Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Geography
 
The BSocSc (Hons) in Geography is structured so that students can either choose to specialize in certain sub-fields of the discipline at later stages of their study or to undertake a well-rounded training in Geography, in line with its synthesizing tradition. The BSocSc (Hons) in Geography enables students to obtain a firm foundation in geographical methodology while at the same time acquiring an understanding of the spatial order and interdependence of the world’s peoples and regions. Emphasis is placed on the ways in which geographers may assist in finding solutions to real world problems. Students are offered considerable freedom to take a broad spectrum of courses, particularly in their third and final years, when they may choose to concentrate on aspects of either physical or human geography.
 
Specifically, the programme aims to:
 
1. Enable students to develop their knowledge of spatial order and their understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of geography;
2. Enable students to apply geographical perspectives in the analysis of global-local problems;
3. Facilitate students’ acquisition of the intellectual and practical skills needed to analyse, assess and interpret geographical information both independently and as part of a team.
4. Provide students with transferable skills applicable to both geographical and non-geographical careers as well as the ability to pursue postgraduate studies;
5. Enhance student communication and presentation skills; and
6. Promote a sense of life-long learning and a spirit of enquiry.
 
The structure of the curriculum is as follows:
 
I) Major Courses 54 units
II) Honours Project 6 units
III) General Education 38 units
IV) Free Electives# 30 units
    ───────
    128 units
 
# Students may take additional GE courses in any categories to fulfill the “Free Electives” requirement but only a maximum of 6 units will be counted towards the fulfillment of the “Free Electives” requirement.
 
Major Courses

The major component provides 60 units of required and elective courses offered by the Department of Geography that provide students with a comprehensive training in the discipline. The Honours Project enables students to complete a piece of significant, independent study on a geographical topic of their choice under supervision of a faculty member. Moreover, all geography students must participate in the mandatory Field Camp of the Department, which is conducted during the second semester of Year III.

 
I. Major Required Courses 54 units
  Major Required Courses (24 units)  
  GEOG 1005 Geography & the Contemporary World 3 units
  GEOG 2005 Cultures, Peoples & Landscapes 3 units
  GEOG 2006 Earth Systems: Shaping Landscapes 3 units
  GEOG 2007 Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Geography 3 units
  GEOG 2015 Cartography 3 units
  GEOG 2016 Earth Systems: Atmosphere & Biosphere 3 units
  GEOG 2017 Globalization of Economic Activities 3 units
  GEOG 3005 Field Camp 0 unit
  GEOG 3006 Regional Geography of China 3 units
 
  Major Elective Courses (30 units)  
  At least one course from each of the following four areas:  
  Geographical Methodology  
  GEOG 4006 Advanced Quantitative Methods in Geography 3 units
  GEOG 4017 Geographical Information Systems 3 units
  GEOG 4025 Geographical Imaginations 3 units
  GEOG 4046 Remote Sensing & Image Interpretation 3 units
  Physical and Environmental Geography  
  GEOG 3007 Energy Problems & the Environment 3 units
  GEOG 3015 Geography of Health & the Environment 3 units
  GEOG 3017 Global Environmental Issues & Sustainability 3 units
  GEOG 4005 Advanced Climatology 3 units
  GEOG 4007 Applied Geomorphology 3 units
  GEOG 4015 Coastal Environments & Processes 3 units
  GEOG 4016* Energy Development in China 3 units
  GEOG 4027 Geography of Environmental Hazards 3 units
  GEOG 4047* Resource Management in China 3 units
  GEOG 4057* Selected Topics in the Geography of China (Physical & Environmental Geography) 3 units
  GEOG 4065 Energy Policy & Analysis 3 units
  GEOG 4066 Seminar in Environmental Planning & Management 3 units
  GEOG 4087 Natural Resource Evaluation & Policy Approaches 3 units
  Human Geography  
  GEOG 3025 Population Geography 3 units
  GEOG 3027 Urban Geography 3 units
  GEOG 4026 Geography of Economic Development 3 units
  GEOG 4035 Geography of Transportation 3 units
  GEOG 4036 Political Geography 3 units
  GEOG 4055* Rural & Agricultural Development in China 3 units
  GEOG 4056* Selected Topics in the Geography of China (Human Geography) 3 units
  GEOG 4067 Seminar in Social Justice & the City 3 units
  GEOG 4075 Seminar in Urban Geography 3 units
  GEOG 4076 Urban Cultural Landscape 3 units
  GEOG 4077 Urban Development & Planning in Hong Kong 3 units
  GEOG 4085* Urban Development in China 3 units
  GEOG 4086 Urban Planning 3 units
  Regional Geography  
  GEOG 2025 Hong Kong & the Pearl River Delta: A Survey 3 units
  GEOG 3016 Geography of Pacific Asia 3 units
         
II. Honours Project 6 units
  GEOG 4898-9 Honours Project 6 units
     
 
 
III. General Education 38 units
         
IV. Free Electives 30 units
        ───────
        128 units
 
* Geography major students can choose up to two of these China Studies courses. The contents of GEOG 4056/GEOG 4057 Selected Topics in the Geography of China vary from year to year. Whether this course is considered a “human” or “physical and environmental” geography course depends on the exact contents of the course at the time it is offered.
 
 
 
©2015 Hong Kong Baptist University
Source: Calendar/Bulletin 2015-2016
Last modified: July 2015