Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in China Studies—Geography Option (3-year)
 
The Geography Option of the BSocSc (Hons) in China Studies introduces students to the rapidly expanding horizons of the geography discipline and the study of China from a geographical perspective. The curriculum enables students to analyse in-depth the complexities of the geography of contemporary China.
 
Specifically, the programme aims at providing students with:
 
1. A solid foundation of the theories and methodologies of the geography discipline;
2. A sound knowledge of contemporary China, particularly in the understanding of its geographical assets and liabilities;
3. The ability to use geographical tools to conduct independent research; and
4. Proficiency in Chinese, especially Putonghua, as well as English.
   
Proficiency in Chinese, especially Putonghua, as well as English.
   
1. To prepare students for careers in China-related business and other endeavours; and
2. To prepare students for graduate studies in geography, China studies and cognate fields.
 
 
Structure
 
The programme comprises five components, namely Programme General Requirement (1 unit), Complementary Studies Courses (24 units), Social Sciences Foundation Courses (12 units), Option Discipline Courses (36 units) and China Studies Courses (24 units), making up a total of 97 units required for graduation. The summer sojourn programme, though not carrying any units, must be taken by every student. The overall objective is to provide students with a broad-based education in line with the whole-person educational philosophy of the University, and also to provide solid training for students in a selected discipline, in addition to mastering knowledge about China.

Summer Sojourn

A distinctive feature of the programme is the summer sojourn programme in which all students have to spend one month at Tsinghua University, Beijing to receive intensive training in Putonghua during the summer at the end of the second year. Since the students have taken the six-unit course Elementary & Intermediate Putonghua during the second year, the sojourn acts as an "immersion" programme in Putonghua training. Students will undertake Putonghua training for three hours per day, five days per week.

Another part of the summer sojourn programme consists of seminars on topics relating to current issues in China. A total of eight to ten seminars on issues relating to topics of a political, economic, sociological, historical and geographic nature will be conducted during the sojourn.

A third part of the programme is composed of visits to places of particular interest to this programme. It is felt that students should be given some field experience in China by visiting factories, farms, historical sites, governement offices, etc. Four whole-day visits will be organized to places around the Beijing area during the sojourn period.

 
Requirements
 
Programme General Requirement 1 unit
  CHST 1150 Introduction to China Studies 1 unit
         
Social Sciences Foundation Courses 12 units
  CHSE 1010 Introductory Economic Analysis for China Studies 3 units
  CHSG 1010 Geography & the Contemporary World 3 units
  CHSH 1620 Perspectives on Chinese History 3 units
  CHSS 1110 Invitation to Sociology 3 units
         
China Studies Foundation Courses 12 units
  CHSG 2110 Regional Geography of China 3 units
  Three of the following courses:  
  CHSE 2220 Foundation of Chinese Economy 3 units
  CHSG 1620 Hong Kong & the Pearl River Delta: A Survey 3 units
CHSH 2210 Introduction to Modern Chinese History 3 units
CHSP 1510 Foundations of Political Science 3 units
CHSP 1520 Government & Politics of China 3 units
CHSP 2620 Ideology & Socialism in China 3 units
CHSP 2630 Chinese Legal System 3 units
CHSS 2240 Modern Chinese Society 3 units
         
Advanced China Studies Courses 12 units
 
At least 6 units must be taken from the following courses. The remaining 6 units may be taken either from the courses listed below or from Advanced China Studies Courses offered by other options. Students may also take POLS 3720 China & the World (3 units) as an Advanced China Studies Course.
 
  CHSG 3830 Population Geography of China 3 units
  CHSG 3840 Energy Development in China 3 units
  CHSG 3850 Resource Management in China 3 units
  CHSG 3860 Problems in the Physical Geography of China 3 units
  CHSG 3880 Rural & Agricultural Development in China 3 units
  CHSG 3890 Urban Development in China 3 units
  CHSG 3910 Selected Topics in the Geography of China 3 units
 
Main Discipline Option Core Courses 21 units
  GEOG 1130 Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Geography 3 units
  GEOG 1150 Cartography 3 units
  GEOG 1160 Cultures, Peoples & Landscapes 3 units
  GEOG 1190 Earth Systems: Shaping Landscapes 3 units
  GEOG 1200 Earth Systems: Atmosphere & Biosphere 3 units
  GEOG 1210 Globalization of Economic Activities 3 units
  GEOG 3130 Geographical Thought 3 units
  GEOG 3590 Field Camp 0 unit
Major Discipline Option Elective Courses 12 units
  Four of the following courses:  
a) Geographical Methodology:  
  GEOG 3600 Geographical Information Systems 3 units
  GEOG 3610 Remote Sensing & Image Interpretation 3 units
  GEOG 3630 Advanced Quantitative Methods in Geography 3 units
b) Physical and Environmental Geography:  
  GEOG 2140 Global Environmental Issues & Sustainability 3 units
  GEOG 2160 Energy Problems & the Environment 3 units
  GEOG 2600 Techniques in Physical Geography 3 units
  GEOG 2800 Geography of Health & the Environment 3 units
  GEOG 3620 Advanced Climatology 3 units
  GEOG 3640 Applied Geomorphology 3 units
  GEOG 3680 Coastal Environments & Processes 3 units
  GEOG 3720 Seminar in Environmental Planning & Management 3 units
  GEOG 3730 Seminar in Energy Problems 3 units
  GEOG 3870 Geography of Environmental Hazards 3 units
c) Human Geography:  
  GEOG 2150 Population Geography 3 units
  GEOG 2180 Urban Geography 3 units
  GEOG 3650 Geography of Economic Development 3 units
  GEOG 3660 Political Geography 3 units
  GEOG 3670 Geography of Transportation 3 units
  GEOG 3710 Urban Planning 3 units
  GEOG 3740 Urban Cultural Landscape 3 units
  GEOG 3750 Seminar in Urban Geography 3 units
  GEOG 3760 Urban Development & Planning in Hong Kong 3 units
  GEOG 3790 Seminar in Social Geography 3 units
d) Regional Geography:  
  GEOG 2320 Geography of Pacific Asia 3 units
     
Honours Project 3 units
  GEOG 3580 Honours Project 3 units
 
Complementary Studies Courses 24 units
Core Requirements  
  I.T. 1180 Information Management Technology 3 units
  LANG 1480 University Chinese 3 units
  LANG 1491-2 English I & II 6 units
  U.L. 1121-2 University Life 0 unit
  Physical Education Courses 0 unit
  Values and the Meaning of Life Course 3 units
  Distribution Requirements  
  LANG 1610* Elementary Putonghua 3 units
  LANG 1620* Intermediate Putonghua 3 units
  One Science Course 3 units
        ──────
        97 units
 
* Students who have passed the placement test administered by the Language Centre will be exempted from taking LANG 1610/LANG 1620 and recommended to take any 3- or 6-unit free elective course to make up the required number of units.
 
 
 
©2012 Hong Kong Baptist University
Source: Calendar/Bulletin 2012-2013
Last modified: August 2012