Master of Social Sciences (Contemporary China Studies)

Programme Director: Prof MAK, King Sang

The Master of Social Sciences (Contemporary China Studies) is a multidisciplinary postgraduate coursework degree programme designed to meet the professional and practical needs of employees of government, non-profit organizations and private companies, as well as the educational needs of those new university graduates including local and international students who want to pursue postgraduate work in China studies or related fields. It may be pursued either as an end in itself or in preparation for further studies. The curriculum is designed to accomplish the following objectives:

  1. To provide students with a critical understanding of contemporary China from political, historical, economic, geographical and sociological perspectives;
  2. To sharpen students’ awareness of the complex relationships of historical, economic, geographical, political and sociological factors in China through a multi-disciplinary approach; and
  3. To enhance students’ understanding of the processes of change which will shape the future relation between Hong Kong, the rest of China and the world.

Most courses are taught by a combination of lecture-discussions and seminars held on weekday evenings and/or Saturday mornings. Students can conduct independent projects under the guidance of their supervisors.

The structure of the curriculum is as follows:

I) Required Courses 3 units
II) Concentration/Field and Elective Courses 24 units
    27 units

Requirements

In order to graduate, students must complete 27 units, including 1 required course, at least 3 courses from one Concentration/Field and 5 elective courses within the duration of the programme, and obtain:

  1. Grade C- or above in all courses, and
  2. A cumulative GPA of 2.50 or above.
I. Required Courses 3 units
  POLS7010 Advanced China Studies 3 units
     
II. Concentration/Field and Elective Courses 24 units
  SOSC7510 Project 3 units
  Economic Development and Reform:  
  ECON7310 Economic Institutions in China* 3 units
  ECON7320 Public Finance and Monetary Economics in China* 3 units
  ECON7340 Productivity Analysis of the Chinese Economy* 3 units
  ECON7510 China's Economic Development and Reform** 3 units
  ECON7520 China's Foreign Trade and Investment** 3 units
  ECON7540 Graduate Workshops on China's Economy** 3 units
  ECON7550 Financial Markets and Corporate Governance in China** 3 units
  History and Culture:  
  HIST7510 South China Studies 3 units
  HIST7520 Chinese Culture in Transformation 3 units
  HIST7530 Graduate Seminar on Contemporary Chinese History 3 units
  HIST7540 Contemporary Chinese Political Thought* 3 units
  HIST7550 History of Taiwan* 3 units
  HIST7570 China and Asia since 1900* 3 units
  Society and Community:  
  SOC 7510 Social Networks in the Contemporary Chinese Society** 3 units
  SOC 7530 Graduate Seminar on Contemporary Social Issues in China** 3 units
  SOC 7540 Chinese Social Demography** 3 units
  SOC 7560 Sociological Issues in Urban and Rural Development* 3 units
  SOC 7570 Chinese Family and Kinship* 3 units
  SOC 7580 Women in China* 3 units
  SOC 7590 Popular Culture and Society in Contemporary China** 3 units
  Urban Development and Environmental Management:  
  GEOG7510 Resource and Environmental Management in China 3 units
  GEOG7520 Urban and Regional Development of China 3 units
  GEOG7530 Graduate Seminar on Geography of China 3 units
  GEOG7540 Energy Development in China* 3 units
  GEOG7560 Rural and Agricultural Development in China* 3 units
  GEOG7570 Urban Development in China* 3 units
    27 units

Normally, one-year full-time students should complete the programme in one calendar year while two-year part-time students in two calendar years. With special permission a student may extend his or her study by one year.

* One to three from this group of courses will be offered by each Concentration/Field every year. Students can take no more than two courses from this group of elective courses, which are usually joint-class courses.

** Two of the four courses in respective Concentration will be offered alternatively every year.

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