DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY
香港樹仁大學社會學系
HONG KONG SHUE YAN UNIVERSITY
ABOUT US
* History
* Subject Matter of Sociology
* Aims of the Programme
* Career Prospects for Graduates
History
Ever since its inauguration in 1971, Hong Kong Shue Yan University has been operating under the direction of the following mission statements:
*
Preserve
and disseminate traditional Chinese culture.
*
Enable students to cultivate a whole, balanced personality including moral character and to realize their
full potential as intellectuals.
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Provide rigorous intellectual training to enable students to become independent critical thinkers.
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Combine academic theory with the acquisition of professional and practical skills to produce graduates
who can immediately be of service to meet the needs of the community.
Since then, the Department of Sociology has been educating students in line with the above general aims of the University.
The Department has a long track record of producing good quality graduates who are successful both in job market and in obtaining places in graduate and post-graduate degree programmes overseas and locally.
Since its inception, the Department has been responsible for offering a 4-year Honours Diploma Programme in
Sociology;
Over the years, the Department has maintained a reputation for excellence in teaching as well as excellence in teacher-student relations. Whenever there are campus-wide elections for 'Ten Teachers of the Year', the Department has always enjoyed the highest concentration of awards of any department in the University.
On top of such foundation and achievements, the Department proceeded to upgrade its programme to degree status in 2005 - The Bachelor of Social Sciences with Honours in Sociology.
The degree programme that the Department now offers has successfully been accredited by the HKCAA in May and being formally approved by the Executive Council of the HKSAR Government in July in the same year.
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Subject Matter of Sociology
Sociology is the scientific study of society: its composition, organization, culture, and development. Sociology combines scientific methods with humanistic perspectives and integrates the findings of economics, political science, psychology, and history. The subject matter of sociology is equally diverse, ranging from crime to religion, from the family to the state, from popular culture to traditional culture, and from social stability to revolution. Sociology is a field of study that seeks to analyze and explain important matters that affects our everyday life, our society, and the world in which we live. At a personal level sociology investigates the causes and consequences of such things as romantic love, racial prejudice, gender identity, deviant behaviour, entrepreneurial activity, and religious experience. At a societal level, sociology examines and explains such matters as existence of poverty and wealth, the creation of law, the administration of justice, prejudice and discrimination, business enterprises and entrepreneurship, schools and education, and social movements. At the global level sociology studies such things as population growth and migration, economic development and globalization, war and peace, and policies to support the protection of the environment.
Sociologists stress the importance of systematically gathering and analyzing evidence about social life to enrich our understanding of the social processes that drive society and impact on everyday life. In doing this sociologists use a wide variety of research methods. Sociologists observe the everyday life of social groups, conduct individual interviews, carry out large-scale social surveys, examine historical documents and official records, analyze census data, and conduct small group experiments. Regardless of the methods used, the aim is always to better understand the social forces that affect our lives and society in which we live. One of the most important things that sociology can offer to its students is the ability to grasp clearly a connection between broad social forces and personal experience. This is an extremely important preparation for living effective personal lives in a changing and complex world. It is also equally important for the future development of our society.
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Aims of the Programme
The programme aims to:
1. provide students with a comprehensive knowledge in the discipline of sociology in particular and social sciences and the humanities in general;
2. train students various forms of analytical skills, both in the qualitative and quantitative sense, necessary for discovering and explaining social phenomena and proposing effective solutions;
3. develop students' ability to critically appraise the multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary nature in our quest for knowledge in society;
4. provide students with a solid background, both intellectual and practical, on which to move on to graduate studies and/or various
career goals upon graduation.
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Career Prospects for Graduates
Sociology is an expanding field of study that deals with some of the most important issues facing our society. Students who successfully complete the Degree Programme are intellectually prepared to go on to pursue further studies at a post-graduate level, or enter into careers in a wide variety of areas, especially those dealing with people. For instance, jobs in social or marketing research require knowledge of social research techniques; jobs in the police force or other social control agencies may require knowledge of social problems, criminology and deviance; jobs in public administration may require knowledge of different aspects of Hong Kong, organizations, and social problems. The Programme provides in-depth knowledge and experience useful to a wide range of jobs. Sociology graduates are unquestionably competitive in the job market.
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© Copyright 2007. Department of Sociology. Hong Kong Shue Yan University. All Rights Reserved.
Entrance Requirements
Students are required to have:
a)
passed the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination with at least six subjects including English and Chinese in one sitting; and,
b)
passed both Use of English and Chinese Language and Culture, along with one additional Advanced Level subject in the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination, or
c)
attained an equivalent education from overseas.
# All students for admission will be interviewed as part of the selection process.
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© Copyright 2007. Department of Sociology. Hong Kong Shue Yan University. All Rights Reserved.
Programme Objectives
General Programme Objectives Upon successfully completing the programme students should be able to
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demonstrate a thorough understanding of the relationships between events in their own lives and the social environment in which they live.
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possess the analytical skills necessary for discovering and explaining social problems and proposing logical solutions.
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be equipped with a strong multi-disciplinary theoretical foundation and skills in applied social research that will enable them to pursue a number of different career goals or embark on advanced studies in the social sciences upon graduation.
Specific Programme Objectives
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To foster critical and creative thinking as well as aid students in developing their oral and written communications skills in both Chinese and English.
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To provide students with the scientific techniques necessary for the study of groups and the social institutions surrounding them, with special emphasis being placed on Chinese culture and society.
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To introduce students to a broad spectrum of sociological knowledge, including its perspective, history, theories, and uses.
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To provide students with a deeper understanding of the social issues affecting Hong Kong society and assist them in proposing logical solutions.
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To lay a broad and solid foundation for pursuing a career in a wide number of possible fields while enhancing the occupational flexibility required by a changing and unpredictable labor market.
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To prepare students for graduate and professional education by providing them with the necessary theoretical skills and research experience.
