Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in China Studies – Sociology Concentration

Programme Director: Dr CHUNG, Him

Sociology is a discipline that focuses on the study of society. On one level it is concerned with the way in which we know and understand the social world. In this context sociologists are concerned about how individuals perceive themselves and others, how individuals acquire and manage their social identity, and to the situational location of meaning. On the micro level sociology is concerned with how behaviour is structured and understood. On the macro level sociology is concerned with dominant social structures and values.

Sociology also emphasizes the study of social structures and the ways in which they are organized. These structures can be political, economic, cultural, or social organizations and networks. Examples include the state bureaucracy, business organizations, schools, and friendships networks. Both the formal and informal patterns of behaviour are of interest to sociology.

All students in this programme will be required to develop 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 mainland China and Hong Kong. Additionally, they will be free to choose from a wide range of elective courses on different fields in sociology.

The combination of theoretical knowledge, scholarly investigation, and first-hand research experience provided in this concentration equips students with both applied and analytical skills. Training in sociology is highly relevant in the rapidly changing contexts of the contemporary world, where the ability to identify, analyse and solve problems is increasingly valued. Upon graduation, students will be able to pursue a broad variety of public and private sector careers that contribute socially and economically to mainland China and Hong Kong.

The aims of the Sociology Concentration are:

  1. The illumination of the complex pattern of relationships among individuals, groups and larger social structures, in a cross-cultural perspective;
  2. The enhancement 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:

I) China Studies Required Courses 40 units
II) Main Concentration Courses 30 units
III) Honours Project 6 units
IV) University Core Courses 13 units
V) General Education Courses 18 units
VI) Free Electives# 22 units
    129 units

# Students may take additional GE courses (of Level 1 or 2) in any categories to fulfil the “Free Electives” requirement but only a maximum of 6 units will be counted towards the fulfilment of the “Free Electives” requirement.

Requirements

I. China Studies Required Courses 40 units
  Programme Requirement (7 units)  
  CHST1005 Introduction to China Studies 1 unit
  CHST3005 Summer Sojourn* 3 units
  LANG1005 Elementary Putonghua 3 units
     
  Social Sciences Foundation Courses (12 units)  
  CHSE1005 Essentials of Economics 3 units
  CHSG1005 Geography and the Contemporary World 3 units
  CHSH1105 China in the Imperial Age 3 units
  CHSS1005 Understanding Society: An Introduction to Sociology 3 units
     
  China Studies Foundation Courses (12 units)  
  CHSS2016 Modern Chinese Society 3 units
  Three of the following courses:  
  CHSE2005 Foundations of Chinese Economy 3 units
  CHSG2025 Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta: A Survey 3 units
  CHSG3006 Regional Geography of China 3 units
  CHSH2105 Introduction to Modern Chinese History 3 units
  CHSP1005 Foundations of Political Science 3 units
  CHSP3017 Government and Politics of China 3 units
  CHSP3205 Chinese Legal System 3 units
  CHSP3216 Ideology and Socialism in China 3 units
     
  Advanced China Studies Courses (9 units)  
  Three of the following courses, and two of them must be taken from the Sociology Concentration:  
  CHSE3035 Industrial Management and Development in China 3 units
  CHSE3047 Rural Economic Development in China 3 units
  CHSE3055 Urban and Regional Economic Development in China 3 units
  CHSE4005 China's Foreign Economic Relations and Trade 3 units
  CHSE4007 Money and Finance in China 3 units
  CHSG4016 Energy Development in China 3 units
  CHSG4047 Resource Management in China 3 units
  CHSG4055 Rural and Agricultural Development in China 3 units
  CHSG4056 Selected Topics in the Geography of China (Human Geography) 3 units
  CHSG4057 Selected Topics in the Geography of China (Physical and Environmental Geography) 3 units
  CHSG4085 Urban Development in China 3 units
  CHSH3105 Contemporary China 3 units
  CHSH3115 Engendering Imperial Chinese History 3 units
  CHSH3305 China and Asia since 1900 3 units
  CHSH3325 History of Chinese Food Culture in Global Perspective 3 units
  CHSH3406 Information Technologies and Quantitative Methods for Historical Studies 3 units
  CHSH4105 History of Chinese Women since 1912 3 units
  CHSH4116 Intellectual Trends in Modern China 3 units
  CHSH4117 Missionaries in Modern China 3 units
  CHSH4125 Revolution and Nationalism in Republican China (1912-1949) 3 units
  CHSH4126 Selected Themes in the History of Chinese Women 3 units
  CHSH4127 Social and Economic Development of Modern China 3 units
  CHSH4135 Topic Studies in Chinese History 3 units
  CHSH4136 Childhood in Imperial China 3 units
  CHSH4137 Legal History of Traditional China 3 units
  CHSH4145 Historical Anthropology of Chinese Society 3 units
  CHSH4305 Sino-American Relations 3 units
  CHSH4306 Sino-Russian Relations 3 units
  CHSH4315 Introduction to Museum Studies 3 units
  CHSH4327 Topic Studies in Comparative History 3 units
  CHSH4405 Oral History and Its Local Applications 3 units
  CHSH4407 Topic Studies in Social History 3 units
  CHSP4206 China and the World 3 units
  CHSS4006 Chinese Family and Kinship 3 units
  CHSS4035 Selected Topics in the Sociology of China I 3 units
  CHSS4036 Selected Topics in the Sociology of China II 3 units
  CHSS4046 Social Networks and Chinese Society 3 units
  CHSS4047 Sociological Issues in Urban and Rural Development 3 units
  CHSS4055 Women in China 3 units
  CHSS4056 States and Power: Europe and China 3 units
     
  * In terms of the Putonghua requirement, LANG1005 Elementary Putonghua (or its equivalence as defined by the University) is the prerequisite for the Summer Sojourn, and we require all China Studies majors to pass LANG1005 Elementary Putonghua in the second semester of the third year before the Summer Sojourn. In addition, China Studies majors are required to get at least a B grade in the Putonghua Course taken during the Summer Sojourn. Students who fail to meet this requirement have to pass LANG1006 Intermediate Putonghua or its equivalence as defined by the University.
     
II. Main Concentration Courses 30 units
  Main Concentration Required Courses (18 units)  
  SOCI2005 Qualitative Methods of Social Research 3 units
  SOCI2006 Social Statistics 3 units
  SOCI2007 Quantitative Methods of Social Research 3 units
  SOCI2015 Sociological Theory I: Classical Theory 3 units
  SOCI2046 Introduction to Sociological Thinking and Writing 3 units
  SOCI3005 Sociological Theory II: Contemporary Approaches 3 units
     
  Main Concentration Elective Courses (12 units)  
  SOCI2017 Popular Culture and Society 3 units
  SOCI2025 Population and Social Issues 3 units
  SOCI2027 Social Problems 3 units
  SOCI2035 Social Inequalities 3 units
  SOCI2036 Sociology of Marriage and the Family 3 units
  SOCI2037 Unity and Diversity: The Making of Chinese Culture and Society 3 units
  SOCI2045 Urban Sociology 3 units
  SOCI2047 Hong Kong Society 3 units
  SOCI3007 Global Social Transformations 3 units
  SOCI3016 Political Sociology 3 units
  SOCI3017 Health and Society 3 units
  SOCI3025 The Internet and Society 3 units
  SOCI3026 Work and Society 3 units
  SOCI3027 Careers and Life Courses 3 units
  SOCI3035 Sex, Gender and Society 3 units
  SOCI3037 Children, Youth and Aging 3 units
  SOCI4015 East Asia: Economic Miracles and Social Change 3 units
  SOCI4016 Globalization 3 units
  SOCI4017 Management, Organization and Society 3 units
  SOCI4026 Selected Topics in Contemporary Sociology I 3 units
  SOCI4027 Selected Topics in Contemporary Sociology II 3 units
  SOCI4037 Cultural Sociology 3 units
  SOCI4045 Social Movements 3 units
     
III. Honours Project 6 units
  CHSS4898 Honours Project 3 units
  CHSS4899 Honours Project 3 units
     
IV. University Core Courses 13 units
     
V. General Education Courses 18 units
     
VI. Free Electives 22 units
    129 units

 

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