Master of Social Sciences (Contemporary China Studies)

Programme Director: Dr PENG, Yinni

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 organisations 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 and Elective Courses 24 units
    27 units

Requirements

In order to graduate, students must complete 27 units, including one required course, at least three Concentration courses, at least one Research Methods course and at least one other 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 and Elective Courses 24 units
  Concentration A (6-9 units)  
  Economic Development and Reform  
  ECON7240 Economic Development and Growth 3 units
  ECON7310 Economic Institutions in China 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
     
  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
     
  Society and Community  
  SOC 7510 Social Networks in Contemporary Chinese Societies 3 units
  SOC 7530 Graduate Seminar on Contemporary Social Issues in China 3 units
  SOC 7540 Chinese Social Demography 3 units
  SOC 7590 Popular Culture and Society in Contemporary China 3 units
     
  Urban Development and Environmental Management  
  GEOG7520 Urban and Regional Development of China 3 units
  GEOG7530 Graduate Seminar on Geography of China 3 units
     
  Concentration B: Parallel Courses (0-6 units)  
  Economic Development and Reform  
  ECON7320 Public Finance and Monetary Economics in China 3 units
  ECON7550 Financial Markets and Corporate Governance in China  3 units
     
  History and Culture  
  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 7560 Sociological Issues in Urban and Rural Development  3 units
  SOC 7570 Chinese Family and Kinship  3 units
  SOC 7580 Gender in Contemporary China  3 units
     
  Urban Development and Environmental Management  
  GEOG7510 Resource and Environmental Management in China 3 units
  GEOG7540 Sustainable Energy and Technological Innovation in China  3 units
  GEOG7560 Rural and Agricultural Development in China  3 units
  GEOG7570 Urban Development in China  3 units
     
  Research Methods (at least 3 units)  
  SOSC7410 Research Methods for Global Studies 3 units
  SOSC7430 Advanced Qualitative Methods 3 units
  SOSC7440 Advanced Quantitative Methods 3 units
     
  Other Elective Courses (9-12 units)  
  ECON7240 Economic Development and Growth 3 units
  ECON7310 Economic Institutions in China  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
  GEOG7520 Urban and Regional Development of China  3 units
  GEOG7530 Graduate Seminar on Geography of China  3 units
  HIST7510 South China Studies  3 units
  HIST7520 Chinese Culture in Transformation  3 units
  HIST7530 Graduate Seminar on Contemporary Chinese History  3 units
  SOC 7310 Globalization and Development: Visions and Issues 3 units
  SOC 7510 Social Networks in Contemporary Chinese Societies  3 units
  SOC 7530 Graduate Seminar on Contemporary Social Issues in China 3 units
  SOC 7540 Chinese Social Demography  3 units
  SOC 7590 Popular Culture and Society in Contemporary China  3 units
  SOSC7410 Research Methods for Global Studies 3 units
  SOSC7430 Advanced Qualitative Methods 3 units
  SOSC7440 Advanced Quantitative Methods 3 units
  SOSC7510 Project  3 units
  SOSC7520 Introduction  to  Academic,  Policy,  and  Business  Research Writing 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.

 

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