Postgraduate Courses
HMMA
Chinese Culture
a) Under a policy approved by the Senate, exceptions to the general University policy stating that English is the medium of instruction will be permitted when the courses are related to the area of Chinese studies and are approved by the School of Humanities and Social Science. Courses approved to be taught in Chinese carry a [PU] or [CA] notation in the course description, which indicates the spoken language used in teaching: [PU] stands for Putonghua; and [CA] for Cantonese.
b) 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.
- HMMA 5001Fundamentals of Chinese Culture[3-0-0:3]Exclusion(s)HMMA 5000 (prior to 2018-19)Reading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis is an integrated multidisciplinary course on Chinese culture, aiming to provide students with a broad understanding of the perspectives and methodologies of humanistic studies on Chinese culture across various disciplines, including history, anthropology, literature, linguistics, philosophy and religion. Emphasis will be put on the introduction of fundamental concepts and general methodological/theoretical underpinnings of the studies of Chinese culture in humanities perspective. This is a compulsory foundation course for all students in the MA program in Chinese Culture.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Define the nature, scope and values of the studies of Chinese culture in humanities perspectives.
- 2.Recognize the basic concepts, theories and methods in different humanities disciplines essential to the building of a holistic, dynamic and integrated understanding of Chinese culture.
- 3.Respond critically to Chinese cultural texts and issues of various nature.
- 4.Strengthen skills in humanistic inquiry pertaining to Chinese culture, such as questioning, analyzing, interpreting, making connections and constructing arguments.
- HMMA 5002Chinese Phonetics and Phonology[3-0-0:3]Exclusion(s)HUMA 5160Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course is an introduction to the study of sounds in Mandarin Chinese. The course will cover fundamental concepts in phonetics and phonology and compare the sounds of Mandarin with those of other languages. Other topics include: methodology, the typology, learning and evolution of sounds, the subgrouping of Chinese dialects, etc.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HMMA 5003Chinese Literary History[3-0-0:3]Exclusion(s)HUMA 5300Reading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course aims at familiarizing students with the history of Chinese literature from literary, historical and theoretical perspectives. Emphasis is on the recent scholarship of major genres in Chinese literary history and their interactions in the context of cultural tradition.Intended Learning Outcomes
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 from the program.
- 4.Conduct original cultural research and participate effectively in project teams using an enhanced knowledge of Chinese literature gained from the course.
- HMMA 5005Modern Chinese History[3-0-0:3]Reading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course aims at exploring the political and social history of late Imperial and modern China from the 1800s to early 1940s. A selection of important political events and social phenomena are examined to broaden our knowledge of the late-Qing and Republican politics, society and economy as well as revealing the complexity of historical reality in this period.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Identify and understand the post-modernist discourse of historical narrative.
- 2.Deconstruct the different historiographical traditions in official Chinese history in late-imperial and modern periods.
- 3.Understand and describe how political persuasions are implanted into official/semi-official narratives of modern historical events.
- 4.Analyze critically important political events such as the Opium War, Taiping Movement, Western invasion of China, warlordism, the emergence of Chinese nationalism, developments during the Nanjing Decade, the rise of the Chinese Communist Party, etc.
- 5.Learn and apply the skills of presenting one's arguments in academic seminars and the techniques of writing a history paper properly.
- HMMA 5006Anthropological Studies of China[3-0-0:3]Exclusion(s)HUMA 5700, MGCS 5031 (prior to 2018-19)Reading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionAnthropological consideration of Chinese culture and society. Special topics in Chinese anthropological studies, such as kinship, ethnicity, religion, and regional system.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HMMA 5007Fundamentals of Chinese Philosophy[3-0-0:3]Exclusion(s)HUMA 5800Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course is designed to guide students to in-depth researches into important issues in Chinese philosophy. The subject matter of the course may vary from one year to another depending on the particular interests of the instructors.Intended Learning Outcomes
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 point 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.
- HMMA 5008Languages of China: Anthropological and Cognitive Dimensions[3-0-0:3]Exclusion(s)HUMA 5230Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionA cross-disciplinary discussion of issues pertaining to social, historical, cultural, and cognitive aspects of languages and dialects of China, approached from perspectives of areal linguistics, linguistic anthropology, and cognitive linguistics.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HMMA 5009History and Theory of Comparative Literature[3-0-0:3]Exclusion(s)HUMA 5360Reading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course introduces students to the field of Comparative Literature through a variety of readings. It examines the development of the discipline by looking into the major theories and methodologies. Through readings and in-class discussions, we explore the significance of reading literature from comparative perspectives, crossing geographical, temporal, and linguistic boundaries. We also encourage students to examine the key concepts, themes, and debates that have shaped the evolving field of comparative literature.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.Analyze critically the issues of comparative literature related to issues such as translation, identity, intertextually, and globalization.
- 3.Formulate their own comparative perspective in a research project on literary texts from different cultural traditions.
- 4.Read and talk about dense theoretical texts.
- 5.Write about a range of cultural texts using the theories examined in this course.
- HMMA 5300Topics in Premodern Chinese Literature and Culture[3-0-0:3]DescriptionThrough classical works and canonical authors, this course introduces to the students important concepts and knowledge in premodern Chinese literature and culture. Some topics explored in this course include authorship, narrative theory, manuscript culture, and book history.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Have a knowledge of canonical authors and their works in premodern China.
- 2.Describe important concepts and trends in premodern Chinese literary and cultural history.
- 3.Approach premodern Chinese texts through theoretical and analytical tools.
- 4.Support arguments with textual evidence.
- 5.Engage with domestic and international scholarly discussions in the study of premodern Chinese literature and culture.
- HMMA 6200Independent Study[3 credits]Exclusion(s)HUMA 6100Reading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionFor MA(CC) students only. Students are required to conduct an independent study in a designated subject under the supervision of a faculty member. It may require readings, tutorial discussions, and submission of research paper(s). It may be repeated for credit if different topics are studied.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Examine a specific topic in Chinese Culture.
- 2.Read academic articles critically.
- 3.Write academic articles effectively.
- HMMA 6300Building a Future Career in Chinese Cultural Studies[0 credit]Reading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionIn this self-guided, portfolio-based course, students will reflect on their career goals in connection with their program's content. They will create a portfolio that incorporates insights from courses, seminars, and other relevant events attended during their studies. The course culminates in a written reflection. This course is exclusively designed for MA(CC) students, enriching their understanding of potential career paths in the field of Chinese culture. Graded P or F.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Demonstrate an understanding of the MA(CC) program's curriculum, emphasizing extra-curricular content and learning outcomes, and their relevance to career paths in Chinese cultural studies.
- 2.Design a strategic action plan for future careers in the field of Chinese culture, based on insights gained from the reflective process throughout the course.
- 3.Evaluate personal strengths and areas for growth in relation to the program's objectives and potential career opportunities in Chinese cultural studies.
