Hong Kong

The overall theme of this course is that genetics and evolution provide a useful perspective for understanding many important aspects of our lives, including our psychological makeup and how we relate to others. The course draws on multiple disciplines – genetics, evolution, mathematics, statistics and psychology – to address the following fundamental issues: how life is maintained from one generation to the next through genes, and how living organisms can adapt to the environment through changes in the genes; how human individual differences and groups in important domains such as personality, abilities and talents, and health are influenced by genetic and environmental differences; how the nature or humankind may have been shaped by our evolutionary past, and the implications this has on the future of our species. Required text: S. Pinker, THE BLANK SLATE: THE MODERN DENIAL OF HUMAN NATURE. Assessment: tutorial discussions, group presentation, blog contribution, in-class quizzes.

This innovative course explores the music creative process from the perspective of both the composer and performer and seeks to answer the following questions: When we compose, are we composing only or are we also thinking of performance practice? When we perform, either new or old works, are we only performing or are we composing? Course topics include understanding analysis of classical and contemporary music, instruction of the basic craft of composition, and critique of performance practice in relation to music compositional skills. Students should have some background in music with experience performing an instrument and/or experience with music composition. Basic knowledge of music theory, notation, and composition experience is a plus.

The United States, China, and Japan are the world's three leading economies. How they interact has decisively shaped the two Asian powers' developmental trajectories, regional international relations, and the world order. Since the United States became a Pacific power, China and Japan have alternatively been the top U.S. geo-strategic threat and industrial competitor. They have also been allies and partners with the United States in different time periods. After World War II, the United States secured its hegemony in Asia. But that international status quo is increasingly being challenged by the China's return as a central player in Asia. The course examines the patterns and issues in U.S.-China-Japan relations after the U.S. expansion as a Pacific power. Our focus is on the contemporary era since the 1970s. In particular we explore three story lines driving the trilateral relations: U.S. presence and strategy in Asia; the national development of China and Japan and their corresponding foreign policy adjustments; and the impact of China's rise.

This course intends to develop a deep understanding of the contextual factors of Asia and emerging market countries, with a specific emphasis on the risks, challenges and mitigants to doing businesses in these countries. In studying key social, cultural economic, geographical, political and historical characteristics of these countries, the course provides understanding of how business is conducted as well as the constraints, risks and challenges associated with doing businesses in these countries, such as financial, political, legal, operational and technical risks. In addition, this course aims to explore how country differences impact on business strategies and managerial decision-making in different countries.

The new product market is growing fast in the past few years. On one hand, it gives marketers a greater opportunity to approach consumers directly, customize products and services for different groups of consumers, and eventually become more profitable. On the other hand, new product market is characterized by growth patterns exhibiting a high degree of uncertainty that makes them exceptionally difficult to predict and forecast. This course introduces theories (e.g., diffusion theory) and best practices in new product management; presents how to use the diffusion model to predict the sales of new products and analyze customer life time value in this market; and teaches how to make comprehensive marketing plans in the new product market.

This course introduces the sociology of policing to lend understanding of the enforcement of law in a society. With a comparative perspective, the course examines institutions of police with regard to their role, function, organizational structures and culture in the contemporary world. Starting with a historical review of colonial policing in Hong Kong, the course unfolds gradually to reveal common policing issues and proceeds to assess the impact of transnational events like cross-border crime and global protest on local policing. Case studies of police practices in both local and global contexts are critically evaluated to identify the social forces that shape the respective social control process.

This course covers the fundamental principles of neuroscience. Topics include history of neuroscience, neurons and glia, neuronal membrane at rest, action potential, synaptic transmission, neuroanatomy, the somatic sensory system, chemical senses: taste and smell, the auditory system, vision and the eye, vision and the brain, spinal control of movement, brain control of movement, chemical control of the brain and behavior, development in the nervous system, memory systems, learning and memory: molecular biology, emotion and attention.