COMPLEMENTARY STUDIES PROGRAMME
 

The Complementary Studies Programme seeks to support and reinforce the University's espoused ideal of Whole Person Education that encompasses the students' developmental domains of physical, intellectual, spiritual, social, vocational, and humane capacities. The philosophy of Complementary Studies is to "complement" students' higher education experience in ways which are in concert with the concepts of Whole Person Education. Broadly speaking, Complementary Studies may be taken to mean "all other programme requirements outside of the major discipline". The Complementary Studies Programme is to "complement" the major studies of students by engaging them in areas of knowledge that extend beyond the major. In addition, the Complementary Studies Programme serves to enhance their ability to adapt to and take fullest advantage of the university experience as well as to cater for the multiple developmental domains of Whole Person Education.

Following a review of the undergraduate curriculum and the Complementary Studies Programme, the Complementary Studies Programme was re-designed and re-structured for implementation in 2004-2005.
 
Guiding Principles for Complementary Studies Programme
 
The guiding principles for Complementary Studies Programme are:
 
1) To provide adequate training in the transferable skills;
2) To fulfil the ideal of Whole Person Education;
3) To encourage students to acquire a body of knowledge in course areas outside of the major disciplines; and
4) To allow greater choice of courses so as to encourage students to have a sense of responsibility for their own studies.
 
Framework for Complementary Studies Programme
 
The Complementary Studies Programme constitutes 36 units, which contribute to about 38 per cent of a total of 96 units of the undergraduate degree curriculum. The two key components of the Programme comprise 15 units of Core requirements and 21 units of Distribution requirements:
 
Core Requirements
 
  English Language 6 units
  Chinese Language 3 units
  Values and the Meaning of Life 3 units
  Information Management Technology 3 units
  Physical Education 0 unit
  University Life 0 unit
    ──────
    15 units
 
Distribution Requirements
 
1. Students are required to select Distribution courses from any of the four broad categories of knowledge, and these four categories are::
   
  a) Humanities
b) Social Sciences
c) Business and Communication*
d) Science
   
* Students from the School of Business may select Communication courses as a separate category while students from the School of Communication may select Business courses as a separate category.
   
2. The requirements of the Distribution courses are as follows:
   
 
Any two courses outside the student's own category of knowledge, of which one must be Science course for non-Science students 6 units
Any two courses outside the student's own major/option 6 units
Free electives . 9 units
  ──────
  21 units
 
Starting from 2012-2013, students may take the new General Education courses to fulfil some of the above requirements. Details can be found at the website of the General Education Programme: http:// www.hkbu.edu.hk/ge/
 
Core Requirements
 
Core requirements are identified with the concept of transferable skills such as language proficiency, IT, communication, etc. which include a small but targeted set of courses, and the purpose of which is to enhance student's ability to adapt to and take fullest advantage of the university experience and to develop his/her transferable skills for use in the university and beyond. Core courses can be defined as the "common courses" because they involve transferable skills and are taken "in common" by all students.
 
English Language
 
All students are required to take two 3-unit English Language courses:
 
LANG 1491 English I
LANG 1492 English II
 

The English Language courses aim at developing appropriate communicative strategies and improving students' general level of proficiency in English. Course materials provide integrated training in speaking, listening, reading and writing. Specific skills and language structures are taught in the context of topic areas appropriate to students' needs.

Students with grades "C or above" in the HKAS Use of English would be exempted from taking LANG 1491 English I. Students from non-JUPAS sources would be evaluated on other language proficiency indicators (such as TOEFL or IELTS). In the absence of any acceptable indicators of language proficiency, students would be given a diagnostic test, and those scoring above the cut-off point would be exempted. For those students who are exempted from taking LANG 1491 English I, they would need to take a 3-unit course as substitute. Students are free to take whatever courses in order to meet that 3-unit requirement. Nevertheless, students are encouraged to take more advanced courses offered by the Language Centre as replacement, such as LANG 2210 Advanced English Pronunciation for Professional Communication, LANG 2230 Comprehension of Modern Spoken English: Culture and Context, and LANG 2290 English through Creative Writing.

There would be no exemption for LANG 1492 English II as all students would be required to sit for the same English examination at the end of the programme. A pass in LANG 1492 English II is a graduation requirement.

A pass in LANG 1491 English I is a prerequisite of LANG 1492 English II.

 
Chinese Language
 
All students are required to take a 3-unit Chinese Language course:
 
LANG 1480 University Chinese
 

The course aims at improving students' Chinese proficiency in speaking, listening, reading and writing.

Students with grade "C or lower" in the AS level subject Chinese Language and Culture are required to pass LANG 1480 University Chinese. Students with grade "B or above" in the AS level subject Chinese Language and Culture may take LANG 1480 University Chinese or a 3-unit course from the following list:

 
CHI 1150** Selected Readings in Classical Chinese Poetry  
CHI 2130** Selected Readings in Classical Chinese Prose  
CHI 2310** Modern and Contemporary Chinese Literature (1917-present)  
LANG 1460 Creative Writing in Chinese  
LANG 2240 Learning to Write in Chinese through Reading Masterpieces  
LANG 2260 Chinese Writing for Business & Public Administration  
LANG 3130 Creative Writing: Modern Chinese Poetry  
LANG 3250 Modern and Contemporary Theatre: Appreciation and Playwriting  
 
** Not open to students of BA (Hons) in Chinese Language and Literature programme.
 

Values and the Meaning of Life
 
All students are required to take a 3-unit course from the following list of courses offered under the Values and the Meaning of Life category:
 
R.P. 1040 Religion & the Meaning of Life  
R.P. 1100 Biblical Wisdom for Human Life  
R.P. 1110 Christianity & Modern Life  
R.P. 1120 Nature & Human Beings in Chinese & Western Cultures  
R.P. 1140 Philosophy & the Meaning of Life  
R.P. 1170 Philosophy of Life in the Postmodern Age  
R.P. 1240 Zen Buddhism & Modern Life  
R.P. 1320 Applied Ethics  
R.P. 1330 Business, Values, & Society  
R.P. 1370 Ethics of Marriage & the Family  
R.P. 1390 Philosophy of Love  
R.P. 1420 Religious Quest in Films  
R.P. 1430 Romantic Love in Chinese & Western Cultures  
 
Students of the BA (Hons) in Religious Studies programme would not be granted exemption from taking the Values and the Meaning of Life courses as there would be no overlapping between the curriculum of the Major programme and the Values and the Meaning of Life courses.
 

Information Management Technology
 
All students are required to take a 3-unit course from the list below:
 
I.T. 1120 Business Information Systems
I.T. 1180 Information Management Technology
 
I.T. 1120 Business Information Systems is open to BBA students only. I.T. 1180 Information Management Technology is open to all students other than those taking I.T. 1120 Business Information Systems.
 
Students from the following computing programmes are exempted from taking the Information Management Technology course and to take a replacement course in lieu of the exempted course:
 
BSc (Hons) in Computer Science
BUS 1630 The World of Business
     
BSc (Hons) in Computing Studies (Information Systems)
A course from the School of Business
     
BSc (Hons) in Physics - Applied Physics Concentration
COMP 1170 Introduction to Structured Programming
     
BSc (Hons) in Physics - Physics with Computer Science Concentration
COMP 1180 Structured Programming
 
Students would be invited to take an IT proficiency test, and those scoring above the cut-off point would be exempted from taking the Information Management Technology course. Students are free to take any other 3-unit course as a substitute. Nevertheless, students are encouraged to take more advanced courses offered by the Department of Computer Science as replacement.
 

Physical Education
 
All students are required to take two non-credit bearing Physical Education courses throughout their studies in the University. However, they are not allowed to take more than one Physical Education course in any semester. The courses are listed as follows:
 
P.E. 1110 Physical Education (Badminton)
P.E. 1120 Physical Education (Basketball)
P.E. 1140 Physical Education (Folk Dance)
P.E. 1170 Physical Education (Jazz Dance)
P.E. 1180 Physical Education (Soccer)
P.E. 1190 Physical Education (Social Dance)
P.E. 1200 Physical Education (Softball)
P.E. 1220 Physical Education (Swimming)
P.E. 1230 Physical Education (Table Tennis)
P.E. 1240 Physical Education (Tennis)
P.E. 1250 Physical Education (Volleyball)
P.E. 1260 Physical Education (Wushu - Taichi)
P.E. 1330 Physical Education (Aerobic Fitness & Conditioning)
P.E. 1340 Physical Education (Muscular Fitness & Conditioning)
P.E. 1360 Physical Education (Golf)
 
Students who have health problems may apply to enrol in the special Physical Education courses:
 
P.E. 1280 Physical Education (Special Physical Education I)
P.E. 1290 Physical Education (Special Physical Education II)
 
Students of the BA (Hons) in Physical Education and Recreation Management programme would be exempted from taking the Physical Education course. No replacement would be required as the Physical Education course is non-credit bearing.
 

University Life
(Please refer to page 85 for details)
 

Distribution Requirements
 
The purpose of Distribution requirements is to encourage students to explore a wider variety of knowledge than is provided in their specific majors/options, to realize the inter-connectedness of knowledge and issues that may extend the horizons of their majors, and to insure that all of the elements of the whole person receive some attention within the curriculum. The guiding principle is to achieve a balance between breadth and depth of knowledge.

All students are required to take two 3-unit courses outside their own category of knowledge, of which one must be Science course for non-Science students and vice versa for Science students, two 3-unit courses outside their own major/option, and 9 units of free electives to fulfil the Distribution requirements.

The following list of Distribution courses in respect of the four broad categories of knowledge serves as a recommended list and students' choice would not be confined to this list. Students may choose other courses for which they have the required prerequisites. Students may need to consult their major department adviser and to approach individual departments for their updated course offerings and their quota availability when selections of courses for the Distribution requirements are made.

 
Category of Knowledge: Humanities
CHI 2130 Selected Readings in Classical Chinese Prose  
CTHM 2100 Experiencing Hong Kong Arts  
ENG 1110 Introduction to the Study of Literature  
ENG 1190 Introduction to the Study of Language  
ENG 1270 Improvisation Comedy for Better Linguistic Awareness  
HUM 1140 Human Self-Discovery  
HUM 2160 Gender Studies  
LANG 1460 Creative Writing in Chinese  
LANG 1610 Elementary Putonghua  
LANG 3620 Advanced Business English  
MUS 1230 Canto-pop, Manda-pop, & Chinese Rock 'n' Roll:
Musical & Cultural Meanings		  
MUS 1620 Music Appreciation I  
R.P. 1010 Introduction to Philosophy  
R P. 1020 Critical Thinking  
R.P. 1190 Science, Technology, and Society  
TRA 1770 Principles & Techniques of Translation  
 
Category of Knowledge: Social Sciences
EURO 1111 Europe: Unity & Diversity  
EURO 1112 Europe: Unity & Diversity  
GEOG 1620 Hong Kong & the Pearl River Delta: A Survey  
HIST 1620 Perspectives on Chinese History  
HIST 2160 Twentieth Century Hong Kong History  
HIST 2650 Great Trends in Modern European History  
POLS 1520 Government & Politics of China  
PSY 1110 Principles of Psychology  
SOC 1110 Invitation to Sociology  
SOC 1150 Hong Kong Society  
SOWK 1220 Human Development  
SOWK 2130 Social Dimensions of Health  
SOWK 2180 Love & Human Sexuality  
 
Category of Knowledge: Business and Communication
ACCT 1710 Introduction to Financial Accounting  
BUS 1630 The World of Business  
BUS 2110 Operations Management  
BUS 2210 Organizational Behaviour  
BUS 2340 International Business  
CHSE 2220 Foundations of Chinese Economy  
COMM 1130 Current Affairs & News Analysis  
CTV 1640 Theories & Aesthetics of Film  
CTV 2620 Special Topics in Film & Television Studies  
ECON 1620 Basic Economic Principles  
ECON 2660 Economies of Hong Kong & the Pan-Pearl River Delta  
FIN 1610 Financial Planning & Investment Analysis  
JOUR 3220 International News  
MKT 2310 Marketing Management  
ORGC 1310 Interpersonal Communication  
PRA 1610 Introduction to Public Relations & Advertising  
 
Category of Knowledge: Science
CHEM 1660 Better Living through Chemistry  
CHEM 1670 Better Living through Technologies & Innovations  
GEOG 1610* People & the Physical Environment  
I.T. 1590 Searching & Managing Information  
I.T. 2510# Music, Photo & Movie Processing  
ITEC 1005 Effective Use of Spreadsheets for Data Processing  
 
* Not open to students of BSocSc (Hons) in Geography, BSocSc (Hons) in China Studies - Geography Option and BSocSc (Hons) in Geography & BEd (Hons) in Liberal Studies Teaching programmes.
# Not open to students of BA (Hons) in Visual Arts programme.
 


©2012 Hong Kong Baptist University
Source: Calendar/Bulletin 2012-2013
Last modified: August 2012