DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY, HONG KONG BAPTIST UNIVERSITY

With the implementation of four-year undergraduate degree programmes in 2012, the Faculty of Social Sciences has introduced a joint admission practice for four Majors, namely Geography, Government & International Studies, History and Sociology. Under this new admission practice, students will be provided with a broad-based social sciences training in their first year with no specific majors. Upon the completion of the first year of study, students may apply to take “Geography” as their Major and enroll in the Bachelor of Social Sciences (Hons) in Geography programme based on individual interest and academic performance.

Programme Descriptions

The BSocSc (Hons) in Geography is structured so that students can either choose to specialize in certain sub-fields of the discipline at later stages of their study or to undertake a well-rounded training in Geography, in line with its synthesizing tradition. The BSocSc (Hons) in Geography enables students to obtain a firm foundation in geographical methodology while at the same time acquiring an understanding of the spatial order and interdependence of the world’s peoples and regions. Emphasis is placed on the ways in which geographers may assist in finding solutions to real world problems. Students are offered considerable freedom to take a broad spectrum of courses, particularly in their second and final years, when they may choose to concentrate on aspects of either physical or human geography.

Specifically, the Programme aims:

1.	to enable students to develop their knowledge of spatial order and their understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of geography;
2.	to enable students to apply geographical perspectives in the analysis of global-local problems;
3.	to facilitate students acquisition of the intellectual and practical skills needed to analyse, assess and interpret geographical information both independently and as part of a team;
4.	to provide students with transferable skills applicable to both geographical and non-geographical careers as well as the ability to pursue postgraduate studies;
5.	to enhance student communication and presentation skills; and
6.	to promote a sense of life-long learning and a spirit of enquiry.

Programme Intended Learning Outcomes (PILOs)

The BSocSc (Hons) in Geography programme provides opportunities for students to expand and demonstrate their knowledge and understanding skills, as well as qualities and other attributes in the following areas.

Successful students will be able to:

1.	demonstrate an understanding of the spatial and temporal variability of geographic systems;
2.	explain the role of geography in understanding contemporary environmental, urban, economic, cultural, and political processes and issues;
3.	make use of a variety of methodologies for observation, analysis, interpretation and illustration of geographical data;
4.	plan, design and complete an original piece of individual research in the field of geography and produce a final project report;
5.	recognise and incorporate philosophical issues and ethical questions into geographical debate both orally and in writing, using either Chinese or English languages;
6.	work in either a team on co-operative projects, or carry out independent study

Curriculum Structure

The structure of the curriculum is as follows:

Major		60 units
	Major Required Courses	24 units
	Major Elective Courses	30 units
	Honours Project	6 units
General Education		38 units
Electives		30 units

		128 units

1. Major Courses (60 units)

The major component provides 60 units of required and elective courses offered by the Department of Geography that provide students with a comprehensive training in the discipline. The Honours Project enables students to complete a piece of significant, independent study on a geographical topic of their choice under supervision of a faculty member. Moreover, all geography students must participate in the mandatory Field Camp of the Department, which is conducted during the second semester of Year III.

2. General Education (38 units)

The aim of the GE curriculum is to provide students with a well-rounded education as part of the University’s Whole Person ethos. This involves a exposure to a wide range of transferable skills, guiding principles, and attitudes that all students will need for their future professional and personal lives. The 38 units required under the GE requirements are divided into two categories, core requirements (26 units) and distribution requirements (12 units).

3. Electives (30 units)

“Electives” serve to encourage a free pursuit of academic interests. They may be used to pursue a minor (with a minimum of 15 units), strengthen the major field, or choose other courses of general interest in different disciplines, or which a student considers to be useful for their future careers or postgraduate studies.

Programme Requirements

Major Required Courses (30 units)
a)	Philosophical and Methodological Foundations (6 units):
	Geography and the Contemporary World	3 units
	Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Geography	3 units
	Cartography	3 units
	Field Camp	0 unit
b) Physical and Environmental Geography (6 units):
	Earth Systems: Shaping Landscapes	3 units
	Earth Systems: Biosphere and Atmosphere	3 units
c)	Human Geography (6 units):
	Cultures, Peoples and Landscapes	3 units
	Globalization of Economic Activities	3 units
d)	Regional Geography (3 units):
	Regional Geography of China	3 units
e)	Honours Project (6 units):
	Honours Project	6 units

Major Elective Courses (30 units)
Students are required to take at least one course from each of the following four areas:
a) Geographical Methodology:
	Geographical Thought	3 units
	Geographical Information Systems	3 units
	Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation	3 units
	Advanced Quantitative Methods in Geography	3 units
b)	Physical and Environmental Geography:
	Global Environmental Issues and Sustainability	3 units
	Energy Problems & the Environment	3 units
	Techniques in Physical Geography	3 units
	Geography of Health & the Environment	3 units
	Advanced Climatology	3 units
	Applied Geomorphology	3 units
	Coastal Environments & Processes	3 units
	Seminar in Environmental Planning & Management	3 units
	Seminar in Energy Problems	3 units
	Energy Development in China	3 units
	Resource Management in China	3 units
	Problems in the Physical Geography of China	3 units
	Geography of Environmental Hazards	3 units
	Selected Topics in the Geography of China	3 units
c)	Human Geography
	Population Geography	3 units
	Urban Geography	3 units
	Geography of Economic Development	3 units
	Political Geography	3 units
	Geography of Transportation	3 units
	Urban Planning	3 units
	Urban Cultural Landscape	3 units
	Seminar in Urban Geography	3 units
	Urban Development & Planning in Hong Kong	3 units
	Seminar in Social Geography	3 units
	Population Geography of China	3 units
	Rural & Agricultural Development in China	3 units
	Urban Development in China	3 units
	Selected Topics in the Geography of China	3 units
d)	Regional Geography:
	Hong Kong & the Pearl River Delta: A Survey	3 units
	Geography of Pacific Asia	3 units

Geography major students can choose up to two of these China Studies courses. The contents of "Selected Topics in the Geography of China" vary from year to year. Whether this course is considered a "human" or "physical and environmental" geography course depends on the exact contents of the course at the time it is offered.

Note: The above information is subject to confirmation.