Postgraduate Courses

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Describe the characteristics of sounds in Mandarin and by extension to other languages with the learnt concepts.
• 2.
  Apply various methods to the study of sounds in languages.
• 3.
  Identify the rules governing sound change in languages.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Be familiar with the fundamentals of Chinese historical lexicology.
• 2.
  Distinguish these basic concept pairs including zi (Chinese character) and word, word syllable and structural word, lexical meaning and grammatical meaning, and word structure and word formation.
• 3.
  Have an overall understanding of Chinese word development over history.
• 4.
  Be equipped with new approaches and methodologies including sememic analysis, prosodic approach to Chinese words and x-b analysis of Chinese words.
• 5.
  Be familiar with the methods adopted by traditional scholars in this field.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Obtain a good comprehension of the present research development of Chinese historical morphology.
• 2.
  Get familiar with the pioneering works in the field, thereby understanding the most present progress, the new approaches, and the issues that remain unsolved.
• 3.
  Well informed of the facts in the Chinese morphological system, especially those unfound in other languages.
• 4.
  Enhance students’ learning and expressive abilities through discussion, presentation and investigation.
• 5.
  Expected to be very much involved in the course through discussion, presentation, and investigation, which will help in developing learning abilities.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Enhance awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity in China.
• 2.
  Explain how language as a complex adaptive system is shaped by sociohistorical, cultural, and cognitive processes.
• 3.
  Identify the structural components of Chinese languages that are determined or influenced by extralinguistic factors.
• 4.
  Apply the core concepts, theories, and methods employed by cognitive-functional linguists and linguistic anthropologists in the analysis of structuring principles of Chinese and non-Han minority languages of China.
• 5.
  Analyze Chinese languages, particularly their grammars and lexicons, in a cross-linguistic and cross-cultural comparative perspective.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Obtain a holistic perspective on linguistic diversity of China.
• 2.
  Understand the geographical distribution, grouping/subgrouping, synchronic characteristics and diachronic evolution of major regional varieties of the Chinese language.
• 3.
  Be acquainted with fundamental concepts, theories, and methods in the field of Chinese dialectology.
• 4.
  Analyze dialectal data of Chinese from synchronic and diachronic perspectives, and evaluate controversial issues in the study of Chinese dialects.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Acquire the basic concepts and skills in conducting linguistic research.
• 2.
  Analyze the structure of the Cantonese language, and by extension other languages, with the learned skills and analytic tools.
• 3.
  Articulate the major linguistic changes undergone by Cantonese since the 19th century.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Understand the characteristics of the Cantonese language from a linguistic perspective.
• 2.
  Acquire knowledge of contemporary linguistic concepts and theories.
• 3.
  Examine a linguistic phenomenon from different perspectives critically.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Identify, explain and use cultural concepts and literary theories.
• 2.
  Analyze significant literary phenomena and texts.
• 3.
  Analyze Chinese literature and culture in a global and cross-cultural comparative perspective based on the knowledge and skills of the Humanities.
• 4.
  Conduct original cultural research using an enhanced knowledge of Chinese literature gained from the course.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Understanding the different stages and their features of the development of Chinese literary theories.
• 2.
  Having exposure to current research trends and methodologies.
• 3.
  Conducting preliminary research.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Examine closely the development of Chinese literary criticism from the 1960s to the present.
• 2.
  Identify the theoretical trends that have influenced and shaped the scholarship on modern Chinese literature and culture.
• 3.
  Analyze critically representative critics’ application of literary theories in their various interpretations of Chinese modernity against historical, cultural and political backgrounds.
• 4.
  Understand the cultural significance of literary criticism.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Track the development of socialist cinema under Mao.
• 2.
  Be familiar with major film directors, their representative work, and the socio-historical context in which they emerged.
• 3.
  Analyze particular films (identify their directors, analyze their aesthetics, filming technology/techniques, visual and auditory styles, and socio-historical condition).
• 4.
  Understand related theories and concepts.
• 5.
  Use a professional and theoretical vocabulary to discuss films.
• 6.
  Sharpen critical thinking and enhance academic writing skills in film studies.
• 7.
  Enter the field of socialist film studies, familiar with major debates and arguments, identify a gap in existing scholarship, formulate an original research question, complete an innovative research paper that will make an intervention in the field.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Have a clear idea of the emergence and development of Comparative Literature as a discipline.
• 2.
  Apply the methodologies of Influence studies, Thematic studies, and Genre studies to discuss literary relations between different texts.
• 3.
  Analyze critically the issues of comparative literature related to translation, identity, intertextually, and globalization.
• 4.
  Formulate their own comparative perspective in a research project on literary texts from different cultural traditions.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Analyze particular animated films, identify their directors, technology/techniques, audio-visual styles, and socio-historical condition.
• 2.
  Use a theoretical film vocabulary to discuss animated films.
• 3.
  Sharpen critical thinking and develop perceptive insights of our society through critical analyses of animated films.
• 4.
  Develop a strong sense of teamwork and social responsibility.
• 5.
  Conduct independent research and write a research paper.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  To gain an overview of contemporary Chinese novels and recent critical interest.
• 2.
  To master some fundamental concepts in literary and cultural studies.
• 3.
  To design a research project through a critically refreshing perspective.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Examine the development, trends, and characteristics of fiction in Taiwan and Hong Kong from the 1960s to the present in comparative perspective.
• 2.
  Understand the specific historical, socio-political, and linguistic contexts of both literary traditions.
• 3.
  Learn to read texts both aesthetically and critically as well as to demonstrate thoughtful readings in discussion and writing.
• 4.
  Experiment with various interpretive strategies drawn from current literary and cultural theories.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Analyze China in the 20th century from an interdisciplinary and cross-cultural perspective.
• 2.
  Strengthen oral and written communication skills on discussing modern and contemporary China.
• 3.
  Apply coursework learning to independent research on contemporary issues in Greater China.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Develop a life-long love for reading and writing literature.
• 2.
  Develop an interest in literary classics and traditional Chinese literature, especially the academic interest in Chinese folk culture, which is an essential factor to be a further literature writer.
• 3.
  Be aware of the Chinese literary progression in history and the future of our mind and heart, and know Pu Songling’s story to excite them to be creative writers.
• 4.
  Write a piece of short story and develop their imagination and creativity.
• 5.
  Develop judging skill to prepare them to be literature writers and literature critics.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Develop a comprehension of traditional Chinese culture and history from a comparative perspective.
• 2.
  Identify and describe the mainstream in the research, especially the latest development in the frontier.
• 3.
  Develop a critical view of sources and an independent perspective to approach the issues in discussion.
• 4.
  Demonstrate improved writing skills.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Analyze critically the post-modernist discourse of historical narrative.
• 2.
  Deconstruct the different historiographical traditions in official Chinese history in late-imperial and modern period.
• 3.
  Explain how political persuasions are implanted into official/semi-official narratives of modern historical events and characters through in-depth analysis of those late-Qing and Republican-time episodes and personalities presented in Chinese history textbooks and movies.
• 4.
  Learn and apply the skills of presenting one’s arguments in academic seminars and the techniques of writing a history paper appropriately.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Critically analyze contrasting categories and explanatory approaches to the history of Chinese migration: diaspora, Chinese overseas, transnationalism, Sinophone studies, and ethnic studies; push and pull factors, family strategies, and “cultures of migration”.
• 2.
  Analyze the role of family practices, social networks, and institutional formations in the shaping of Chinese migrant trajectories between 1700 and the present day.
• 3.
  Critically assess the importance of states, and national boundaries in particular, in shaping migration, and the conceptual categories of internal and external migration.
• 4.
  Clearly and persuasively convey an argument in a written essay.
• 5.
  In oral discussions, clearly summarize and effectively comment on historical primary sources, ethnographic observations, and scholarly interpretations.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Demonstrate enhanced critical understanding of the history of Southwest China and mainland Southeast Asia in pre-modern times.
• 2.
  Critically understand the factors that have shaped China’s relations with the kingdoms and polities of mainland SEA.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Students will gain knowledge about the development of Chinese painting and the important concepts related to it meanings and functions throughout the dynasties.
• 2.
  Students will gain familiarity with the major methodologies adopted in researches on Chinese painting.
• 3.
  Improve their ability in conducting critical reading and discussion of studies on Chinese painting.
• 4.
  Apply the research methods they have learned to writing a research paper on a topic of their choice.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Describe the development of Chinese painting in the 19th and 20th centuries.
• 2.
  Identify major issues in Chinese painting’s search for modernity.
• 3.
  Identify and use methodologies adopted in researches on Chinese painting.
• 4.
  Critique and discuss readings from secondary and primary sources.
• 5.
  Conduct independent research and write a research paper.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Analyze contractual relations in pre-modern China.
• 2.
  Recognize the complexity of factors behind the maintenance of social order in Pre-Modern Chinese local society.
• 3.
  Apply written contracts and agreements to the study of pre-modern Chinese social history.
• 4.
  Create arguments based on contracts and social agreements.
• 5.
  Evaluate research concerning contracts and local society in pre-modern China.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Understand some of the fundamental principles (political, socio-economical, and cultural) in Han-Chinese capital city plans, city/town plans from antiquity to the Republican times.
• 2.
  Have learnt about the cultural differences between pre-modern European cities and Chinese cities, and the long-term social and political consequences of such divergence between the two regions, including the controversial debate on the different paths of development of civil society between the East and the West.
• 3.
  Obtain a better and a deeper understanding of selected historical topics and issues of modern China history covered in this course, such as the true impact of foreign imperialism on Chinese economy and society, characteristics of treaty-port cities, urban architecture in the early modern period, consumerism and nationalism in modern metropolis, urban problems in modern China, conditions of urban workers and labour unrest, expansion of the Party state in urban society, etc.
• 4.
  Master some of the basic skills of how to conduct historical research, and have the opportunity of learning the communicative skills by writing academic papers on a history subject appropriately, and to discuss their ideas with their peers in classroom.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Analyze the origin and process of the Chinese Communist revolution and the complex relations between peasants and the CCP.
• 2.
  Identify underlying dynamics, enduring patterns, and persistent issues of this relations.
• 3.
  Critically evaluate competing historical interpretations.
• 4.
  Apply analytical skills in writing.
• 5.
  Demonstrate oral presentation skills .

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Have gained a better understanding of U.S.-China relations from diplomatic, military, cultural, and personal perspectives.
• 2.
  Have identified underlying dynamics, enduring patterns, perceptions and/or misconceptions, and persistent issues, including Taiwan, North Korea, human rights, etc.
• 3.
  Have improved their critical skills in evaluating competing historical interpretations.
• 4.
  Have improved their analytical writing skills through completing three short writing assignments and a multi-draft historiographic paper.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Understand the narrative history of Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany.
• 2.
  Master the theories that have been put forward by social scientists to explain the phenomenon of fascism.
• 3.
  Write thesis-driven analytical essays about the explanatory power of social scientific theory as applied to history.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Understand some of the fundamental arguments of modern social theory and their relevance for contemporary capitalism.
• 2.
  Evaluate the plausibility of these theories by judging them in the light of current historical and social scientific research.
• 3.
  Write thesis-driven analytical essays about primary sources in social theory.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Identify basic terms, concepts and theories in cultural anthropology about Chinese cultures and societies in ethnographic writings.
• 2.
  Write critical essays on the development of particular topics in anthropological studies of Chinese societies.
• 3.
  Develop appreciation and respect of fieldwork research, cultural diversity and identify the importance of cultural awareness for social interaction in contemporary daily life.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Master the basic concepts of family and lineage.
• 2.
  Understand the lineage model in Chinese context.
• 3.
  Master the technique of studying family organization.
• 4.
  Master field research techniques.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Understand the major ethnic issues such as identity formation, ethnic classification system, ethnic relations, assimilation, social conflicts, nation-building, and ethnic hierarchy.
• 2.
  Learn the approaches to study the multiethnic history of Chinese society, the Communist and Western theories on nationality and ethnicity, and the formation of distinctive minority cultures in the context of the Chinese nation-state.
• 3.
  Appreciate ethnic diversity in Chinese society.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Understand the anthropological approaches in field research.
• 2.
  Develop an appreciation of the diversity of human societies and understand the meanings of different cultural and social practices.
• 3.
  Acquire a holistic perspective in understanding human society.
• 4.
  Master the basic field research techniques.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  A broad as well as solid comprehension of the core concepts and debates in modern anthropology.
• 2.
  A strong ability to engage critically with classical social and anthropological theories.
• 3.
  A capacity to use anthropological concepts to analyse global social issues and bring theories of the past to bear upon present concerns.
• 4.
  Basic skills in sophisticated academic writing in the social scientific and humanistic traditions.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Analyze Chinese philosophy, discovering how Chinese philosophers make sense of the universe in which they live, how they position themselves both as individuals and as members of the society, and what ideals are they committed to, on both personal and societal levels.
• 2.
  Investigate into both the primary and secondary sources fundamental to the study of Chinese philosophy.
• 3.
  Present their points of view and comment on those of others in front of an audience.
• 4.
  Think critically when conducting their research on the subjects they choose and write professionally when delivering their findings.
• 5.
  Evaluate and apply the philosophies they have learnt to reflect upon their own lives and behavior.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Gain an overview of Classical Confucianism, discovering how pre-Ch’in Confucian thinkers made sense of the universe in which they lived, how they positioned themselves both as individuals and as members of the society, and what ideals were they committed to, on both personal and societal levels.
• 2.
  Familiarize themselves with both the primary and secondary sources fundamental to the study of Classical Confucianism.
• 3.
  Strengthen their ability to present their points of view and comment on those of others in front of an audience.
• 4.
  Learn how to think critically when conducting their research on the subject they choose and to write professionally when delivering their findings.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Have basic knowledge of the philosophies of some great Neo-Confucian thinkers and important concepts and issues of Neo-Confucianism.
• 2.
  Be familiar with secondary resource on the topic they have chosen for their term paper.
• 3.
  Acquire basic technique in giving a oral academic presentation and writing an academic paper.
• 4.
  Evaluate and apply the philosophies they have learnt to reflect upon their own lives and behavior.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Have basic knowledge of the philosophies of the representative thinkers of Contemporary New Confucianism that enables them to have further research on the subject.
• 2.
  Acquire basic technique in giving an oral academic presentation and writing an academic paper.
• 3.
  Evaluate and apply the philosophies they have learnt to reflect upon their own lives, behavior and the problems of Chinese culture.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Have basic knowledge of the philosophies of some important schools and philosophical debates in Chinese Buddhism that enables them to have further research on the subject.
• 2.
  Be familiar with the secondary source on the topic they have chosen for their term paper.
• 3.
  Acquire basic technique in giving a oral academic presentation and writing an academic paper.
• 4.
  Evaluate and apply the philosophies they have learnt to reflect upon their own lives and behavior.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Recognize key moments in the history of Buddhist philosophy in their Indian and Chinese developmental contexts and in light of their global implications.
• 2.
  Interpret Asian philosophical texts and sources.
• 3.
  Analyze the logical structures of arguments and systematic conceptions in either Buddhist or in related critical sources.
• 4.
  Express ideas of one’s own orally in discussions.
• 5.
  Develop skills in academic and philosophical writing.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Describe the historical development of Chan Buddhism.
• 2.
  Critically analyze the theories and debates about Chan Buddhism.
• 3.
  Present an extended analysis in essay form using appropriate literature on a chosen topic.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Demonstrate an understanding of the philosophies of some important schools of Taoism.
• 2.
  Analyze some key philosophical claims and concepts related to themes in Taoism.
• 3.
  Critically evaluate some of the original texts, commentaries and secondary literature in Taoism.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Gain knowledge of the Philosophy of the Zhuangzi in comparison with Confucianism.
• 2.
  Gain a critical understanding of particular methodologies in the study of the Zhuangzi.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Critically, comparatively, and interculturally analyze the forms of religious experience, interpretation, and argumentation presented in the course readings.
• 2.
  Explain the role and significance of religion in human life from diverse perspectives.
• 3.
  Develop a well-informed account of questions in the philosophy of religion.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Understand the main concepts in Chinese Confucian, Mohist, Daoist and Legalist philosophy.
• 2.
  Figure out the basic structure, hidden assumptions, and fallacies involved in the arguments of the philosophers.
• 3.
  Compare the ideas and arguments put forward by the philosophers.
• 4.
  Explore and appreciate the intellectual development of Chinese culture.
• 5.
  Address and incorporate the variety of metaphysical and ethical questions and insights developed by ancient Chinese thinkers.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Focus on a specific topic, which can be in History, Linguistics, Literature, Philosophy or Religion, and conduct independent research on it.
• 2.
  Master the primary sources or data necessary for the research and apply appropriate methodologies or tools to analyze and interpret them.
• 3.
  Examine major narratives, themes, concepts and theories related to the research.
• 4.
  Present and discuss the research findings in a highly professional manner, both spoken and written.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Gain in-depth understanding of the subject studied.
• 2.
  Familiarize with both primary and secondary sources related to the subject.
• 3.
  Develop approaches and methodologies appropriate for studying the subject.
• 4.
  Nurture abilities and skills to express professionally their ideas, both verbally and in written.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Acquire the ability to conduct an in-depth research on a specialized subject.
• 2.
  Be capable of producing a substantial paper on the subject, which is publishable.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Learn how to absorb the insights of other researchers working in the field of humanities.
• 2.
  Learn how to articular their views in a professional manner, both verbally and in written.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Produce a thesis that shows a level of originality appropriate to the Master’s degree.
• 2.
  Be fully aware of the conceptual and methodological problems relating to the chosen research topic.
• 3.
  Possess a solid command of bibliographical materials in the field of study.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• 1.
  Produce a scholarly work on the basis of original research, the level of originality of which is appropriate to the doctoral degree.
• 2.
  Be fully aware of the conceptual and methodological problems relating to the chosen research topic.
• 3.
  Possess a solid command of bibliographical materials in the field of study.