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) Social Sciences Common Core 4 units
II) Major Courses 57 units
III) Honours Project 6 units
IV) University Core Courses 13 units
V) General Education Courses 18 units
VI) Free Electives# 30 units
    128 units

# Students may take additional Healthy Lifestyle courses and/or General Education (Level 1 or 2) courses in any categories, subject to a maximum of 6 units, to fulfil the Free Electives requirement.

Requirements

Major Courses

The major component provides 63 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 3.

I. Social Sciences Common Core 4 units
  Core Course (1 unit)  
  SOSC1006 Invitation to Social Sciences 1 unit
  Experiential Learning in Action (3 units)  
  Either  
  SOSC3005 Community and Civic Engagement 3 units
  Or  
  SOSC3006 Global Outreach  3 units
     
II. Major Courses 57 units
  Major Required Courses (24 units)  
  GEOG1005 Geography and the Contemporary World 3 units
  GEOG2005 Cultures, Peoples and Landscapes 3 units
  GEOG2006 Earth Systems: Shaping Landscapes 3 units
  GEOG2007 Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Geography 3 units
  GEOG2015 Maps and Map Making 3 units
  GEOG2016 Earth Systems: Atmosphere and Biosphere 3 units
  GEOG2017 Globalization of Economic Activities 3 units
  GEOG3005 Field Camp 0 unit
  GEOG3006 Regional Geography of China 3 units
     
  Major Elective Courses (33 units)  
  At least one course from each of the following four areas: 
  Geoanalytics and Research Practice  
  GEOG3036 Writing Spatial Stories through Qualitative Research  3 units
  GEOG4006 Advanced Quantitative Methods in Geography 3 units
  GEOG4017 Geographical Information Systems 3 units
  GEOG4025 Geographical Imaginations 3 units
  GEOG4046 Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation 3 units
     
  Physical Systems and Environmental Dynamics  
  GEOG3015 Geography of Health and the Environment 3 units
  GEOG3017 Global Environmental Issues and Sustainability 3 units
  GEOG4005 Advanced Climatology 3 units
  GEOG4007 Applied Geomorphology 3 units
  GEOG4015 Coastal Environments and Processes 3 units
  GEOG4027 Geography of Environmental Hazards 3 units
  GEOG4057 Selected Topics in the Geography of China (Physical and Environmental Geography)* 3 units
  GEOG4066 Seminar in Environmental Planning and Management 3 units
     
  Urban Studies, Cities and Everyday Life  
  GEOG3025 Population Geography 3 units
  GEOG3027 Urban Geography 3 units
  GEOG4035 Geography of Transportation 3 units
  GEOG4056 Selected Topics in the Geography of China (Human Geography)* 3 units
  GEOG4067 Seminar in Social Justice and the City 3 units
  GEOG4075 Seminar in Urban Geography 3 units
  GEOG4076 Urban Cultural Landscape 3 units
  GEOG4077 Urban Development and Planning in Hong Kong 3 units
  GEOG4085 Urban Development in China* 3 units
  GEOG4086 Urban Planning 3 units
     
  Regions, Development and Resource Management  
  GEOG2025 Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta: A Survey 3 units
  GEOG3007 Energy Problems and the Environment 3 units
  GEOG3016 Geography of Pacific Asia 3 units
  GEOG4016 Sustainable Energy and Technological Innovation in China* 3 units
  GEOG4026 Geography of Economic Development 3 units
  GEOG4036 Political Geography 3 units
  GEOG4047 Resource and Environmental Management in China* 3 units
  GEOG4055 Rural and Agricultural Development in China* 3 units
  GEOG4065 Energy Policy and Analysis 3 units
  GEOG4087 Natural Resource Evaluation and Policy Approaches 3 units
     
III. Honours Project 6 units
  GEOG4898 Honours Project 3 units
  GEOG4899 Honours Project 3 units
     
IV. University Core Courses 13 units
     
V. General Education Courses 18 units
     
VI. Free Electives 30 units
    128 units

* Geography major students can choose up to two of these China Studies courses. The contents of GEOG4056/GEOG4057 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.

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