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Disciplinary Major / Minor
in Geography
Objective
Geography is a diverse discipline that involves both natural and social sciences with a focus on the major issues facing societies in a rapidly changing world. The Geography undergraduate programme aims to provide students with an understanding of the geographical aspects of the relationships between people and the natural environment; how these relationships have changed with space and over time; and the role of geography in the investigation and analysis of the issues and problems facing people, places and society. The programme also seeks to give students the opportunity to explore key elements of the knowledge and understanding embodied in the geography discipline; study aspects of geography that stimulate their intellectual interests; and acquire discipline-specific and generic skills to enable them to pursue their chosen career or continue onto higher education.
Programme Learning Outcomes
(PLOs)
In order to meet the demands and challenges in this dynamic and ever-changing world, the Department has designed a series of well-structured and contemporary courses to cater to the different interests of students. It’s courses are designed to align with the University’s educational aims which hope to nurture future generations not only with a critical and intellectual mindset, but also with a passion to contribute to society in general.
After completing the programme, “Geography Major” students should be able to:
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critically analyze the geographical aspects of the relationship between people and the environment;
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demonstrate and develop an understanding of how these relationships have changed with space and over time;
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identify, collect and utilize primary and secondary data to investigate and analyze the issues and problems facing people, places and society;
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integrate, evaluate and communicate information from a variety of geographical and other sources;
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participate in promoting social, economic and environmental sustainability at the local, regional and global scales; and
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effectively apply a range of transferable skills in academic, professional and social settings.
Programme Structure *4-year Cohort
The Geography curriculum is structured so as to provide students with a wide range of options for exploring the field of geography based on their own academic interests and personal and professional goals. Our programme is designed to equip students with the foundational knowledge of our discipline, specialized training in a number of advanced topics, and mastery of the skills and technologies that will position them for immediate success at the conclusion of their undergraduate careers.
Major or Minor in Geography (For 2025-2026 Cohort of students and thereafter)
No. of Credits
Component
Major
Minor
(a) Introductory courses (Level 100)
(i) Disciplinary
(ii) Pre-requisites*#
12
12
6
-
(b) Advanced courses (Level 200 or above)
(i) Disciplinary method course(s)
6
(ii) Disciplinary electives^
30-36
(iii)Capstone experience
6-12
(iv)Social innovation and global citizenship~
24
6
12
12
-
96
36
Major or Minor in Geography (For 2018-2019 to 2024-2025 Cohort of students)
No. of Credits
Component
Major
Minor
(a) Introductory courses (Level 100)
(i) Disciplinary
(ii) Pre-requisites*#
6
12
6
-
(b) Advanced courses (Level 200 or above)
(i) Disciplinary method course(s)
6
(ii) Disciplinary electives^
36-42
(iii)Capstone experience
6-12
(iv)Social innovation and global citizenship~
24
6
12
12
-
96
36
*
Geography Major students are encouraged to take more number of credits beyond the minimum requirement.
#
Candidates who opt to declare two major programmes offered by the Faculty of Social Sciences should avoid selecting overlapping pre-requisites.
^
Geography Major students must take at least 18 credits of Level 300 or above disciplinary courses (excluding GEOG4001 Overseas field trip)
~
Candidates who opt to declare double majors in Geography, Politics and Public Administration, Psychology, Sociology and Social Work and Social Administration are allowed to undertake 24 credits of free electives, to fulfil the Faculty off-campus learning courses for the second major.
Candidates who wish to MAJOR (96 credits) or MINOR (36 credits) in Geography must complete:
(a) Introductory courses
(i) Disciplinary Introductory Courses
For 2025-2026 Cohort of students and thereafter. TWO (12 credits) compulsory introductory courses, GEOG1016 and GEOG1017, for the major. ONE (6 credit) introductory course from the available 100 level courses for the minor.
For 2018-2019 to 2024-2025 Cohort of students. ONE (6 credits) introductory course from the available 100 level courses for the major. ONE (6 credit) introductory course from the available 100 level courses for the minor.
(ii) Introductory pre-requisite courses
Two courses from the following 5 units, but not more than one from a single unit (12 credits)
-
Faculty of Social Sciences
-
Politics and Public Administration
-
Psychology
-
Social Work and Social Administration
-
Sociology
(b) Advanced courses
(i) Disciplinary method courses (a minimum of 6 credits for major)
Geography majors should take at least one core methods-related course (6 credits). Please see the list of courses at https://geog.hku.hk/list-of-courses. Methods related courses are marked with a #. Geography majors, once having met the 6 credits of core requirement, can take another course from the above list to fulfill the disciplinary elective requirement.
(ii) Disciplinary electives
For 2025-2026 Cohort of students and thereafter (from 30-36 credits for major; 30 credits for minor)
For 2018-2019 to 2024-2025 Cohort of students (from 36-42 credits for major; 30 credits for minor)
These advanced elective courses are offered as Level 200, 300 and 400 courses to provide students with academic progression. Students must take at least 18 credits of Level 300 or above disciplinary courses for the major.
(iii) Capstone experience (6-12 credits for major only)
*
The GEOG4001 course is a compulsory capstone experience course that all Geography majors must take to fulfill the programme requirement. In the event that this compulsory field trip needs to be cancelled due to travel restrictions and/or other unforeseen circumstances, the Department would inform students and they would be allowed to take one of the other capstone experience (CE) courses including “GEOG4002 Directed project in geography” (6 credits) or “GEOG4003 Honours dissertation” (12 credits) to fulfil the CE requirements for graduation.
iv) Social Innovation and Global Citizenship (24 credits)
For BSocSc students (Faculty off-campus learning courses)
Students are required to undertake 24 credits of off-campus learning under the twin themes Social Innovation and Global Citizenship as a condition of graduation. To fulfil the Social Innovation requirement, candidates must complete FOSS2018. To fulfil the Global Citizenship requirement, candidates must either complete FOSS2019 or a combination of two 6-credit endorsed experiential learning courses, or undertake 12 credits of advanced courses on exchange studies or on an overseas summer programme approved by the Faculty. Candidates may complete a maximum of 30 credits of experiential learning (internship) during their studies.
For more SIGC information please see the SIGC website here: https://www.socsc.hku.hk/sigc/
For non-BSocSc students
Students are required to undertake 24 advanced credits of courses listed under the Faculty of Social Sciences syllabuses, including the social sciences and non-social sciences courses.
Please see the recommended study pathway for students interested in majoring in Geography here
For further details please see the BSocSc Regulations and Syllabus Page here: https://web.socsc.hku.hk/bachelors-regulations-and-syllabuses/