Postgraduate Courses
SSMA
Social Science (MA Program)
Courses marked with a [C] in the course description are not taught in Chinese but may require students to read materials in Chinese. Students who have difficulty reading materials in Chinese should consult the instructor concerned prior to enrolling in these courses.
- SSMA 5010Principles of Social Science[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)SSMA 501Exclusion(s)SOSC 5110DescriptionThis is an introductory course about social science. Students will learn about principles of social science inquiry and the basic skills required to conduct a social data analysis.
- SSMA 5020Quantitative Methods in Social Science[2-1-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)SSMA 502Co-list withMGCS 5010Exclusion(s)MGCS 5010, SOSC 4610, SOSC 5090DescriptionThis course teaches basic concepts and skills required to conduct quantitative research in social science. Students will learn to design and conduct statistical analyses to test hypotheses. They will acquire experience in the use of statistical software such as STATA to carry out analysis of social data.
- SSMA 5030Social Stratification and Mobility[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)SSMA 503Exclusion(s)MGCS 5020DescriptionThis course introduces the concepts and theories in analyzing the pattern of social and economic inequalities in the distribution of resources/rewards/opportunities which are scarce but widely desired, and the process of status attainment or social mobility.
- SSMA 5040Understanding Human Behavior[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)SSMA 504DescriptionThis course introduces a psychological perspective in understanding human behavior. It evaluates how psychological research is conducted, and covers major psychological concepts and theories.
- SSMA 5050Economic Transformations in Post-Mao China[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)SSMA 505DescriptionThis course offers a comprehensive account of the transformations in the economic institution of China since the late 1970s.
- SSMA 5060Political Changes and Political Participation[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)SSMA 506Exclusion(s)MGCS 5021, SOSC 5480DescriptionThis course introduces to students basic theories about political changes, such as democratization and reform, or their absence. It also discusses the dynamics of such political changes by examining the interactions among different social forces and political actors, including citizens.
- SSMA 5090Understanding Personality[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)SSMA 509DescriptionThis course provides an overview of theories of personality and examines how personality develops through different perspectives.
- SSMA 5110Quantitative Data Analysis[2-1-0:3]Prerequisite(s)MGCS 5010 OR SSMA 5020Exclusion(s)MGCS 5011, MGCS 5012DescriptionThis course provides students with hands-on training on how to use statistical software to analyze non-experimental quantitative data from the real world, to draw sensible conclusions, to convey results, and write a research report.
- SSMA 5130Understanding Modern Society[3-0-0:3]DescriptionThis course will help students to appreciate the power of the sociological imagination for understanding their everyday lives. We shall examine a number of topics that are central to our lives from the point of view of sociological perspectives and methods, such as: culture, deviance, inequality, religion, mental health, social change and development, gender and family.
- SSMA 5140Innovation and Society[3-0-0:3]Exclusion(s)SOSC 300I, SOSC 5590 (prior to 2013-14)DescriptionThis course introduces students to basic theories about innovation in modern societies. In addition to a study of evolutionary models of innovation and innovation systems, it will discuss key policies for the promotion of innovation in areas such as high technology, services and environment. This will be illustrated with examples of innovation policies in the United States, Europe, and Asia.
- SSMA 5170Economic Change in Rural China[3-0-0:3]Exclusion(s)SOSC 5420DescriptionThis course is designed to study the development processes of rural China from around the mid-eighteenth century onwards until the present time from primarily (but not exclusively) an economics perspective. In addition to serving the purpose of a survey course, special efforts are made to provide intelligible answers to a number of important issues and puzzles - some of epic proportions - using analytical frameworks in economics.
- SSMA 5180Migration and Globalization[3-0-0:3]Exclusion(s)SOSC 5660DescriptionThis course aims to explore the interrelationship between population changes/ migration and economic development in the era of globalization. Special attention is given to labor migration in China and international migration in China/HKSAR.
- SSMA 5190Analyzing International Relations: China and the U.S.[3-0-0:3]DescriptionThis course introduces theories of international relations, using the U.S.-China relationship as a case study.
