GEOGRAPHY OPTION
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Option Aims & Careers
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Geography is the discipline which seeks to understand the earth as 
the home of mankind, analyzes people's interactions with both their 
physical and human environment, and explains a vast range of spatial 
patterns and processes.  In recent times, emphasis has been placed on 
geography's concerns with the rational development and testing of 
theories which both explain and predict the spatial distribution and 
location of various phenomena on the surface of the earth.  The 
synthesizing roles of the discipline, however, remain its central 
task, constitute its core, and ensure its unique contribution to 
knowledge.

The Geography Option of the B.Soc.Sc. (Hons) in China Studies 
introduces students to the rapidly expanding horizons of the 
discipline.  The curriculum is of particular interest to students 
seeking employment which requires an understanding of the extent to 
which the current and future progress of the People's Republic of 
China is inextricably interwoven with its geographical assets and 
liabilities.

The curriculum enables students to analyze in depth the complexities 
of the geography of contemporary China.  An introduction to basic 
geographical principles is followed by studies of the main attributes 
of Chinese physical and human geography and, in particular, 
investigations of some of the major geographical problems currently 
facing the country's progress and development.

The first group of geography B.Soc.Sc. students graduated at the end 
of the 1991-92 academic year.  Most encountered little difficulty in 
finding employment, particularly in the commercial sector.  Graduates 
with a specialist China Studies background, together with a broad 
range of geographical skills, are likely to have a bright future.  
Increasingly employment opportunities are likely to arise in such 
fields as China trade, consultancy and research services, mass media 
coverage of Chinese economic, political and environmental affairs, 
and other possibilities in the near future.

An increasing number of Baptist graduates continue into postgraduate 
work both locally and abroad, especially in the United States, Canada 
and the United Kingdom.  While some are continuing their geography 
studies others are pursuing programmes as varied as economic and 
urban planning, aspects of environmental management and tourism 
development.  All have found that the high calibre of Baptist's 
geography programmes has strengthened their candidacy and gained them 
entry to top-ranking universities.


Option Curriculum
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The study plan is as follows:

Year 1  Computer Literacy, Basic Concepts in Geography, Climatology, 
	Cartography, English for Academic Purposes, Putonghua for 
	Academic Purposes, Foundations of Political Science, 
	Ideology and Socialism in China, Statistical Methods for 
	Social Sciences, Basic Economic Principles, Perspectives on 
	Chinese History, Introduction to Sociology.

Year 2  Foundations of Chinese Economy, Regional Geography of China, 
	Industrial Geography, Environmental Conservation, Population 
	Geography, Urban Geography, Field Camp, Foundations of 
	Modern China, Writing Skills in Modern Chinese, Government & 
	Politics of China, Modern Chinese Society, Religion & 
	Philosophy Subjects.

Year 3  Project, Religion & Philosophy Subject.  One of the 
	following: Soil & Plant Geography, Advanced Climatology, 
	Seminar in Environmental Planning & Management, Geography of 
	Environmental Hazards.  Three of the following: Energy 
	Problems & the Environment, Geography of Economic 
	Development, Political Geography, Geography of 
	Transportation, Geography of Agriculture & Rural 
	Development, Urban Planning, Seminar in Energy Problems, 
	Seminar in Urban Geography, Seminar in Social Geography.  At 
	least two of the following: Population Geography of China, 
	Energy & Transportation Development in China, Resources 
	Management in China, Problems in the Physical Geography of 
	China, Rural & Agricultural Development in China, Urban 
	Development in China.

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