This is a five-year full-time Double Degree programme. It will provide students with knowledge and skills in the academic discipline of Sociology and a recognized teaching qualification for teaching of Liberal Studies in schools. Graduates from the programme will be well prepared for teaching but will also be able to enter other careers such as business, personnel management and the civil service.

AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME

The aims of the Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Sociology are:

• To illuminate the complex patterns of relationships among I individuals, groups, and larger social structures in a cross-cultural perspective;
• To enhance the understanding of continuities and changes at the local, regional and global levels;
• To provide a comprehensive and integrated understanding of Chinese cultures and societies;
• To enable students to appreciate the complexities of Hong Kong society in all its manifestations;
• To cultivate abilities and creativity in independent research and theoretical investigation;
• To develop critical thinking skills adequate for academic inquiry and everyday problem-solving;
• To enable students to acquire and apply such transferable practical skills as problem identification, argument formulation, evidence gathering, analytical logic, teamwork, information technology and communication ability suitable for a wide variety of professional careers in civil service, social service, education and business sectors.
• To encourage an enthusiasm for life-long learning which in some instances will lead to postgraduate studies;
• To train students to appreciate and respect human diversity, and recognize the significance of cultural and social differences;
• To enable students to conduct and complete a research project independently.

The aims of the Bachelor of Education (Honours) in Liberal Studies Teaching are:

• To develop in students personal qualities that support teachers’ daily work and professional development. These personal qualities include interpersonal effectiveness, creativity, self-understanding, as well as the motivation and the readiness for self-reflection and self-improvement;
• To develop in students a functional knowledge of disciplines which informs educational practices.
• To develop in students a subject specialisation in schools. This expertise consists of effective strategies for planning, conducting and evaluating Liberal Studies teaching; and
• To develop in students knowledge essential for effective functioning within the teaching profession and the wider education context. This knowledge encompasses issues on teacher professionalism, educational organisation and management, as well as policy practices.

Upon completion of the Sociology programme, students should be able to:

• Recognize and explain the complexities of human cultures and societies
• Describe and explain the patterns of relationships among individuals, groups and larger social structures, in a cross-cultural perspective
• Analyze the dynamic interactions of various institutions of society as they affect and are affected by social change
• Work effectively as part of a team, or independently, to make well-organized presentations and produce quality research papers in sociology
• Recognize and respect the ethics of social research
• Be active in pursuing knowledge and acquire skills to pursue life-long learning.

CAREER PROSPECTS

The Programme will provide high quality preparation for teaching and teaching-related careers. Graduates will be equipped with a range of skills that will enable them to contribute effectively and flexibly to the changing needs of Hong Kong in the 21st century.