HISTORY OPTION
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Option Aims & Careers
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Knowledge of the past is essential for understanding the present, and 
all sciences and knowledge are historically coloured.  Consequently 
the past can best be investigated by the process of historical 
analysis.  Such an approach will help to avoid committing the same 
errors again and to apply this knowledge to the future in a critical 
and constructive fashion.  These convictions are reflected in the 
curriculum of the History option of the B.Soc.Sc. (Hons) in China 
Studies course.

The curriculum emphasizes China's social, economic, political and 
ideological developments mainly since the early 19th Century, with a 
view that a solid and sophisticated knowledge of present-day China 
cannot be attained without a comprehensive historical understanding 
of its past experiences.  In view of the growing importance of China, 
not only in the international scene but also to the local society, it 
is essential for students to gain a holistic and balanced view of 
China and be prepared for a variety of jobs which demand a full 
appreciation of China's present complexities in historical 
perspectives.


Option Curriculum
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The study plan is as follows:

Year 1  Computer Literacy, Historical Tradition of the West, The 
	Socialist & Communist Traditions, Introduction to Chinese 
	Historiography, English for Academic Purposes, Putonghua for 
	Academic Purposes, Foundations of Political Science, Ideology 
	& Socialism in China, Statistical Methods for Social 
	Sciences, Basic Economic  Principles, Man & the Physical 
	Environment, Introduction to Sociology.

Year 2  Foundations of Chinese Economy, Regional Geography of China, 
	Historical Theory & Practice, Introduction to Modern Chinese 
	History, Foreign Relations of Modern China, History of Hong 
	Kong (1842-1900), Writing Skills in Modern Chinese, 
	Government & Politics of China, Modern Chinese Society, 
	Religion & Philosophy Subjects.  One of the following: Hong 
	Kong Government & Peoples (20th Century), Intellectual Trends 
	in Modern China, Revolution & Nationalism in Republican China 
	(1912-1949), Topics Studies in Chinese History, Contemporary 
	China, Origins of Western Imperialism, Overseas Chinese in 
	Southeast Asia.

Year 3  Contemporary Chinese Political Thought, History of Taiwan, 
	Project, Current Issues in Hong Kong & China.  At least three 
	of the following: Hong Kong Government & Peoples (20th 
	Century), Intellectual Trends in Modern China, Revolution & 
	Nationalism in Republican China (1912-1949), Topics Studies 
	in Chinese History, Contemporary China, Origins of Western 
	Imperialism, Overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia, Sino-Russian 
	Relations, Sino-American Relations.

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