BSSc (HONS) IN CHINA STUDIES
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Course Aims & Careers
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The Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in China Studies course 
aims:

1)    to provide students with a systematic and thorough understanding 
      of contemporary China from economic, geographical, historical, 
      sociological, and political perspectives.

2)    to develop students' critical, analytical and integrative 
      abilities.

3)    to develop students' verbal and written communication skills in 
      English and modern Chinese.

4)    to contribute to an understanding of the processes of change 
      which will shape the future relationship between Hong Kong and 
      China.

The B.Soc.Sc. (Hons) in China Studies is not a vocational training 
course.  However, graduates of the course, with a well-rounded 
knowledge of China and an in-depth knowledge of a social sciences 
discipline, are well-placed in a job market in which the China 
element plays an increasingly crucial role.


Course Curriculum
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The course comprises four major components, i.e. Option Discipline 
subjects (33%), China Studies subjects (37%), Social Sciences 
Foundation subjects (12%), and Complementary Studies subjects (18%).  
The purpose is to have the students solidly trained in a selected 
discipline in addition to mastering the knowledge, methodology and 
skills in China Studies, and to be grounded in a well-informed, 
whole-person approach of higher education.

The course consists of four options, i.e. Economics, Geography, 
History and Sociology.  Students have to select an option at the time 
of admission, but switching to another option at the end of the first 
year is permitted on a constrained basis, provided there are 
reasonable grounds for doing so.


Summer Sojourn
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A distinctive feature of the China Studies course is the summer 
sojourn programme in which all students have to spend five weeks at 
Qinghua University, Beijing to receive intensive training in 
Putonghua during the summer at the end of the second year.  Since the 
students have taken the three-unit subject Putonghua for academic 
purposes before going to Qinghua University, the sojourn acts as an 
'immersion' programme in Putonghua training.  Students will undertake 
Putonghua training for three hours per day, five days per week.  
Teaching will be conducted by language specialists arranged by 
Qinghua University.

Another part of the summer sojourn program consists of seminars on 
topics relating to current issues of China, including topics of a 
political, economic, sociological, historical and geographic nature.  
Renowned Chinese scholars and senior government officials will be 
invited to conduct the seminars, each of which will consist of a 
lecture of one-hour duration, followed by a question and answer 
session and small group discussion.  Everything is conducted in 
Putonghua.

A third part of the programme is composed of visits to places of 
particular interest to this course.  It is felt that students should 
be given some field experience in China by visiting factories, farms, 
historical sites, government offices etc.  Four whole-day visits will 
be organized to places around the Beijing area during the sojourn 
period.

The University, in collaboration with Qinghua University, has set up 
the Wei Lun Academic Exchange Centre of Qinghua to serve as the venue 
for the summer sojourn.  The Centre is located at one of the most 
beautiful spots of Qinghua.

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