CENTRAL AND INTERDEPARTMENTAL RESEARCH UNITS
SOSC 21 1 International Economic Relations [3-0-0:3]
[Previous Course Code: SOSC 11 11 Systematic analysis of the theory of trade and financial relationships between nations, and major related policy issues. Exclusion:
ECON 335 Prerequisite: one of ECON 11 0, ECON 1 1 1, ECON 1 12, ECON 191, or SOSC 11 2
SOSC 212 World Economic Development [3-0-0:3]
[Previou2s Course Code: SOSC 100G] Overview of the evolution of development thinking and alternative strategies for development particular attention to international aspects of development. Exclision: ECON 343 prerequisite: one of ECON 11 0, ECON 111, ECON 112, ECON 191, orSOSC 112
SOSC 222 The Human Geography of Pacific Asia [3-0-0:3]
[Previous Course Code: SOSC 100R] Looks at the changes in the national-formations of East and Southeast Asia with the aim of enhancing understanding of the evolution of Pacific Asia regional economy.
SOSC 223 The Geography of Japan [3-0-0:3]
[Previous Course Code: SOSC IOOB] Explores the creation of contemporary Japanese cultural geography from the perspective of diffusion and adaptation of new concepts and technologies.
SOSC 224 Nine Nations of North America [3-0-0:3]
[Previous Course Code: SOSC 100C] Explores the "real" functioning geography of a North Americasplit into nine nations, each with its own distinctive economy, culture and political interest.
SOSC 225 Geography of China [3-0-0:3]
[Previous Course Code: SOSC 101H] Studies of the natural environment cultural- historical setting, resources and economic development of China. Emphasis is placed upon the changing relationship between the people and the environment.
SOSC 236 Gifts, Money and Power: Theories of Exchange [3-0-0:3]
Explores various forms of wealth and systems of exchange found beyond commodity based economies. Also looks at the relation between wealth and power and the impact of money on alternative systems of exchange.
SOSC 237 Chinese Society Since the Reforms [3-0-0:3]
The social and cultural dimensions of the economic reforms in China, examining gender, politics, family, rural and urban life and their roles in the reform process.
Undergraduate Course Descriptions
SOSC 250 Political Economy of China [3-0-0:3]
[Previous Course Code: SOSC 1 OOW] Explores the evolution of China's state-socialist system from 1949 to the present and provides an analytical basis for the understanding of the on-going economic and social changes in China.
SOSC 251 Politics and Government of South Korea [3-0-0:3]
Aims at an understanding of an evolutionary process of democratic transition, strategies and outcomes of state-led economic modernisation, and foreign policy responses to the external environment in South Korea.
SOSC 254 Chinese Revolution: Historical and Theoretic 13-0-0:3]
Perspectives
Describes and analyses how the political actors in China perceived the revolutionary situations, and what programmes, strategies and tactics they adpoted to pursue their goals; appraises the conceptual frameworks and theories of revolution.
SOSC 255 Chinese Foreign Policy [3-0-0:3]
[Previous Course Code: SOSC 100K] Covers several core dimensions of China's foreign policy behaviour. Utilises both chronological and thematic approaches, in addition to discussions on China's bilateral relations with several key countries.
SOSC 256 US Foreign Policy: Past and Present [3QO:3]
[Previous Course Code: SOSC 101B] Review of US foreign policy from colonisation to the present, with emphasis on US-Asia relations. The conflicting dynamics of isolation and expansion, as well as the institutional, economic and political sources of American policies abroad.
SOSC 257 International Relations i n East Asia [3-0-0:3]
lPrevious Course Code: SOSC 101C1 Astudy of contemporary political, economic, and
a - - - - - - - - - -
strategic issues in the East Asia area; and foreign relations of mainland China, Japan, the United States, and the NlEs (newly industrialised economies)
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South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Kong.SOSC 258 Japanese Politics and Policy Making [3-0-0:3]
[Previous Course Code: SOSC l o l l ] A survey and research on contemporary Japanese politics and policymaking; theoretical debate over the nature of Japanese society and politics; Japan's political economy and developmental strategy; external relations and foreign policy.
SOSC 259 Histories and Structures of Japanese Industries [3-0-0:3]
[Previous Course Code: SOSC 101J] This course is to familiarise future professionals and managers with the development, structure and current status of manufacturing, financial and service industries of Japan.
SOSC 270 Social Inequality and Social Mobility [3-0-0:3]
Examines the basic concepts and theories sociologists use to describe and explain social inequality and the process of status mobility.
SOSC 271 The Social Context of Science, Technology and [3-0-0:3]
Business Enterprise
[Previous Course Code: SOSC 1001] The relationship between science, technology, business and society. Topics include: technology in different cultures, scientific revolutions and the cultural dimensions of international business.
Undergraduate Course Descriptions
SOSC 272 Population and Society [3-0-0:3]
[Previous Course Code: SOSC 100AI Introduces the main concepts in the field of population studies, contemporary issues concerning the interrelationships between population and social and economic development, and examples of applications of a knowledge of population to wider social concerns.
SOSC 273 The Rise of East Asian Industrial Civilisation [3-0-0:3]
[Previous Course Code: SOSC 100MI Designed to help students understand the principal social, cultural, and political factors that contributed to the rise of industrial East Asia.
SOSC 274 Education, Social Mobility and Inequality [3-0-0:3]
Focuses on (1) processes of educational and status attainment, and (2) forms of socioeconomic inequality.
SOSC 275 Family Systems i n Transition in China and Hong Kong [3-0-0:3]
Origin and trends of world nuclearisation of the family; cultural and symbolic as well as economic impact on kin-relatives; transformation of dyadic relations within the nuclear unit. Major studies with a focus on Chinese family systems will be reviewed.
SOSC 276 Science, Technology and Society [3-0-0:3]
[Previous Course Code: SOSC 101E] The objective of this course is to explore the interactions and inter-relationships between science, technology, and society by analysing various theories, concepts, methods, and case studies from an interdiscipli- nary perspective.
SOSC 290 Political Psychology [3-0-0:3]
[Previous Course Code: SOSC lOOL] Psychological perspectives on political behav- iour: leadership, political participation, political socialisation, and political conflict1 change.
SOSC 300 Special Topics [3-0-0:3]
Focuses on a coherent collection of topics selected from social science. May be repeated for credit, if the topics studied are different.
SOSC 311 Markets and States [3-0-0:3]
Interaction between economics and politics in the formulation and implementation of national economic policies. Attempts to integrate, rather than separate, the concerns of economics and politcal science.
SOSC 312 Economics of Institutions [3-0-0:3]
[Previous Course Code: SOSC 101
GI
This course aims to broaden orthodox economic analysis by taking into account the consequences of ownership and transaction costs in shaping economic outcomes and the economic forces that affect the nature and evolution of institutions. Prerequisite: ECON 213 or ECON 214SOSC 313 Rural Development in Contemporary China [3-0-0:3]
[Previous Course Code: SOSC 101N] This course explores patterns and processes of argicultural and rural development in China after 1949. Emphasis is placed on the importance of policies and institutions in shaping individual incentives and economic performance. Prerequisite: one of ECON 11 0, ECON 11 1, ECON 191 or SOSC 250
Undergraduate Course Descriptions
SOSC 322 Pan-Pacific Symbiosis [3-0-0:3]
[Previous Course Code: SOSC lOOS] Explores the 150 years of the Japanese- American relationship considering coercion, conflict and cooperation; competitive advantage; mutual development; culture and politics.
SOSC 323 Geographical Information System [3-0-0:3]
[Previous Course Code: SOSC 101M] Principle, functionality and application of Geographical lnformation System.
SOSC 336 Power, Politics and Culture 13-0-0:3]
[Previous Course Code: SOSC 1000] Examination of the social and cultural constitu- tion of power - looks at ideologies, politcal and the overtly political forms of power and control in diverse socio-cultures.
SOSC 351 Rational Choice: Theory and Application i n Social [3-0-0:3]
Science
[Previous Course Code: SOSC 100Y] lntroduces the basic concepts and tools of rational choice theory that apply to collective action, social choice and game theory.
SOSC 352 Public Administration and Policy Analysis [3-1-0:3]
[Previous Course Code: SOSC 101A] An introduction to the principles of public administration. Topics include concepts of bureaucracy, bureaucratic culture, admin- istrative accountability and policy-making paradigms.
SOSC 353 Central-Local Government Relations i n Contemporary [3-0-0:3]
China
[Previous Course Code: SOSC 2521 Offers a territorial perspective on Chinese politics by focusing upon the dynamics of central-provincial interaction. From the perspectives of both Hong Kong and Guangdong, territorial politics constitutes an indispensable approach to comprehending contemporary Chinese politics and post-Mao reforms.
SOSC 354 Human Rights [3-0-0:3]
lntroduces diverse notions of civil, politcal, economic, social and cultural rights and the international system that protects these rights. Focuses on rights in China, Hong Kong and the United States.
SOSC 355 Comparative Government-Business Relationships [3-0-0:3]
[Previous Course Code: SOSC 101K] This course deals with divergent philosophical and historical backgrounds and institutions that determine modes of interaction be- tween government and businesses in Asia, Europe and the US.
SOSC 370 Sociological Theory [3-0-0:3]
[Previous course code: SOSC 1 OOH] Discussion of how sociological theory can help an understand of social life in new and challenging ways, looks at four influential theoretical perspectives: utilitarianism, functionalism, Marxism and symbolic interactionism.
SOSC 371 Organisational Behaviour [3-0-0:3]
\Previous course code: SOSC 1 OOQ1 Provides an overview of major economic, political,
.
-psychological and sociological perspectives on organisational behaviour, and exam- ines linkages between theory and real life organisational issues. Exclusion: MGTO 221
SOSC 372 Demographic Analysis [3-0-0:3]
[Previous Course Code: SOSC 100T] Introduction to formal analysis of population structure, population dynamics, applied to such issues as marketing site selection in the private sector and planning and management problems in the public sector.
Undergraduate Course Descriptions
SOSC 373 The Rise and Fall of Communism: A Comparative Study [3-0-0:3]
Communism from three perspectives: a philosophical doctrine, a political movement, and a social system. Major phases in the evolution of Communist systems. Theories on Communism, and their validity will be examined.
SOSC 374 Social Change and Development [3-0-0:3]
[Previous Course Codes: SOSC 100P, SOSC 1711 Discussion of the origins, proc- esses, and consequences of social and political development in the modern world.
SOSC 375 States and Societies in East Asia [3-0-0:3]
[Previous Course Code: SOSC 1002, SOSC 1751 Provides an overview of the historical past, the processes of socioeconomic development, and political change and democ- ratisation in East Asian societies.
SOSC 376 Analysis of Technological Change [3-0-0:3]
[Previous Course Code: SOSC 101L] Explores the concept of technological change through interdisciplinary theories, models, and methodological issues of technological change in society. Prerequisite: SOSC 101 E or SOSC 271
SOSC 390 The Social Psychology of Intergroup Relations [3-0-0:3]
[Previous Course Code: SOSC 2911 Social psychological theories of intergroup relations, conflict resolution, and their application to real-world social conflict.