With the world’s biggest population and second largest economy, China is a dynamic and ethnically diverse country with a history that spans more than 5,000 years. In 1949, revolutionary leader Mao Zedong founded modern China, or the People's Republic of China, as the leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

But who was Chairman Mao and how did his theories, strategies and policies shape modern China?

This course introduces Mao Zedong Thought and highlights how Chairman Mao’s theories dramatically shaped and influenced the political foundation what China has become today.

Introduction to Mao Zedong Thought gives learners around the world a rare peek into a course that millions of university students in China are required to take each year. Influenced by Marxism-Leninism Thought, Mao Zedong Thought incorporates ideological and political theories introduced by the first Chairman of the Communist Party of China.

本课程为思想政治理论课。课程以“历史与理论相结合、思想与现实相结合、线上与线下相结合、高雅与通俗相结合”为特色，讲授马克思主义中国化、毛泽东思想，引导学生正确把握毛泽东思想的基本内容和精神实质，引导学生深刻认识改革开放的必要性、可能性和艰巨性，引导学生牢固树立中国特色社会主义的道路自信、理论自信、制度自信和文化自信。

本课程实施“转客为主”教学模式，即通过设置多重教学环节引导学生由“教学对象”向“教学主体”转化，由“被动性学习”向“主动性学习”转化，由“以听为主”向“听说读写行并重”转化。课程鼓励和引导学生实现“六化”： 一是“化耳为口”，即不仅要听，而且要说；二是“化目为手”，即不仅要读，而且要写；三是“化知为行”，即不仅要求知，而且要践行；四是“化外为内”，即将外在的知识转化为内在的素养；五是“化隐为显”，即将隐性的素质转化为显性的成果；六是“化人为己”，即将他人的素养转化为学生自我的素养。