. Training Methods

The training of doctoral students is the responsibility of the supervisor, and adopts a guidance model that combines the supervisor responsibility system with collective training by a guidance team. If the thesis work requires special support, with approval, the supervisor may appoint a teacher with the title of associate professor or above as the co-supervisor of the doctoral student. For interdisciplinary doctoral training, a guidance team composed of supervisors from relevant disciplines shall be established; if necessary, doctoral supervisors from related disciplines may be invited as joint supervisors. The guidance team shall assist the supervisor in overseeing all training stages of the doctoral student. The list of co-supervisors and joint supervisors shall be reported to the University Degree Office for the record.

Doctoral training focuses on scientific research, with emphasis on cultivating doctoral students’ability to engage in independent academic research and innovation.

Doctoral students pursuing a doctoral degree shall undertake at least one academic year of“three assistantships”(teaching, research, or administrative assistance) work (doctoral students with more than 3 years of study are exempt). The specific content shall be specified in an employment contract.

A“supervisor-student meeting”system is established. Each supervisor shall meet with their students at least twice a month to answer questions, guide reading, revise papers, etc.

V. Degree Courses and Credit Requirements

Regular doctoral students and thesis-based doctoral students must obtain no less than 21 credits for the degree during their study. Self-study course credits are counted separately. See the appendix for the curriculum.

Direct doctoral students and early-promotion doctoral students must obtain no less than 33 credits for the degree during their study. Self-study course credits are counted separately. See the appendix for the curriculum.

Courses taken by doctoral students beyond the discipline’s training requirements are non-degree courses, and their credits are recorded as non-degree course credits.

VI. Key Training Stages and Requirements

Regular academic reports or salons will be organized with relevant experts and scholars.

Formulation of Personal Course Study Plan

Within three weeks of enrollment, doctoral students shall formulate a personal course study plan under the guidance of their supervisor and submit it to the College Academic Affairs Office for the record. If changes are needed due to special circumstances during implementation, revisions must be made during the course selection period of each semester. The revised plan, signed by the supervisor, shall be submitted to the above office for the record.

Thesis Proposal and Research Work Plan

After enrollment, doctoral students shall, under the guidance of their supervisor, review literature, understand the current status and trends of the discipline, and determine their research direction and complete the thesis proposal as early as possible. The specific timing of the proposal is determined by the supervisor, but it must be at least one year before the application for thesis defense.

Doctoral students shall define a specific research topic and write a literature review and thesis proposal of no less than 8,000 words, demonstrating the scientific basis, theoretical significance, practical value, research ideas and methods, key and difficult points, research conditions, and expected goals of the topic. The proposal shall be publicly defended within the discipline and reviewed by an assessment team composed mainly of doctoral supervisors (with no fewer than 2 external teachers invited). Relevant teachers and students are encouraged to attend the proposal defense; for interdisciplinary topics, supervisors from related disciplines shall be invited to participate. If major changes to the thesis topic are needed after approval, the supervisor’s consent must be obtained, and a new proposal defense shall be conducted. The approved proposal shall be submitted in writing to the College Academic Affairs Office for the record.

Qualification Examination

The doctoral qualification examination is a comprehensive disciplinary examination for doctoral students after completing coursework, before formally entering the thesis research stage. It focuses on assessing whether doctoral students have mastered in-depth and broad disciplinary and specialized knowledge, can comprehensively apply such knowledge to analyze and solve problems, and possess the ability to conduct innovative research.

The qualification examination is organized uniformly by the college, generally to be completed by the end of the second semester after enrollment (fourth semester for direct doctoral students). The qualification examination committee consists of 3–5 teachers with the title of associate professor or above appointed by the Academic Degree Sub-Committee, responsible for organizing the examination. The content, form, and timing of the examination are determined by each training unit.

Social Practice

Social practice for doctoral students shall be conducted in accordance with the Tsinghua University Regulations on the Management of Social Practice as a Compulsory Link for Doctoral Students.

Academic Activities and Reports

Doctoral students shall regularly attend academic seminars of their research group during the semester, and must participate in no fewer than 30 academic activities at the first- or second-level disciplinary level. After each seminar or activity, they must write a summary or notes of no less than 500 words, which shall be kept by the student after being signed by the supervisor. The College Academic Affairs Office will record the results before the application for defense.

Doctoral students shall present their own papers at least once at a national or international academic conference.

Doctoral students may apply for defense only after completing the required academic reports and obtaining the required academic activity credits.

Requirements for Academic Paper Publication or Research Achievements

Requirements for doctoral students to publish academic papers during their studies shall be implemented in accordance with the Basic Requirements for Doctoral Students to Publish Academic Papers During Their Studies issued by the Academic Degree Sub-Committees of Humanities and Social Sciences of Tsinghua University.

VII. Thesis Work and Requirements

The doctoral dissertation is an important indicator of the quality and academic level of doctoral training. It must be independently completed by the doctoral student under the guidance of the supervisor. The time spent on research and writing the dissertation shall be no less than two years.

The writing of the doctoral dissertation shall adhere to the principle of integrating theory with practice. In addition to carefully studying literature related to the topic, social surveys shall be conducted as required by the research.

The doctoral dissertation shall reflect the student’s creative academic achievements in their disciplinary field, demonstrating that they have mastered solid and broad basic theories, systematic and in-depth specialized knowledge, and possess the ability to engage in independent academic research.

A mid-term review system for doctoral dissertations shall be implemented. The supervisor’s guidance team will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the student’s comprehensive ability, progress of the dissertation work, work attitude, and effort. Those who pass the review are allowed to continue the dissertation work. The mid-term review may be arranged in conjunction with academic reports.

After substantially completing the dissertation, doctoral students shall deliver a summary report on their dissertation work no later than three months before formally applying for defense. More than half of the doctoral supervisors in the discipline (generally the second-level discipline) shall be invited to evaluate the main achievements and creativity of the dissertation work and solicit extensive opinions. For interdisciplinary dissertations, at least two experts from related disciplines shall be invited to participate in the summary report.

The organization and arrangement of the doctoral dissertation defense shall be conducted in accordance with the relevant regulations and requirements of the Graduate School.

Appendix: Coursework and Credit Requirements for Regular Doctoral Students

Regular doctoral students must obtain no less than 21 credits for degree courses during their study. Self-study course credits are counted separately. The curriculum is as follows:

Public Compulsory Courses (≥5 credits)

Marxism and Contemporary Social Trends (60610033), 3 credits (examination)

Doctoral English (or other foreign languages) (90640012), 2 credits (examination)

Disciplinary and Professional Courses (≥11 credits)

(1) Professional Basic Courses (≥7 credits)

Study of Marxist Classical Works (70680083), 3 credits (examination)

Thematic Studies on the History of Marxist Development (70680103), 3 credits (examination)

Research on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics (70680053), 3 credits (examination)

Research on Modern and Contemporary Chinese Political Thought (80680043), 3 credits (examination)

Thematic Studies on Ideological and Political Education (70680022), 2 credits (examination)

Academic Frontiers in Marxist Theory ( ), 2 credits (examination)

Marxist Literature Retrieval and Utilization ( ), 1 credit (examination)

(2) Disciplinary Professional Courses (≥8 credits)

Study of Marx and Engels’Thought ( ), 2 credits (examination)

Study of Lenin’s Thought ( ), 2 credits (examination)

Study of Mao Zedong Thought (80680052), 2 credits (examination)

Study of the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics ( ), 2 credits (examination)

Marxist Labor Value Theory and Contemporary Social Development (70680033), 2 credits (examination)

Thematic Research on China’s New Rural Construction (90680022), 2 credits (examination)

Social Trends of Thought and Youth Education (70680072), 2 credits (examination)

Marxist Theory of Social Development (70610253), 3 credits (examination)

Principles of Marxist Political Science (90680012), 2 credits (examination)

Applied Ethics (70611412), 2 credits (examination)

Sinicized Marxism (80680033), 3 credits (examination)

Foreign Marxism (80680013), 3 credits (examination)

Study of Capital ( ), 2 credits (examination)

Thematic Studies on the Theory and Practice of Capitalist Economy (70610273), 3 credits (examination)

Contemporary World Economy and Politics (70618062), 2 credits (examination)

Comparison between Marxist Economics and Western Economics (80611692), 2 credits (examination)

Thematic Studies on the Theory and Practice of Socialist Economy with Chinese Characteristics ( ), 2 credits (examination)

Research on Chinese Ideological History (70610393), 3 credits (examination)

History of Western Political Thought (80680022), 2 credits (examination)

Evaluation of Modern Western Philosophy (80610432), 2 credits (examination)

Thematic Research on Chinese Philosophy (80611342), 2 credits (examination)

Thematic Studies on Modern Western Cultural Philosophy (80611462), 2 credits (examination)

Research on Philosophy of Life (80611862), 2 credits (examination)

Thematic Studies on Modern and Contemporary Chinese History (70680042), 2 credits (examination)

Thematic Studies on Western Marxism ( ), 2 credits (examination)

Marxist Historical Theory ( )

Other graduate courses offered by other schools/departments/institutes

Related graduate courses offered by Peking University

Compulsory Components (5 credits)

Literature Review and Thesis Proposal (99990041), 1 credit (assessment)

Academic Activities and Reports (99990032), 2 credits (assessment)

Qualification Examination (99990061), 1 credit (examination)

Social Practice (69990041), 1 credit (assessment)

Professional Elective Courses (2 credits)

Professional Foreign Language, 2 credits (examination)

Note: This program applies to doctoral students enrolled after the autumn semester of 2010.