Course Descriptions - Hong Kong Baptist University - Academic ...
Course Descriptions - Hong Kong Baptist University - Academic ... Course Descriptions - Hong Kong Baptist University - Academic ...
378Course DescriptionsGEOG 3591-2 Honours Project (3,*,*)Prerequisite: GEOG 3590 Field CampThis is an independent honours project to be taken duringthe third year of study of BSocSc (Hons) in Geography andnormally concerns a particular geographic problem relating toHong Kong. The project topic is to be selected in consultationwith a departmental adviser. Evidence of original research andpresentation of professional quality is required.GEOG 3600 Geographical Information Systems (3,2,2) (E)Prerequisite: GEOG 1150 CartographyGeographical Information System (GIS) is an information systemthat is specially designed for handling spatial (or geographical)data. It combines a set of interrelated sub-systems that create,edit, manipulate, analyse and display data both in text andgraphic forms. GIS supports spatial analysis and modelling forthe discipline of geography (e.g. location, proximity, and spatialdistribution), so that it becomes a vital tool for modern geography.With the rapid progress of computing and Internet technology,GIS technology allows easy and fast access to importantgeographical information on the region, environment and society.GEOG 3610 Remote Sensing and Image (3,2,2) (E)InterpretationRemote sensing is defined as the science and art of acquiringinformation about material objects without being in touch withthem. These measurements are possible with advanced airborneand space-borne remote sensing platforms and sensors that arecapable of observing any part of the world frequently with variousdetails. It is discovered that each earth cover has its own spectralreflectance characteristics. The characteristics are so unique thatthey are called “signature” which enable us to discern the objectsfrom its intermixed background. The final remote sensing processis completed by the analysis of the data using image interpretationand image processing techniques. Some key elements, or cuesfrom the imagery, such as shape, size, pattern, tone or colour,shadow and association, are used to identify a variety offeatures on earth. The techniques of image interpretation canbe further enhanced by the techniques of image processing thatcan restore, enhance and extract geographical information fromoriginal remote sensing images. These altogether yield valuableinformation on earth resources and living environment of humanbeings.GEOG 3620 Advanced Climatology (3,3,0) (E)Prerequisite: GEOG 1200 Earth Systems: Atmosphere andBiosphere or consent of the instructorAn introduction to synoptic climatological methods andapplications, with particular emphasis on the climate of China.Climate change and climate modelling are also discussed andprovide a comprehensive introduction to applied climatology.GEOG 3630 Advanced Quantitative Methods (3,2,1) (E)in GeographyPrerequisite: GEOG 1130 Introduction to Quantitative Methodsin Geography or consent of the instructorThis course teaches students the application of quantitativemethods to geographic problem solving. Statistical methods thatare commonly used in geography and regional analysis and spatialanalysis methods are introduced. Emphasis is placed on theapplication of analytical tools to real-world geographic problemsand interpretation of analysis results. Topics include regressionmodels, factor analysis, spatial pattern analysis and clusteranalysis, etc. The course also provides students with opportunitiesto learn one of the most widely used statistical software for socialsciences—SPSS.GEOG 3640 Applied Geomorphology (3,2,1) (E)An examination of the applied aspects of geomorphology anddevelopment of the student’s knowledge and understanding ofEarth surface processes and landscape development. Emphasisis placed on the interaction of man and the physical environmentusing case histories throughout the world, but with emphasison the Southeast Asia. Attention is given to methods ofmeasurement, monitoring and interpretation of collected datafrom various spheres. Field study will be required.GEOG 3650 Geography of Economic (3,3,0) (E)DevelopmentAn analysis of the economic problems and prospects ofdeveloping countries. A variety of ideological perspectives on thedevelopment experiences of developing countries are examined,and assessment is made of the different economic strategies whichhave been used in attempts to alleviate problems.GEOG 3660 Political Geography (3,3,0) (E)An examination of how geographical factors affect politicalorganization at national and international levels. The effects ofgeographic elements such as territory, population, boundaries, anddistance from the sea are covered, followed by a treatment of thecapital, the core area of a state, selection of a unitary or federalform of government, emergence of the Third World followingthe dismemberment of the colonial empires, supra-nationalorganizations, and the complex issues involved in the law of thesea treaty. Moreover, certain major theories in political geographyare presented.GEOG 3670 Geography of Transportation (3,2,1) (E)This is an introductory course of transportation geography. It firstintroduces some economical and spatial aspects of transportationgeography and various transportation systems. In this connection,the basic concepts of supply chain management and logisticswill be introduced. This is followed by the introduction of twoimportant transportation analysis methods: spatial interactionand network analysis. Next, characteristics of urban travel andproblems related to urban transportation are discussed. The finalmodule of the course deals with the externalities of transportationactivities in the context of sustainable transportation and policiesthat may mitigate traffic congestion and meet the objective ofsustainable development.GEOG 3680 Coastal Environments and (3,2,1)ProcessesMuch of the territorial area of Hong Kong and southern Chinalies below sea level, yet few people are fully aware of how coastalprocesses operate or what marine resources and problems exist.This course will familiarize students with the processes thatdominate local marine settings and introduce them to majorcoastal environments, especially in the Hong Kong region. Italso aims at developing an understanding and awareness ofmanagement issues relating to the offshore areas of the territoryand the adjacent South China coastline. Offshore and onshorefieldwork form an integral part of this course.GEOG 3710 Urban Planning (3,2,1) (E)Prerequisite: GEOG 2180 Urban Geography or consent of theinstructorTheoretical, practical, and methodological issues in policy studiesand urban planning are addressed. Urban planning practicesin Hong Kong are illustrated. Towards the end of the course,students are expected to conduct independent projects in whichthey should demonstrate their abilities to (1) identify planningproblems, (2) diagnose the cause of such problems, and (3)propose logical strategies to resolve the problems. Fieldwork maybe required.GEOG 3720 Seminar in Environmental Planning (3,3,0) (E)and ManagementPrerequisite: GEOG 2140 Environmental Conservation orconsent of the instructorA discussion of the major approaches to environmental planningand management. Focus is placed on the long-term well-beingof this planet and its inhabitants which require the developmentof a sustainable society—one that conserves natural resources,recycles, reduces pollution, and controls population growth. Thelegal, technical, and practical solutions to these problems are alsoexamined.
GEOG 3730 Energy Policy and Analysis (3,3,0) (E)Prerequisite: G E O G 2 1 6 0 E n e r g y P r o b l e m s a n d t h eEnvironment or consent of the instructorPartly built upon GEOG 2160 Energy Problems and theEnvironment, this course focuses on the construction of nationalenergy policies. Apart from the factors discussed in the previouscourse, other factors that affect the formulation of a nationalenergy policy are treated, including environmental factors likethermal and air pollution, patterns of sectoral consumption ofenergy, energy intensiveness of economy, energy conservation,and the role of non-conventional sources such as wind, solar andgeothermal energy. Case studies of energy policies of selectedAsian countries are covered, together with substantial research onan energy topic.GEOG 3740 Urban Cultural Landscape (3,3,0) (E)This course looks into the urban landscape, specifically (1) itsevolution and changes, (2) its symbolic meanings and effectson urban living, as well as (3) issues in relation to its planningand design. It also introduces students to the practices of someprofessions, such as urban design, landscape architecture, andpublic art, which deal with culture and urban landscapes.GEOG 3750 Seminar in Urban Geography (3,3,0)Prerequisite: GEOG 2180 Urban GeographyAn in-depth study of selected topics in urban geography. Studentsare guided through specific research on concrete urban problemsboth in Hong Kong and in mainland China. Analytical techniquesand theoretical issues are stressed throughout the course. Somefield study in Hong Kong and mainland China may be required.GEOG 3760 Urban Development and Planning (3,2,1) (E)in Hong KongPrerequisite: GEOG 3710 Urban Planning or consent of theinstructorUrban Hong Kong has developed rapidly since the 1950s. Thebuilt environment has expanded from the one concentrated onthe two sides of the Victoria Harbour to the one encroaching intothe New Territories and even spreading across the boundary toShenzhen. What are the salient features of urban development,both in the inner city and at the periphery? Is it business-biased?Is it over-dominated by the property sector? How to interpret itsgrowth pattern and dynamics? What is the role of the Hong KongGovernment? What is about urban planning? It is the objectiveof this course to address these questions by drawing on the latestinformed theories and many empirical studies. This course wouldbe of interest to anyone who dares to know more about urbanHong Kong and develop an urban model within the broadercontexts of China, Asia and the West.GEOG 3790 Seminar in Social Geography (3,3,0)An analysis of (1) the scope and nature of social geography, (2)the interactive relationships between social processes and thecharacteristics of places, (3) the significance of both public andprivate institutions in the transformation of the environment, and(4) the nature and characteristics of social problems in urban andrural societies. Fieldwork may be required.GEOG 3830 Population Geography of China (3,2,1)Prerequisite: GEOG 2150 Population Geography or SOC 2220Population StudiesAn in-depth analysis of China’s population from a spatial pointof view. Specifically the course will examine the integration ofpopulation planning in socialist China and its relationship withthe four modernizations.GEOG 3840 Energy Development in China (3,3,0) (E)Prerequisite: G E O G 2 1 6 0 E n e r g y P r o b l e m s a n d t h eEnvironment or consent of the instructorIn the past two decades, momentous changes occurred in theChinese energy sector, including changes in the institutionalframework—moving from state allocation to the marketeconomy—and with respect to individual energy industries. Bythe mid-1990s, the problem of energy shortage had largely beenresolved, yet the country had become a net oil importer, and isprojected to import an increasingly larger amount in the future,with serious implications for the security of energy supply andfuture oil import outlay. The course takes a comprehensive surveyof the Chinese energy sector, including the resource endowment,energy policy since the 1980s, the major energy industries like oil,coal, natural gas, electricity—HEP and nuclear included—andthe international energy trade of China. Current issues such asthe Three Gorges Dam and the West–East Pipeline are also dealtwith.GEOG 3850 Resource Management in China (3,2,1) (P)This course introduces the concepts, knowledge and skills innatural resource evaluation and management, with the emphasison and the real-world cases in China. The course is presented intwo major parts. The first part begins with the introduction tothe concepts about the natural resources and their distribution inChina. This is followed by an extensive study on methodologyfor land and water resource evaluation. The second partpresents details about the nature, distribution and utilisation ofnatural resources in China. The environmental conservationand sustainable development in relation to natural resources arealso discussed in the subject. Laboratory works for this coursefocus on resource assessment methods with the aid of remotesensing and geographical information system (GIS) technology.A field excursion to China’s mainland is also used to practisefield methods for land resource evaluation, and the first-handexperience in the regional natural resources management.GEOG 3860 Problems in the Physical (3,3,0)Geography of ChinaPrerequisite: GEOG 2110 Regional Geography of ChinaAn examination of how the various physical processes interactwith China’s socio-political milieu to effect the current physicallandscapes and the kinds of environmental problems that thecountry has to face. A problem-oriented approach, with a viewto improving the management of China’s physical/environmentalsystem, is adopted.GEOG 3870 Geography of Environmental (3,3,0) (E)HazardsNatural hazards research in a geographical context are introduced.The course provides a comprehensive introduction to the causesof climatic and geological hazards, and human response andadjustment.GEOG 3880 Rural and Agricultural (3,2,1) (C)Development in ChinaPrerequisite: GEOG 2110 Regional Geography of China orconsent of the instructorAn examination of (1) the physical and historical factors affectingChina’s agriculture, (2) institutional changes since 1949 inChina’s rural sector, and (3) underlying contemporary problemsand programmes concerning agricultural growth and ruraldevelopment. Field study in China may be required.GEOG 3890 Urban Development in China (3,3,0) (E)Prerequisite: GEOG 2110 Regional Geography of China orconsent of the instructorThis course will provide an insight into the internal structureand external linkage of Chinese cities, and analysis of problems,policies and reforms in China’s urbanization and urban economy.Field study in China may be required.GEOG 3910 Selected Topics in the Geography (3,3,0)of ChinaAn in-depth study of selected issues in the contemporarygeography of China. The major socio-economic topics orphysical/environmental topics to be discussed have beenintentionally designed to be flexible.379Course Descriptions
- Page 27 and 28: adopted for reading and interpretin
- Page 29 and 30: drama; and (2) introduce Western dr
- Page 31 and 32: ENGL 4005 Advanced Topic in Compara
- Page 33 and 34: attendant to the break-up of mediev
- Page 35 and 36: EURO 3205 Comparative Politics of (
- Page 37 and 38: states, enlargement provides signif
- Page 39 and 40: to create and develop ideas via rel
- Page 41 and 42: strategies of awarded campaigns to
- Page 43 and 44: characteristics of films, film-make
- Page 46: 346Course DescriptionsFINE 1005 Fin
- Page 49 and 50: GCHC 1005 China and the Global Econ
- Page 51 and 52: the period with a special focus on
- Page 53 and 54: est decision-making procedures. Mor
- Page 55 and 56: GCPE 1065 Table Tennis (1,2,0) (C)T
- Page 57 and 58: and/or philosophical traditions the
- Page 59 and 60: on the use of English in various se
- Page 61 and 62: GDAR 1835 Music, Mind, and Human (3
- Page 63 and 64: lead to successful development of n
- Page 65 and 66: management and proactive stakeholde
- Page 67 and 68: GDCV 1065 Buildings of Hong Kong: (
- Page 69 and 70: of various religions that broaden t
- Page 71 and 72: their implications for contemporary
- Page 73 and 74: gone through since 1945 included th
- Page 75 and 76: GEOG 1005 Geography and the Contemp
- Page 77: students to the concepts and techni
- Page 81 and 82: processes interact with China’s s
- Page 83 and 84: GERM 1006 German II (3,3,0) (G)Prer
378<strong>Course</strong> <strong>Descriptions</strong>GEOG 3591-2 Honours Project (3,*,*)Prerequisite: GEOG 3590 Field CampThis is an independent honours project to be taken duringthe third year of study of BSocSc (Hons) in Geography andnormally concerns a particular geographic problem relating to<strong>Hong</strong> <strong>Kong</strong>. The project topic is to be selected in consultationwith a departmental adviser. Evidence of original research andpresentation of professional quality is required.GEOG 3600 Geographical Information Systems (3,2,2) (E)Prerequisite: GEOG 1150 CartographyGeographical Information System (GIS) is an information systemthat is specially designed for handling spatial (or geographical)data. It combines a set of interrelated sub-systems that create,edit, manipulate, analyse and display data both in text andgraphic forms. GIS supports spatial analysis and modelling forthe discipline of geography (e.g. location, proximity, and spatialdistribution), so that it becomes a vital tool for modern geography.With the rapid progress of computing and Internet technology,GIS technology allows easy and fast access to importantgeographical information on the region, environment and society.GEOG 3610 Remote Sensing and Image (3,2,2) (E)InterpretationRemote sensing is defined as the science and art of acquiringinformation about material objects without being in touch withthem. These measurements are possible with advanced airborneand space-borne remote sensing platforms and sensors that arecapable of observing any part of the world frequently with variousdetails. It is discovered that each earth cover has its own spectralreflectance characteristics. The characteristics are so unique thatthey are called “signature” which enable us to discern the objectsfrom its intermixed background. The final remote sensing processis completed by the analysis of the data using image interpretationand image processing techniques. Some key elements, or cuesfrom the imagery, such as shape, size, pattern, tone or colour,shadow and association, are used to identify a variety offeatures on earth. The techniques of image interpretation canbe further enhanced by the techniques of image processing thatcan restore, enhance and extract geographical information fromoriginal remote sensing images. These altogether yield valuableinformation on earth resources and living environment of humanbeings.GEOG 3620 Advanced Climatology (3,3,0) (E)Prerequisite: GEOG 1200 Earth Systems: Atmosphere andBiosphere or consent of the instructorAn introduction to synoptic climatological methods andapplications, with particular emphasis on the climate of China.Climate change and climate modelling are also discussed andprovide a comprehensive introduction to applied climatology.GEOG 3630 Advanced Quantitative Methods (3,2,1) (E)in GeographyPrerequisite: GEOG 1130 Introduction to Quantitative Methodsin Geography or consent of the instructorThis course teaches students the application of quantitativemethods to geographic problem solving. Statistical methods thatare commonly used in geography and regional analysis and spatialanalysis methods are introduced. Emphasis is placed on theapplication of analytical tools to real-world geographic problemsand interpretation of analysis results. Topics include regressionmodels, factor analysis, spatial pattern analysis and clusteranalysis, etc. The course also provides students with opportunitiesto learn one of the most widely used statistical software for socialsciences—SPSS.GEOG 3640 Applied Geomorphology (3,2,1) (E)An examination of the applied aspects of geomorphology anddevelopment of the student’s knowledge and understanding ofEarth surface processes and landscape development. Emphasisis placed on the interaction of man and the physical environmentusing case histories throughout the world, but with emphasison the Southeast Asia. Attention is given to methods ofmeasurement, monitoring and interpretation of collected datafrom various spheres. Field study will be required.GEOG 3650 Geography of Economic (3,3,0) (E)DevelopmentAn analysis of the economic problems and prospects ofdeveloping countries. A variety of ideological perspectives on thedevelopment experiences of developing countries are examined,and assessment is made of the different economic strategies whichhave been used in attempts to alleviate problems.GEOG 3660 Political Geography (3,3,0) (E)An examination of how geographical factors affect politicalorganization at national and international levels. The effects ofgeographic elements such as territory, population, boundaries, anddistance from the sea are covered, followed by a treatment of thecapital, the core area of a state, selection of a unitary or federalform of government, emergence of the Third World followingthe dismemberment of the colonial empires, supra-nationalorganizations, and the complex issues involved in the law of thesea treaty. Moreover, certain major theories in political geographyare presented.GEOG 3670 Geography of Transportation (3,2,1) (E)This is an introductory course of transportation geography. It firstintroduces some economical and spatial aspects of transportationgeography and various transportation systems. In this connection,the basic concepts of supply chain management and logisticswill be introduced. This is followed by the introduction of twoimportant transportation analysis methods: spatial interactionand network analysis. Next, characteristics of urban travel andproblems related to urban transportation are discussed. The finalmodule of the course deals with the externalities of transportationactivities in the context of sustainable transportation and policiesthat may mitigate traffic congestion and meet the objective ofsustainable development.GEOG 3680 Coastal Environments and (3,2,1)ProcessesMuch of the territorial area of <strong>Hong</strong> <strong>Kong</strong> and southern Chinalies below sea level, yet few people are fully aware of how coastalprocesses operate or what marine resources and problems exist.This course will familiarize students with the processes thatdominate local marine settings and introduce them to majorcoastal environments, especially in the <strong>Hong</strong> <strong>Kong</strong> region. Italso aims at developing an understanding and awareness ofmanagement issues relating to the offshore areas of the territoryand the adjacent South China coastline. Offshore and onshorefieldwork form an integral part of this course.GEOG 3710 Urban Planning (3,2,1) (E)Prerequisite: GEOG 2180 Urban Geography or consent of theinstructorTheoretical, practical, and methodological issues in policy studiesand urban planning are addressed. Urban planning practicesin <strong>Hong</strong> <strong>Kong</strong> are illustrated. Towards the end of the course,students are expected to conduct independent projects in whichthey should demonstrate their abilities to (1) identify planningproblems, (2) diagnose the cause of such problems, and (3)propose logical strategies to resolve the problems. Fieldwork maybe required.GEOG 3720 Seminar in Environmental Planning (3,3,0) (E)and ManagementPrerequisite: GEOG 2140 Environmental Conservation orconsent of the instructorA discussion of the major approaches to environmental planningand management. Focus is placed on the long-term well-beingof this planet and its inhabitants which require the developmentof a sustainable society—one that conserves natural resources,recycles, reduces pollution, and controls population growth. Thelegal, technical, and practical solutions to these problems are alsoexamined.
Change language