FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
Dean: Prof Adrian J Bailey
 

We inspire and train students for their future leadership in an increasingly globally-connected society. Our seven Departments (Education Studies, Geography, Government and International Studies, History, Physical Education, Sociology, and Social Work) offer undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in an English medium of instruction, including transdisciplinary programmes, like China Studies and Public Administration. We initiate the Off-campus Learning Programme and strongly encourage students to learn outside the classroom and outside Hong Kong as part of their study. Opportunities for research programmes leading to MPhil and PhD degrees are available through the Departments and include joint PhD degrees.

Our broad-based admission for the undergraduate programmes in Geography/Government and International Studies/History/ Sociology has provided an open social sciences training in the first year of study. Before progression to Year II, students will choose their Major study.

The BA (Hons) in Physical Education and Recreation Management develops students’ different skills preparing for careers in conducting and managing sports and recreational programmes and activities in schools and in the community. The Bachelor of Social Work (Hons) programme is composed of a balanced education in the theory and practice of social work, including fieldwork training, and leads to careers in social work.

The BA (Hons) in English Language & Literature and BEd (Hons) in English Language Teaching, BA (Hons) in History and BEd (Hons) in Liberal Studies Teaching, BSocSc (Hons) in Geography and BEd (Hons) in Liberal Studies Teaching, and BSocSc (Hons) in Sociology and BEd (Hons) in Liberal Studies Teaching are four programmes offered by the Department of Education Studies in collaboration with respective departments of the Faculty or other Faculties/Schools. All of them provide students with a thorough preparation in two disciplines, leading to the award of two degrees. The joint admission practice for the latter three programmes offers students a broad-based social sciences training in their first year of study as well as the training of Liberal Studies teaching. Before progression to Year II, students will apply for one of the academic disciplines.

Students of the BSocSc (Hons) in China Studies spend one summer month at the Tsinghua University for intensive Putonghua training, seminars relating to current issues in China and visit places of particular interest to the programme. Our graduates work in leadership positions in a wide range of sectors, including teaching, public administration, industry and commerce, the media and the arts. The BSocSc (Hons) in European Studies is a programme consisting of a European language and European Studies focused on government and international relations. The third year is spent in Europe, in university study and supervised employment. The programme leads to careers in business, culture exchange and other fields, which require mediation between Europe and Asia.

Concerning top-up programmes, the BSocSc (Hons) in Sport and Recreation Leadership, BSocSc (Hons) in Psychology, BSocSc (Hons) in Social Policy and BSocSc (Hons) in Environment and Resources Management (new in 2014/15) are designed for associate degree or higher diploma graduates who wish to pursue a career in the sport and recreation industry, especially for the special needs and elderly populations; further their studies in psychology; develop their understanding and ability to participate in the making and evaluation of social policies in local, regional and international contexts; and develop foundational knowledge in both the natural and social sciences in order to apply interdisciplinary approaches in studying and analyzing environmental issues respectively.

As regards taught postgraduate programmes, the Department of Education Studies offers two teacher education diploma programmes: (1) Postgraduate Diploma in Education (one-year full-time and two-year part-time), including initial teacher training as well as Subject Teaching and Subject Knowledge Streams under the part-time mode, and (2) Diploma in Education (two-year full-time). While the first programme provides degree holders with professional teaching in secondary schools, the second programme provides teacher training for undergraduates aspiring for a teacher career. The Master of Education (both part-time and full-time) programme aims at enhancing educators’ knowledge of child and adolescent development. The Master of Social Sciences in Teaching and Learning (two-year part-time) emphasizes with the importance of evidence-based research as a foundation for excellent educational practice, and for the development of students’ capacity for critical inquiry and professional reflection.

The Master of Social Sciences in Sport and Leisure Management (both part-time and full-time) offered by Department of Physical Education provides students with a chance to take a reflective and interdisciplinary approach to the planning, provision and management of sport and leisure.

The Department of Social Work delivers three master’s programmes. The Master of Social Work (both part-time and full- time) enhances the professional competence of practising social workers, and provides the opportunity to reflect on professional practice from a broadening perspective. The Master of Social Sciences in Youth Counselling (both part-time and full-time) can develop students’ knowledge in understanding, analysing and researching the changing needs of young people and the social and cultural contexts within which young people develop. The Master of Social Sciences in Social Work (two-year both for full-time and part-time)* educates students to achieve the academic and professional qualification that is considered eligible for registration as Registered Social Workers in Hong Kong.

Our multi-disciplinary training in public administration is offered at part-time mode as Master of Public Administration, involving collaboration with Schools of Business and Communication and non-local institutions. The programme aims to sharpen students’ understanding of public administration, such as in the mainland and Hong Kong, from a comparative and global perspective. The Master of Social Sciences (Contemporary China Studies) (both part-time and full-time) is evolved out of the well-established undergraduate China Studies Programme offered since 1989 in Hong Kong. The programme is designed to provide students with a critical understanding of contemporary China from political, historical, economic, geographical and sociological perspectives. In collaboration with the David C. Lam Institute for East-West Studies and seven Departments, the Faculty will launch the first MA in Global Society Programme in Hong Kong (new in 2015/16). With its unique whole person positioning and five Concentrations, namely Global Urban System; Global Cultures; Global Environmental Health; Global Social Development; and Global Political Economy, it equips emerging leaders to understand how the challenges and opportunities of connected society are multi-dimensional—social, cultural, economic, political, and environmental*.

The Faculty also administers the compulsory Physical Education courses for all full-time undergraduate students (through the Department of Physical Education). The common core of all the programmes encourage students to develop their understanding of human existence in modern society; of their own Chinese culture and other cultures; and of the means of formulating values and goals in life, all of which will help them assume responsible roles in shaping the societies of tomorrow.

Apart from academic programmes, the Faculty provides its students with invaluable learning experience outside the classroom through its local and overseas Internship Programmes. The Faculty’s one-semester Off Campus Programme enables students to gain further exposure through different off campus or outside classroom learning options, such as exchange, internship and community studies programmes. This learning experience helps students reach out to society, in making global connections and learning cross cultural environments.

In addition to teaching, faculty members are actively involved in research, professional and community services. The fourteen research centres and service units in the Faculty (namely the Advanced Institute for Contemporary China Studies, the Centre for Child Development, Centre for China Urban and Regional Studies, Centre for Geo-computation Studies, Centre for Olympic Studies, Centre for Youth Research and Practice, Comparative Governance and Policy Research Centre, CIE Wellness Promotion Centre, Dr Stephen Hui Research Centre for Physical Recreation and Wellness, European Documentation Centre, Asian Energy Studies Centre, Modern History Research Centre, Resource Centre for Liberal Studies in Schools, and Centre for the Advancement of Social Sciences Research) facilitate teaching and research activities at the University, and provide consultancy to the HKSAR Government and the community.

 
* The introduction of the respective full-time mode for Master of Social Sciences in Social Work and the new Master of Arts in Global Society are subject to the Universityˇ¦s approval.
 
 
Department of Education Studies
- Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Language & Literature and Bachelor of Education (Honours) in English Language Teaching
- Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in History and Bachelor of Education (Honours) in Liberal Studies Teaching
- Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Geography and Bachelor of Education (Honours) in Liberal Studies Teaching
- Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Sociology and Bachelor of Education (Honours) in Liberal Studies Teaching
- Diploma in Education (2+3)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Two-year Part-time)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Education (One-year Full-time)
- Master of Education (One-year Full-time & Two-year Part-time)
- Master of Social Sciences in Teaching and Learning
- Minor Programme in Psychology
 
Department of Geography
- Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Geography
- Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Geography and Bachelor of Education (Honours) in Liberal Studies Teaching
- Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in China Studies—Geography Concentration
- Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Environment and Resources Management
- Minor Programme in Geography
 
Department of Government and International Studies
- Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in European Studies
- Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Government and International Studies
- Minor Programme in Political Science
- Minor Programme in European Studies
- Master of Social Sciences in European Studies (Sino-European Relations)
 
Department of History
- Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in History
- Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in History and Bachelor of Education (Honours) in Liberal Studies Teaching
- Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in China Studies—History Concentration
- Minor Programme in History
 
Department of Physical Education
- Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Physical Education and Recreation Management
- Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Sport and Recreation Leadership
- Master of Social Sciences in Sport and Leisure Management
- Minor Programme in Sport & Recreation Management
 
Department of Social Work
- Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Social Policy
- Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)
- Minor Programme in Social Policy
- Master of Social Sciences in Social Work
- Master of Social Sciences in Youth Counselling
- Master of Social Work
 
Department of Sociology
- Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Sociology
- Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Sociology and Bachelor of Education (Honours) in Liberal Studies Teaching
- Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in China Studies—Sociology Concentration
- Minor Programme in Sociology
 
Undergraduate Programmes
- Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Psychology
- Minor Programme in China Studies
 
Postgraduate Programmes
- Master of Arts in Global Society
- Master of Public Administration
- Master of Social Sciences (Contemporary China Studies)
 
 
 
©2015 Hong Kong Baptist University
Source: Calendar/Bulletin 2015-2016
Last modified: July 2015