Postgraduate Courses
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.
- HUMA 5160Chinese Phonetics and Phonology[3-0-0:3]Exclusion(s)HMMA 5002Medium 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.
- HUMA 5170Chinese Historical Lexicology[3-0-0:3]Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course provides a theoretical and practical introduction to Chinese historical lexicology, dealing with various issues of Chinese words including word formation, semantic structures and sense relations of words, x-bar analysis of Chinese words, lexicalization, cultural component of words, and lexical variation among dialects of Chinese.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HUMA 5180Chinese Historical Morphology[3-0-0:3]Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course aims to provide a rigorous and critical introduction to Chinese historical morphology, dealing with various issues including affixing, reduplication, derivation by ablaut and tone change, formation of etymological words, interaction between morphological and phonological components. For comparative purposes, this course will also deal with the relevant morphological issues in modern dialects.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HUMA 5230Languages of China: Anthropological and Cognitive Dimensions[3-0-0:3]Exclusion(s)HMMA 5008Medium 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.
- HUMA 5240Chinese Dialectology[3-0-0:3]Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course will provide an introductory survey of the phonology of Chinese dialects, including Mandarin, Wu, Xiang, Gan, Hakka, Yue and Min.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HUMA 5270Cantonese Linguistics[3-0-0:3]Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course deals with various issues of Cantonese, including sounds and tones, word formation, syntax and pragmatics. It will review the history of the language by studying texts from the early 19th century to the present; and examine the current linguistic changes that have redefined Hong Kong speech as a special variety of Cantonese.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HUMA 5280Cantonese Grammar in Contemporary Linguistic Theories[3-0-0:3]Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionA survey of contemporary linguistic theories with special emphasis on the application of these theories to the study of Cantonese grammar.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HUMA 5300Chinese Literary History[3-0-0:3]Exclusion(s)HMMA 5003Reading 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.
- 4.Conduct original cultural research using an enhanced knowledge of Chinese literature gained from the course.
- HUMA 5301The Zhuangzi and its Multimedia Reception in China and Beyond[2-1-0:3]DescriptionThe Daoist classic Zhuangzi, a collection of cryptic sayings and short anecdotes attributed to the mysterious Master Zhuang Zhou, has deeply influenced cultural life in East Asia. In this course, we explore both the Daoist classic’s multifaceted content and its diverse reception history to understand why the text might have exuded such an incessant relevance for a wide range of audiences in East Asia and beyond.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Design a small research project on their own.
- 2.Implement their classical Chinese reading skills in their research.
- 3.Analyze and navigate traditional commentaries and popular cultural products.
- 4.Summarize, analyze, and evaluate secondary literature on the Zhuangzi, reception history and reader response theory.
- 5.Develop research presentations for their peers.
- 6.Assess both textual and visual materials.
- HUMA 5310Traveling Texts and Images: Modern Chinese Literature and Print Culture[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)HUMA 6001UReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course employs an interdisciplinary approach to examine literary and pictorial magazines and journals from the late Qing to the Republican era. In light of contemporary theories of the public sphere, travel, and the interaction between image and text, we will explore critical issues around the innovative writing practices associated with new print media, the formation of a literary public space, the role of the editor, publisher and reader, as well as the dynamics between image and word.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Enhance their critical thinking abilities and writing skills.
- 2.Gain an overview of image and literati cultures during the late Qing and Republican eras.
- 3.Master some fundamental concepts in literary and cultural studies.
- 4.Learn how to design a research project through a critically refreshing perspective.
- 5.Acquire professional skills (writing, speaking and thinking) and prepare for professions in various cultural fields.
- HUMA 5330Traditional Chinese Literary Theory and Criticism[3-0-0:3]Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionAims to familiarize students with the traditional Chinese theories and criticism of literature; advantages and limitations of the various modes of discourses such as prefaces to books, poetry-talks, poems on poetry, literary anthologies, stray remarks and commentaries.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HUMA 5331Journeys in Premodern Chinese Literature and Culture[3-0-0:3]DescriptionThis course looks at “journey” as a conceptual, practical, imaginary, and spiritual category in late imperial Chinese literature and culture. We will explore topics such as religion, cartography, book history, material culture through texts including maps, paintings, poetry works, travel accounts, and full-length novels. Whenever possible, we adopt available tools and practices from digital humanities such as Geographical Information System (GIS) and open-source databases.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Analyze important visual and textual representations of space in premodern China.
- 2.Develop relevant digital tools and platforms to do simple spatial visualization.
- 3.Critique premodern Chinese visual and textual materials critically.
- 4.Evaluate premodern Chinese poetry and narrative in relationship to visual art and maps.
- 5.Assess dynamics, patterns, and hegemonic structures entrenched in space as mediated by various textual and non-textual forms.
- 6.Generate effective argument and presentation skills.
- HUMA 5340Modern Chinese Literary Criticism[3-0-0:3]Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionExamines the transformation of Western literary theories in the Chinese context. Focuses on practices of individual Chinese literary theorists and the relationship between literary criticism and socio-cultural criticism from historical and comparative perspectives.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HUMA 5350Socialist Film Culture[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)HUMA 6001XDescriptionThis graduate course concentrates on the film culture in socialist China (1949-1976). The major theoretical problematic of the course resides in the convoluted relationship between totalitarian politics and film as propaganda and art. Focusing on live-action feature films, model operas, animated films, and documentaries, this course will explore aspects of film industry, aesthetics, authorship, projection and viewing, soundscape, and internationalism. It will also discuss conceptual issues regarding national identity, ethnicity, gender, children, machines, and animals against the backdrop of an authoritarian regime. Following a chronological order, the course will begin with the socialist transition in 1949, and then move to the Seventeen Years (1949-1966) and the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976).Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HUMA 5351Critical Film and Media Theory[3-0-0:3]DescriptionThis course will revolve around discussions of contemporary media theories, ranging from foundational texts on apparatus theory to more recent approaches to newer forms of digital media. Beginning with approaches to early cinema as our point of departure, we will take up a range of questions revolving around debates around technology and history, gender and affect, national and oppositional cinema, and animation and new media.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Articulate key concepts in film and media theory.
- 2.Produce critiques of existing approaches in film and media studies.
- 3.Identify broader patterns of discourse in film and media scholarship, in the context of East Asia and beyond.
- 4.Perform professional academic practices for communicating their work orally to an audience.
- HUMA 5360History and Theory of Comparative Literature[3-0-0:3]Exclusion(s)HMMA 5009Reading 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.
- HUMA 5370Animation Theories[3-0-0:3]DescriptionAnimation existed as optical toys long before the birth of cinema, but it was not until the digital age that animation experienced its explosive boom. Recently animation theories began to emerge as a new field of research, offering critical interventions in film studies and even challenging our conventional views of the world. This course explores various theoretical issues in animation studies, such as movement, stasis, affect, automation and agency, TV serialization, digitality, media mix, sound, authorship and spectatorship, animals, race, gender, cuteness, animism and environment. Animated films made in China, Japan, and other parts of the world will be analyzed as case studies.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HUMA 5410Modern Chinese Fiction: Comparative Perspectives[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)HUMA 6001AMedium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionIn this course, we will approach a number of representative fictions by contemporary Sinophone authors and their foreign counterparts. Through a parallel and comparative reading on the storytelling, form, and content, this course will analyze the differences and diversity between the East and the West, as well as Chinese literature and world literature.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Identify, explain, and use cultural and literary concepts, theories, and models.
- 2.Analyze particular literary works and identify their stylistic and aesthetic attributes.
- 3.Develop knowledge and skills to approach fiction and stories through hand-on practice on Chinese culture and literature area.
- 4.Implement the knowledge of Chinese culture critically and analytically, enhance their creativity, writing and presentation skills, including writing a short novel independently.
- 5.Conduct original cultural and literary research and participate effectively in project teams using an enhanced knowledge of Chinese culture and literature gained from this course.
- HUMA 5440Contemporary Chinese Fiction[3-0-0:3]Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionA critical study of development, trends, characteristics of the Chinese fiction of the People's Republic from the early 1980s to the present.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HUMA 5450Taiwan and Hong Kong Fiction[3-0-0:3]Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionA critical study of development, trends, characteristics of narrative literature in Taiwan and Hong Kong from the late 1960 to the present from cultural, historical, and gender perspectives.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HUMA 5451Images of Japan[3-0-0:3]DescriptionThis course examines non-Japanese texts that deploy the imagination of "Japan" in their narratives. Discussions will take up such focal points as: ethnographic cinema, the politics of travel and translation, the intersections of race and gender, the cultural politics of alternate histories, and the ramifications of techno-orientalist discourse.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Articulate key issues in cross-cultural analysis vis-à-vis Japan.
- 2.Produce textual analyses of films and fictions with particular attention to how texts’ formal devices, narrative strategies, and patterns of focalization mediate their practices of cross-cultural representation.
- 3.Identify broader patterns of representation in works of film and fiction that take up Japan (and Asia) as their object of interest.
- 4.Produce their own written critiques of texts that engage in cross-cultural representation.
- 5.Familiarize themselves with professional academic practices for communicating their work orally to an audience.
- HUMA 5452Politics of Fan Culture Studies[3-0-0:3]DescriptionThis course explores the theories, debates, and challenges surrounding the study of media theories of fan culture as a site of political engagement. Its central problematic is the question of how new media forms and technologies engender practices of spectatorship and consumption and how these practices mediate new forms of political activities. Topics of discussion will include spectatorial practice between cinema and animation, media convergence and participatory culture, intersections of gender/sexuality and fan practice, fan work as immaterial labor, politics of world-making, etc.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Articulate key concepts in media studies and fan culture studies.
- 2.Produce critiques of existing approaches to fan culture studies.
- 3.Identify broader patterns of discourse in the cultural practices of worldmaking and the formation of imaginary communities, in the context of East Asia and beyond.
- 4.Perform professional academic practices for communicating their work orally to an audience.
- 5.Articulate the broader stakes of fan practices of worldmaking, especially for understanding contemporary forms of political collectivity,
- HUMA 5490Liaozhai and Story Creation[3-0-0:3]Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionStrange Tales from a Chinese Studio, or Liaozhai Zhiyi, is the most outstanding short story collection in classical Chinese literature. Crafted by Pu Songling (1640-1715) during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, this book contains more than 500 stories and depicts an array of characters in the society, such as court officials, civilians, intellectuals, merchants, peasants, pawns, and labours. It tells various stories about fox fairies, ghosts, gods from heaven in spatial settings including city and village, earth and ocean, the human world and the hell. Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio also brings a rich touch of humanities in plurality and diversity. Accordingly, this course intends to evoke students' imaginability as well as creativity in novel creation through analyses on Pu Songling's Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio and investigations on the contemporary Chinese short stories and traditional Chinese literary cannons.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HUMA 5510Pre-Modern Chinese History[3-0-0:3]Exclusion(s)HMMA 5004 (prior to 2021-22)Reading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionExploration of major and substantive issues in pre-modern Chinese history. Approaches to the subject can be political, social, cultural, intellectual, or comparative.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HUMA 5516Research Methods and Sources in Qing History[3-0-0:3]DescriptionThis course is designed to help students familiarize themselves with various types of Qing documents. The course will cover a variety of different types of documents, from formal publications originating from the central government, to personal and family records of various types. This will help students intending to conduct research in late imperial Chinese history and related subjects.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Analyze historical Chinese documents effectively.
- 2.Synthesize various types of historical sources to answer research questions.
- 3.Critique problems in historical sources.
- 4.Formulate a research plan integrating sources and research questions.
- 5.Translate historical Chinese text into English.
- HUMA 5520Modern Chinese History[3-0-0:3]Reading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionExploration of major and substantive issues in modern Chinese history. Approaches to the subject can be political, social, cultural, intellectual, or comparative.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HUMA 5530Chinese Diasporas: A Global History[3-0-0:3]DescriptionBefore 1700, the Chinese population was concentrated in core areas of China Proper. Nonetheless,significant numbers of Chinese people moved to the frontiers of an expanding empire and across it borders, while Chinese families adapted to migration as a way of life. Critically employing the notion of "diasporas," this course traces this worldwide circulation of Chinese people over the ensuing three centuries.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HUMA 5541History and the Future[3-0-0:3]DescriptionCan our knowledge of the past help us to predict the future? What kinds of lessons can we learn from history? What is the value of history for life, anyway? This course investigates both the philosophical and practical issues associated with studying the past in order to make judgments about the future. The course adopts an interdisciplinary perspective that draws from history, philosophy, political science, sociology, grand strategy, psychology, and physics. Readings include Thucydides, Han Fei, Hegel, Clausewitz, Weber, Arendt, and Nietzsche, as well as contemporary literature on chaos theory, comparative politics, historical sociology, and cliodynamics.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Understand canonical arguments about the value of history.
- 2.Gain competence in reading theoretical and philosophical texts.
- 3.Write a well-organized exegetical paper.
- 4.Possess the confidence to tackle a research topic.
- 5.Develop proficiency in oral debate and discussion of texts.
- HUMA 5542Eichmann and Evil[0-3-0:3]DescriptionThe Schutzstaffel (SS) officer Adolf Eichmann played a central role in the logistical management of the Holocaust, the mass murder of European Jews during the Second World War. Arrested by the Mossad in Argentina in 1960, brought to Israel for trial, and ultimately sentenced to death, Eichmann’s name has become a byword for evil. This course examines how philosophers, historians, and film makers have used Eichmann’s case to try to understand totalitarianism and the nature of moral choice in modern times.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Understand the history of the Holocaust and the central issues of its scholarship.
- 2.Analyze the different interpretations of Adolf Eichmann’s agency and motivations.
- 3.Conceptualize important topics in modern political and social thought, such as totalitarianism and “the banality of evil”.
- 4.Extract and adjudicate arguments from multiple sources, compare them, and evaluate them.
- 5.Develop proficiency in oral debate and discussion of texts.
- 6.Write a well-organized exegetical paper.
- HUMA 5590Southwest China and Southeast Asia[3-0-0:3]Reading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course explores new ways of understanding the history of Southwest China and mainland Southeast Asia (SEA), 8th–19th centuries. In the past, Southwest China, particularly Yunnan, has been conceptualised as an area both remote from the Chinese political centre and isolated from the outside world, but an analysis of historical data concerning the formation of kingdoms and polities, trade routes, and the movement of people offers a different interpretation. It demonstrates that far from being isolated, the two areas overlap, and in reality are bonded by political, cultural and ethnic ties. Analysis of historical data provides a vibrant perspective for understanding Southwest China, not as an area at the margins of Chinese and SEA history, but as a vital link in a chain that connects SEA with the worlds of China and Tibet. Emphasis on interconnection highlights a fundamental relationship between both regions, and offers students a framework for understanding the increased presence of China in mainland SEA in recent years.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HUMA 5620Chinese Painting: Meanings and Uses[3-0-0:3]Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course will examine Chinese painting from the Song through the Qing dynasties by categories based on function and meaning, trying to understand how, within each category, the forms of the painting carry a variety of private or public meanings and enable it to perform its symbolic, discursive, social or political functions.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HUMA 5630Digital Humanities[3-0-0:3]BackgroundExperience in Python is desirable but not required.DescriptionThe course introduces tools and methods of the Digital Humanities as they can be used in literary, historical, art historical, linguistic, and cultural studies. Students will learn how to apply data analysis, text mining, visualization tools and StoryMaps to explore a variety of research questions pertinent to the use, sharing and presentation of cultural and historical data. Special attention will be given to the application of such tools and methods to China-related subject areas.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Organize and manipulate data from various sources for humanities research.
- 2.Analyze data using Python for humanities research.
- 3.Use text mining to analyze large bodies of text.
- 4.Create data visualizations.
- 5.Create StoryMaps and Timeline.
- 6.Create online exhibition.
- 7.Complete a digital humanities project, and explain its significance to academic and lay audiences.
- HUMA 5631From Germ Theory to Gene Therapy: The History and Development of Modern Medicine[3-0-0:3]DescriptionThis course will cover themes central to the history of modern medicine and the science-based infrastructures which support it. We will begin with the development of the germ theory and end with genetic testing, covering along the way such topics as tropical medicine and race; animals as test subjects, medicines, and the origins of zoonoses; the socio-medical phenomena of epidemics; drug cultures and the pharmaceuticalization of therapies; and ‘wars’ against cancer. The course will also consider ‘alternative’ responses to the rise of biomedicine, such as Chinese attempts to integrate it with traditional medicine, Soviet deviations from western biomedical norms, and the rise of ‘health supplements’ among other themes. Students will not only be exposed to the major developments in the history of the life sciences, but the dilemmas raised, and the question left unanswered.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Identify seminal books and articles in the field of the history of medicine.
- 2.Identify and engage in intelligent discussions of key topics relevant to the field.
- 3.Understand the origins, shifts and historical transformations of some of the major medical achievements and infrastructures of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries.
- 4.Understand and appreciate medical systems (such as Chinese medicine) other than biomedicine and their respective strengths and weaknesses.
- 5.Understand the importance of politics, society, and culture in shaping medicine and vice versa.
- 6.Develop analytic, writing, and presentation skills.
- 7.Understand the value and meaning of interdisciplinary scholarship, and different cultural and ethical perspectives.
- HUMA 5655Contracts and Order in Chinese Local Society, 600-1911 AD[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)HUMA 6002RReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course explores the role played by contracts and agreements in maintaining order in local society in pre-modern China, with an emphasis on demonstrating their value as sources for historical analysis. Main themes include use of contracts in daily life, categorization of contracts, functions of oral agreements and written contracts, settlement of disputes by customary law and civil litigation, power of local elites and the hierarchical background supporting contractual relations. Contracts and documents concern multi-ethnic areas in Southwest China, and students must possess the ability to read them in the original. Discussions will include not only deep reading of contracts, textual and historical analysis, but also their role as instruments of social control. This course is designed to guide students in creatively using contracts as sources for social history and is not a mere factual and descriptive account of Chinese contracts.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HUMA 5660City and Urban Life in Late-Imperial and Modern China[3-0-0:3]Reading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThe complexity of urban realities in the Chinese city will be revealed through examining the general perceptions and attitudes toward it, and studying its certain features of everyday existence.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HUMA 5685Peasants and the Chinese Communist Party[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)HUMA 6002PReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course examines the historical origins and evolution of the complex relations between Chinese peasants and the Chinese Communist Party in the 20th century. It explores some of the most important events, persistent issues, and recurring themes through the Communist revolution and post-revolution. It also introduces students to major competing interpretations by Chinese and western scholars.Intended Learning Outcomes
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 .
- HUMA 5690Major Issues in the History of U.S.-China Relations[3-0-0:3]Reading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course examines the historical origins and evolution of the complex relations between China and the United States from the early 19th century to the late 20th century. It explores some of the most important events and persistent issues in political, military, economic, and cultural relations between the two countries. It also introduces students to major competing interpretations by American and Chinese scholars.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HUMA 5691History of the Mongol Empire[3-0-0:3]DescriptionThis course offers an introduction to the Mongol Empire of the 13th-14th centuries, exploring the Mongols’ unique nomadic lifestyle and military success under Chinggis Khan and their subsequent building of the first global Eurasian empire. Students will examine the distinctively Mongol style of government, which selectively incorporated East Asian and Middle Eastern institutions. Through readings of primary sources from Chinese, European, and Arabic writers, students will compare differing views of the Mongol Empire and analyze how the background of the writers influences their perspective.
- HUMA 5692The Scientific Revolution (1450 to 1750)[3-0-0:3]DescriptionThis postgraduate course explores the scientific revolution in early modern Europe, examining the cultural and intellectual framework in which new discoveries were made, the shift towards a mathematic vision of the world, and the development of new experimental techniques. Through the comparison with other intellectual traditions, especially the Chinese scientific tradition, students will gain a deeper understanding of the scientific revolution and its impact on modern science and the modern world. The course aims to develop students' analytical and communication skills, as well as their understanding of early modern intellectual history.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Identify the most important changes that took place in science in the early modern period, their causes, and their historical context.
- 2.Gain a complex understanding of the global context of exchange and discovery leading to the Scientific Revolution.
- 3.Familiarize with the scholarly debates about the Scientific Revolution, its definition, timing and significance.
- 4.Evaluate past sources about the Scientific Revolution.
- 5.Effectively and appropriately communicate their understanding of the Scientific Revolution in written papers and oral reports.
- 6.Analyze the impact of science in larger socio-cultural context.
- HUMA 5695Fascism[3-0-0:3]DescriptionThis course aims to provide students with an introduction to the comparative study of twentieth-century dictatorships. Course readings will focus on Italian Fascism and National Socialism, but the overarching theoretical perspectives will be relevant to students of non-European dictatorships as well.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HUMA 5696The Culture of Capitalism[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)HUMA 6002IDescriptionThis course surveys classic works of European social thought on the nature of capitalism and its relationship with culture, where culture is understood in both aesthetic and anthropological senses. What is capitalism? What kind of culture – attitudes, human relationships, and values – does it promote or presuppose? What impact has it made on cultural artifacts such as literature, art, philosophy, and social thought? These are some of the primary questions we shall consider. No previous background in European history or social thought is required.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HUMA 5697Animals and Society: Biodiversity, Conservation, and Ethics[3-0-0:3]DescriptionThis course introduces students to human-animal issues such as preserving biodiversity, the wildlife trade, zoonotic diseases, animals as food and medicine, and living with animals in an urban setting. It will also provide a broad historical overview of the animal rights and conservation movements, drawing upon case studies from the US, China, and elsewhere. As this is a postgraduate-level course, students will critically engage with key concepts (biodiversity, animal ethics, etc.), and will also be encouraged to explore new ideas and methodologies for conducting research in human-animal relationships.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Identify seminal books and articles on conservation and animal studies.
- 2.Recognize and discuss key concepts and ideas in human-animal relations from global and Asian perspectives.
- 3.Identify the varying roles of science, culture, and politics in mediating human-animal relations with an emphasis on Asia.
- 4.Recognize and discuss the presence, integration and representation of animals in urban settings, in particular Hong Kong and other Asian cities.
- 5.Assess whether current attempts and methodologies to conserve endangered animal species in Asia are adequate.
- 6.Exercise and demonstrate mastery of humanities research methods appropriate to the level of the course.
- 7.Develop analytic, writing, and presentation skills.
- 8.Understand the value and meaning of interdisciplinary scholarship, and different cultural and ethical perspectives.
- HUMA 5700Anthropological Studies of China[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)HUMA 5540Exclusion(s)HMMA 5006, 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.
- HUMA 5701Culture, Psychiatry and Mental Illness[2-1-0:3]BackgroundA familiarity with social science and humanities, particularly social anthropology, is highly desirable but not necessary.DescriptionSituated at the intersection of cultural psychiatry, medical anthropology and philosophy of mind, the course delves into the cultural foundations of mental illness and its diverse conceptualizations across societies. Beginning with a critical look at the current crisis in modern psychiatry, it extends our inquiry to a wide range of healing traditions that fall outside the biomedical paradigm. It considers both the spiritual and sociopolitical dimensions of these traditions, with a key focus on their efficacy. By placing modern psychiatry in a refined comparative perspective, the course aims to assess the therapeutic value of alternative medical philosophies and the potential they hold in illuminating the nature of mental illness and healing.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Evaluate the impact of historical and philosophical developments on the evolution of modern psychiatry and its current practices.
- 2.Analyze the role of culture in the manifestation and treatment of mental illness and recognize the challenges it presents to psychiatric universalism.
- 3.Critique the biomedical paradigm's approach to mental health, especially in its handling of cultural dimensions and structural violence.
- 4.Compare and contrast alternative healing traditions with conventional psychiatric practices, evaluating their therapeutic value.
- HUMA 5750Family and Lineage in South China[3-0-0:3]Reading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionStudies the basic social structure of South China in its cultural context, focusing on the creation of descent groups and their interaction with local societies and the state. Field research is required.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HUMA 5755Ethnicity in Chinese Context[3-0-0:3]DescriptionThis course explores the issue of ethnicity in China in the context of a nation-state. Issues of nationalism, ethnic identities, and ethnic diversity will be examined from anthropological perspectives.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HUMA 5770Field Research: Theory and Practice[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)HUMA 5550Exclusion(s)MGCS 5031 (prior to 2018-19)DescriptionTheories, methods, and techniques in ethnographic field research are explored. Students conduct individual and group research projects.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HUMA 5800Fundamentals of Chinese Philosophy[3-0-0:3]Exclusion(s)HMMA 5007Medium 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 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.
- HUMA 5810Confucianism: Classical Period[3-0-0:3]Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionPhilosophies of Confucius, Mencius and Hsiin Tzu. The major Confucian concepts that have significant impact on the formation of the Chinese minds.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HUMA 5840Chinese Buddhism[0-3-0:3]Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course provides a critical survey of the basic problems and ideas of various schools of Chinese Buddhism based on an analytical study of their writings. It includes an exposition of the characteristics of Chinese Buddhism through a comparative study with Indian Buddhism.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HUMA 5842Buddhist Philosophy[3-0-0:3]Exclusion(s)MGCS 6000CDescriptionThis course provides an introduction to selected canonical and non-canonical sources of Buddhist thought and practice. It offers a critical examination of the philosophical ideas and arguments of Buddhist traditions in South Asia and East Asia and an exploration of the history of Buddhism with an emphasis on its basic doctrines, interpretive strategies, and philosophies.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HUMA 5850Taoism[3-0-0:3]DescriptionThis course introduces the students to the Taoist tradition through guiding them to the major Taoist texts, their representative commentaries, and the important scholarly works in the field.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HUMA 5900Fundamentals of Comparative Philosophy[3-0-0:3]Reading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course invites students to such comparative philosophical themes as Transcendent and Immanent, Fate and Free Will, Death and Rebirth, Faith and Reason, Spirituality and Morality, and Logic and Language.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HUMA 5901Philosophy of the Social Sciences[3-0-0:3]BackgroundStudents are expect to have some background in the humanities (e.g. history and philosophy) and social sciences.DescriptionThis is an advanced module in the philosophy of the social sciences. The students will be provided an overview of the history of the social sciences (especially sociology and economics). In addition, the module will cover some of the central debates in the philosophy of the social sciences, such as the paradigm wars, and examine some important concepts in the social sciences including ‘social mechanism’, ‘explanation’, and ‘causation’.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Grasp an overview of the historical development of the social sciences.
- 2.Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the philosophical assumptions behind the methodologies of the socials sciences.
- 3.Demonstrate an advanced understanding of key concepts in the social sciences.
- 4.Demonstrate comprehensive familiarity of central debates in the philosophy of the social sciences.
- 5.Demonstrate intellectual originality in their writing.
- 6.Consider the views of others, whether spoken or written, and develop a critique that furthers investigation.
- 7.Demonstrate their capacity to conduct extensive research and original, independent study.
- 8.Construct and evaluate methodologies and arguments as well as propose new hypotheses.
- HUMA 5902Philosophy of Biology[3-0-0:3]BackgroundStudents are expected to have some background in the humanities (e.g. philosophy) and natural sciences (e.g. biology).DescriptionThis module will provide students with the opportunity to become involved in contemporary issues in the philosophy of biology. The students will be provided an overview of the history of the biological sciences (especially evolutionary biology and genetics). In addition, the module will cover some of the central issues in the philosophy of biology, including reductionism, scientific change, level of selection, design and creationism, and examine some important concepts in the life sciences such as ‘gene’, ‘species’, and ‘causation’.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Grasp an overview of the historical development of evolutionary biology and genetics and its cultural background.
- 2.Demonstrate comprehensive familiarity and advanced understanding of central theoretical debates in the biological sciences within their cultural context.
- 3.Demonstrate an advanced understanding of key concepts in the biological sciences.
- 4.Demonstrate intellectual originality in their writing.
- 5.Consider the views of others, whether spoken or written, and develop a critique that furthers investigation.
- 6.Demonstrate their capacity to conduct extensive research and original, independent study.
- 7.Construct and evaluate methodologies and arguments as well as propose new hypotheses.
- HUMA 5930Classical Chinese Philosophy[3-0-0:3]DescriptionThis course examines the intellectual development of early Chinese by focusing on four major schools: Confucianism, Mohism, Daoism, and Legalism. This course will introduce representative philosophers in ancient China, such as Confucius, Mozi, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Hanfeizi, and Mencius. We will explore their thoughts in ethics, human nature, metaphysics, and self-cultivation. We will read translations of major texts with commentaries and interpretations.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HUMA 5950Issues in East Asian Popular Music[3-0-0:3]DescriptionIn different parts of the world, the production, consumption, and distribution of popular music are shaped by a society's distinct encounter with modernity and cultural-specific ways of negotiating it. This course will look at various popular music genres in China, Japan, and Korea, and explore issues related to the emergence of each one and their localized meanings using insights and methods from various modes of theoretical analysis.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Recognize and identify different East Asian popular music genres and styles.
- 2.Intelligently talk and write about the historical development, distinct features, performance contexts and sociocultural issues pertaining to the East Asian popular music genres and styles.
- 3.Appreciate East Asian popular music genre and styles.
- 4.Understand different theoretical approaches and perspectives and how each one is used to consider and analyze various issues relevant to popular music in different East Asian contexts.
- 5.Utilize observation and analytical skills regarding musical phenomena and their intertextual and interdisciplinary relationships with other art/cultural forms and structures.
- HUMA 6000-6003Special Topics[3-0-0:3]DescriptionCoherent collection of topics selected from the humanities. The course may be repeated for credit if the topics studied are different. (Some of the Special Topic courses 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.)Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HUMA 6100Independent Study[1-3 credit(s)]Exclusion(s)HMMA 6200DescriptionIndependent study on a particular subject under the supervision of a faculty member; requires readings, tutorial discussions, and submission of one or more research papers; may be repeated for credit if different topics are studied. Regular students are required to enroll in a 3-credit course. Enrollment in a course below 3 credits requires the Division's approval.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HUMA 6200Research Project in Humanities[0-3-0:3]Corequisite(s)HUMA 6300DescriptionThis course provides a systematic skill-based training in the production of publishable research output and an independent research project on chosen topic conducted under the supervision of the student's academic supervisor. The student is required to produce a substantial research paper at the end of semester, make an oral presentation at the Division's PG Seminar, and submit it to a journal in due course. Mandatory for PhD students in Humanities.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HUMA 6300Postgraduate Seminar[0-1-0:1]DescriptionStudents are required to register in HUMA 6300 Postgraduate Seminar for two regular terms. Students are expected to attend public lectures/seminars organized in each regular term and then present a research paper and serve as discussant in a one-day symposium to be held in the second term. Graded PP, P or F.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HUMA 6990MPhil Thesis ResearchDescriptionMaster's thesis research supervised by a faculty member. A successful defense of the thesis leads to the grade Pass. No course credit is assigned.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.
- HUMA 7990Doctoral Thesis ResearchDescriptionOriginal and independent doctoral thesis research. A successful defense of the thesis leads to the grade Pass. No course credit is assigned.Intended Learning Outcomes
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.