Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in European Studies

European civilization is among the most influential in the world. To understand Europe is to understand one of the main sources of modernity. The European Union has emerged as a major actor in world politics and economics; its growth and development are of vital global importance.

Within European Studies, Political Science provides the disciplinary core, underpinned by history and (cultural) area studies, business/economics or communication courses. Students also undergo rigorous training in either German or French up to levels of academic and professional fluency. The aim is to give students a firm knowledge of the basic features of the European world and the communicative skills necessary for a future professional or academic career in the fields of European-Asian relations. Knowledge of Europe is deepened by the Honours Project in the final year, based on first-hand research into a particular subject related to Europe. Successful graduates also possess the skills requisite for immediate entry to postgraduate programmes both locally and in Europe.

The objectives of the programme are:

  1. To provide students with a general and up-to-date knowledge of contemporary Europe, firmly grounded in the social sciences, with an emphasis on the European Union and its member states;
  2. To enable students to grasp the significance of Europe to world history, politics and economics and to train them to become skilled and knowledgeable communicators between Hong Kong/mainland China and Europe;
  3. To assist students in acquiring high, professionally relevant proficiency in one major European language (other than English);
  4. To provide orientation and intellectual stimulus for students to understand and appreciate their own and other cultures/societies in an increasingly multi-polar and multi-cultural world; and
  5. In these ways to contribute to Hong Kong’s role as a major international commercial and cultural crossroads.

European Studies consists of two years of full-time study in Hong Kong, a third year spent in Europe, followed by a fourth year in Hong Kong. The third year is designed as an integral part of the overall programme. It consists of academic study at a European university and possibly a placement with European companies/institutions. Students should gain the benefits of on-the-spot academic training and linguistic immersion as well as first-hand experience of work in a European environment.

The structure of the curriculum is as follows:

I) Major Required Courses 67 units
II) Honours Project 6 units
III) European Academic/Internship Semesters 21 units
IV) University Core Courses 13 units
V) General Education Courses 18 units
VI) Free Electives# 3 units
    128 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. Major Required Courses 67 units
  EURO1008 Europe: Unity and Diversity 3 units
  EURO1009 Europe: Unity and Diversity 3 units
  Either  
  EURO2005 Contemporary European Societies I: The French-Speaking Countries  3 units
  Or  
  EURO2006 Contemporary European Societies I: The German-Speaking Countries 3 units
  EURO2007 The Political Economy of the European Union 3 units
  EURO4005 Current Issues of European Integration 3 units
  Either  
  EURO4006 European Economic and Business Life: travailler en contexte international  3 units
  Or  
  EURO4007 European Economic and Business Life: Wirtschaft im Wandel/Deutsch-chinesische Wirtschaftsbeziehungen  3 units
  Either  
  EURO4015 Contemporary European Societies II: questions d'actualite  3 units
  Or  
  EURO4016 Contemporary European Societies II: Struktur und Zukunft der Sozialen Marktwirtschaft  3 units
  Either  
  FREN1008 European Language in Context I (French)  8 units
  FREN1009 European Language in Context I (French) 8 units
  Or  
  GERM1008 European Language in Context I (German)  8 units
  GERM1009 European Language in Context I (German) 8 units
  Either  
  FREN2007 Summer School on European Language and Culture (French) 5 units
  Or  
  GERM2007 Summer School on European Language and Culture (German) 5 units
  Either  
  FREN2008 European Language in Context II (French)  8 units
  FREN2009 European Language in Context II (French) 8 units
  Or  
  GERM2008 European Language in Context II (German)  8 units
  GERM2009 European Language in Context II (German) 8 units
  Either  
  FREN4018 European Language in Context III (French)  3 units
  FREN4019 European Language in Context III (French) 3 units
  Or  
  GERM4018 European Language in Context III (German)  3 units
  GERM4019 European Language in Context III (German) 3 units
  Either  
  POLS2205 European Politics and Society: French Political and Government System  3 units
  Or  
  POLS2206 European Politics and Society: German Political Systems and Society  3 units
     
II. Honours Project 6 units
  EURO4898 Honours Project (European Studies) 3 units
  EURO4899 Honours Project (European Studies)  3 units
     
III. European Academic/Internship Semesters* 21 units
  EURO3008 European Academic/Internship Semester I 9 units
  EURO3009 European Academic/Internship Semester II 12 units
     
IV. University Core Courses 13 units
     
V. General Education Courses 18 units
     
VI. Free Electives 3 units
    128 units



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