Faculty of Social Sciences

Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Sociology (3-year)

Sociology is a discipline concerned with the study of the dialectic relationship of individuals and society. At one level it is concerned with the way in which we know and understand the social world. In this context sociologists are concerned about the ideas that we have about ourselves and others. Central ideas relate to how individuals acquire and manage their social identities and to the situational location of meanings. At the micro level we are concerned with how behaviour is structured and understood. At the macro level we are concerned with dominant ideas and societal values.

Sociology is also concerned with social structures and the way in which they are organized. These structures may be business organizations or schools, families or friendship networks. Sociologists are interested in both the formal arrangement of statuses and the informal pattern of behaviour. Population studies and demographic analysis are also included within sociology. Here the focus is on the social characteristics of populations and their changes over time.

In this programme all students will be required to develop a sound knowledge of sociological theory and sociological research methods. They will also be required to be familiar with the main features of social development and social organization in Hong Kong and mainland China. Additionally, they will be free to choose from a wide range of electives.

The combination of theoretical knowledge, academic investigation and first-hand experience provided in this programme trains students skills in social analysis and its practical application. In the changing circumstances of the modern world, where the ability to identify, analyse and solve problems is valued, a training in sociology is highly relevant. Graduates will be able to pursue a variety of worthwhile careers in the public or private sector which contribute to the social and economic well-being of Hong Kong.

The aims of the programme are:

1)	The illumination of the complex pattern of relationships among individuals, groups and larger social structures, in a cross-cultural perspective;
2)	The enhancing of an understanding of the dynamic interaction of various institutions of society as these affect and are affected by social change;
3)	The appreciation of the complexities of transitional modern Chinese society in all its manifestations;
4)	The thorough preparation appropriate for postgraduate studies in Sociology or a related discipline; and
5)	The critical acquisition and application of such transferable skills as problem identification, argument formulation, evidence gathering, analytical logic, teamwork and communication ability suitable for a wide variety of professional careers in public administration, social service, education, civil service, and business.

The structure of the curriculum is as follows:

	Major Courses	60 units
	Complementary Studies Courses	36 units
		──────
		96 units

1. Major Course (60 units)
The programme of BSocSc (Hons) in Sociology provides a curriculum of 60 units progressing from introductory to advanced courses over a three-year period. The curriculum culminates in the Honours Project which will enable the student to complete a significant piece of independent research.

2. Complementary Studies Courses (36 units)
Complementary Studies courses enable students to acquire an understanding of a lively feeling for values, so that they are better able to cope with the challenges of the complex socio-economic, cultural, religious and political aspects of life in the modern world.

Requirements

Major Required Courses				30 units
	SOC	1110	Invitation to Sociology	3 units
	SOC	1120	Social Statistics	3 units
	SOC	1150	Hong Kong Society	3 units
	SOC	1160	Introduction to Social Research	3 units
	SOC	1610	Social Problems	3 units
	SOC	2130	Quantitative Methods of Social Research	3 units
	SOC	2140	Qualitative Methods of Social Research	3 units
	SOC	2150	Sociological Theory I: Classical Theory	3 units
	SOC	2240	Modern Chinese Society	3 units
	SOC	3150	Sociological Theory II: Contemporary Approaches	3 units

Honours Project				3 units
	SOC	3590	Honours Project	3 units

Major Elective Courses				27 units
	Year II—Choose any four courses:
	SOC	2220	Population Studies	3 units
	SOC	2230	Sociology of Marriage & the Family	3 units
	SOC	2250	Traditional Chinese Society	3 units
	SOC	2260	Popular Culture & Society	3 units
	SOC	2610	Modernization & Change	3 units
	SOC	2620	Work & Industry	3 units
	SOC	2630	Social Stratification & Mobility	3 units
	SOC	2640	Political Sociology	3 units
	SOC	2650	Global Social Transformations	3 units
	SOC	2660	Critical Urban Studies	3 units
	SOC	2680	Sociology of Health & Illness	3 units
	SOC	2700	Self and Society	3 units
	Year III - Choose any five courses:
	SOC	3610	Social Networks & Chinese Society	3 units
	SOC	3620	The Internet & Society	3 units
	SOC	3630	Sociology of Media	3 units
	SOC	3640	Cultural Sociology	3 units
	SOC	3680	Chinese Social Thought	3 units
	SOC	3710	Demographic Analysis	3 units
	SOC	3760	Sex, Gender & Society	3 units
	SOC	3770	Social Movements	3 units
	SOC	3780	Management, Organizational & Society	3 units
	SOC	3790	Population of China	3 units
	SOC	3810	Sociological Issues in Urban & Rural Development	3 units
	SOC	3850	Chinese Family & Kinship	3 units
	SOC	3860	Women in China	3 units
	SOC	3870	Careers & Life Course	3 units
	SOC	3880	Globalization & Development Studies	3 units
	SOC	3890	East Asia: Economic Miracles & Social Change	3 units
	SOC	3960	Selected Topics in Contemporary Sociology I	3 units
	SOC	3970	Selected Topics in Contemporary Sociology II	3 units
	SOC	3980	Selected Topics in Sociology of China I	3 units
	SOC	3990	Selected Topics in Sociology of China II	3 units

Complementary Studies Courses				36 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
	Any two courses outside Social Sciences, of which one must be Science course			6 units
	Any two non-major/option courses			6 units
	Free elective courses			9 units
				──────
				96 units