Undergraduate Courses 2025-26
SOSC
Social Science
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. For undergraduate courses, alternative English reading materials may be provided.
c) Some courses may use different medium of instruction/materials, either in Chinese or English, for different sections. They will be denoted by a combination of [CA], [PU], [C] and [EN]. Students will need to check the medium of instruction/materials to be used before course enrollment.
d) 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.
- SOSC 1000-1010Special Topics1-4 Credit(s)DescriptionFocuses on a coherent collection of topics selected from social science. May be repeated for credit, if the topics studied are different. May be graded by letter, P/F for different offerings.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Equip with broad and useful knowledge to various topics which are not covered by existing courses.
- 2.(Each offering under the umbrella will have specific learning outcomes.)
- SOSC 1050Introduction to Social Science Research3 Credit(s)DescriptionThis course is designed to assist students in developing a basic understanding of qualitative and quantitative data analysis and interpretation in the social sciences. Background knowledge of statistics is not required for taking this course. This course offers a broad overview of principles in research design and introduces some fundamental research methods. The course covers the logic of research question, framing of research story, and selection of research techniques such as survey, experimentation, and quantitative analysis. The course serves as an introduction to research, helping translate general research interests into a well-defined research question, design a study to investigate it and interpret the results to give research/political inferences. Enrolment is restricted to students admitted to BSc in Quantitative Social Analysis from 2022-23 and onwards.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Understand the types of research questions and social phenomena that are able to be addressed using standard social science research techniques.
- 2.Identify the differences in norms and practices between the major social science disciplines with respect to the application of standard research techniques.
- 3.Identify exemplary studies that have advanced our current understanding of important social phenomena.
- 4.Apply their understanding of best practices in social analysis to new problems and questions.
- SOSC 1100Quantitative Data Analysis for Social Research I3 Credit(s)Mode of Delivery[BLD] Blended learningDescriptionThis course focuses on practical aspects and implementation of social data analysis by introducing basic yet hands-on techniques for presenting, analyzing, and interpreting quantitative data, many of which are rarely taught in a regular statistics course. It is deliberately designed as complementary to a formal and theoretically-oriented introductory statistics course. This course introduces basic knowledge about quantitative data analysis from a social scientific perspective, from data generating processes to causal inference. Devoted computing sessions, a signature feature of the course, demonstrate hands-on techniques, such as data extraction, data management, variable manipulation, and descriptive analysis. Students will have the chance to implement ideas and methods from the lectures through in-class exercises, as well as a project, by applying what they learn to real-world data. Upon completion of the course, students should have acquired useful skills for social data analysis as well as a better understanding of quantitative social scientific research. Not to be taken by students admitted to BSc Quantitative Social Analysis from 2022-23 and onwards.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Learn how to design and conduct a statistical analysis to explore a social issue by connecting between theory, survey, and data analysis
- 2.Develop more confidence and appreciation in using statistics to describe and clarify apparently unclear relationships among socioeconomic factors
- 3.Use SPSS effectively for managing and analyzing socioeconomic data and presenting outcomes in a reader friendly way
- SOSC 1110Data Analysis for Quantitative Social Research3 Credit(s)DescriptionThis course focuses on practical aspects and implementation of social data analysis by introducing basic techniques for presenting, analysis, and interpreting quantitative data, to Quantitative Social Analysis major students. This course is deliberately designed as complementary to formal and theory-based introductory statistical courses and substantive and history-based social science courses. This course introduces basic knowledge about quantitative data analysis from a social scientific perspective, from data generating processes to causal inference. Devoted computing sessions, a signature feature of this course, demonstrate hands-on techniques, such as data extraction, data management, variable manipulation, and descriptive analysis. Students will have the chance to implement ideas and methods from the lectures through in-class exercises, as well as a project, by applying what they learn from real-world data. Upon completion of this course, students should have acquired useful skills for social data analysis as well as better understanding of social science research. Enrolment is restricted to students admitted to BSc in Quantitative Social Analysis from 2022-23 and onwards.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Obtain basic knowledge about quantitative data analysis from a social scientific perspective
- 2.Conduct computer-based data extraction, data management, variable manipulation, and descriptive analysis
- 3.Acquire statistical skills that can be appliable to real-world data
- SOSC 1190China and the World: China's Development in Historical and Comparative Perspectives3 Credit(s)DescriptionIn order to help the students better understand the causes and consequences of the economic development in contemporary China, this course examines this phenomenon from both historical and comparative perspectives. The course starts by reviewing the formation of a vibrant market economy in China from 1700 onward and introduces progress made in the studies of Chinese economic history. The key concepts for the students to grasp include diminishing returns, market economy, global trade, as well as regional division of labor, and causes of industrial revolution. This historical background is important to view the socio-economic characteristics of the pre-1949 Chinese society and their relevance to modern economic growth. This course also exposes the students to the basic concepts and analytic tools in political economy such as market economy, the state, conflict of interests, correlation and causality, and selection bias. This illustrates the importance of causal explanations in social scientific inquiry.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Explain the changing pattern in state-market interactions in China between 1700-1911
- 2.Apply basic analytical skills in critical reasoning such as reverse causality, evaluation of alternative explanations, and how to isolate causes by comparison
- 3.Discuss China in a broader comparative perspective
- SOSC 1270International Law3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 1770DescriptionPublic international law (IL) is based on rules for relations among states (countries), as well as the human rights of people. It covers almost every aspect of human activity and is mainly studied by analyzing legal cases and international agreements (treaties). The topics in an introductory IL course are the same everywhere in the world. The cases used are mostly the “classics” that established the principles of IL. Most topics involve current events of world-wide importance.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Explain the topics affected by international law, e.g. law of the: environment, sea, armed conflict, etc.
- 2.Describe and explain media articles that have an international law aspect
- 3.Analyze, orally or in writing, social, economic and international relations issues affected by international law
- 4.Apply basic legal reasoning
- SOSC 1300The World of Politics3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)SOSC 1309DescriptionThis course is designed to provide a general understanding of political science as a field of study and to review the basic features and problems of political systems, processes, and international relations.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Assess the impact of political theories and ideologies on political movements and events
- 2.Explain different types of political institutions and policy making processes
- 3.Discuss different patterns of political economy and development policies
- 4.Identify major issues in international relations and assess the impact of globalization on politics
- SOSC 1309Making Sense of Government and Politics3 Credit(s)Previous Course Code(s)CORE 1710Exclusion(s)SOSC 1300DescriptionThis course introduces students to the fundamentals of government and politics. The first part of the course examines political theory which seeks to evaluate and justify political issues through the study of concepts and ideologies. The second part of the course examines comparative politics which seeks to understand and explain political phenomena through the study of actors, institutions, and their dynamics. Students will benefit with the essential knowledge, skills, and attitude for making sense of various matters related to government and politics in the real world.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Describe the key concepts and theories in political theory and comparative politics
- 2.Apply concepts and theories in discussing issues in political theory and comparative politics
- 3.Formulate independent and critical judgments in the study of politics
- SOSC 1350Contemporary China: Continuity and Change3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)SOSC 1359DescriptionThis course introduces students to the major developments and changes in China since 1949 from a multidisciplinary social science perspective. It reviews the transformative and developmental strategies in the spheres of politics, economics, society and external relations during that historical epoch. It critically examines change and continuity over three periods, namely 1949-1977 or the Mao years, 1978-1989, the earlier reform and open-up years, and 1989-present, the post-Tiananmen years.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Describe the major political, economic and social developments in contemporary China in their own words
- 2.Summarize the external relations of contemporary China
- 3.Interpret and analyze the significance of the major events and changes in the recent history of China in the light of social science concepts and perspectives
- 4.Discuss and understand current affairs in China
- SOSC 1359China: Development and Transformations3 Credit(s)Previous Course Code(s)CORE 1730Exclusion(s)SOSC 1350DescriptionThis course introduces students to the study of contemporary China from the perspective of social science. It critically examines the major transformations, government and politics, economic change, social change, and cultural change of contemporary China since 1949. Students will benefit with the knowledge of the major developments of contemporary China as well as the skills for analyzing the on-going social and economic change in China.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Recall and explain the basic facets of the PRC’s politics, economic life, society and culture since 1949
- 2.Articulate the importance of a critical and independent examination of the major events in China’s development
- 3.Analyze the current affairs in the country and participate in fruitful discussions and debates
- SOSC 1400Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 1740DescriptionThe Greater Bay Area (GBA) has become the world’s largest urban area. In less than forty years the region transformed from a backwater to an engine of advanced manufacturing and services. It has lifted millions of people out of poverty, provided homes and communities, and become a node in a global network of megacity regions responsible for much of the world’s economic dynamism. Yet, aspirations are higher. Government, businesses, and others want to harness the region’s synergies to compete with other highly developed bay areas. Becoming an innovative high quality living region is the goal. To understand the region’s successes and challenges, the course examines the GBA’s evolution through the agglomeration processes of external economies, governance and urbanization. These processes led the GBA’s development and will determine its future - in terms of continued economic development and more importantly in terms of the wellbeing of the GBA’s people.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Describe the various actors, institutions and natural endowments that have influenced the GBA’s development
- 2.Explain how key agglomeration processes have shaped economic, social, and sustainable development
- 3.Compare and contrast different development patterns within the GBA and between the GBA and other megacities in China and elsewhere
- 4.Describe, analyze and present findings based on the materials provided by the instructor
- SOSC 1420Poverty3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 1720DescriptionThis course aims to make students gain familiarity with poverty issues including poverty measurement, underlying causes of poverty, the impact of poverty on society and government programs and policies that address poverty. We will illustrate principles with real-world applications. Though the course discusses poverty in a broad context of developing and developed countries, an extra emphasis will be put on poverty related issues in Hong Kong and mainland China.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Describe and synthesize core concepts and principles used to study poverty
- 2.Analyze and discuss poverty related issues critically
- 3.Demonstrate independent thinking and suggest potential policies to reduce poverty in various contexts
- SOSC 1440Introduction to Economics3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)ECON 2103, ECON 2113, ECON 2123, ECON 3113, ECON 3133, SOSC 1449DescriptionThis course provides an overview of both microeconomics and macroeconomics. It demonstrates how tools of economics can be applied for analyzing socioeconomic changes and the effects of government policies. Topics for the applications are China-related and carry global relevance.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Apply economic tools to analyze real-life social issues
- 2.Interpret data on major indices of the economy
- 3.Critically judge the claims of politicians and other policy makers regarding policy effects
- SOSC 1449Understanding Our Economy3 Credit(s)Previous Course Code(s)CORE 1810Exclusion(s)ECON 2123, ECON 3123, SOSC 1440DescriptionThis course introduces students to the fundamental principles of economics, in particular the determination of macroeconomic variables – output, employment, and prices – and the policy tools (and choices) used to (try to) achieve particular outcomes, over different time horizons. Special attention is being paid to current economic events in Hong Kong and globally.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Describe and explain the logic of economic reasoning
- 2.Apply basic economic analysis to explain and predict economic outcomes
- 3.Describe and explain economic issues and events
- 4.Critically evaluate discussions of economic issues
- SOSC 1470The Economic and Political Development of Modern Japan3 Credit(s)DescriptionThe rapid economic modernization and building of a modern state in Japan after the Meiji Restoration of 1868 has long been considered a typical case of successful economic and political development. Japan’s success has been attributed to its whole-hearted efforts of “learning from the west”. In the meantime, Japan’s colonial expansion after 1895 and particularly after 1905 has also been characterized as “learning from the west”, in this case, imperialism. Japan did establish a constitutional monarchy in 1891. In 1925, it became the first country in East Asia to achieve universal male suffrage, a crucial measure of democracy in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. How did Japan build a system of imperial democracy before 1930? Why did democracy not consolidate in Japan but instead be replaced by military fascism after 1937? This course will resolve this puzzle by examining Japan’s history of economic and political development.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Comprehend the contribution of tradition to modernization
- 2.Identify diverse factors contributing to economic development
- 3.Analyze the interactions between economic development and political change
- 4.Apply critical thinking and a historical perspective to examine Japan’s relationship with China
- SOSC 1510Politics Through Film3 Credit(s)DescriptionThis course discusses key concepts in politics using films as course materials. Movies illustrate human lives and feelings in a dramatic way, which often allows us to experience historical events or lives in the other side of the world indirectly. The purpose of this course is to provide an overview of the field of political science and key events in political history by watching movies describing them. Often political concepts such as state, democracy, dictatorship, repression and protest, representation, and election, are considered too abstract or too complicated. Addressing those concepts through movies will allow students to understand those concepts with living examples and empathy. The course explores important political topics and themes including political power and election, democracy, protest and repression, media, corruption, and war. By watching movies, attending lectures, and participating in discussions, students not only learn these concepts but also understand that political issues are part of our society and history and have a substantial influence on individual's life.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Analyze political phenomena from the social science perspectives
- 2.Know the basic philosophical and historical concepts in political science
- 3.Identify factors contributing to political and social changes
- 4.Understand political and historical implications of major events in history
- SOSC 1662Contemporary Hong Kong Society3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 1862, SOSC 1661 (prior to 2021-22)Mode of Delivery[SPO] Self-paced online deliveryDescriptionA sociologically informed examination of Hong Kong society. Topics include social change, political, economic and gender inequalities, the movement for democracy, popular culture, identity, intimacy, and family life.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Understand a variety of social issues in Hong Kong by applying sociological thinking skills
- 2.Analyze Hong Kong using the sociological perspectives developed
- 3.Understand the presence of people and issues that students would not normally be familiar with (e.g., ethnic minority groups and inequalities)
- SOSC 1700What Is Democracy?3 Credit(s)DescriptionThis course introduces classic theories of democracy from ancient Greece to the contemporary world. It examines both normative justification and reasoned critiques of democracy. It will discuss the normative foundations of democracy, the relationship between individual rights and rule by majority; the procedural and substantive aspects of democracy, and how to conceptualize the common good or public interest in democracy. It encourages students to apply the knowledge of democracy learnt in class to critically evaluate existing political systems and diverse social issues that they face in everyday life. Through in-depth examination of democracy as a normative value, this course will also encourage students to reflect the implications of democracy as a theory to various practical socio-political issues in today’s world.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Explain the classic and contemporary theories of democracy
- 2.Apply critical reasoning and critical thinking to evaluate the value of democracy
- 3.Apply critical reasoning and critical thinking to understand and respond to critiques of democracy
- 4.Develop the skills of critical reasoning and critical thinking in normative issues
- 5.Apply the norms of democracy to evaluate existing political systems in the world
- SOSC 1780Population and Development in China3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 1780DescriptionThis course aims to provide comprehensive understanding of population growth, distribution, major demographic processes, and their relationship with economic development. Special attention is given to the demographic trends and policies in China in the context of the nation’s socioeconomic development.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Describe demographic changes in China and the world
- 2.Calculate basic demographic indicators and analyze trends of demographic changes
- 3.Apply demographic and socioeconomic theories to explain population changes and economic development in China and the world
- SOSC 1840Government, Law and Society in China3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 1840DescriptionThis course introduces to students the basic knowledge about the operation of the Chinese legal system or legal institutions. It examines how laws are used in the social, economic, and political activities of the Chinese people. The course focuses not on the Chinese laws per se but on how laws are used in people’s daily lives. Examples or cases will be used extensively in the course to illustrate the topics included. Major topics discussed in the course include the interactions between legal institutions and the party‐state (i.e., the party and the government), the behavior of legal workers (e.g., judges, police officers), citizens’ use of civil lawsuits and administrative litigation, and some important mechanisms through which citizens or other social actors seek justice in China.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Describe and explain Chinese political and economic institutions
- 2.Describe and explain the Chinese legal system
- 3.Analyze the operation of Chinese legal institutions, their evolution, their features, as well as the dynamics of change
- 4.Examine legal cases in light of the legal, political, economic, and cultural contexts
- SOSC 1850Understanding Society3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)SOSC 1859Mode of Delivery[SPO] Self-paced online deliveryDescriptionThis course will help students appreciate the power of the sociological imagination in understanding their everyday lives. This is an age in which we tend to explain human behavior in terms of our individual achievements, personalities, and even our genetic make-up. The sociologist, however, looks at human behavior as the product of groups, organizations and culture. In order to master this sociological outlook, the course shall examine a number of topics central to our lives from the point of view of sociological perspectives and methods. These topics will include: culture, deviance, inequality, religion, education, social change and development, gender, intimate relations and the family, and power and politics.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Understand and explain basic sociological ideas
- 2.Apply sociological thinking to contemporary social issues
- 3.Evaluate various sociological perspectives
- SOSC 1859Exploring Society3 Credit(s)Previous Course Code(s)CORE 1850Exclusion(s)SOSC 1850DescriptionThis course will help students explore various aspects of social life through the lens of sociology. It looks at human behavior as the product of groups, institutions and culture. In order to master this sociological outlook, the course shall examine a number of topics central to our lives from the point of view of sociological perspectives and methods. These topics will include: culture, deviance, inequality, religion, education, gender, the family, and power and politics.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Explain and elaborate the basic sociological ideas
- 2.Apply sociological thinking to contemporary social issues
- 3.Evaluate a few different sociological perspectives
- SOSC 1860Population and Society3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 1860Mode of Delivery[BLD] Blended learningDescriptionThis blended learning course introduces the main measures and concepts in the field of international population studies, contemporary issues concerning the interrelationships between population and social and economic development, and examples of applications of a knowledge of population to wider social concerns, and shows how they relate to issues of concern in research, planning and policy development.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Explain demographic concepts and methods in their own words
- 2.Evaluate interrelationships between population and social and economic development based on provided demographic data
- 3.Explain demographic concepts in the context of wider social concerns and discuss their implications
- SOSC 1960Introduction to Psychology3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)SOSC 1969DescriptionThis course examines human thinking and behavior processes from a psychological perspective and illustrates the relevance of psychological insights to the betterment of society. It is designed to help students acquire a basic understanding of psychology as a scientific discipline and prepare them for more advanced psychology courses in the future.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Recognize some fundamental scientific concepts about human mind and behavior
- 2.Analyze human performance and well-being in various social settings with reference to these concepts
- 3.Explain how scientific research on human mind and behavior is conducted
- SOSC 1969Discovering Mind and Behavior3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)SOSC 1960DescriptionThis course introduces the fundamental scientific knowledge about human thinking and behavior processes and illustrates the relevance of this knowledge to the betterment of human performance and well-being in a wide variety of settings in society.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Describe some fundamental scientific concepts about human mind and behavior
- 2.Analyze human performance and well-being in various social settings with reference to different psychological concepts
- 3.Explain how scientific research on human mind and behavior is conducted
- 4.Articulate, evaluate, and reflect on how psychology concepts explain emotion and behavior through self-reflection and self-understanding
- SOSC 1980Psychology of Personal Growth3 Credit(s)DescriptionThis course introduces major challenges of adjustment individuals face during their transition to adulthood from a psychological perspective. Topics include self-concept, emotion, coping, romantic love, interpersonal relationships, and workplace issues.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Be familiar with the key classical and contemporary studies pertinent to personal growth and development
- 2.Be able to understand, relate, and apply the key psychology concepts in everyday life
- 3.Be able to identify a potential problem, research and analyze the pertinent information, and devise an action plan to deal with the problem
- SOSC 1990Research Methods in Psychological Science3 Credit(s)DescriptionThis course introduces students to the basic research principles in psychological science. It evaluates various research designs and statistical analyses, and discusses relevant ethical issues encountered in studying human behaviors. Priority will be given to students of the Psychological and Behavioural Science Minor programs.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Recognize the basic research principles in psychological science
- 2.Evaluate various research designs and statistical analyses commonly used in research on psychological science
- 3.Understand the professional ethics in the research and practice of psychological science
- 4.Demonstrate skills of scientific reasoning, effective research methods, and problem solving
- 5.Demonstrate the ability to critically read, summarize, interpret, and evaluate information regarding behavioral phenomena and social issues
- 6.Demonstrate the ability to present, discuss, and explain knowledge about psychological science with clarity in both oral and written forms
- SOSC 2000Special Topics1-4 Credit(s)DescriptionFocuses on a coherent collection of topics selected from social science. May be repeated for credit, if the topics studied are different. May be graded by letter, P/F for different offerings.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Equip with broad and useful knowledge to various topics which are not covered by existing courses.
- 2.(Each offering under the umbrella will have specific learning outcomes.)
- SOSC 2130Education and Society3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 2730DescriptionThe course will initiate a sociologically informed conversation about formal education. What social and organizational forces have shaped current educational practices, and how can they be reformed? How does schooling perpetuate inequalities? Why do boys perform so poorly compared to girls in schools? How can ethnic minorities be better served in educational systems? What is the role of the humanities and creativity in education? Why do people now question the value of higher education? What is the future of education? To answer these questions, students will be encouraged to reflect upon their own educational experiences, read sociological accounts of education and participate in contemporary debates about education at all levels in Hong Kong and across cultures.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Understand the larger social forces that shape their own educational experiences
- 2.Analyze current institutional arrangements in the school system and evaluate other possibilities
- 3.Understand how inequalities operate – social class, gender, racial - in the education system
- 4.Critically evaluate educational reforms
- SOSC 2140Research Methods in the Social Sciences3 Credit(s)Mode of Delivery[BLD] Blended learningDescriptionThe course is designed to assist students in developing a basic understanding of qualitative and quantitative data analysis and interpretation in the social sciences. Background knowledge of statistics is not required for taking this course. Not to be taken by students admitted to BSc Quantitative Social Analysis from 2022-23 and onwards.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Gain a comprehensive understanding of quantitative and qualitative social scientific research methods.
- 2.Develop practical skills in conducting real-world social scientific research.
- 3.Learn basic skills of reading and appreciating and writing social scientific papers.
- SOSC 2210Social Psychology3 Credit(s)Prerequisite(s)SOSC 1960 OR SOSC 1980 OR SOSC 1969DescriptionThis course introduces the fundamental concepts and theories in social psychology, a scientific field of study that seeks to understand the nature and causes of individuals' thinking and behavior in social situations.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Understand the fundamental concepts and theories in social psychology.
- 2.Demonstrate their familiarity with the key classical and contemporary studies in social psychology.
- 3.Evaluate research studies in social psychology.
- 4.Generate insightful thoughts about our relationship with other people and the society where we live.
- SOSC 2240Biological Psychology3 Credit(s)Prerequisite(s)SOSC 1960 OR SOSC 1980 OR SOSC 1969DescriptionThis course provides an introduction to the biological approach to psychology. Comparative studies on non-human animals and the issue of genetic inheritance of behavior will be discussed. Emphasis will be placed on key principles of human nervous system function and how they are reflected in human thoughts and behavior. Key topics covered include the organization of the brain, the visual system, how learning and memory occur in the brain, and the cognitive and behavioral consequences of brain injury and disease.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Describe major signaling mechanisms, structures, and pathways of the human nervous system from functional perspectives
- 2.Analyze the relationship between different functional systems of the human brain and mind and behavior
- 3.Analyze the implications of brain damages on cognitive and behavioral output
- 4.Describe methods used in brain research and analyze their advantages and limitations
- 5.Identify the limitations of the biological approach to psychology and the limitations of current knowledge about the relationship between brain activity and mental function
- SOSC 2250Cognitive Psychology3 Credit(s)Prerequisite(s)SOSC 1960 OR SOSC 1980 OR SOSC 1969DescriptionCognitive Psychology explores mental processes, including perception, attention, memory, language processing, and problem-solving, through the methods used by psychologists. This course introduces basic concepts, theories, research findings, and new developments in studying how people acquire, store, and use information and knowledge. Methods and skills in investigating cognitive processes will also be discussed. Students are expected to gain experience in conducting cognitive psychology experiments and writing laboratory reports.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Understand the major concepts, findings, and theories in cognitive psychology and appreciating its values
- 2.Apply skills and experience in conducting research in cognitive psychology
- 3.Develop critical thinking skills to evaluate empirical evidence
- 4.Apply the knowledge about cognition to enhance performance in daily life
- 5.Demonstrate effective communication through written and oral presentation
- SOSC 2260Counselling Psychology3 Credit(s)Prerequisite(s)SOSC 1960 OR SOSC 1969 OR SOSC 1980DescriptionThis course explores emotional, social, vocational, and health-related challenges individuals face throughout life. By integrating psychological theories, counselling techniques, and practical applications, it aims to enhance well-being and promote personal growth. Students will engage with various therapeutic methods, assessment techniques, and ethical considerations in diverse cultural contexts. Emphasizing interpersonal skills, resilience, and self-reflection, the course prepares students to be empathetic communicators who can positively impact their communities. Through hands-on experience and coursework, students will navigate mental health complexities for personal and professional development.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of fundamental psychological theories, counselling techniques, and concepts related to mental health, emotional well-being, and human behavior.
- 2.Effectively apply foundational counselling techniques, such as active listening, empathy, and reflective questioning, to support personal growth and assist peers in informal settings.
- 3.Engage in critical self-reflection to foster greater self-awareness of personal mental health challenges and development needs.
- 4.Understand societal issues related to mental health, including stigma and access to care, and develop the ability to advocate for mental health awareness and support within their communities.
- 5.Practice effective communication through written and oral presentations.
- SOSC 2290Understanding Globalization3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)SOSC 2299DescriptionThis course aims to help students learn theories and debates about globalization. The focus will be on economic, political, cultural, and social aspects of globalization. Students will discuss the process and impact of globalization in its various aspects.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Explain different theoretical perspectives on globalization and apply them to the real world examples
- 2.Discuss the causes of globalization and evaluate the impact of globalization on the markets, politics, and culture
- 3.Discuss how globalization influences China and China`s role in the globalized world
- SOSC 2299The Rise and Fall of Globalization3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)SOSC 2290DescriptionWe live in a deeply integrated and interdependent world. Globalization has boosted the growth of the world economy and improved living standards in many parts of the world. We are also facing great challenges and risks arising from globalization. What are the driving forces behind globalization? To what extent does globalization shape the global economic and political order? This course is devoted to understanding the causes and consequences of globalization and exposes students to the major debates on globalization.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Explain and discuss the basic concepts and major theoretical debates concerning globalization
- 2.Identify different viewpoints and arguments surrounding a particular issue, analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each perspective, and develop informed opinions based on rigorous analysis and evaluatio
- 3.Analyze and discuss a range of critical global issues that are currently being debated by understand the historical, economic, political, and social factors that contribute to these issues
- SOSC 2310Introductory Environmental and Health Economics3 Credit(s)DescriptionThis course introduces students to basic theories and findings in environmental and health economics. The emphasis is on how the economic models and concepts can be used to analyze environmental and health issues. The course begins with an introduction of theoretical economic concepts and models; then it moves on to several policy-relevant environmental and health topics. Particular issues include externality, common goods and public goods, valuation of environmental goods and health, market failure and health, environmental regulations, pollution and health, and the economics of climate change. For students in their first and second year of study or those with approval from instructor for enrolling in the course.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Understand economic models related to environmental and health issues
- 2.Use economic models to explain and analyze environmental and health issues
- 3.Valuation of environmental goods and health, conduct benefit-cost analysis
- 4.Analyze environmental and health policies using economics models
- 5.Apply the knowledge learned in class to analyze new environmental and health issues
- SOSC 2330Environmental Politics and Policy3 Credit(s)Previous Course Code(s)SOSC 2000DExclusion(s)CORE 2830Mode of Delivery[BLD] Blended learningDescriptionThis course introduces the various ideas, actors and institutions in environmental politics, as well as their dynamics in shaping environmental policy. The first part of the course presents the competing theoretical foundations for environmental politics and discusses the major forms of collective action. The second part analyzes government's policy responses to environmental activism in the context of capitalist political economy. Students will benefit from the perspectives into managing environmental sustainability through democratic politics and reflecting on the relationship between nature and society.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Explain the key ideas and issues in environmental politics and policy
- 2.Analyze the roles and impacts of actors and institutions in environmental activism and policy making
- 3.Apply concepts and theories to evaluate the debates in environmental politics and policy
- 4.Exercise independent and critical judgements in politics and policy as well as formulate and communicate political and policy arguments effectively
- SOSC 2400Quantitative Data Analysis for Social Research II3 Credit(s)Prerequisite(s)SOSC 1100 OR SOSC 1110DescriptionThis course introduces applied analysis of survey, administrative and other types of data of interest to social science researchers. The course is divided into two parts. The first part deals with statistical inference involved in survey data analysis from a practical perspective. The focus will be on the specification of models including choice of control variables, the interpretation of results, handling missing data, and the challenges posed by reverse causality, omitted variable bias, endogeneity, and other issues that commonly arise in the analysis of social data. The second part introduces analytical strategies for “unconventional” data types, such as social network, web data, and plain texts. Special attention will be given to challenges to social scientists regarding data extraction, data integration, and visualization.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Demonstrate proficiency in and apply core principles of statistical inference to conduct sophisticated quantitative analyses of social science data.
- 2.Effectively employ R programming techniques for data manipulation, statistical analysis, and compelling visualization to address and interpret social questions.
- 3.Formulate and substantiate rigorous, data-driven arguments to address complex social questions, critically evaluating the statistical methodologies and data sources employed.
- 4.Critically evaluate, quantify and interpret the uncertainty inherent in statistical analyses.
- SOSC 2740Gender and Society3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 2740DescriptionEvery aspect of social life is gendered. The purpose of this course is to help students develop a sociological mindfulness in order to appreciate this. That is, we will explore gender as the product of culture, groups and organizations and pay attention to behaviors and ways of thinking that are so taken-for-granted that we often fail to question them, with an eye to examining gender inequalities. Topics will include education, gendered social movements, men and women in the workplace, intimate relationships, family and sexuality (including LGBT), gender, science, technology and innovation, gendered violence and gender in the global economy. The focus of our discussions will be on gender in Hong Kong and China.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Explain key concepts and theories on gendered lives and institutions
- 2.Explain how gender influences our interactions and experiences in everyday life, and is being sustained by these daily practices
- 3.Analyze and explain how gender structures our major social institutions and is being maintained by these institutions
- SOSC 2800Cognitive Science3 Credit(s)Previous Course Code(s)SOSC 2888APrerequisite(s)SOSC 1960 OR SOSC 1980 OR SOSC 1969DescriptionCognitive Science is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the mind and mental phenomena across artificial intelligence, psychology, linguistics, philosophy, anthropology, education, and neuroscience. This course introduces students to the broad domain, goals and methods of Cognitive Science, showing how different disciplines converge and integrate in their enquiry into how the brain works. Lectures will present case studies highlighting research findings which show how similar questions about the functioning of the human mind are answered from the perspective of each contributing discipline in the context of the technological advances that are increasingly shaping our lives and society. Students with fundamental knowledge in computer science, linguistics, philosophy, or neuroscience may take this course with a waiver.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Develop basic understanding of the domain, goals, methods, theories, and core findings across the interdisciplinary field of Cognitive Science
- 2.Develop relevant research skills and the ability to critically evaluate interdisciplinary research findings across the constituent disciplines in Cognitive Science
- 3.Critically reflect upon their own conceptions of the nature of the mind and mental phenomena and how they can be applied to real life scenarios
- 4.Work as a member of a team to study the mind and mental phenomena, and communicate effectively through oral or written presentations
- SOSC 2888Special Topics in Psychology1-4 Credit(s)Prerequisite(s)SOSC 1960 OR SOSC 1980 OR SOSC 1969DescriptionSelected topics of current interest in psychology. The course aims to broaden students' exposure to a broad range of topics within the psychology discipline. The course may be repeated for credit if the topics studied are different. Graded letter grade or P/F subject to different offerings.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Recognize the major theories relevant to a topic from a psychological perspective
- 2.Understand recent research relevant to a topic
- 3.Understand the current broader issues related to a topic
- 4.Demonstrate the ability to read, summarize, interpret, and integrate information
- SOSC 2980Personality Psychology3 Credit(s)Prerequisite(s)SOSC 1960 OR SOSC 1980 OR SOSC 1969DescriptionThis course surveys the principal approaches to studying personality and examines relevant modern research.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Identify the issues on which personality theories tend to differ.
- 2.List the methods of personality assessment and common measures of personality.
- 3.Explain theoretical concepts using behavioral examples drawn from everyday life.
- SOSC 2990Developmental Psychology3 Credit(s)Prerequisite(s)SOSC 1960 OR SOSC 1980 OR SOSC 1969DescriptionDevelopmental psychology is the scientific study of how we grow and change over the lifespan. This course will guide students to investigate physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development from infancy to late adulthood from a psychological perspective. Students should complete the course with a deeper understanding of key theories, research methods, and research findings on human development.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Apply existing knowledge in psychology to the field of human development
- 2.Understand how humans develop over the lifespan
- 3.Understand recent research relevant to developmental psychology
- 4.Demonstrate the skills of how developmental psychology research is conducted
- 5.Understand the current broader issues related to lifespan development
- SOSC 3000Special Topics1-4 Credit(s)DescriptionFocuses on a coherent collection of topics selected from social science. May be repeated for credit, if the topics studied are different. May be graded by letter, P/F for different offerings.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Equip with broad and useful knowledge to various topics which are not covered by existing courses.
- 2.(Each offering under the umbrella will have specific learning outcomes.)
- SOSC 3001Understanding China, 1700-2000: A Data Analytic Approach3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 3701, MGCS 5001Reading Material[C] Require Chinese readingMode of Delivery[BLD] Blended learningDescriptionThis course introduces some new directions in the study of Chinese history and social science. It aims to demonstrate how a new scholarship of discovery using a data analytic approach is redefining what is singular about modern Chinese history and social science. The course offers alternative perspectives into China derived from 40 years of empirical analyses of almost 10 million records of historical Chinese microdata, distinguishable from those perspectives based largely on Western experience or on Chinese experience seen through a Western lens. Students will benefit from the development of critical thinking skills and the ability to question received wisdom on Chinese history and social science.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Describe social mobilization, social engineering, stratification, and socioeconomic status in China
- 2.Analyze key societal and behavioral issues by applying relevant social scientific approaches
- 3.Discuss how ideologies and institutions lead to different constructions of people's subjective identity focusing on ethnicity, gender, and religion
- 4.Explain how the academe produces new knowledge, understanding of human experience and human construction of experience
- SOSC 3010Special Topics3 Credit(s)DescriptionFocuses on a coherent collection of topics selected from social science. May be repeated for credit, if the topics studied are different.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Equip with broad and useful knowledge to various topics which are not covered by existing courses.
- 2.(Each offering under the umbrella will have specific learning outcomes.)
- SOSC 3120Economic Development3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)ECON 4434DescriptionThis course examines the economic situations of low and middle-income economies, considering many important topics in the field of development economics. It addresses questions such as what factors help explain why some countries are rich and others poor and whether economic policies can affect these factors. We will study key aspects of life for poor households in the developing world, such as inequality, gender and the intra-household division of resources, education, child labor, health, savings and credit, institutions and globalization. Students will also study recent research in the field and examine empirical evidence on these topics. Prior knowledge in introductory economics and basic statistics is beneficial.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.demonstrate a comprehensive and well-founded knowledge of economic situations in the developing world.
- 2.identify and explain critical issues in the developing world.
- 3.apply core concepts of economics to critically analyze significant social phenomena and interpret important events related to the developing world.
- 4.analyze the core issues in economic development strategies.
- SOSC 3130Hong Kong Culture3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 3730Medium of Instruction[CA] CantoneseReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThe course looks at identity, cultural and urban space issues in Hong Kong in the local-national-global nexus, focusing on how popular culture, the state and civil society shape meanings, values, discourses and ideologies, and vice versa, from colonial times to the post-colonial era.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Explain some often used concepts in cultural analysis
- 2.Describe the various facets of Hong Kong culture (e.g. historical, spatial, and local-global connections)
- 3.Analyze Hong Kong culture in terms of its values, meanings, discourses, and ideologies
- 4.Evaluate the different interpretations of Hong Kong culture
- SOSC 3180Political Issues in Hong Kong from a Comparative Perspective3 Credit(s)DescriptionThis course focuses on the critical issues regarding the government and politics of Hong Kong from a comparative perspective. The topics include Hong Kong's democratization, social and political movements, changing political culture, interaction between Hong Kong, Taiwan and Mainland China, as well as Hong Kong in global politics. The topics may change in accordance with the evolving political dynamics and contexts of Hong Kong. The course aims at providing in-depth study of issues critical to the development of Hong Kong. Documentary movies and critical debates are extensively used in seminars. Site-visits may also be made whenever they are appropriate.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Understand some recent and critical issues of Hong Kong politics that have tremendous impact its future
- 2.Analyze the actors, culture, institutions and political dynamics involved in the important political phenomena of Hong Kong under study, by applying concepts and theories of political science and political sociology
- 3.Synthesize a wide array of research materials and present them verbally and in writing in a clear, evidence-based and theory-based manner
- SOSC 3200Quantitative Social Analysis Colloquium1 Credit(s)DescriptionThis course will run as seminars by faculty members from the Division of Social Science who will introduce their research areas and recent research projects. It demonstrates how the knowledge and skills in quantitative social analysis are applied to studying social phenomena, including health, business, education, inequality, family and kinship, careers, crime, migration, and economic, social and political change more generally. Students will learn about the differences between various concerns, paradigms and methodologies of the major social science disciplines, which will help them generate research ideas for their capstone projects as well as prepare for the future careers. Enrolment is restricted to students admitted to BSc in Quantitative Social Analysis from 2022-23 and onwards, and on their third year of study or above.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Recognize the types of social phenomena that are amenable to research by the application of quantitative methods
- 2.Develop awareness of the basic building blocks of a research project in quantitative social analysis
- 3.Generate research ideas for a research project in quantitative social analysis
- SOSC 3240Application of Geographical Information Systems3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 3740DescriptionThis course provides students with comprehensive knowledge of Geographical Information Systems including basic concepts, software and functions, data and application to social science and other fields.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Use the most popular forms of Geography Information System (GIS) software applications for social analysis and others
- 2.Analyze social contexts to choose and apply the appropriate software packages and techniques
- 3.Generate reports incorporating GIS results and explaining their meanings in social science and other fields
- SOSC 3250Gender and Development3 Credit(s)DescriptionGirls and women in developing countries suffer multiple deprivations through the interacting effects of poverty and gender discrimination. This course aims to help students develop an understanding of the interactions between gender and development through a study of theoretical frameworks as well as a discussion of practical case studies. Students will compare different approaches to gender and development and will learn about various strategies for empowering women in developing countries - such as improving their access to credit, giving them cash transfers and increasing their political participation. By the end of the course, students should be able to critically analyze developmental policies and interventions through a gender lens.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Develop an understanding of the social construction of gender and its consequences for the day to day lives of girls and women in developing countries
- 2.Analyze the benefits and drawbacks of various strategies that have been used to empower women in developing countries – such as micro-credit, political quotas and cash transfers
- 3.Develop the ability to critically assess the design and implementation of development projects and propose modifications to enhance gender equity
- 4.Analyze and present the key gender issues contained in articles from academic journals
- 5.Discuss real-life case studies of development projects and draw out the gender implications
- 6.Effectively communicate and work with group members to examine the critical gender problems faced by a developing country and propose possible strategies to tackle these problems
- SOSC 3300American Politics3 Credit(s)Previous Course Code(s)SOSC 3000IDescriptionThis course examines American politics. It will cover a wide range of substantive topics, including the constitutional foundations of modern American politics, the major American governing institutions (the presidency, the Congress, the courts, and the bureaucracy), the policymaking process, political campaigns and elections, elite behavior, the behavior of ordinary citizens, foreign policy, and the mass media environment. It will also cover the politics of a variety of contemporary social and political issues such as economic inequality, racism, polarization, immigration, and the rise of populism. It will examine each of these issues beginning with a historical perspective, and tracing their development through to the modern political environment. Each topic will be examined through the lens of competing theoretical perspectives.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Describe the structure of the United States Constitution
- 2.Explain the formal law/policy-making process at the national level of the United States
- 3.Identify and describe the basic structure of the major formal governing institutions of the United States
- 4.Explain the role of mass and elite political behavior in the policymaking and leader selection process
- 5.Apply their understanding of formal decision-making processes and norms of political behavior to contemporary political issues
- SOSC 3520Understanding Comparative Politics3 Credit(s)DescriptionThis course analyzes politics from a comparative perspective. The central theme is to demonstrate how political science understands and explains the variations of political phenomena across different countries/jurisdictions. It explores topics ranging from comparative approaches and methods to comparative political regimes, actors, and institutions. Students will benefit with the knowledge, skills, and attitude for analyzing the world of politics.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Describe the key methods, concepts, and theories in comparative politics
- 2.Explain the similarities and differences in political regimes, actors, and institutions
- 3.Apply concepts and theories in discussing issues in comparative politics
- 4.Apply independent and critical judgments in the study of politics
- SOSC 3540Environmental Psychology3 Credit(s)Prerequisite(s)SOSC 1960 OR SOSC 1980 OR SOSC 1969DescriptionThis course examines the transactions between humans and the physical environment from a psychological perspective. It discusses how human behavior is affected by, and affects, the built and natural surroundings. It also explores the human dimension of environmental issues.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Recognize the interactions between humans and physical environments and explain them with reference to theories in psychology and other social sciences.
- 2.Analyze the human dimension of environmental issues from psychological and behavioral perspectives.
- 3.Analyze their own experience and everyday encounters regarding physical environments.
- 4.Understand, explain, and evaluate research studies that examine human-environment relationships.
- SOSC 3550Educational Psychology3 Credit(s)Prerequisite(s)SOSC 1960 OR SOSC 1980 OR SOSC 1969DescriptionEducational Psychology relates the fields of psychology and education with one another, examining the theories, research methods, and research findings on human development, learning, and instruction. Topics covered include cognitive, language, and literacy development; social, moral, and emotional development; effective teaching and learning strategies; individual differences in learning; assessment of learning; and educational issues currently relevant in the Hong Kong society. This course is appropriate for those who are interested in a career in teaching, but also for those who are interested in understanding how development occurs across the lifespan and becoming more efficient learners, both inside and outside of the classroom.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Gain insights into how researchers in psychology and education contribute to their respective fields
- 2.Understand recent research relevant to the field of educational psychology
- 3.Gain fundamental knowledge about how humans learn and develop over the lifetime
- 4.Analyze human learning and teaching with reference to psychological concepts
- 5.Understand and discuss important current educational issues in the Hong Kong society
- SOSC 3630Democracy and Democratization around the World3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 3863DescriptionBased on single-country and cross-national research, this course includes some issues concerning democracy and democratization around the world. It will start with helping students understand the debates on the definitions of democracy and explore their implications. The course will then examine empirically the consequences of democracy and thereby debate on the alleged strengths and weaknesses of democracy. The course will also introduce the global expansion of democracies since the late twentieth century. It will analyze the causes of global democratization from various perspectives. Lastly, it will examine the factors shaping democratic stability from various approaches.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Critically discuss the strengths and weaknesses of democratic institutions
- 2.Describe and explain various causes of democratization and democratic stability around the world
- 3.Analyze and explain the challenges to democracy and democratization
- SOSC 3700Quantitative Social Analysis Practicum1 Credit(s)Prerequisite(s)SOSC 2400DescriptionThe course is intended to prepare students for the Quantitative Social Analysis Capstone Project by giving them practical experience in the quantitative analysis of social data by independently applying skills acquired in their required and elective methods courses. Students will either conduct a small research project related to the theme of a topical course in the Division of Social Science in which they are concurrently enrolled, or complete an internship that involves application of skills learned in their methods courses. Enrolled students will meet as a class at regular intervals during the semester and submit a final report. Students who plan to carry out a project are expected to be simultaneously enrolled in a topical Social Science course. Graded P or F. May be only taken twice. For QSA students only. Instructor's approval is required for enrolling in the course.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Apply and hone techniques learned from methodological courses in Years 1 and 2 by applying them to real-world data
- 2.Acquire hands-on experiences with study design, academic writing, and professional presentation, etc. for quantitative social analysis
- 3.Prepare for final year capstone projects by developing ideas, designing research studies, and conducting analyses
- SOSC 3720Introduction to Social Network Analysis3 Credit(s)DescriptionThis course familiarizes students with the basic concepts of Social Network Analysis, their application in different Social Science fields, and teaches them how to analyse network data using open-source software. The course consists both of lectures and applied exercises, the latter culminating in a group project. Knowledge of basic statistics is recommended, but not required for this course.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Talk more clearly about connections and networks using appropriate terminology
- 2.Understand the most common concepts used in SNA and explain how they apply to specific circumstances (e.g. the group of people that you are interested in)
- 3.Explain different positions held in a network (network centrality, structural equivalency) and how those positions matter, understand how different tie-formation processes on the individual level lead to different network shapes (preferential attachment, homophily)
- 4.Operate software to analyze (and maybe collect) network data
- 5.Calculate basic summary statistics describing the network, the node-dyad (the pairs of individuals) and the nodes (individuals)
- 6.Use network visualization programs to illustrate the network in a way that helps the audience better understand it
- 7.Communicate insights using visual means (e.g. posters)
- 8.Communicate academic research to a lay audience (e.g. in a presentation)
- SOSC 3800Ethics, Emerging Technologies and Public Policy3 Credit(s)Alternate code(s)PPOL 3800DescriptionThis course studies the ethical dimensions of emerging technologies and public policy. The overarching theme is to explore the moral debate surrounding some pressing policy issues in emerging technologies nowadays. The first part introduces the essential moral concepts and theories for general reasoning in ethics and public policy. The second part discusses a selection of disputed policy issues in emerging technologies through the application of moral concepts and theories. By the end of the course, students will benefit with the knowledge and skills necessary for policy argumentation from the perspective of ethics.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Discuss the key concepts and theories in the study of ethics
- 2.Analyze and evaluate moral arguments surrounding policy debate in emerging technologies
- 3.Apply concepts and theories in policy argumentation
- 4.Construct, criticize and defend arguments
- 5.Exercise independent and critical judgments in ethics, emerging technologies and public policy
- SOSC 3850Ethics and Public Affairs3 Credit(s)Mode of Delivery[BLD] Blended learningDescriptionThis course studies the ethical dimensions of public affairs. The overarching theme is to explore the moral debate surrounding some pressing public issues in today’s world. The first part introduces the essential moral concepts and theories for reasoning in ethics and public affairs. The second part discusses a selection of disputed public issues through the application of moral concepts and theories. By the end of the course, students will benefit with the knowledge and skills necessary for discussing public affairs from the perspective of ethics.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Explain the key ideas and issues in ethics and public affairs.
- 2.Analyze and evaluate moral arguments underpinning the issues of public affairs.
- 3.Apply relevant concepts and theories to discuss the ethics of public affairs.
- 4.Exercise independent and critical judgements as well as formulate and communicate arguments effectively.
- SOSC 3880Social Inequality and Social Mobility3 Credit(s)Exclusion(s)CORE 3880Cross-Campus Equivalent CourseUCUG 3801DescriptionSocial stratification concerns the unequal distribution of resources/rewards/opportunities which are scarce but widely desired, and the process of status attainment or social mobility whereby some persons or groups come to receive more of these scarce things than are received by others. This course will introduce the basic concepts and theories in analyzing social and economic inequalities in the contemporary world.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Describe the similarities and differences in key concepts, measures and theories that are used in analyzing social and economic inequality
- 2.Explain the key factors and processes of how inequality is created, and social mobility is achieved, especially in the context of Hong Kong and mainland China
- 3.Describe the consequences of inequality and propose public policies to tackle the issues
- SOSC 3888Special Topics in Psychology1-4 Credit(s)Prerequisite(s)SOSC 1960 OR SOSC 1980 OR SOSC 1969DescriptionSelected topics of current interest in psychology. The course aims to broaden students' exposure to a broad range of topics within the psychology discipline. The course may be repeated for credit if the topics studied are different. Graded letter grade or P/F subject to different offerings.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Recognize the major theories relevant to a topic from a psychological perspective
- 2.Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of different perspectives/subfields to analyze a topic
- 3.Critique existing approaches to a topic in psychology
- 4.Demonstrate the ability to read, summarize, interpret, and integrate information
- 5.Identify a research question, devise an action plan to conduct a study, gather and analyze the relevant information, and present the findings in a written report
- SOSC 3900Abnormal Psychology3 Credit(s)Prerequisite(s)SOSC 1960 OR SOSC 1980 OR SOSC 1969DescriptionAbnormal psychology is the scientific study of psychopathology and abnormal behavior. This course introduces theories, research methods, and the most updated research findings in the field of abnormal psychology. Students will be introduced to various types of psychological disorders, such as mood disorders, schizophrenia, personality disorders, somatoform disorders, sex-related disorders, etc. They will also learn about the diagnosis, causes, maintenance, and treatment of major psychological disorders from an integrative perspective.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Demonstrate a fundamental knowledge of selected theories and concepts that are of importance and interest in abnormal psychology.
- 2.Understand how clinical psychologists classify and diagnose various types of psychological disorders.
- 3.Evaluate the development and treatment of psychological disorders from an integrative perspective.
- 4.Apply the theories and concepts to daily lives and real cases of psychological disorders.
- SOSC 3990Health Psychology3 Credit(s)Prerequisite(s)SOSC 1960 OR SOSC 1980 OR SOSC 1969DescriptionHealth psychology is the scientific study of how biological, psychological, and social factors affect health promotion as well as the prevention and treatment of illness. We look at how people stay healthy, why they become ill, and how they cope and recover when they are ill. This course is intended to introduce students to the theoretical models, research methodology, empirical findings, and current issues in health psychology. Students should complete the course with a fundamental knowledge in this young and exciting field of study.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Understand the fundamental knowledge and key concepts in health psychology.
- 2.Demonstrate their familiarities with the implications of the classical and contemporary findings in health psychology.
- 3.Critically evaluate the theories and key concepts in health psychology.
- 4.Apply the key concepts to the real-life setting.
- SOSC 4000Special Topics1-4 Credit(s)DescriptionFocuses on a coherent collection of topics in social science at an advanced undergraduate level. May be repeated for credit, if the topics studied are different. Prerequisites may be required for specific topics. May be graded by letter, P/F for different offerings.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Understand specific social issues from a global/ comparative perspective
- 2.Apply new social science concepts to the study of social issues or China
- 3.Integrate the understanding of the study of China or global issues to broader debates in social science
- 4.Enhance critical reading and thinking skills
- 5.Evaluative (comparing and contrasting) competencies
- 6.Acquire presentation skills
- 7.Develop a global/ comparative outlook and appreciation of societal diversity
- SOSC 4100Research Pro-seminar1 Credit(s)Prerequisite(s)SOSC 3700DescriptionThis course is intended for students to share and develop ideas for the purpose of the prospective Capstone Project. Students will present and discuss their progression during regular sessions. Faculty with access to candidate datasets will be invited to hold information sessions for students. Some class sessions will also feature speakers in the Division of Social Science seminar series. For QSA students in their fourth year of study only. Graded P or F. Instructor's approval is required for enrolling in the course.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Learn to develop ideas for their Capstone Projects
- 2.Understand social scientific thinking and how empirical research is planned and implemented
- 3.Locate candidate datasets for their Capstone Projects with help from both faculty and peers
- SOSC 4110Capstone Project3 Credit(s)DescriptionThe capstone project aims to prepare students for conducting independent research in quantitative social science. Students will choose a topic, identify appropriate data and methodologies, design and execute an analysis, and write up and present the results. For the project, students will have a faculty mentor in Social Science to advise them on substantive aspects of the work, and optionally a co-mentor in Social Science or Math to advise them on methodological issues. For QSA students in their fourth year of study with approval of the course instructor. Graded DI, PA or F.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Conduct an original quantitative analysis of social data by integrating and applying the knowledge and skills learned in the QSA program
- 2.Write up and present the results of their analysis in a way that meets commonly accepted professional and academic standards
- SOSC 4250Experiments and Quasi-experiments in the Social Sciences3 Credit(s)Previous Course Code(s)SOSC 4000KPrerequisite(s)SOSC 2400DescriptionThis course explores the statistical methods used for causal inference in the social sciences within the potential outcomes framework. Using this perspective puts the logic of statistical inference for both experimental and non-experimental studies within the same framework. Though randomized experiments serve as the gold standard for causal inference, the course also outlines how it may sometimes be reasonable to treat non-experimental data as if it had been drawn from an experiment. Usually, this involves a set of assumptions or substantive factual information about how the natural world produced the data. Research designs and methods covered include randomized experiments, matching, instrumental variables, difference-in-differences, synthetic control, and regression discontinuity designs.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Understand the history and development of the experimental method across the social sciences
- 2.Understand the history and development of quasiexperimental research designs across the social sciences
- 3.Understand the history and development of the potential outcomes framework
- 4.Identify and understand the major identification assumptions and data structures required for credible causal inference in modern applied social science statistics
- 5.Conduct and interpret statistical analyses of data from social science research designs using experimental and quasiexperimental designs
- 6.Apply their knowledge of how to conduct and interpret statistical analyses to original social science problems
- SOSC 4260China's Economic Transformation3 Credit(s)BackgroundSOSC 1440, ECON 2123, ECON 3024 or similar courseDescriptionThis course explores the origins, processes, and consequences of economic change in China since 1978. It focuses on China's transformation from a closed and state-controlled economy to a market-oriented, increasingly internationalized, and predominantly private economy. It begins with an overview of the Maoist economic system since the communist revolution in 1949. It then examines how the rules governing economic activities have been redefined in major economic sectors since 1978. It also highlights the main features of the new, capitalistic economy and reflects on the issues and challenges that have emerged during the transformation of the economy.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Enter an academic, policy or business discussion of the Chinese economy in an informed manner.
- 2.Bring a quality of judgment to dispersed information on the Chinese economy, whether that is in evaluating the reliability of the information, its significance given a particular question, or its relevance in a larger context.
- 3.Apply economic theories and economic analysis to the economy of China.
- 4.Investigate topics related to the Chinese economy independently.
- SOSC 4280China in the Global Political Economy3 Credit(s)Prerequisite(s)HUMA 2590 OR SOSC 1350 OR SOSC 2290DescriptionThis course examines China's political economic development from a global political economy perspective. It introduces major theories in the field of global political economy; analyzes causes, trends, and consequences of China's political and economic development since 1978.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Use key concepts and theoretical frameworks from economics and political science to deepen understanding of China's global engagement.
- 2.Apply critical thinking and analytical writing skills to examine the dynamics of the global political economy.
- 3.Assess the validity of existing arguments based on empirical evidence.
- 4.Develop a logical argument or theory that can be evaluated using evidence.
- SOSC 4290China's Sustainable Development3 Credit(s)Prerequisite(s)ENVR 3110DescriptionThere is a great necessity and responsibility for China to shift to a more sustainable development path. This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the concepts, principles, and evaluation methodologies of sustainable development. The course will introduce students to multidisciplinary approaches to apply these principles and methods to analyse sustainable development issues in China, such as energy resources and water pollution, transportation and urbanization, and climate change; and to explore solutions for China's future development. Governance and policy, technology, organizational and individual behavior are important elements affecting sustainable development and will be examined at international, national, and local levels.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.NA
- SOSC 4300Computational Social Science3 Credit(s)Prerequisite(s)MATH 2411 OR MATH 2421 OR SOSC 2400DescriptionThe increasing use of the Internet and online communities in the last decade has led to an explosion of social data capturing every aspect of our daily activities. The new digital data have in turn led to the rise of Computational Social Science, an emerging field that aims to empirically study social behavior by applying computational methods, algorithms, and models on "big data". This course introduces the methods and ideas of computational social sciences. Students will learn and evaluate the new possibilities and challenges that digital data have created for studying social phenomena. They will also learn and practice essential methods that are needed to analyze digital data, from data collection to techniques and methods to analyze big data.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Describe the opportunities and challenges of social research in the age of big data
- 2.Evaluate research on social phenomena from different fields, including social sciences and computer science/data science
- 3.Practice the essential techniques to analyze social big data
- 4.Propose research questions that is suited to be examined by computational methods with big data
- 5.Write research article/design final projects that utilize the techniques and methods of computational social science to address real-world problems
- SOSC 4310Chinese Capitalism: Historical and Comparative Perspectives3 Credit(s)DescriptionThis course examines the development of capitalism in post-Mao China through the lens of comparisons with capitalist practices in pre-1949 China and non-PRC Chinese economies and with select capitalist systems elsewhere. Through reading and discussing scholarly works focusing on contractual governance, students will be guided to explore the forces that shape the evolution of internal organization, inter-firm interactions, and business-government relations in different historical and social contexts. The objective is to help students deepen their understanding of China's economic transformation and broaden their perspectives on capitalist economic organizations and institutions.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Master basic knowledge about the building blocks and inner workings of a capitalist system
- 2.Make use of historical and comparative analytic methods to critique different approaches to the study of modern economic activities
- 3.Engage in empirically grounded and theoretically informed discussions about economic affairs in China
- SOSC 4330Quantitative Data Analysis for Social Research III3 Credit(s)Prerequisite(s)SOSC 2400DescriptionDesigned for students with prior knowledge in statistics and linear regression, this advanced course covers a wide variety of generalized linear models for categorical dependent variables that are commonly used in social science research, as well as such alternatives as quantile regression and robust regression. It also introduces selected models for complex data structures, including multilevel analysis, time-series analysis, and survival analysis. This course will address such model specifications as random- and fixed-effects and other topics. The course will be application oriented with special attention paid to estimation of the aforementioned models using social science datasets.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Acquire knowledge about theory and application of extensions to generalized linear models for categorical and other outcomes widely used in the analysis of social science data
- 2.Acquire basic knowledge about practical aspects of methods for complex social data such as multilevel clustered data, time series, and longitudinal data
- 3.Develop solid understanding of causal analysis involved in empirical analysis of social data
- 4.Acquire data management skills, in particular those needed in handling complex data structures
- SOSC 4500The Politics of the State3 Credit(s)Prerequisite(s)SOSC 1300 OR SOSC 1450 (prior to 2021-22)DescriptionThis course introduces to senior undergraduate and first year graduate students in the Division of Social Science major topics in the study of the state in political science and sociology. It covers normative studies of the legitimacy and autonomy of the state, comparative historical analysis on state formation, empirical studies of state capacity, and nationalism. It incorporates both classical scholarship in the study of the state and recent progress in quantitative and qualitative research of the state. Readings are selected from political philosophy, historical sociology, political science and economic history. This course is designed to help the students to integrate quantitative and qualitative methodology in studying topics that are related to the state of their own interests. The course aims to help the students generate research ideas that are related to various aspects of the state in either contemporary or historical context, either China-focused or examining China in comparative perspective.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Understand the meaning of the state in social science
- 2.Apply critical reasoning to existing literature on the state
- 3.Develop both qualitative and quantitative skills to study topics related to the state
- 4.Understand the relationship between normative and positive aspects of the state
- 5.Propose new research questions and topics
- SOSC 4600Understanding Chinese Politics3 Credit(s)Prerequisite(s)SOSC 1300 or SOSC 1350DescriptionAfter an historical and organizational introduction to Chinese politics, this course uses concepts such as political participation, bureaucratic politics, state-society relations, and political economy, to explain the development of the People's Republic of China.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Understand the economic and political developments in China before the economic reform in the late 1970s.
- 2.Understand the economic and political rationales behind China’s reform and openness.
- 3.Understand the causes of China’s economic success and political development.
- 4.Understand the dynamics of socioeconomic changes in China and their implications for China’s future development.
