The Shanghai Semester program has been designed for students with a diverse range of interests and majors. The program makes optimal use of the local environment and pursues a “world is your classroom” experiential model. In addition to traditional classroom instruction, while in the "Middle Kingdom" students are encouraged to experience China through numerous field trips and excursions to places of historical and cultural interest. The goal of the semester is to introduce students to all aspects China and Chinese life from the urban centers to the rural countryside.