REGULATIONS FOR THE DEGREE OF
MASTER OF ARTS (MA)
(See also General Regulations)
Any publication based on work approved for a higher degree should contain a reference to the effect that the work was submitted to the University of Hong Kong for the award of the degree.
The degree of Master of Arts (MA) is a postgraduate degree awarded for the satisfactory completion of a prescribed course of study in one of the following fields: Chinese Historical Studies; Asian Studies; English Studies; Literary and Cultural Studies; Transport Policy and Planning. These fields of study will not necessarily be offered every year.
A 15 Admission requirements
To be eligible for admission to the courses leading to the degree of Master of Arts a candidate
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comply with the General Regulations1 ; |
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hold
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shall satisfy the examiners in a qualifying examination if required. |
1 In addition to the TOEFL requirement specified in General Regulation G 2 the Faculty also requires a TWE score of 4 or above (not applicable to the MA in Chinese Historical Studies).
2 Membership of the Chartered Institute of Transport (MCIT) is accepted by the Faculty of Arts for this purpose.
A 16 Qualifying examination
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A qualifying examination may be set to test the candidate's formal academic ability or his ability to follow the courses of study prescribed. It shall consist of one or more written papers or their equivalent and may include a project report. |
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A candidate who is required to satisfy the examiners in a qualifying examination shall not be permitted to register until he has satisfied the examiners in the examination. |
A 17 Award of degree
To be eligible for the award of the degree of Master of Arts a candidate
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(a) |
shall comply with the General Regulations; and |
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shall complete the curriculum and satisfy the examiners in accordance with the regulations set out below. |
A 18 Length of curriculum
The curriculum shall extend
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(a) |
for the MA in Chinese Historical Studies and the MA in Asian Studies over not less than one academic year of full-time study or two academic years of part-time study with a minimum of 300 hours of prescribed work; and |
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for the MA in English Studies, the MA in Literary and Cultural Studies and the MA in Transport Policy and Planning over not less than two academic years of part-time study with a minimum of 300 hours of prescribed work. |
A 19 Completion of curriculum
To complete the curriculum, a candidate
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(a) |
shall follow courses of instruction and complete satisfactorily all prescribed written work; |
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shall complete and present a satisfactory dissertation on a subject within his approved field of study; and |
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shall satisfy the examiners in all prescribed courses and in any prescribed form of examination as detailed in the syllabuses. |
The examiners may also prescribe an oral examination.
Coursework may be taken into account as prescribed in the syllabus.
A 20 Title of dissertation
The title of the dissertation shall be submitted for approval by a date as prescribed in the syllabuses for each field of study; similarly, the dissertation shall be presented by a date as prescribed in the syllabuses for each field of study; the candidate shall submit a statement that the dissertation represents his own work (or in the case of conjoint work, a statement countersigned by his co-worker, which shows his share of the work) undertaken after registration as a candidate for the degree.
A 21 Examinations
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The assessment for each course shall be as specified in the syllabus. Where a project has been accepted in lieu of the written paper a candidate shall follow the normal courses of instruction but shall be examined by means of assessment of the project instead of a written paper. The project shall be treated for all purposes as the equivalent of one paper. |
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A candidate who has failed to satisfy the examiners in any one course but has presented a satisfactory dissertation may be permitted to present himself for re-examination in the failed course on a specified date not less than two months nor more than twelve months after the publication of results. |
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A candidate who has presented an unsatisfactory dissertation but has satisfied the examiners in all the courses may be permitted to revise the dissertation and re-present it within a specified period of not less than two months and not more than twelve months after receipt of a notice that it is unsatisfactory. |
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A candidate who has failed to satisfy the examiners in two courses but has presented a satisfactory dissertation may be permitted to present himself for re-examination in the papers of failure at specified dates not less than two months nor more than twelve months after the publication of the results. |
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A candidate who has presented an unsatisfactory dissertation and has failed to satisfy the examiners in any one course may be permitted to present himself for re-examination in the paper of failure and to revise and re-present the dissertation within a specified period of not less than two months nor more than twelve months after the publication of the results. |
A 22
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A candidate who is not permitted to present himself for re-examination in any paper or papers in which he has failed to satisfy the examiners or to revise and re-present his dissertation shall be deemed to have failed and shall be recommended for discontinuation under the provisions of General Regulation G 12. |
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A candidate who has failed to satisfy the examiners in a second attempt in any paper or papers or in his dissertation may be required to discontinue his studies. |
A 23 Examination results
At the conclusion of the examination, and after presentation of the dissertation, a pass list shall be published in alphabetical order. A candidate who has shown exceptional merit may be awarded a mark of distinction, and this mark shall be recorded in the candidate's degree diploma.
SYLLABUSES FOR THE DEGREE OF
MASTER OF ARTS
CHINESE HISTORICAL STUDIES
The curriculum is on a part-time basis only and normally extends over two years. A good honours degree or its equivalent in an appropriate subject together with a good command of both Chinese and English will normally be required. Where candidates are deemed not to have attained this standard, candidates may be required to pass a qualifying examination.
Candidates will follow and be examined upon four courses and will also submit a short research paper. The latter shall not be of more than 10,000 words. Examiners may also take into account any seminar papers prepared by candidates during the course. The four courses listed below will be offered:
CHIN7001. 1. Material and methodology
Oracle bone inscriptions
Bamboo inscriptions
Dun-huang manuscripts
Documents (Ming, Qing, Republican and Communist periods).
CHIN7002. 2. Historiography (Chinese)
Chinese historiography up to the Ming period
Leading historians of the Qing period
Leading historians of the Republican and Communist periods.
CHIN7003. 3. Historiography (Western)
Writings on the history of China in western languages from the eighteenth century.
CHIN7004. 4. Special topic
(This should be chosen from themes dealt with in papers 2 and 3.)
Unless otherwise specified, candidates must answer the examination questions in the language in which they are set. Candidates must satisfy the examiners in each of four three-hour papers in the courses offered.
For certain special topics or long essays, candidates may be required to show a satisfactory knowledge of a relevant third language.
The dissertation title shall be submitted for approval by March 31 of the second year of study and the dissertation shall be submitted by the end of the academic year (August 31 of second year of study).
ASIAN STUDIES
The purpose of the MA in Asian Studies is to train students in essential background and contemporary knowledge of Asia. Topically the course involves humanistic and institutional aspects of Asian civilizations in historical perspective. The form of presentation of the course is flexible, with emphasis upon seminar discussion, reading and written exercises. Students will be exposed to methodology - study and research methods - at an early stage in the MA course.
Comparative Asian Studies (CAS) Stream
The emphasis in CAS is on comparisons between and among different regions and societies of Asia, with attention to both contrasts and commonalities.
Candidates must take a total of four double courses or the equivalent and present a dissertation. Not all courses will necessarily be offered in any year. Normally all candidates will take HIST7004 and any one of HIST7005, ECON6004 or ECON6014.
HIST7001. Comparative approaches to modern Asia (double course)
This course emphasizes approaches, methodologies, and themes applicable to the study of Asia, drawing examples from the region as a whole. Topics covered may include 'Orientalism' and Asian perceptions of Asia, the debate over 'Asian values', and the applicability of theories of imperialism, nationalism, class and gender to the study of Asia. (Coursework 25%)
HIST7002. Comparative studies of urbanization in Asia (double course)
This examines the processes and problems of urbanization from historical, geographical, political and economic perspectives. (Coursework 25%)
HIST7003. Overseas Asian communities (double course)
Though the main focus is on the history of Chinese migration and the character of Chinese communities overseas and their future, comparisons are also made with other Overseas Asian communities, such as the Indian communities. (Coursework 25%)
HIST7004. Introduction to Asia
This is a broad survey of the region in historical, geographical and political perspectives which aims to provide essential background to the remainder of the programme of study. (Coursework 25%)
HIST7005. Contemporary political and social issues
This is an interdisciplinary course which examines several of the main problems facing Asian countries today. The emphasis is on political and social issues, although the economic base is certainly not ignored. Subjects include population, urbanization, bureaucracy, social and political modernization, conservation, revolutionary potential, religion and the status of women. (Coursework 25%)
ECON6004. Economic development theory from an Asian perspective
The current theories of economic development are assessed in terms of Asian experience. Topics include the various theories of economic development in dualistic economies, the role of technology, capital, human resources, and trade in economic development, the financing of economic development, and planning for economic development. (Coursework 40%)
ECON6014. Problems in East Asian economic development
A comparative study of major problems of economic growth and development of East Asian economies. Topics vary including the role of economic organization, trade industrialization, problems in the rural sector, transfer and adaptation of technology, and consequences of growth and development. Main emphasis is on the economy of China, Japan and the newly industrialized countries. (Coursework 40%)
HIST7006. Case study (double course)
The case study is an in-depth study of an Asian country or area, involving an interdisciplinary approach including its geography, history, society and economy. (Coursework 25%)
06405. Dissertation
Each student will present a dissertation as part of the fulfilment of the requirement for the MA degree. The work will be between 10,000 and 20,000 words in length and will be done under the supervision of a member of the staff. While the dissertation is not necessarily a piece of original research it must be a thorough and exhaustive analysis and interpretation of a topic undertaken personally by the student during the course. The dissertation is approximately equal to one written paper (i.e. one-fifth overall). Successful dissertations to be lodged in the Library shall be subject to correction of typographical, grammatical and/or other errors as determined by the examiners. Details of the working schedule will be announced each year. Candidates are required to submit their final version by June 15 of the second year of study.
Coursework Assessment
Candidates must satisfy the examiners in coursework assessment for each of the papers (excluding the dissertation). The assessment of coursework will include written assignments, candidates' seminar presentations, their role as discussant for other students' seminars, their general contribution to seminars, and other relevant activities, including a field-trip of at least one week's duration.
Examinations
Examinations will be held at the end of the first year and second year respectively in the courses taken in each of those years, except for the examination for Introduction to Asia, which will be held after the completion of that course. Candidates must satisfy the examiners in the first year examinations before proceeding to the second year. Candidates failing to satisfy the examiners in the first year may be re-examined before the commencement of the second year of study.
ENGLISH STUDIES
The curriculum for the MA in English Studies takes two years of part-time work. Applicants will normally hold a good honours degree or its equivalent in an appropriate subject.
The MA in English Studies provides an advanced academic programme in the linguistics, literature and culture of the English language. It consists of four courses and a dissertation. Students will take two courses in each year of their study. For each course, there will be a session of three contact hours per week over two semesters.
Courses will be examined by a combination of coursework assessment and a written examination normally held in June of the year in which the course is taken, or by coursework assessment alone.
ENGL7001. 1. Grammar, discourse and meaning
This course will look at issues in linguistic and grammatical theory, with a focus on English grammar and syntax, and discourse analysis of speech and writing.
ENGL7002. 2. The modern tradition
A course in literary history, exploring the development of modernity in English and American writing, from its roots in Romanticism through its ramifications in twentieth century modernism.
03818. 3. The politics of English
This course deals with such topics in language and culture as International English and national Englishes, English in education and the media, English in Hong Kong.
03821. 4. Contemporary writing in English
This course examines a selection of the new literatures in English, from perspectives opened up by recent theories of the 'postcolonial' and the 'postmodern'.
Dissertation
Each student will present a dissertation as part of the fulfilment of the requirement for the MA degree. The dissertation title shall be submitted for approval by April 30 of the second year of study and the dissertation shall be submitted by the end of the academic year (August 31 of the second year of study). The dissertation should be 10,000 to 20,000 words in length, and will be undertaken under the direction of a member of staff.
Examinations
Examinations for the first-year courses, Grammar, discourse and meaning and The modern tradition, will be held at the end of the year in which these courses are taken. The second-year courses, The politics of English and Contemporary writing in English, will be examined by coursework assessment alone. Candidates must satisfy the examiners in the first-year examinations before proceeding to the second year. Candidates failing to satisfy the examiners in the first-year examinations may be re-examined before the commencement of the second year of study.
LITERARY AND CULTURAL STUDIES
This programme lasts for two years. It is for part-time students and will normally be mounted every other year.
Applicants will normally hold a good honours degree in an appropriate subject.
Coursework teaching conforms to the undergraduate teaching year. There are two evening sessions of three contact hours per week. Examination of the two courses taken in the first year will be both by written assignments submitted by May 30 plus a written examination normally held in June of the first year. Examination of the courses taken in the second year will be by written assignments to be submitted by May 30. A dissertation must be submitted by September 1 following the second academic year of the course, and its title should be submitted for approval by April 15 of that year.
The MA programme consists of four courses which may vary from time to time. Two of these courses will be taken in the first year of the programme and two in the second year. Currently these courses are as follows:
CLIT7001. 1. Cinema and popular culture
Is cinema an art form? Can culture be popular? The course will discuss the implications of the term 'culture'. Focussing on some of the alternatives to the idea of high culture, it will use the cinema as an ambiguous example.
CLIT7002. 2. Postmodernism
Postmodernism is still a controversial subject. The course will attempt not so much to define postmodernism as to evoke and interrogate it, in relation to radical changes in our ideas and experiences of technology, art, everday life and the politics of representation.
CLIT7003. 3. Narrative and cultural identity
This course examines some of the ways in which narratives function to construct or contest various forms of cultural identity. Issues addressed include ethnicity and nationality; state formations and colonialism; gender and patriarchy; memory and alternative histories. The narratives will be fictional and non-fictional, ranging across different media (prose, drama, film, poetry).
CLIT7004. 4. Questioning sexual difference
Attention in this course focuses on literary and cultural texts in terms of gender, feminism and sexuality on the assumption that 'masculinity' and 'femininity' are terms that need to be examined critically.
Dissertation
Each student will present a dissertation of 10,000 to 20,000 words as part of the fulfilment of the requirement for the MA degree. The dissertation carries a weighting approximately equivalent to one paper. Successful dissertations, to be lodged in the Library, shall be subject to correction of typographical, grammatical and/or other errors as determined by the examiners.
Coursework Assessment
Coursework assessment based on written assignments will count for 50% of the final grade for each first year course and for 100% of the final grade for each second year course.
TRANSPORT POLICY AND PLANNING
The curriculum is on a part-time basis and normally extends over two years. Applicants will normally be required to hold a good honours degree or a relevant professional qualification of equivalent standard with appropriate experience.
The programme aims at providing the expanding transport sector in Hong Kong with a steady supply of well trained professionals at the executive level. As well as providing training for graduates aspiring to pursue careers in the transport field, the programme offers those already working in the sector opportunities for updating themselves with the latest developments in transport studies. Graduates of this programme will be exempted automatically from the examination requirements leading to the qualification of Membership of the Chartered Institute of Transport (MCIT).
Coursework teaching conforms with the undergraduate teaching year. There are three sessions of two contact hours per week. Examinations will be held at the end of the semester. Candidates must take eight courses during the programme, seven of which are compulsory (as listed in A below) and one of which is an elective (to be chosen from those listed in B below):
A. Compulsory Courses
GEOG7001. Survey and Data Analysis in Transport Studies
The course will examine the various mathematical and statistical methods and basic procedures used in transportation surveys, data collection and analysis, information management and marketing. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as a tool for transport planning is introduced with real applications.
GEOG7002. Transport and Development
The course will examine the interrelation of, and interaction between, transport and economic, social and technical development at global, national, regional and local levels. Topics include the political and social settings for transport development, the role of transportation in development, analysis of spatial structure of transport networks, national strategy for transport development, analysis of port-city relationships, and theories of territorial organization and planning in relation to transport hub and corridor development.
GEOG7003. Transport Economics
This course will cover in-depth discussion on a number of basic topics in transport economics – present discounted valuation of cash flows, basic financial analysis, investment criteria, pricing theories and practice, travel time valuation, peak load and cost allocation problems, risk, uncertainty and sensitivity analysis, and considerations of equity.
GEOG7004. Transport Policy and Planning
This course will cover the theories and methods of public and private sector planning of transportation facilities. Topics will include metropolitan multi-modal landuse/transport planning, regional and interregional transport planning, long-term strategy and policy for urban and regional transport development, and comparison of transport policies, planning, and decision-making mechanisms in different cities.
GEOG7005. Public Transport Systems
This course is designed to examine the nature and the role of public transport systems mainly in the urban context with special reference to high density development. Topics will include the nature and characteristics of passenger transport, the operation and management of public transit systems, deregulation and privatization, the role of para-transit, and multi-modal co-operation and competition.
GEOG7006. Engineering for Transport Systems
The course will introduce students to the basic performance characteristics of various transportation modes for passengers and freight. The focus will be on the interaction between performance and factors related to transportation technology, facility, system design and patterns of demand.
GEOG7007. Analysis, Modelling and Project Appraisal in Transportation
The course will examine models, analytical methods, and project appraisal in the fields of transportation. It is designed to discuss and compare the advantages and disadvantages of existing methods widely used in both passenger and freight transport analysis, forecasts and planning.
B. Elective Courses
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Students will also need to take any one of the following four elective courses: |
GEOG7008. Transport Policy and Planning in China
This course has two components. The first component deals with the national transport policies and planning in China, concerning all major transport modes including air, rail, waterway, and highway. The emphasis is on the policy responses of the central and local governments to the changes in the last two decades since re-introducing the market mechanism.
The second component focuses on China's urban transportation. A comprehensive discussion covers aspects of which the transportation planners in large Chinese cities are concerned most, such as the priority to public transport, the bicycle issue, the control of automobile usage versus the national policy in favor of car manufacturing, and the impact of new land/property reform on transportation development.
URBP6434. Regional Development Planning
Global restructuring has led to new theorization and practice of regional development and planning in both developed and developing countries. This course reveals an evolution of regional development theories derived from the western and Asian contexts. The course also examines in detail the practice of regional development planning in selected Asian Pacific countries.
URBP6429. Physical Planning and Urban Form
This course focuses on the physical form of the city and straddles the junction between urban planning and urban design. It covers concepts and principles underlying urban form as well as techniques in physical planning. The course is divided into three modules: the first is on analysing and understanding the physical structure of the city and forces that shape it; the second focuses on elements of urban form; and the third introduces the fundamental principles of site analysis for both high and low density development.
URBP6303. Environmental Impact Assessment
This course includes the origins and development of EIA; impact assessment methodologies; and case study applications.
Seminars, Field Trips, and Dissertation
In addition to the courses, students will be required to attend a series of seminars to be offered by scholars and practitioners in the field. Field-trips are designed to provide opportunities for students to examine first hand transport-related developments and problems in and around Hong Kong. In fact second year candidates must also complete a topical study or research project in partial fulfillment of degree requirements, in two parts as follows:
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a dissertation of 10,000 - 20,000 words, with a focus on one of the passenger or freight transport modes and on a global, regional, or local scale; and |
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presentation of research findings in the 'dissertation seminars' series. |
The dissertation carries a weighting approximately equivalent to two papers. Successful dissertations to be lodged in the Library shall be subject to the correction of typographical, grammatical and/or other errors as determined by the examiners. The title of the dissertation shall be submitted for approval not later than December 1 of the second year of study and the dissertation shall be submitted by June 15 of that year.
