Social Sciences Common Core

Aims of Social Sciences Common Core (SSCC)
  1. To develop students a solid conceptual understanding of the transdisciplinary nature of social sciences.

  2. To enhance students’ social awareness, critical thinking and analytical ability so that they can identify plausible solutions to complex real-life problems.

  3. To enhance students’ global outlook, cross-cultural understanding and employability.
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Introduction

From AY2019/20 intake onwards, undergraduate students of specific programmes under the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are required to complete a total of 4 units requirement of Social Sciences Common Core (SSCC).

I. Common Core Course (1 unit)

- To be taken in Year 1 study

 

SOSC 1006 Invitation to Social Sciences (1 unit)

This course aims to offer new students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences a broad understanding about the nature, basic principles, methodologies, and developments of social sciences. The major research and teaching areas of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at HKBU will also be introduced. The course includes three major parts:

  • What is social science?

  • How to conduct social science research?

  • Social Sciences at HKBU

II. Experiential Learning in Action (3 units)
  •  To be taken in Year 3 / 4 study

 

Students are required to take either of the following two courses as the fulfilment of Experiential Learning in Action.

 

SOSC 3005 Community and Civic Engagement (3 units)

The course aims to provide students with experiential learning opportunities to apply their knowledge and skills to tackle complex real-life problems. To this end, students may choose to engage in either internship or student research attachment. The internship/attachment is normally of at least 5 consecutive weeks' full-time attachment during the summer or a minimum of 200 work hours during term time (or equivalent). Through first-hand practical experience, students are expected to develop self-awareness, explore their career interests, establish job required attributes, experience real-workplace challenges, prepare for employment upon graduation, and reflect upon their life-career planning.
 

SOSC 3006 Global Outreach (3 units)

The course aims to enrich students’ awareness of and respect for the diversity of cultures and people across the globe. Students are required to engage in 4+ weeks (or equivalent) of non-local learning activity, spending roughly 6 hours per day (30 hours per week) and the total workload may include time spent on field trips/visits, services, research, data collection, conferences, workshops, seminars, lectures, tutorials, seminars, assignment/report, etc. Through the non-local outreach experience, students are expected to develop global perspectives on various social, political, economic and environmental issues across different cultures and geographical regions.

Remarks: Students are expected to plan for their experiential learning journey in their Year 2 study, who can participate in the learning activity the earliest during the summer preceding Year 3. Detailed arrangement will be announced in due course.