Undergraduate Courses 2024-25

a) Undergraduate courses marked with [BLD] or [SPO] may be offered in the mode of blended learning or self-paced online delivery respectively, subject to different offerings. Students should check the delivery mode of the class section before registration.

b) Undergraduate courses marked with [EXP] may adopt the approach of experiential learning subject to different offerings. Students should check the delivery mode of the class section before registration.

• ENVR 1001

  EVMT Orientation

  0 Credit(s)
  Description

  This is a year-long seminar series designed to help freshmen year students adapt to university life. Topics such as learning and time management skills, purpose of university education, and planning for personal and career development will be covered. For EVMT students in their first year of study only. Graded P or F.
• ENVR 1030

  Environment and Health

  3 Credit(s)
  Description

  This course is intended for UG students of all backgrounds. The course will cover concepts in environmental health including topics on outdoor and indoor environments, workplace, water and sewage, food, genetically modified organism, solid waste, communicable diseases, vectors and control, injury prevention, ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, nanomaterials, environmental health standards, monitoring methods, energy related health issues, natural and manmade disasters, etc. The discussions on each of these topics will include nature of the issue, known and potential health effects, control and regulatory approaches. Local and regional examples will be used where applicable.
• ENVR 1040

  The Environment and Society - A Comprehensive Perspective

  3 Credit(s)
  Description

  This course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the impacts of human society on the environment as well as humanity’s conservation solutions to those impacts. The class will examine environmental issues and their root causes, such as climate change, pollution, loss of common-pool resources, and deforestation, from economic, social, scientific, business and health points of view. Students will analyze and evaluate innovative conservation solutions: climate agreements, credits and markets, protected area declarations, trade constraints, and indigenous management regimes. For students in their first and second year of study or those with approval from instructor for enrolling in the course.
• ENVR 1070

  Thinking Big: Systems Thinking for Environmental Problems

  3 Credit(s)
  Description

  This course is about developing systems thinking skills to solve complex environmental problems. Systems thinking emphasizes the “big picture”, linkages and interactions. Through an activity-based course students will develop systems diagramming skills, concepts and find unconventional solutions for complex environmental problems.
• ENVR 1080

  The Smart Consumer - Uncovering the Hidden Story behind the Product Label

  3 Credit(s)
  Exclusion(s)

  CORE 1943

  Mode of Delivery

  [EXP] Experiential learning

  Description

  The choices we make in daily life - the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the products and services we use - define our lifestyle. With increasing pressure through climate change and resource constraints, many people intend to consume in a sustainable manner. But with vague “green promises,” complex ingredient lists, and opaque production processes, we often do not know what is inside the products we use and how they were made. This course will investigate everyday products and explore features that make them (un)sustainable by applying a product life-cycle approach. It will also provide insights into the factors that influence our consumption decisions and how consumer behavior can be changed. Students get the opportunity (through small exercises, activities, and discussions) to investigate about consumption in Hong Kong and explore how companies and governments can help individual consumers to make smarter, more sustainable consumption choices.
• ENVR 1150

  Climate Change Impacts and Extreme Weather Events

  3 Credit(s)
  Previous Course Code(s)

  CORE 1941

  Description

  As the extreme weather events emerge as one of the most prominent global risks, climate change and the accompanying natural disasters are no longer a side agenda, but play a critical role in maintaining sustainable societies and economies. This course aims to inspire students to take a broader perspective on environmental issues, in addition to advancing the scientific knowledge of climate change and extreme weather. To effectively achieve this purpose, the course introduces the case studies that emphasize the huge implications of extreme events (e.g. drought, flood, heat waves, typhoon) and their linkage with the warming due to greenhouse gases. This course also assesses the potential impacts of climate changes and extremes on social, economic and environmental sustainability through a multidisciplinary approach.
• ENVR 1170

  Science, Environment and Society - From Big Bang to Big Data

  3 Credit(s)
  Exclusion(s)

  CIVL 1190

  Description

  A scientific narrative of the evolution of the universe from the Big Bang all the way to the present (also known as Big History) will be introduced in this course. The course outlines how scientific methods can be used to understand the evolution of the physical, biological and social environment around us. It highlights the transdisciplinary nature of scientific knowledge, the importance of collaboration and self-critical claim testing, the accumulation of knowledge, the acceleration of technology all the way to Big Data and AI, and finally the social and environmental challenges posed by these changes. Climate change will be used as a detailed example of a complex environment and sustainability challenges in the 21st century. Students will be guided to appreciate how collaborations and system-thinking with integration and sharing of concepts across disciplines are required for addressing these challenges.
• ENVR 1811

  Environmental Management and Technology Study Trip I

  1 Credit(s)
  Description

  The course is a study trip that will provide students with the opportunity to travel with a faculty member to various study sites that have a diversity of environmental or sustainability issues and see and discuss issues at the site with practitioners. The course will require students to prepare a presentation on one particular site and write a reflective report on their experience. Approval from instructor is needed for enrolling in the course. The course may be repeated once for credit if the study sites are different. Grade P or F.
• ENVR 2001

  Academic and Professional Development I

  1 Credit(s)
  Description

  This is the first course of the series designed to assist students in developing attributes necessary for professional growth. This course is a one-year course designed to provide academic advising to students, to enhance their understanding of the latest environment topics, and to improve their communication skills. Students are required to attend discussion sessions with advisors and selected seminars. For EVMT students only. Graded P or F.
• ENVR 2002

  Special Topics in Environmental Studies

  1-4 Credit(s)
  Description

  Selected topics of current interest in environmental studies. May be repeated for credit, if the topics studied are different. Graded letter grade or P/F subject to different offerings.
• ENVR 2010

  Environmental Science Fundamentals

  3 Credit(s)
  Description

  Understanding our environment, including the ecology, biodiversity and cycles of environmental ecosystems, human environmental impacts such as climate change, energy use, chemical toxicology, waste disposal, water and air pollution; conservation; exploration of new green technologies to reduce impacts, environmental law and changes in policies to ensure sustainability. Case studies through group projects.
• ENVR 2020

  Urban Air Pollution

  3 Credit(s)
  Exclusion(s)

  CORE 2941

  Description

  The course is aimed at providing students with insights in how to deal with environmental problems and the way in which science interfaces with policies. It will cover major topics on the sources of air pollutions, air chemistry, oxidation of organic compounds and issues on control of air pollutant emissions and air quality management.
• ENVR 2030

  Material and Energy Balance for Environmental Management

  3 Credit(s)
  Exclusion(s)

  CENG 2010, CENG 2110

  Description

  Material and energy balance provides a quantitative account for materials and/or energy redistribution when changes happen. It is a tool which can be used to predict or solve practical problems like pollution control and management, product life-cycle analysis and management of resources (e.g. energy, food and water) for sustainable development. This course will introduce students to the fundamental principles of material and energy balance as applicable to environmental management. Covered topics include pollution control and treatment and industrial/building energy management. For EVMT students only.
• ENVR 2050

  Sustainability Thinking

  3 Credit(s)
  Exclusion(s)

  CORE 2942

  Mode of Delivery

  [BLD] Blended learning
  [EXP] Experiential learning

  Description

  We start with one simple question: is there something special or unique about a sustainability mindset that provides us better insights and tools for solving long-term or systemic problems? In this hands-on class we first start by challenging the traditional methods for making decisions, recognizing some typical thinking “blunders” that result in non-sustainable outcomes. We then explore several conceptual tools and skills that can help us overcome these mistakes like systems thinking, future thinking, strategic thinking, values thinking, and complex problem solving. We then test out these mental tools by working together to develop a range of potential solutions to some of Hong Kong’s most difficult sustainability challenges. This is a flipped classroom – using online learning modules in place of lectures – with class time dedicated to theme based discussions and group exercises.
• ENVR 2060

  From Trash to Treasure: Managing Waste to Resources

  3 Credit(s)
  Exclusion(s)

  CORE 2943

  Description

  The course provides students with elementary knowledge on managing municipal solid waste, specifically post‐consumer recyclable waste such as plastics, paper and cardboard, metals, glass and e‐waste in a sustainable manner. The focus is set on waste recovery, which implies to reclaim resources from waste through mechanical, technical and logistical operations. In detail, the course will cover the following aspects: First, waste generation in the international context, with particular focus on quantities and composition to highlight the impact of different socioeconomic development patterns. Second, waste management strategies at the national level including the Circular Economy waste hierarchy priorities of reduce, reuse and recycle. Third, recovery measures of collection and transfer with particular consideration of cost‐effectiveness and technical feasibility. Fourth, a comparative approach between the EU and China on systemic benefits and disadvantages. Fifth, an in‐depth evaluation of sustainable management of e‐waste and waste plastics.
• ENVR 2070

  Smart Buildings for a Warming Planet

  3 Credit(s)
  Exclusion(s)

  CORE 2944

  Mode of Delivery

  [BLD] Blended learning
  [EXP] Experiential learning

  Description

  Buildings are energy‐intensive infrastructures in urban environment. In light of the International Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC’s) reports, global warming must be limited to 1.5 deg. C. The course takes a non‐technical approach on how Smart Buildings can contribute to Zero Carbon emissions by 2050. Deployment of smart technologies (improving energy efficiencies, carbon mitigations and renewables) helps control buildings’ energy consumption and manage energy conservation resulting in ‘Smart’ or ‘Carbon Neutral’ buildings in the warming world. The significance in engaging governmental, business and social stakeholders will also be deliberated in the course for the successful provision of smart buildings in Hong Kong and internationally.
• ENVR 2080

  Circular Economy and Life Cycle Assessment

  3 Credit(s)
  Prerequisite(s)

  SUST 1000

  Description

  This course identifies the purpose of green finance as a means to promote and enable sustainable and resource-conserving economic systems. While viable benchmarks and concepts for sustainable development exist, economic decision-makers and financial institutions by and large still focus on economic profit, leaving environmental and societal sustainability outside of their cost-benefit assessments. In order to provide an alternative approach that guides financial investment towards green ventures, the course offers insights into sustainable development concepts and respective assessment mechanisms for sustainable corporate performance. These concepts and mechanisms are exemplified in the Circular Economy (CE) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which constitute increasingly important elements in sustainable development. By adopting a multidisciplinary perspective, the classes cover the fundamentals of sustainable concepts, benchmarks on how to measure sustainable performance in the economic domain (i.e., at the corporate-, meso- and system-level) and empirical cases on how green finance has and can make a difference to promote sustainable growth.
• ENVR 2090

  Environmental Laboratory

  2 Credit(s)
  Description

  This course is an integrated laboratory course designed for students in Environmental Management and Technology. Students will relate the environmental principles and theories in practice and gain hands-on experience. Students will be trained to perform basic environmental laboratory experiments, collect and handle environmental samples, operate environmental instruments, analyze and interpretate the experimental data. For EVMT students only.
• ENVR 2811

  Environmental Management and Technology Study Trip II

  1 Credit(s)
  Description

  This course is the second of two study trip courses directed at Division of Environment and Sustainability students in their second or third years of study. The course is a study trip that will provide students with the opportunity to travel with a faculty member to various study sites that have a diversity of environmental or sustainability issues and see and discuss issues at the site with practitioners. Students will prepare an in-depth presentation on one particular site and prepare a reflective report on their experience. Approval from instructor is needed for enrolling in the course. The course may be repeated once for credit if the study sites are different. Graded P or F.
• ENVR 2900

  Internship/Service Learning

  1 Credit(s)
  Description

  The internship/service learning provides students a first-hand understanding of interconnected sectors of environment, business and society. Students will be working in teams enabling them to practice teamwork, communication and professional skills. The internship is a structured professional work experience in which students can apply their knowledge to problems and situations relevant to their professional preparation. Service learning benefits students by providing the opportunity to apply knowledge and skills to improve our community and solve real-world community problems as well as civic problems. The credit may be earned part-time during summer months. Students are required to take a pre-internship/service orientation session. May be repeated for credits if different topics are taken, but the total credits may not exceed two. Instructor's approval is required for enrollment in the course. Graded P or F.
• ENVR 3001

  Academic and Professional Development II

  1 Credit(s)
  Description

  This is second course of the series designed to assist students in developing attributes necessary for professional growth. This course is a one-year course designed to provide academic advising to students, to enhance their understanding of the latest environment topics, and to improve their communication skills. Students are required to attend discussion sessions with advisors and selected seminars. For EVMT students only. Graded P or F.
• ENVR 3004

  Life Cycle Assessment

  3 Credit(s)
  Previous Course Code(s)

  ENVR 2040

  Description

  Smart and sustainable solutions are globally on the rise. Product developers, designers, engineers from all sectors use Life Cycle Assessment to use quantitative evidence to proof that their product or innovation is truly more sustainable than existing solutions. Life Cycle Assessment is one of the most commonly used tools to measure the environmental, social and financial cost of a product or system and to allow a fair comparison. In this class students will (1) learn how to assess environmental life cycle impacts and identify options for resource conservation, and pollution prevention; (2) apply methods for Life Cycle Assessment on various products and systems, interpret results and judge the associated uncertainties; (3) interpret and evaluate case examples to gain a deeper understanding of the strengths, weaknesses and appropriate use of Life Cycle Assessment; (4) learn the necessary software basics to perform a moderately complex LCA under supervision.
• ENVR 3005

  Environmental Sustainability: Risks and Challenges

  3 Credit(s)
  Prerequisite(s)

  SUST 1000

  Description

  Environmental changes, whether natural or human-induced, pose potential threats or losses to the environment and society. Called environmental risks, they can affect human health, economic development, and social stability in significant ways. Therefore, it is crucial to use scientific methods, tools, and frameworks to assess and manage these risks effectively. In this course, students will learn the concepts, principles, and methods of environmental risk assessment and management. They will also learn how to identify, quantify, assess, mitigate, and disclose environmental risks and opportunities in environmental policies, projects, or actions. Students will explore the causes, impacts, and responses of different types of environmental risks. They will also consider how these risks intersect with social justice issues, and how they can challenge and transform the power structures and inequalities that underlie environmental challenges. Finally, students will apply their knowledge and skills to real-world case studies, using various tools and frameworks, as well as understand the importance of transparent environmental risk reporting in corporate finance.
• ENVR 3010

  Special Topics in Environmental Studies

  1-4 Credit(s)
  Description

  Selected topics of current interest in environmental studies. May be repeated for credit, if the topics studied are different. Graded letter grade or P/F subject to different offerings.
• ENVR 3110

  Life Cycle Assessment for Sustainable Development

  3 Credit(s)
  Prerequisite(s)

  CIVL 1170 OR ENVR 1170

  Description

  The integration of environmental and social practices is crucial to address environmental crises, including climate change, pollution, resource scarcity and social wellbeing. Amidst the emergence of greenwashing practices that falsely claim environmental preferability, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Carbon Footprinting have become essential tools for providing quantitative evidence of a product's or system's environmental and social impact. This course takes a systems-thinking approach to sustainability issues and explores the application of LCA in a range of areas, including technology development, environmental reporting, investment, and policymaking. By doing so, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the impact of products and systems over their entire life cycle and learn how to make informed decisions to achieve sustainability goals. The course teaches students the concepts, methodology, and software skills needed to conduct LCA projects and interpret LCA reports. Students will be equipped to apply LCA to promote sustainable development in various contexts.
• ENVR 3210

  Environmental Technology for Impact Assessment

  3 Credit(s)
  Prerequisite(s)

  ENVR 2010 AND ENVR 2030

  Exclusion(s)

  CIVL 2410

  Description

  The course aims to integrate the environmental technologies with management protocols in (1) assessing the environmental qualities like air, water, noise and waste, (2) formulating abatement strategies, and (3) mitigating measures in the project cycle framework to achieve the sustainable development. Projects with low environmental impact and/or low carbon footprint will also be discussed.
• ENVR 3220

  Energy Sources and Usage

  3 Credit(s)
  Mode of Delivery

  [BLD] Blended learning

  Description

  This course provides students the opportunity to enhance their interdisciplinary understanding of different types of energy resources and their local, regional, and global use. While the focus is on specific fuels and their respective technologies and systems, the course also includes topics on energy transition, energy efficiency, and sustainable consumption. The course also embeds a critical evaluation of energy sources and use with respect to longer-range energy security concerns and contemporary environmental concerns across scales especially the climate emergency.
• ENVR 3310

  Green Business Strategy

  3 Credit(s)
  Exclusion(s)

  MGMT 3160

  Description

  This is a course about new strategic opportunities arising from environmental risks. Public and regulatory demand for environmental products and services must co-exist with the corporate institutions of maximizing shareholder wealth. This course examines both the theoretical and practical issues that arise in attempting to balance the health of the natural environment with value creation. Is there an inherent conflict between the institutions of business and our ability to care for the environment? What competitive opportunities are created for firms and what do they have to do to seize these opportunities? The lessons from the course will be of interest to both students of strategy and the environment.
• ENVR 3410

  Economics for Environmental Policy and Management

  3 Credit(s)
  Prerequisite(s)

  ECON 2103 OR ECON 2113 OR ECON 3113

  Exclusion(s)

  ECON 4454

  Description

  This course examines the economic theories behind environmental policy-making. Key concepts include externalities, common resources, market failures, polluter pays principle, and free market environmentalism. Several methods of non-market valuation of environmental goods are illustrated with real-world examples. Basic game theory is applied to understand the logic of collective actions. Throughout the course, the emphasis is on fostering an intuitive understanding of the topics from an economist’s point of view.
• ENVR 3420

  Environmental Law and Regulations

  3 Credit(s)
  Description

  The course will provide students with the basic legal concepts which include the hierarchy of courts in Hong Kong, the difference between civil and criminal proceedings, their possible redresses or remedies available from the courts, and the relationship between environmental science and law within the environmental law regime. Important provisions of the basic environmental legislation in Hong Kong, environmental prosecution policy of Hong Kong and how to investigate a judicial review against a ministerial decision relating to the environment will also be covered in the course.
• ENVR 4000

  Special Topics in Environmental Studies

  1-4 Credit(s)
  Description

  Selected topics of current interest in environmental studies. May be repeated for credit, if the topics studied are different. Graded letter grade or P/F subject to different offerings.
• ENVR 4001

  Academic and Professional Development III

  1 Credit(s)
  Description

  This is the third course of the series designed to assist students in developing attributes necessary for professional growth. This course is a 2-semester course designed to provide academic advising to students, to enhance their understanding of the latest environment topics, and to improve their communication skills. Students are required to attend discussion sessions with advisors and selected seminars. For EVMT students only. Graded P or F.
• ENVR 4010

  Independent Study in Environment Issues

  1-4 Credit(s)
  Description

  Faculty directed independent study of selected topics in Environmental issues. For EVMT students and students with consent from the instructor. Graded letter grade or P/F subject to different offerings.
• ENVR 4320

  ESG Management and Reporting

  3 Credit(s)
  Exclusion(s)

  ACCT 3630

  Mode of Delivery

  [BLD] Blended learning

  Description

  This course examines key frameworks for organizations to report their ESG performance. Following a flipped classroom (blended learning) approach, students are guided to collect corporate ESG data, comment on quality of ESG reporting, discuss issues on ESG disclosure, and study real-world cases of how various organizations manage their climate related financial risk. Throughout the course, the emphasis is on collective learning via division of labour: each student group presents their findings on ESG reporting and management in a specific industry, so that the whole class learn about a wide array of industries from their peers.
• ENVR 4330

  Environmental Geographical Information System

  3 Credit(s)
  Exclusion(s)

  ENVR 5330, EVSM 5240

  Description

  This course will cover a board spectrum of concepts and practices in Geographical Information System (GIS). It starts with the fundamental concepts and elements in geographic science and technology. Spatial data modeling and integration methods will then be discussed followed by various geospatial analysis approaches for both vector and raster data. Cartographic principles, spatial relationships, projection and coordinate systems will be discussed in-depth. During the course, students will be introduced to contemporary GIS software and apply GIS technology to support local and regional environmental planning and management. For EVMT students and students with consent from the instructor.
• ENVR 4340

  Social Sustainability: Risks and Challenges

  3 Credit(s)
  Prerequisite(s)

  SUST 1000

  Description

  Social sustainability is the least defined and least understood of the different ways of approaching sustainability. Nevertheless, reflecting on countries or regions where internal conflicts are fierce, it is clear that environmental or economic sustainability would be difficult without social stability or sustainability. In this course, referencing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) championed by the United Nations, we shall examine the challenges regarding social sustainabilities. This course shall first provide a review of the SDGs, highlighting the SDGs related to social sustainability and using them to discuss how their progress is measured and improved in various counties. The course shall also discuss existing and emerging challenges to social sustainability and the risks and impacts when countries fail to improve upon these goals. Case studies and quantitative analyses will be used as much as possible.
• ENVR 4350

  Governing Green Finance: National and International Perspectives and Approaches

  3 Credit(s)
  Prerequisite(s)

  SUST 1000 AND ENVR 3005 AND ENVR 4340

  Description

  This course covers the study of the instruments of green finance and the organizations and/or institutions that design, implement, and monitors them, in short, the actors of and the dynamics in the governance of green finance. The course offers students an opportunity to review, evaluate, assess, appraise, and critique the various approaches and perspectives around the instruments, institutions, and challenges of green finance, nationally, regionally, and internationally. The course uses examples from cities, national governments, countries/states, regional institutions, and the United Nations to illustrate the processes of governing green finance. Using an interdisciplinary lens, the course uses concepts from public administration, public policy, international relations, development studies, science and technology studies, and human geography to shed light and bring out a critical analysis of the multiple actors and institutions of green finance governance, and their interests. This interactive course heavily relies on the learners’ active engagement in class activities through pair or small-group discussions, role plays, and debates.
• ENVR 4470

  Air Quality Control and Management

  3 Credit(s)
  Alternate code(s)

  CIVL 4470

  Description

  Historical and health impact studies related to air pollution. Atmospheric stability and its impact on the transport and dispersion of pollutants. Sources of major air pollutants. Comparison of urban, industrial and transport related air pollution issues, using Hong Kong and Pearl River Delta as examples. Control of stationary and mobile emission sources. Air quality management - framework, policy tools and comparison of different approaches.
• ENVR 4480

  Climate Modeling and Risk Assessment

  3 Credit(s)
  Alternate code(s)

  CIVL 4480

  Prerequisite(s)

  MATH 1003 OR MATH 1012 OR MATH 1013 OR MATH 1020 OR MATH 1023

  Description

  Climate models are the complex mathematical representation of the major climate system components (e.g. atmosphere, ocean, land surface, etc) and their interactions. Climate models have proved to be the most valuable tools in understanding climate processes that determine the response of the climate system to anthropogenic forcings, such as increases in greenhouse gases concentrations and land use changes. This course provides an introduction to the physical principles of climate model as well as all procedures related to climate modeling. Some classes will be taught in the computer laboratory, where students will perform their own simulations using web-based climate model and analyze the results. In addition, this course explores the challenge of understanding and managing the risks of climate extremes.
• ENVR 4800

  Environmental Management and Technology Seminar

  1 Credit(s)
  Description

  This is a year-long seminar series presented by faculty members and guest speakers on selected topics in environmental management and technology. For EVMT students only. Graded P or F.
• ENVR 4980

  Environmental Management and Technology Capstone Project I

  3 Credit(s)
  Description

  Each EVMT student is required to complete a capstone project before graduation. This is the first course of a two-term project in which the student can synthesize and apply knowledge from their courses. The project is conducted under the supervision of a faculty member.
• ENVR 4990

  Environmental Management and Technology Capstone Project II

  3 Credit(s)
  Prerequisite(s)

  ENVR 4980

  Description

  Continuation of ENVR 4980.