Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) Programme Structure for 2009-10 Intake The following description specifies the programme curriculum for students who pursue the programme on a full-time three-year basis. Flexibility is allowed for completing the programme within a longer or shorter period in accordance with the stipulations in the Regulations Governing Undergraduate Studies. FIRST YEAR BEH103 Introduction to Behavioural Science (R) 3 ECO101 Introduction to Economics (R) 3 POL101 Introduction to Political Science (R) 3 SOC101 Introduction to Sociology (R) 3 SSC116 Introduction to Research Methods in Social Sciences (R) 3 LCC101 Practical Chinese I (R) 3 LCC102 Practical Chinese II (R) 3 LCE101 English for Communication I (R) 3 LCE102 English for Communication II (R) 3 General Education Course 3 30 (Notes: (1) Students who have obtained a grade D or above in AL Economics can choose to take ECO101 Introduction to Economics or ECO201 Intermediate Microeconomics or ECO202 Intermediate Macroeconomics. (2) Students who have obtained a grade D or above in AL Sociology are required to substitute SOC201 Classical Sociological Theory for SOC101 Introduction to Sociology. No credits will be awarded to the introduction courses not taken.) SECOND YEAR ECO209 # The Hong Kong Economy or 3 POL214 # Government and Politics of Hong Kong or SOC212 Hong Kong Society Stream Required Courses (R) 9 General Education Course 3 15 THIRD YEAR SSC319 Senior Thesis/2 BSocSc Electives at 200- or 300-level 6 General Education Course 3 9 SECOND AND THIRD YEARS Stream Electives 18 2 BSocSc Electives 6 24 ANY YEAR Free Electives 12 Minimum credits for Honours Degree: 90 (R) denotes required course(s). # The course taken to fulfill the programme required course requirement cannot be double-counted as a stream elective course. 1
(Note: Students are not allowed to take any stream required courses or any discipline concentration required courses in their first year of study as their free electives.) Discipline Concentration Students may opt for a Discipline Concentration (DC). The optional Discipline Concentration i.e. Economics, Political Science, Psychology or Sociology, requires 12 credits, including completion of 6 credits of DC required courses, and 6 credits of DC electives or a DC specific Senior Thesis (i.e. students can take 2 DC elective courses OR complete a DC specific Senior Thesis in their final year). In other words, students who opt for a DC can make use of the credits for BSocSc electives/senior Thesis to fulfil the DC requirements. 1. Economics ECO201 Intermediate Microeconomics ECO202 Intermediate Macroeconomics and any other 2 elective courses in the economics discipline at the 200- or 300-level or a DC specific Senior Thesis. (Students are required to take and pass ECO101 Introduction to Economics, which is one of the foundation courses, to fulfil the requirements of the DC. Students who have taken ECO201 Intermediate Microeconomics or ECO202 Intermediate Macroeconomics as a substitute for ECO101 will be required to undertake another ECO course to make up for the number of credits required for the fulfillment of the DC.) 2. Political Science POL210 Comparative Politics POL217 Modern Political Ideologies and any other 2 elective courses in the political science discipline at 200- or 300-level or a DC specific Senior Thesis. (Students are required to take and pass POL101 Introduction to Political Science, which is one of the foundation courses, to fulfil the requirements of the DC.) 3. Psychology SSC217 Statistics for Social Science and BEH201 Human Development and Psychology of Adulthood or BEH205 Social Psychology and any other 2 elective courses in the behavioural science discipline at 200- or 300-level or a DC specific Senior Thesis. (If students take BEH201/BEH205 as a BSMS stream required course, students should take 3 elective courses in the behavioural science discipline at 200- or 300-level or a DC specific Senior Thesis plus one behavioural science elective course at 200- or 300-level. Students are required to take and pass BEH103 Introduction to Behavioural Science, which is one of the foundation courses, to fulfil the requirements of the DC.) 4. Sociology SOC201 Classical Sociological Theory SOC202 Contemporary Sociological Theory and any 2 elective courses chosen from other courses in the sociology discipline at 200- or 300-level and the following BEH courses, or a DC specific Senior Thesis. 2
BEH203 Exploring Psychology in Western and Chinese Cultures BEH205 Social Psychology BEH325 Industrial and Organisational Psychology BEH332 Environmental Psychology (Students are required to take and pass SOC101 Introduction to Sociology, which is one of the foundation courses, to fulfil the requirements of the DC. Students who have taken SOC201 Classical Sociological Theory as a substitute for SOC101 will be required to undertake another SOC course to make up for the number of credits required for the fulfillment of the DC.) (Note: Elective courses to satisfy discipline concentration requirements should not be taken as stream required courses, stream elective courses or free elective courses.) Senior Thesis The Senior Thesis is an optional year-long independent research project, conducted in a student s third year, comprising 6 credits. The Senior Thesis provides students with a different kind of learning experience, enabling them to work on a one-to-one basis with staff specialised in their chosen research areas. Hence, the project allows students to undertake a piece of personalised research that includes selection of topic, plan and design of the research, execution of the research design, data collection, and a comprehensive write-up of its findings. Students who opt not to do the Senior Thesis will take two elective courses at 200-or 300-level in the BSocSc Programme. (Prerequisite: SSC217 Statistics for Social Science or ECO203 Fundamental Econometric Methods (retitled to Applied Econometrics from 2013-14). Exemption may be granted by the Programme Director in consultation with supervisors.) Stream Courses A. BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE IN MODERN SOCIETY (BSMS) Stream Required Courses (3 in all) BEH201 Human Development and Psychology 3 of Adulthood (R) Two out of the following three courses 6 BEH205 Social Psychology ECO216 Behavioural Economics POL213 Political Psychology and Behaviour Sub-total of credits 9 These courses provide students with a systematic analysis of various dimensions of human behaviours. Specifically, these courses provide the background to understanding the decision processes and communication strategies within and between organisms in their economic, political and social environments. (R) denotes required course(s). 3
Stream Elective Courses (Choose 6 in all, but at least 1 in each category) Category A (Society and Behaviour) BEH202 Psychology Applied to Occupational Safety and Health 3 BEH203 Exploring Psychology in Western and Chinese Cultures 3 BEH206 Abnormal Psychology 3 BEH207 Health Psychology (from 2010-11) 3 BEH209 Cognitive Psychology (from 2013-14) 3 BEH301 Positive Psychology and Positive Living 3 BEH303 Psychology of Human Performance and Technology 3 (from 2013-14) BEH310 Counseling Psychology 3 BEH325 Industrial and Organisational Psychology 3 BEH332 Environmental Psychology 3 SOC203 Social Gerontology 3 SOC204 Society and Social Change 3 SOC319 Family, Gender and Society 3 SOC333 Health, Illness and Behaviour 3 SOC334 Science, Technology and Society 3 SSC217 Statistics for Social Science 3 SSC218 Environment and Society in Hong Kong 3 SSC219 Methods and Practice of Social Survey 3 Category B (Economics and Political Behaviour) BUS202 Organisational Behaviour 3 ECO311 Economics of the Family 3 ECO315 Labour Market and Education Policy 3 ECO317 Economics of Law and Public Order 3 ECO320 Game Theory and Strategic Behaviour 3 POL208 Public Policy: Values and Processes 3 POL214 # Government and Politics of Hong Kong 3 POL303 Global Environmental Politics 3 MKT201 Buyer Behaviour 3 Sub-total of credits 18 Students must take at least one elective from each of the two categories. Category A courses focus on the relationship between Society and Behaviour while Category B is concerned with the aspects of Economics and Political Behaviour. B. CHINA AND ASIAN PACIFIC AFFAIRS (CAPA) Stream Required Courses (3 in all) POL202 Asia Pacific Today (R) 3 SSC201 Trade and International Relations of Asia Pacific (R) 3 SSC202 Politics and Economics of Contemporary China (R) 3 Sub-total of credits 9 (R) denotes required course(s). # The course taken to fulfill the programme required course requirement cannot be double-counted as a stream elective course. 4
These courses set the pitch for the stream, as they (a) feature the Asia Pacific as a coherent sub-system to be examined in both global and regional perspectives, (b) place China at the centre of the Asia Pacific, and (c) provide the theoretical underpinning to the study of this region, which is so important to Hong Kong. Stream Elective Courses (Choose 6 in all, but at least 1 in each category) Category A (Greater China) ECO209 # The Hong Kong Economy 3 ECO211 Chinese Economy 3 ECO212 Regional Development in China 3 ECO213 China, Hong Kong, and the World Economy 3 ECO321 FDI and Multinationals in China 3 POL201 Government and Politics of Contemporary China 3 POL214 # Government and Politics of Hong Kong 3 POL215 Taiwan: Society and Politics 3 POL304 Chinese Politics in the Reform Era 3 POL305 China in World Politics 3 POL317 One Country, Two Systems: 3 Central-Hong Kong SAR Relationships SSC217 Statistics for Social Science 3 Category B (Thematic Focus) ECO218 Economic Development 3 ECO305 International Trade 3 ECO306 International Finance 3 ECO323 Financial Economics 3 POL203 International Politics 3 POL205 Global Governance 3 POL208 Public Policy: Values and Processes 3 POL216 American Foreign Policy 3 POL307 APEC and Regional Co-operation 3 POL308 Selected Issues in the Asian Pacific Governance 3 POL319 International Politics of Northeast Asia 3 POL320 International Politics of Southeast Asia 3 SOC320 Population Dynamics and Policy 3 SSC316 Social Change and Politics in Japan 3 Sub-total of credits 18 These electives provide a choice between depth and breadth, as reflected in the two categories of elective courses. Category A courses focus on China and Greater China issues, while Category B courses provide political and economic background in both regional and international contexts. A certain balance between the two, however, is to be achieved; hence at least one course is to be taken from each category. # The course taken to fulfill the programme required course requirement cannot be double-counted as a stream elective course. 5
C. CONTEMPORARY ECONOMIC AND PUBLIC POLICY (CEPP) Stream Required Courses (3 in all) ECO208 Principles of Public Policy or 3 ECO217 Money and Banking ECO205 Economics of Taxation and Transfer (R) 3 POL208 Public Policy: Values and Processes (R) 3 Sub-total of credits 9 These courses provide training in the methodology of public policy analysis and an awareness of the constraints that policy makers face. In particular, these courses provide an introduction to the use of economics in public policy analysis and acquaint students with the budgeting techniques, which policy makers frequently use. Students are introduced to the importance of values in public policies, and shown the extent to which politics is involved in these policy making processes where policy decisions are often the result of negotiations and compromises. Stream Elective Courses (Choose 6 in all, but at least 1 in each category) Category A (Applied Courses) ECO305 International Trade 3 ECO311 Economics of the Family 3 ECO312 Health Policy 3 ECO313 Housing, Transportation, and Regional Development 3 ECO314 Environmental Economics 3 ECO315 Labour Market and Education Policy 3 ECO316 Industrial Economics and Competition Policy 3 ECO317 Economics of Law and Public Order 3 SOC320 Population Dynamics and Policy 3 SOC327 Social Welfare and Social Problems in Hong Kong 3 SSC217 Statistics for Social Science 3 Category B (Policy-making Milieu) ECO204 Public Expenditure and Cost Benefit Analysis 3 ECO208 Principles of Public Policy 3 ECO209 # The Hong Kong Economy 3 ECO217 Money and Banking 3 ECO306 International Finance 3 POL214 # Government and Politics of Hong Kong 3 POL301 Policy-making, Collective Action and Public Choice 3 SOC318 Economic Change and Social Stratification 3 SOC323 Organisations and Bureaucracy 3 SOC324 Work and Occupation 3 SOC328 Ageing, Modernisation and Adaptation 3 SOC334 Science, Technology and Society 3 Sub-total of credits 18 (R) denotes required course(s). # The course taken to fulfill the programme required course requirement cannot be double-counted as a stream elective course. 6
Category A courses represent applications of the methodology of policy analysis to different policy areas. These courses deal with real world policy issues and provide much of the substance of the CEPP Stream. Through a study of these courses, students gain exposure to the applications of various analytical tools in key policy areas. The elective courses listed under Category B allow students to understand the social background or milieu of public policy making in the context of Hong Kong. Through a study of some of these courses, students will appreciate the constraints that policy makers face, and understand better the nature of the issues of public concern, which the policies are supposed to address. D. CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL ISSUES AND POLICY (CSIP) Stream Required Courses (3 in all) POL208 Public Policy: Values and Processes (R) 3 SOC203 Social Gerontology (R) 3 SOC204 Society and Social Change (R) 3 Sub-total of credits 9 These courses provide the essential foundation for students in CSIP to appreciate the nature of social change, its links with demographic ageing and changing population structures in general but particularly in Hong Kong and the region. The Society and Social Change course focuses on the complexities, causes, processes and impacts of social change. Social Gerontology explores the nature of demographic ageing, and considers its broad social, policy, economic, health, psychological and family impacts. The public policy course introduces the political, economic and broader contexts in which policy makers operate, reach decisions, implement and evaluate policy. Stream Elective Courses (Choose 6 in all, but at least 1 in each category) Category A (Social Issues) BEH207 Health Psychology (from 2010-11) 3 ECO209 # The Hong Kong Economy 3 SOC213 Risk, Society and Modernity 3 SOC311 Urban Sociology (from 2013-14) 3 SOC319 Family, Gender and Society 3 SOC320 Population Dynamics and Policy 3 SOC321 Social Justice 3 SOC328 Ageing, Modernisation and Adaptation 3 SOC330 Crime and Delinquency 3 SOC333 Health, Illness and Behaviour 3 SSC217 Statistics for Social Science 3 SSC316 Social Change and Politics in Japan 3 (R) denotes required course(s). # The course taken to fulfill the programme required course requirement cannot be double-counted as a stream elective course. 7
Category B (The Policy Context) ECO208 Principles of Public Policy 3 ECO311 Economics of the Family 3 ECO312 Health Policy 3 ECO313 Housing, Transportation, and Regional Development 3 ECO314 Environmental Economics 3 ECO315 Labour Market and Education Policy 3 ECO317 Economics of Law and Public Order 3 POL214 # Government and Politics of Hong Kong 3 POL301 Policy-making, Collective Action and Public Choice 3 SOC323 Organisations and Bureaucracy or 3 SOC324 Work and Occupation SOC327 Social Welfare and Social Problems in Hong Kong 3 SOC334 Science, Technology and Society 3 SSC218 Environment and Society in Hong Kong 3 Sub-total of credits 18 Students must take at least one elective course from each of the two categories. Category A courses focus on specific social issues in the world, the region and the Hong Kong SAR. Category B is concerned with the broader social, political and economic contexts within which social issues emerge and policies are formulated to deal with changes and development. Some courses enable students to follow in-depth social issues relating to population change, family and gender developments, and health and epidemiological aspects of demographic ageing. Others enable them to follow systematically contemporary social issues and policy in Hong Kong and the region including those related to crime and delinquency, social justice, social welfare, impact of technology on society, the changing picture with regard to work and occupation, and the economic contexts underlying many contemporary social issues. E. INTERNATIONAL STUDIES (IS) Stream Required Courses (3 in all) ECO207 International Political Economy or 3 POL205 Global Governance ECO214 Globalisation and Economic Integration (R) 3 POL203 International Politics (R) 3 Sub-total of credits 9 These courses provide the necessary background to the various dimensions of international economic and political relations, and thus prepare students for the more specialised, in-depth courses in the stream. They aim to instill in students a realistic sense of the wide range of issues engaging the attention of the community of nations. (R) denotes required course(s). # The course taken to fulfill the programme required course requirement cannot be double-counted as a stream elective course. 8
Stream Elective Courses (Choose 6 in all, but at least 1 in each category) Category A (International Politics) POL204 International Law 3 POL205 Global Governance 3 POL216 American Foreign Policy 3 POL218 War and Peace 3 POL303 Global Environmental Politics 3 POL307 APEC and Regional Co-operation 3 POL308 Selected Issues in Asian Pacific Governance 3 POL309 Current Issues in International Politics 3 POL318 Selected Issues in Environmental Studies 3 POL319 International Politics of Northeast Asia 3 POL320 International Politics of Southeast Asia 3 SSC201 Trade and International Relations of Asia Pacific 3 SSC217 Statistics for Social Science 3 Category B (International Economics) ECO207 International Political Economy 3 ECO211 Chinese Economy 3 ECO213 China, Hong Kong, and the World Economy 3 ECO215 Comparative Studies of International Financial Centres 3 ECO218 Economic Development 3 ECO305 International Trade 3 ECO306 International Finance 3 ECO320 Game Theory and Strategic Behaviour 3 ECO321 FDI and Multinationals in China 3 ECO323 Financial Economics 3 Sub-total of credits 18 These electives allow students to choose between the two main foci into which the courses are organised, while maintaining a competence in both areas. Category A courses are concerned with international politics, while Category B courses deal with international economic issues. The intent of the electives is to impart in students an awareness of not only the major issues and problems encountered in a world that is becoming increasingly interdependent, but also the available solutions. List of Courses A. BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE COURSES BEH103 Introduction to Behavioural Science BEH104 Creativity and Individual Difference: Theories and Applications (de-listed from 2013-14) BEH110 Stress Management, Health and Life Balance (de-listed from 2013-14) BEH201 Human Development and Psychology of Adulthood BEH202 Psychology Applied to Occupational Safety and Health BEH203 Exploring Psychology in Western and Chinese Cultures 9
BEH204 Human Relationship and Interpersonal Skills in Organizations (de-listed from 2013-14) BEH205 Social Psychology BEH206 Abnormal Psychology BEH207 Health Psychology BEH208 Personality and Individual Difference (from 2011-12) BEH209 Cognitive Psychology (from 2011-12) BEH301 Positive Psychology and Positive Living BEH303 Psychology of Human Performance and Technology (retitled from Engineering Psychology from 2013-14 and the course was offered from 2012-13) BEH310 Counseling Psychology BEH325 Industrial and Organisational Psychology BEH332 Environmental Psychology B. ECONOMICS COURSES ECO101 Introduction to Economics ECO108 Economics of Culture and Creativity (de-listed from 2013-14) ECO110 Comparative Economic and Social Systems (de-listed from 2013-14) ECO201 Intermediate Microeconomics ECO202 Intermediate Macroeconomics ECO203 Fundamental Econometric Methods (retitled to Applied Econometrics from 2013-14) ECO204 Public Expenditure and Cost Benefit Analysis ECO205 Economics of Taxation and Transfer ECO207 International Political Economy ECO208 Principles of Public Policy ECO209 The Hong Kong Economy ECO210 History of Economic Thought ECO211 Chinese Economy ECO212 Regional Development in China ECO213 China, Hong Kong, and the World Economy ECO214 Globalisation and Economic Integration ECO215 Comparative Studies of International Financial Centres ECO216 Behavioural Economics ECO217 Money and Banking ECO218 Economic Development ECO228 Finance and Politics: Public Interests and Private Manipulation (de-listed from 2013-14) ECO305 International Trade ECO306 International Finance ECO311 Economics of the Family ECO312 Health Policy ECO313 Housing, Transportation, and Regional Development ECO314 Environmental Economics ECO315 Labour Market and Education Policy ECO316 Industrial Economics and Competition Policy ECO317 Economics of Law and Public Order ECO320 Game Theory and Strategic Behaviour ECO321 FDI and Multinationals in China ECO323 Financial Economics C. POLITICAL SCIENCE COURSES POL101 Introduction to Political Science POL111 Ecology, the Environment and Society (de-listed from 2013-14) 10
POL160 Greater China: Identity and Interdependence (de-listed from 2013-14) POL201 Government and Politics of Contemporary China POL202 Asia Pacific Today POL203 International Politics POL204 International Law POL205 Global Governance POL208 Public Policy: Values and Processes POL210 Comparative Politics POL213 Political Psychology and Behaviour POL214 Government and Politics of Hong Kong POL215 Taiwan: Society and Politics POL216 American Foreign Policy POL217 Modern Political Ideologies POL218 War and Peace POL225 Hong Kong Civil Service (de-listed from 2013-14) POL227 Law and Governance (de-listed from 2013-14) POL261 Ethnicity and Nationalism (de-listed from 2013-14) POL301 Policy-making, Collective Action and Public Choice POL303 Global Environmental Politics POL304 Chinese Politics in the Reform Era POL305 China in World Politics POL307 APEC and Regional Co-operation POL308 Selected Issues in Asian Pacific Governance POL309 Current Issues in International Politics POL317 One Country, Two Systems: Central-Hong Kong SAR Relationships POL318 Selected Issues in Environmental Studies POL319 International Politics of Northeast Asia POL320 International Politics of Southeast Asia D. SOCIOLOGY COURSES SOC101 Introduction to Sociology SOC108 Reading Great Social Thinkers (de-listed from 2013-14) SOC201 Classical Sociological Theory SOC202 Contemporary Sociological Theory SOC203 Social Gerontology SOC204 Society and Social Change SOC212 Hong Kong Society SOC213 Risk, Society and Modernity SOC230 Sexuality and Society (de-listed from 2013-14) SOC311 Urban Sociology (from 2013-14) SOC318 Economic Change and Social Stratification SOC319 Family, Gender and Society SOC320 Population Dynamics and Policy SOC321 Social Justice SOC323 Organisations and Bureaucracy SOC324 Work and Occupation SOC326 Mass Communications and Public Opinion SOC327 Social Welfare and Social Problems in Hong Kong SOC328 Ageing, Modernisation and Adaptation SOC330 Crime and Delinquency SOC333 Health, Illness and Behaviour SOC334 Science, Technology and Society E. SOCIAL SCIENCES COURSES SSC113 Linear Algebra 11
SSC114 Calculus SSC115 Understanding Social and Economic Indicators (de-listed from 2013-14) SSC116 Introduction to Research Methods for Social Sciences SSC143 Rethinking Global Issues (de-listed from 2013-14) SSC201 Trade and International Relations of Asia Pacific SSC202 Politics and Economics of Contemporary China SSC217 Statistics for Social Science SSC218 Environment and Society in Hong Kong SSC219 Methods and Practice of Social Survey SSC229 The Value of Sport (from 2011-12 to 2012-13) SSC301 Understanding Sport SSC316 Social Change and Politics in Japan SSC319 Senior Thesis Free Electives Students may select courses in any disciplines to obtain the total number of credits required for graduation, subject to timetable, course load and study scheme constraints. Among these free elective credits, at least six should be obtained from courses outside their own study programmes. 12