COMPULSORY COURSES
GEOG7101
GEOG7120
GEOG7128
ELECTIVE COURSES
GEOG7116
GEOG7117
GEOG7124
GEOG7126
GEOG7129
GEOG7137
GEOG7140
GEOG7141
GEOG7142
CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE
GEOG7122
GEOG7136
OTHERS
Seminar Series
Coursework


2023-2024 Syllabuses
The teaching schedule of courses conforms to the dates of semesters of the Faculty of Social Sciences. Each course entails one session of two lecture hours per week in one semester.

GEOG7101 
  COMPULSORY  
The Chinese Economics: Location, Transformation, and Integration
This course provides an overview of the location, transformation, and integration of regional economies in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau. Major theoretical perspectives are introduced to explain the growth dynamics of the Chinese economies, the shifting spatial distribution of economic activities and their outward direct investment flows across the globe.

GEOG7120
  COMPULSORY  
Urban China: Cultural Basis and Contemporary Issues
China is experiencing rapid urbanisation and profound urban change, which can be viewed as reflecting the transformation of the society as a whole. In this course we will disentangle the different facets of urbanisation in order to understand the processes, outcomes and related problems. We analyse the cultural basis of contemporary Chinese cities by looking into the pre-socialist and socialist legacies, the dynamic institutional setup, and the influences of international urbanism and consumption culture.  This is a course in human geography that understands cities as economic, social and cultural spatial systems within a broader context.  The purpose of the course is to help students understand these systems, including their origins and transformations, and what they mean for China and for the rest of the world. It offers a detailed empirical view of China’s urbanization and a rigorous conceptual understanding of city development through close readings of key works in the field of Chinese urban geography and urban studies.

GEOG7128
  COMPULSORY  
Geography of International Trade and FDI in China
This course introduces students with the changing paradigms in theorization of international trade and FDI (foreign direct investment) as well as its profound implications to this globalizing world and China. The impact of foreign trade and investment on China’s regional economic development is also discussed.

GEOG7116
  ELECTIVE  
China Field Trip
This programme-based field trip is designed to provide opportunities for students to examine first hand development issues and problems in China. Students are encouraged to incorporate what they have learned from the field trip into their dissertations or directed projects.

GEOG7117
  ELECTIVE  
Public Policies and Regional Development
This is a seminar-type course about the concepts, theories, and practices of regional development. Course contents include the changing interpretations of the meanings of regional development; key policy issues in the practice of regional development such as central-local relations, transnational capital, global production networks, old industrial region revitalization, metropolitan development, industrial clusters, innovation and learning regions; and different approaches to regional development in selected world regions including North America, Western Europe, East Asia and China. The objective is to assist students to develop critical thinking in the evaluation of different perspectives and competing interpretations about the nature and dynamics of public policy and regional development in different historical and geographic contexts.

GEOG7124
  ELECTIVE  
Globalization and Spatial Economic Transformation in China
This course emphasizes on the combination of theory and practical knowledge and skill, aiming to help students develop perspectives for analyzing the interplay between China’s spatial development and globalization. The objectives are to enhance students’ comprehensive ability of critical thinking and problem solving skills, as well as their ability of identifying, examining, and judging business opportunity and challenges as well as problems in the face of globalization era. First, we will examine how China has been increasingly integrated with the world economy and become globalizing. Second, by investigating into important issues such as China’s outward investments in Africa and Latin America, we ask how the rise of China as global economic power is reshaping the landscape of the world economy. Important globalization theories and theories of China’s post-Mao development will be introduced and examined critically throughout the semester. We will re-think the role China plays in connecting with the world and the impact of globalization on China’s ever changing spatial economic development. Throughout the course, students are encouraged to participate actively by sharing their first-hand experience on the transformation of the Chinese economy.

GEOG7126
  ELECTIVE  
Cultural Tourism in Hong Kong, Macau and South China
Cultural tourism offers a promising alternative to conventional tourism development, which also contributes to the preservation of the heritage and customs of the place. This course arouses students’ interests in exploring the rapid development of cultural tourism in Hong Kong, Macau and the South China region. This course has three main objectives. First, it aims to introduce the development and characteristics of cultural tourism in Hong Kong, Macau and South China regions. Second, the course aims to let students understand the unique mixed cultural and urban features in the region. Third, the course prompts students to have an awareness on the sustainable management of heritages in Hong Kong, Macau and South China regions. The course examines the dynamic relationship among conservation, sustainable management, social and cultural factors, stakeholders’ interests, tourism marketing and development trends, with various lectures, fieldworks and selected case study projects.

GEOG7129
  ELECTIVE  
Climate Change, Environmental Resources and Human Carrying Capacity in China
The course introduces the concept of human carrying capacity in China. The capacity symbolizes the balance between population size and environmental resources. In Chinese history, it is shown that the human carrying capacity was periodically shrunk by climate deterioration and human-induced environmental degradation, resulting in catastrophic social consequences such as wars, population collapses and even dynastic changes. Based upon the lessons of the past, together with recent trends in climate change and social development, the human carrying capacity in contemporary China will be systematically examined. Some controversial issues related to man-environment interaction will also be discussed.

GEOG7137
  ELECTIVE  
Land and Housing in China
The general aim of this course is to highlight and explain the roles of land governance and housing provision for the development of China. It will introduce land as a key resource and explain the fundamental changes both of land use and land management in China. In view of rapid urbanisation, special attention will be paid to the conversion of farm and rural land into built-up and urban land. Land policies profoundly influence the economic, environmental and social development of the country. This is discussed in the context of the so-called new urbanisation policies and the paradigm of sustainable development. Within the development process, the provision of quantitatively and qualitatively sufficient housing is essential for the social development and political stability of the country. Housing supply is therefore a major, although not the only, driving force of land development. The course analyses the roles of the state, the real estate industry and individuals in housing provision and governance. It views housing not just as a physical shelter, but also as a home and part of a broader neighbourhood.

GEOG7140
  ELECTIVE  
China: Environment and Sustainable Development
Due to its geographic characteristics and its large population, China is prone to natural resources degradation. Environmental problems have been accelerated by the rapid economic growth of recent years, high intensity of energy use, particularly in the industrial sector, and economic and pricing policies that have not taken into account the intrinsic value of resources. These factors combine to cause over-exploitation of natural resources. To critically analyze China’s development, this course comprises three main parts. Following the introduction, Part I provides an overview of the state of the country’s natural environment. Part II focuses on the institution, legislative and administrative framework for environment protection and nature conservation. Finally, Part III discusses the government’s strategy for the environment and sustainable development as stipulated in recent Five-Year plans and China’s Agenda 21.

GEOG7141
  ELECTIVE  
Politics of contemporary China
This course examines the ideology, institutions, and processes of the contemporary Chinese political system and offers a critical assessment of the social, economic and political changes unfolding in China. The Chinese Communist revolution in 1949 has profound repercussions for China and the world community. The first three decades of the People’s Republic of China were characterized by drastic socio-economic transformation and political mobilization initiated by Mao Zedong. China’s post-Mao leaders have not only abandoned Mao’s radicalism, but also attempted to reform the socialist economic and political systems and open up the country to the outside world. China’s reform policy since 1978 has produced major achievements in a variety of areas, despite periodic disruptions and continuing difficulties in some sectors. China’s recent economic development and growing role in international affairs have attracted worldwide attention. Studying China’s governance will constitute a key issue on the scholarly and policy agendas of many countries for years to come.

GEOG7142
  ELECTIVE  
Big Data and GIS for China development studies
This course is an introductory course to big data and geographic information science (GIS) for China development studies. Big data can be referred to as the high volume, diversity and velocity of data. GIS is a science that creates, manages, analyzes, and maps all types of data. Big data and GIS are employed in this course to provide fundamental and quantitative datasets and technology for China development applications, i.e., urban socioeconomic analysis, urban expansion driving factors analysis, environment deterioration analysis. Census data, crowdsourcing data, and remote sensing data and etc. will be used and the spatial analysis and geoprocessing methods will be introduced. The advanced big data and GIS analysis techniques are essential tools to support urban planning, resource management, environment assessment and policy making in social, economic and environment context, which can further support studies on China’s sustainable development.

GEOG7122 (12 credits)
  CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE  
Dissertation in China Development Studies
The dissertation shall be a structured presentation of findings of guided independent research on a topic which addresses a topic of China’s development issues. The topic shall be chosen by the candidate and the dissertation shall be 10,000-20,000 words. Candidates are expected to present the dissertation orally in the Contemporary China Seminars series and in written form as well.  The date for submitting the dissertation would be announced at the start of the first year of study (for full-time candidates) or at the start of the final year of study (for part-time candidates).

GEOG7136 (6 credits)
  CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE  
Research Methods and Directed Project in China Development Studies
This is a course on the nature and methods of research in social, economic, and spatial developments in China. Topics to be covered will include the identification of research problems, preparation of a research proposal, formulation of research questions and research hypotheses, collection of data from various sources, critical assessment of the data collected from China, different techniques of data analysis, and presentation of research findings. The purpose is to introduce to students a workable framework for independent research and to demonstrate how statistical techniques could be utilized to solve various research problems concerning China’s economic growth and spatial transformation, through the writing of a directed project.

Additional Pedagogic Requirements
  OTHERS  
Contemporary China Seminar Series
Candidates will be required to attend a series of seminars to be offered by scholars, Government officers, and business elites from Hong Kong, Mainland China and overseas on the development issues in contemporary China. They may also be required to present findings from their independent dissertation research in the seminar series. Attendance in the seminars is required.

Additional Pedagogic Requirements
  OTHERS  
Coursework
Candidates must satisfy the examiners in coursework assessment for each of the courses taken. The assessment of coursework will include written assignments, candidates’ seminar presentations, their roles as discussants in other candidates’ seminars, their general contribution to seminars, and other relevant activities, including field trips.