Postgraduate Courses
HUMA
Humanities
a) Under a policy approved by the Senate, exceptions to the general University policy stating that English is the medium of instruction will be permitted when the courses are related to the area of Chinese studies and are approved by the School of Humanities and Social Science. Courses approved to be taught in Chinese carry a [PU] or [CA] notation in the course description, which indicates the spoken language used in teaching: [PU] stands for Putonghua; and [CA] for Cantonese.
b) Courses marked with a [C] in the course description are not taught in Chinese but may require students to read materials in Chinese. Students who have difficulty reading materials in Chinese should consult the instructor concerned prior to enrolling in these courses. For undergraduate courses, alternative English reading materials may be provided.
c) Some courses may use different medium of instruction/materials, either in Chinese or English, for different sections. They will be denoted by a combination of [CA], [PU], [C] and [EN]. Students will need to check the medium of instruction/materials to be used before course enrollment.
d) Undergraduate courses marked with [BLD] or [SPO] may be offered in the mode of blended learning or self-paced online delivery respectively, subject to different offerings. Students should check the delivery mode of the class section before registration.
e) Undergraduate courses marked with [EXP] may adopt the approach of experiential learning subject to different offerings. Students should check the delivery mode of the class section before registration.
- HUMA 5160Chinese Phonetics and Phonology[3 Credit(s)]Exclusion(s)HMMA 5002Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course is an introduction to the study of sounds in Mandarin Chinese. The course will cover fundamental concepts in phonetics and phonology and compare the sounds of Mandarin with those of other languages. Other topics include: methodology, the typology, learning and evolution of sounds, the subgrouping of Chinese dialects, etc.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.List various methods used in historical phonology.
- 2.Identify newly developed methods in evolutionary phonology.
- 3.Describe the rules governing the natural sound changes.
- HUMA 5170Chinese Historical Lexicology[3 Credit(s)]Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course provides a theoretical and practical introduction to Chinese historical lexicology, dealing with various issues of Chinese words including word formation, semantic structures and sense relations of words, x-bar analysis of Chinese words, lexicalization, cultural component of words, and lexical variation among dialects of Chinese.
- HUMA 5230Languages of China: Anthropological and Cognitive Dimensions[3 Credit(s)]Exclusion(s)HMMA 5008Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionA cross-disciplinary discussion of issues pertaining to social, historical, cultural, and cognitive aspects of languages and dialects of China, approached from perspectives of areal linguistics, linguistic anthropology, and cognitive linguistics.
- HUMA 5240Chinese Dialectology[3 Credit(s)]Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course will provide an introductory survey of the phonology of Chinese dialects, including Mandarin, Wu, Xiang, Gan, Hakka, Yue and Min.
- HUMA 5270Cantonese Linguistics[3 Credit(s)]Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course deals with various issues of Cantonese, including sounds and tones, word formation, syntax and pragmatics. It will review the history of the language by studying texts from the early 19th century to the present; and examine the current linguistic changes that have redefined Hong Kong speech as a special variety of Cantonese.
- HUMA 5280Cantonese Grammar in Contemporary Linguistic Theories[3 Credit(s)]Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionA survey of contemporary linguistic theories with special emphasis on the application of these theories to the study of Cantonese grammar.
- HUMA 5300Chinese Literary History[3 Credit(s)]Exclusion(s)HMMA 5003Reading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course aims at familiarizing students with the history of Chinese literature from literary, historical and theoretical perspectives. Emphasis is on the recent scholarship of major genres in Chinese literary history and their interactions in the context of cultural tradition.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Summarize Chinese literary history and recent critical interest.
- 2.Describe some fundamental concepts in literary and cultural studies.
- 3.Design a research project through a critically refreshing perspective.
- HUMA 5301The Zhuangzi and its Multimedia Reception in China and Beyond[3 Credit(s)]DescriptionThe Daoist classic Zhuangzi, a collection of cryptic sayings and short anecdotes attributed to the mysterious Master Zhuang Zhou, has deeply influenced cultural life in East Asia. In this course, we explore both the Daoist classic’s multifaceted content and its diverse reception history to understand why the text might have exuded such an incessant relevance for a wide range of audiences in East Asia and beyond.
- HUMA 5310Traveling Texts and Images: Modern Chinese Literature and Print Culture[3 Credit(s)]Previous Course Code(s)HUMA 6001UReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course employs an interdisciplinary approach to examine literary and pictorial magazines and journals from the late Qing to the Republican era. In light of contemporary theories of the public sphere, travel, and the interaction between image and text, we will explore critical issues around the innovative writing practices associated with new print media, the formation of a literary public space, the role of the editor, publisher and reader, as well as the dynamics between image and word.
- HUMA 5330Traditional Chinese Literary Theory and Criticism[3 Credit(s)]Exclusion(s)HMMA 5010Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course aims to familiarize students with the traditional Chinese theories and criticism of literature; advantages and limitations of the various modes of discourses such as prefaces to books, poetry-talks, poems on poetry, literary anthologies, stray remarks and commentaries.
- HUMA 5331Journeys in Premodern Chinese Literature and Culture[3 Credit(s)]DescriptionThis course looks at “journey” as a conceptual, practical, imaginary, and spiritual category in late imperial Chinese literature and culture. We will explore topics such as religion, cartography, book history, material culture through texts including maps, paintings, poetry works, travel accounts, and full-length novels. Whenever possible, we adopt available tools and practices from digital humanities such as Geographical Information System (GIS) and open-source databases.
- HUMA 5340Modern Chinese Literary Criticism[3 Credit(s)]Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionExamines the transformation of Western literary theories in the Chinese context. Focuses on practices of individual Chinese literary theorists and the relationship between literary criticism and socio-cultural criticism from historical and comparative perspectives.
- HUMA 5341The Body in Buddhist and Daoist Literature[3 Credit(s)]DescriptionThis course engages with the diversity of experiences of the body and the responses it triggered throughout human history. By exploring visions of the corpus in early and medieval Buddhist and Daoist literature, the class challenges the predominant and seemingly “natural” model of a dichotomy between the body and soul/psyche as developed in a Euro-Christian context that also crystallized in the modern disciplines of medicine and psychology. In other words, it emphasizes the cultural and historical situatedness of any understanding of the body throughout human history.
- HUMA 5342Sentimental Republic: Emotion in Modern Chinese Literature[3 Credit(s)]Previous Course Code(s)HUMA 6001VReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course takes an interdisciplinary approach to the study of Chinese literature and culture from the late Qing to the Republican era, focusing on the expression and representation of emotion and affect. Linking literature to other cultural and political discourses of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, we will examine the social and cultural significance of modern Chinese sentimentalism. The course will broadly address issues such as public/private sentiment, sympathy and empathy, translations of emotions, reformulations of the senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch), suffering and trauma, negative emotions (e.g. shame, anger and grief), and the gendering of the public sphere.
- HUMA 5343Interactions of the Living and Dead in Chinese Literature[3 Credit(s)]Reading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course introduces a basic aspect of the multifaceted history of Chinese culture and civilization by focusing on the cultural practice of taking care of the dead in premodern Chinese literature. We will observe how the interaction between the living and the dead had been depicted in oracle bone inscriptions (Shang), writings on ritual (Zhou), protective talismans (Han), roaming immortals literature (Tang and Song), Yuan plays, and late imperial ghost stories. In so doing, we will realize that the boundaries between the living and the dead was apparently perceived to be quite porous and open in pre-modern China. In other words, the dead apparently played as much of a role in society and everyday life as living family members, friends, and government officials, as may still be experienced in parts of mainland China, Taiwan, and the Chinese diaspora.
- HUMA 5350Socialist Film Culture[3 Credit(s)]Previous Course Code(s)HUMA 6001XDescriptionThis graduate course concentrates on the film culture in socialist China (1949-1976). The major theoretical problematic of the course resides in the convoluted relationship between totalitarian politics and film as propaganda and art. Focusing on live-action feature films, model operas, animated films, and documentaries, this course will explore aspects of film industry, aesthetics, authorship, projection and viewing, soundscape, and internationalism. It will also discuss conceptual issues regarding national identity, ethnicity, gender, children, machines, and animals against the backdrop of an authoritarian regime. Following a chronological order, the course will begin with the socialist transition in 1949, and then move to the Seventeen Years (1949-1966) and the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976).
- HUMA 5351Critical Film and Media Theory[3 Credit(s)]DescriptionThis course will revolve around discussions of contemporary media theories, ranging from foundational texts on apparatus theory to more recent approaches to newer forms of digital media. Beginning with approaches to early cinema as our point of departure, we will take up a range of questions revolving around debates around technology and history, gender and affect, national and oppositional cinema, and animation and new media.
- HUMA 5360History and Theory of Comparative Literature[3 Credit(s)]Exclusion(s)HMMA 5009Reading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course introduces students to the field of Comparative Literature through a variety of readings. It examines the development of the discipline by looking into the major theories and methodologies. Through readings and in-class discussions, we explore the significance of reading literature from comparative perspectives, crossing geographical, temporal, and linguistic boundaries. We also encourage students to examine the key concepts, themes, and debates that have shaped the evolving field of comparative literature.
- HUMA 5370Animation Theories[3 Credit(s)]DescriptionAnimation existed as optical toys long before the birth of cinema, but it was not until the digital age that animation experienced its explosive boom. Recently animation theories began to emerge as a new field of research, offering critical interventions in film studies and even challenging our conventional views of the world. This course explores various theoretical issues in animation studies, such as movement, stasis, affect, automation and agency, TV serialization, digitality, media mix, sound, authorship and spectatorship, animals, race, gender, cuteness, animism and environment. Animated films made in China, Japan, and other parts of the world will be analyzed as case studies.
- HUMA 5371Videogames in East and Southeast Asia[3 Credit(s)]DescriptionWhile Japan used to dominate the Asian gaming landscape, its East Asian and Southeast Asian neighbors have since developed into major gaming hubs with distinctive characteristics. This course examines the formative influence of Japanese games throughout East and Southeast Asia, studies the rise of South Korea and China as centers for online gaming and esports, and surveys the emergence of robust national videogame industries in numerous Southeast Asian nations.
- HUMA 5410Modern Chinese Fiction: Comparative Perspectives[3 Credit(s)]Previous Course Code(s)HUMA 6001AMedium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionIn this course, we will approach a number of representative fictions by contemporary Sinophone authors and their foreign counterparts. Through a parallel and comparative reading on the storytelling, form, and content, this course will analyze the differences and diversity between the East and the West, as well as Chinese literature and world literature.
- HUMA 5440Contemporary Chinese Fiction[3 Credit(s)]Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionA critical study of development, trends, characteristics of the Chinese fiction of the People's Republic from the early 1980s to the present.
- HUMA 5450Taiwan and Hong Kong Fiction[3 Credit(s)]Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionA critical study of development, trends, characteristics of narrative literature in Taiwan and Hong Kong from the late 1960 to the present from cultural, historical, and gender perspectives.
- HUMA 5451Images of Asia[3 Credit(s)]DescriptionThis course examines various films and visual media that deploy the imagination of different locations in Asia as a central feature of their narratives. Discussions will take up such focal points as: ethnographic cinema, the politics of travel and translation, the intersections of race and gender, the cultural politics of alternate histories, and the ramifications of techno-orientalist discourse.
- HUMA 5452Politics of Fan Culture Studies[3 Credit(s)]DescriptionThis course explores the theories, debates, and challenges surrounding the study of media theories of fan culture as a site of political engagement. Its central problematic is the question of how new media forms and technologies engender practices of spectatorship and consumption and how these practices mediate new forms of political activities. Topics of discussion will include spectatorial practice between cinema and animation, media convergence and participatory culture, intersections of gender/sexuality and fan practice, fan work as immaterial labor, politics of world-making, etc.
- HUMA 5490Liaozhai and Story Creation[3 Credit(s)]Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionStrange Tales from a Chinese Studio, or Liaozhai Zhiyi, is the most outstanding short story collection in classical Chinese literature. Crafted by Pu Songling (1640-1715) during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, this book contains more than 500 stories and depicts an array of characters in the society, such as court officials, civilians, intellectuals, merchants, peasants, pawns, and labours. It tells various stories about fox fairies, ghosts, gods from heaven in spatial settings including city and village, earth and ocean, the human world and the hell. Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio also brings a rich touch of humanities in plurality and diversity. Accordingly, this course intends to evoke students' imaginability as well as creativity in novel creation through analyses on Pu Songling's Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio and investigations on the contemporary Chinese short stories and traditional Chinese literary cannons.
- HUMA 5511History of Science and Technology in East Asia[3 Credit(s)]DescriptionThis course examines the intertwined relationship between science, technology, and society in East Asia during the long 20th century. We will explore how technological innovations and scientific knowledge shaped and were shaped by social, political, and environmental transformations. We will consider the roles of empire, war, industrialisation, environment, and global scientific networks in shaping the region.
- HUMA 5516Research Methods and Sources in Qing History[3 Credit(s)]DescriptionThis course is designed to help students familiarize themselves with various types of Qing documents. The course will cover a variety of different types of documents, from formal publications originating from the central government, to personal and family records of various types. This will help students intending to conduct research in late imperial Chinese history and related subjects.
- HUMA 5520Modern Chinese History[3 Credit(s)]Reading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionExploration of major and substantive issues in modern Chinese history. Approaches to the subject can be political, social, cultural, intellectual, or comparative.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Critically infer the post-modernist discourse of historical narrative.
- 2.Interpret different historiographical traditions in official Chinese history in late-imperial and modern period.
- 3.Describe how political persuasions are implanted into official/semi-official narratives of modern historical events and characters through in-depth analysis of those late-Qing and Republican-time episodes and personalities presented in Chinese history textbooks and movies.
- 4.Develop the skills of presenting one’s arguments in academic seminars and the techniques of writing a history paper appropriately.
- HUMA 5530Chinese Diasporas: A Global History[3 Credit(s)]DescriptionBefore 1700, the Chinese population was concentrated in core areas of China Proper. Nonetheless,significant numbers of Chinese people moved to the frontiers of an expanding empire and across it borders, while Chinese families adapted to migration as a way of life. Critically employing the notion of "diasporas," this course traces this worldwide circulation of Chinese people over the ensuing three centuries.
- HUMA 5541History and the Future[3 Credit(s)]DescriptionCan our knowledge of the past help us to predict the future? What kinds of lessons can we learn from history? What is the value of history for life, anyway? This course investigates both the philosophical and practical issues associated with studying the past in order to make judgments about the future. The course adopts an interdisciplinary perspective that draws from history, philosophy, political science, sociology, grand strategy, psychology, and physics. Readings include Thucydides, Han Fei, Hegel, Clausewitz, Weber, Arendt, and Nietzsche, as well as contemporary literature on chaos theory, comparative politics, historical sociology, and cliodynamics.
- HUMA 5542Eichmann and Evil[3 Credit(s)]DescriptionThe Schutzstaffel (SS) officer Adolf Eichmann played a central role in the logistical management of the Holocaust, the mass murder of European Jews during the Second World War. Arrested by the Mossad in Argentina in 1960, brought to Israel for trial, and ultimately sentenced to death, Eichmann’s name has become a byword for evil. This course examines how philosophers, historians, and film makers have used Eichmann’s case to try to understand totalitarianism and the nature of moral choice in modern times.
- HUMA 5543Excavated Documents[3 Credit(s)]BackgroundBasic Chinese reading and listening skills are necessaryMedium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionAs excavated documents gain increasing importance in early China research, this course introduces students to various types of excavated texts, familiarizes them with fundamental research methods and approaches, and opens the door to advanced studies in Chinese history, literature, philosophy, and culture. In addition, students will explore cutting-edge methodologies in digital humanities, enhancing their future research or work.
- HUMA 5620Chinese Painting: Meanings and Uses[3 Credit(s)]Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course will examine Chinese painting from the Song through the Qing dynasties by categories based on function and meaning, trying to understand how, within each category, the forms of the painting carry a variety of private or public meanings and enable it to perform its symbolic, discursive, social or political functions.
- HUMA 5630Digital Humanities[3 Credit(s)]BackgroundExperience in Python is desirable but not required.DescriptionThe course introduces tools and methods of the Digital Humanities as they can be used in literary, historical, art historical, linguistic, and cultural studies. Students will learn how to apply data analysis, text mining, visualization tools and StoryMaps to explore a variety of research questions pertinent to the use, sharing and presentation of cultural and historical data. Special attention will be given to the application of such tools and methods to China-related subject areas.
- HUMA 5631From Germ Theory to Gene Therapy: The History and Development of Modern Medicine[3 Credit(s)]DescriptionThis course will cover themes central to the history of modern medicine and the science-based infrastructures which support it. We will begin with the development of the germ theory and end with genetic testing, covering along the way such topics as tropical medicine and race; animals as test subjects, medicines, and the origins of zoonoses; the socio-medical phenomena of epidemics; drug cultures and the pharmaceuticalization of therapies; and ‘wars’ against cancer. The course will also consider ‘alternative’ responses to the rise of biomedicine, such as Chinese attempts to integrate it with traditional medicine, Soviet deviations from western biomedical norms, and the rise of ‘health supplements’ among other themes. Students will not only be exposed to the major developments in the history of the life sciences, but the dilemmas raised, and the question left unanswered.
- HUMA 5632Digital Humanities Seminar[3 Credit(s)]DescriptionThe seminar introduces the latest scholarship, methods, and tools in Digital Humanities (DH), engaging students in interdisciplinary DH discourses. Students will also acquire foundational digital skills, including Python, text mining, data analysis, visualization, large language models (LLMs), artificial intelligence (AI), and geographic information systems (GIS). These skills will be applied to their research projects, enhancing their analytical and digital approaches.
- HUMA 5660City and Urban Life in Late-Imperial and Modern China[3 Credit(s)]Reading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThe complexity of urban realities in the Chinese city will be revealed through examining the general perceptions and attitudes toward it, and studying its certain features of everyday existence.
- HUMA 5685Peasants and the Chinese Communist Party[3 Credit(s)]Previous Course Code(s)HUMA 6002PReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course examines the historical origins and evolution of the complex relations between Chinese peasants and the Chinese Communist Party in the 20th century. It explores some of the most important events, persistent issues, and recurring themes through the Communist revolution and post-revolution. It also introduces students to major competing interpretations by Chinese and western scholars.
- HUMA 5690Major Issues in the History of U.S.-China Relations[3 Credit(s)]Reading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course examines the historical origins and evolution of the complex relations between China and the United States from the early 19th century to the late 20th century. It explores some of the most important events and persistent issues in political, military, economic, and cultural relations between the two countries. It also introduces students to major competing interpretations by American and Chinese scholars.
- HUMA 5691History of the Mongol Empire[3 Credit(s)]DescriptionThis course offers an introduction to the Mongol Empire of the 13th-14th centuries, exploring the Mongols’ unique nomadic lifestyle and military success under Chinggis Khan and their subsequent building of the first global Eurasian empire. Students will examine the distinctively Mongol style of government, which selectively incorporated East Asian and Middle Eastern institutions. Through readings of primary sources from Chinese, European, and Arabic writers, students will compare differing views of the Mongol Empire and analyze how the background of the writers influences their perspective.
- HUMA 5692The Scientific Revolution (1450 to 1750)[3 Credit(s)]DescriptionThis postgraduate course explores the scientific revolution in early modern Europe, examining the cultural and intellectual framework in which new discoveries were made, the shift towards a mathematic vision of the world, and the development of new experimental techniques. Through the comparison with other intellectual traditions, especially the Chinese scientific tradition, students will gain a deeper understanding of the scientific revolution and its impact on modern science and the modern world. The course aims to develop students' analytical and communication skills, as well as their understanding of early modern intellectual history.
- HUMA 5695Fascism[3 Credit(s)]DescriptionThis course aims to provide students with an introduction to the comparative study of twentieth-century dictatorships. Course readings will focus on Italian Fascism and National Socialism, but the overarching theoretical perspectives will be relevant to students of non-European dictatorships as well.
- HUMA 5696The Culture of Capitalism[3 Credit(s)]Previous Course Code(s)HUMA 6002IDescriptionThis course surveys classic works of European social thought on the nature of capitalism and its relationship with culture, where culture is understood in both aesthetic and anthropological senses. What is capitalism? What kind of culture – attitudes, human relationships, and values – does it promote or presuppose? What impact has it made on cultural artifacts such as literature, art, philosophy, and social thought? These are some of the primary questions we shall consider. No previous background in European history or social thought is required.
- HUMA 5697Animals and Society: Biodiversity, Conservation, and Ethics[3 Credit(s)]DescriptionThis course introduces students to human-animal issues such as preserving biodiversity, the wildlife trade, zoonotic diseases, animals as food and medicine, and living with animals in an urban setting. It will also provide a broad historical overview of the animal rights and conservation movements, drawing upon case studies from the US, China, and elsewhere. As this is a postgraduate-level course, students will critically engage with key concepts (biodiversity, animal ethics, etc.), and will also be encouraged to explore new ideas and methodologies for conducting research in human-animal relationships.
- HUMA 5700Anthropological Studies of China[3 Credit(s)]Previous Course Code(s)HUMA 5540Exclusion(s)HMMA 5006Reading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionAnthropological consideration of Chinese culture and society. Special topics in Chinese anthropological studies, such as kinship, ethnicity, religion, and regional system.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Comprehend basic terms, concepts and theories in cultural anthropology about Chinese cultures and societies in ethnographic writings.
- 2.Write critical essays on the development of particular topics anthropological studies of Chinese societies.
- 3.Develop appreciation and respect of cultural diversity and explain the importance of cultural awareness for social interaction in contemporary daily life.
- HUMA 5701Culture, Psychiatry and Mental Illness[3 Credit(s)]BackgroundA familiarity with social science and humanities, particularly social anthropology, is highly desirable but not necessary.DescriptionSituated at the intersection of cultural psychiatry, medical anthropology and philosophy of mind, the course delves into the cultural foundations of mental illness and its diverse conceptualizations across societies. Beginning with a critical look at the current crisis in modern psychiatry, it extends our inquiry to a wide range of healing traditions that fall outside the biomedical paradigm. It considers both the spiritual and sociopolitical dimensions of these traditions, with a key focus on their efficacy. By placing modern psychiatry in a refined comparative perspective, the course aims to assess the therapeutic value of alternative medical philosophies and the potential they hold in illuminating the nature of mental illness and healing.
- HUMA 5702A New History of Humanity[3 Credit(s)]DescriptionThis course takes on the broad sweep of human history from an anthropological perspective, highlighting the extraordinary social and cultural diversity of human experience. It delves into phenomena that showcase this diversity, such as hunter-gatherers’ seasonality, ‘play agriculture’ in Amazonia and Aboriginal Australia, egalitarian cities, urban revolutions in Mesoamerica, or stranger-kings across the Pacific. These case studies, analyzed through modern anthropological theory, unsettle popular unilinear narratives about human history while revealing the role of collective agency in shaping its course. In illuminating the past, the course will offer new ways of thinking about humanity’s future.
- HUMA 5755Ethnicity in Chinese Context[3 Credit(s)]DescriptionThis course explores the issue of ethnicity in China in the context of a nation-state. Issues of nationalism, ethnic identities, and ethnic diversity will be examined from anthropological perspectives.
- HUMA 5770Field Research: Theory and Practice[3 Credit(s)]Previous Course Code(s)HUMA 5550DescriptionTheories, methods, and techniques in ethnographic field research are explored. Students conduct individual and group research projects.
- HUMA 5800Fundamentals of Chinese Philosophy[3 Credit(s)]Exclusion(s)HMMA 5007Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course is designed to guide students to in-depth researches into important issues in Chinese philosophy. The subject matter of the course may vary from one year to another depending on the particular interests of the instructors.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Summarize Chinese philosophy and describe how Chinese philosophers make sense of the universe in which they live, how they position themselves both as individuals and as members of the society, and what ideals are they committed to, on both personal and societal levels.
- 2.Describe both the primary and secondary sources fundamental to the study of Chinese philosophy.
- 3.Appropriately communicate their points of view and critically comment on those of others in front of an audience.
- 4.Critically conduct research and write the research findings professionally.
- 5.Apply the philosophies they have learnt to assess their own lives and behavior.
- HUMA 5810Confucianism: Classical Period[3 Credit(s)]Medium of Instruction[PU] PutonghuaReading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionPhilosophies of Confucius, Mencius and Hsiin Tzu. The major Confucian concepts that have significant impact on the formation of the Chinese minds.
- HUMA 5850Taoism[3 Credit(s)]DescriptionThis course introduces the students to the Taoist tradition through guiding them to the major Taoist texts, their representative commentaries, and the important scholarly works in the field.
- HUMA 5900Fundamentals of Comparative Philosophy[3 Credit(s)]Reading Material[C] Require Chinese readingDescriptionThis course invites students to such comparative philosophical themes as Transcendent and Immanent, Fate and Free Will, Death and Rebirth, Faith and Reason, Spirituality and Morality, and Logic and Language.
- HUMA 5901Philosophy of the Social Sciences[3 Credit(s)]BackgroundStudents are expect to have some background in the humanities (e.g. history and philosophy) and social sciences.DescriptionThis is an advanced module in the philosophy of the social sciences. The students will be provided an overview of the history of the social sciences (especially sociology and economics). In addition, the module will cover some of the central debates in the philosophy of the social sciences, such as the paradigm wars, and examine some important concepts in the social sciences including ‘social mechanism’, ‘explanation’, and ‘causation’.
- HUMA 5902Philosophy of Biology[3 Credit(s)]BackgroundStudents are expected to have some background in the humanities (e.g. philosophy) and natural sciences (e.g. biology).DescriptionThis module will provide students with the opportunity to become involved in contemporary issues in the philosophy of biology. The students will be provided an overview of the history of the biological sciences (especially evolutionary biology and genetics). In addition, the module will cover some of the central issues in the philosophy of biology, including reductionism, scientific change, level of selection, design and creationism, and examine some important concepts in the life sciences such as ‘gene’, ‘species’, and ‘causation’.
- HUMA 5903Philosophy of Subject and Self[3 Credit(s)]DescriptionMost of us have a special interest in what will happen to ourselves. If you learn that someone will win a one-million lottery tomorrow, you feel happy for them. If you are then told that the someone is you, a new set of emotions arises. This course discusses the possibility of life after death, the existence of a soul, the possibility and desirability of immortality. These discussions greatly affect how one chooses one’s religion and perceives the value of life. We will read classical and contemporary theories of the self, personal identity, and problems about afterlife, death, and our identity, and will explore the relation between the self and its environment, the basis of (non) egoistic future concerns and responsibilities.
- HUMA 5904Advanced Topics in Philosophy of Science[3 Credit(s)]BackgroundStudents are expected to have some background in the humanities (e.g. history and philosophy) and science.DescriptionThis is an advanced module in general philosophy of science. It will cover some of the hot topics in recent debates in the philosophy of science, including scientific realism, scientific progress, scientific understanding, scientific revolutions, and scientific knowledge. The students will be provided with an opportunity to engage with cutting edge research in contemporary philosophy of science. This course provides analytic and critical tools to examine Chinese culture and its development. A deep understanding of the topics of the course (e.g. scientific progress and scientific revolution) will also shed new light on the development of Chinese culture.
- HUMA 5905Science and Values[3 Credit(s)]DescriptionThis is an advanced module in the history and philosophy of science. We will read and evaluate the most important contemporary and historical texts, from history, philosophy and sociology, that discuss both the values central to a scientific life and the role of values in the scientific enterprise. The different positions on the relation between science and values will also be situated within the changing relation between science and society in the modern period, with a special attention to the second half of the 20th century, particularly the construction of the atom bomb in the context of the Second World War and the increased importance of risk assessment in modern societies through scientific research.
- HUMA 5906Philosophy of Society and Politics[3 Credit(s)]Previous Course Code(s)HUMA 6003EDescriptionThis course will introduce students to key questions in 20th-century and contemporary social-political philosophy, focusing on the work of Hannah Arendt and critical social theory.
- HUMA 5930Classical Chinese Philosophy[3 Credit(s)]DescriptionThis course examines the intellectual development of early Chinese by focusing on four major schools: Confucianism, Mohism, Daoism, and Legalism. This course will introduce representative philosophers in ancient China, such as Confucius, Mozi, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Hanfeizi, and Mencius. We will explore their thoughts in ethics, human nature, metaphysics, and self-cultivation. We will read translations of major texts with commentaries and interpretations.
- HUMA 5950Issues in East Asian Popular Music[3 Credit(s)]DescriptionIn different parts of the world, the production, consumption, and distribution of popular music are shaped by a society's distinct encounter with modernity and cultural-specific ways of negotiating it. This course will look at various popular music genres in China, Japan, and Korea, and explore issues related to the emergence of each one and their localized meanings using insights and methods from various modes of theoretical analysis.
- HUMA 5951Music, Science, and the Sublime[3 Credit(s)]Exclusion(s)MGCS 5038 (prior to 2025-26)DescriptionIn this class, we inspect the overlapping domains of music, mysticism, and the pursuit of knowledge in Western cultural history. What do the beliefs and theories of the past tell us about our relationship to music? What does music tell us about being human and of the world we inhabit? In an effort to answer these questions, we will be discussing topics ranging from psychoacoustics and generative AI to celestial harmonies and birdsong, as well as listening to repertoire spanning from ancient Greek compositions to tracks by contemporary computational artists.
- HUMA 6000-6003Special Topics[3 Credit(s)]DescriptionCoherent collection of topics selected from the humanities. The course may be repeated for credit if the topics studied are different. (Some of the Special Topic courses may require students to read materials in Chinese. Students who have difficulty reading materials in Chinese should consult the instructor concerned prior to enrolling in these courses.)
- HUMA 6100Independent Study[1-3 Credit(s)]Exclusion(s)HMMA 6200DescriptionIndependent study on a particular subject under the supervision of a faculty member; requires readings, tutorial discussions, and submission of one or more research papers; may be repeated for credit if different topics are studied. Regular students are required to enroll in a 3-credit course. Enrollment in a course below 3 credits requires the Division's approval.
- HUMA 6200Research Project in Humanities[3 Credit(s)]Corequisite(s)HUMA 6300DescriptionThis course provides a systematic skill-based training in the production of publishable research output and an independent research project on chosen topic conducted under the supervision of the student's academic supervisor. The student is required to produce a substantial research paper at the end of semester, make an oral presentation at the Division's PG Seminar, and submit it to a journal in due course. Mandatory for PhD students in Humanities.
- HUMA 6300Postgraduate Seminar[1 Credit(s)]DescriptionStudents are required to register in HUMA 6300 Postgraduate Seminar for two regular terms. Students are expected to attend public lectures/seminars organized in each regular term and then present a research paper and serve as discussant in a one-day symposium to be held in the second term. Graded PP, P or F.
- HUMA 6990MPhil Thesis Research[0 Credit(s)]DescriptionMaster's thesis research supervised by a faculty member. A successful defense of the thesis leads to the grade Pass. No course credit is assigned.
- HUMA 7990Doctoral Thesis Research[0 Credit(s)]DescriptionOriginal and independent doctoral thesis research. A successful defense of the thesis leads to the grade Pass. No course credit is assigned.
