Hong Kong

This intensive course is intended for foreign learners who have completed CHIN9503 (3 semesters) or have attained an equivalent level of competency. It develops audio-lingual proficiency as well as raises reading and writing ability. Students can use information obtained from the course to converse on daily topics with Chinese people, and present short speeches based on the assigned topics. Emphasis is placed on everyday topics and common patterns so that students can experience communication in Chinese. Students learn to write 250 new characters on top of approximately 500 characters acquired at the previous level. Students should be able to recognize no less than 1400 Chinese characters accumulated through previous learning. Students are taught to write short compositions of about 350 characters. Assessment: workbook, compositions, quizzes, midterm exams, final exams.

This course focuses on the techniques of painting in an expressive manner regarding the literati tradition of writing the idea. It includes techniques and forms of expression such as ink, light coloring, and heavy coloring. Contents of this course varies with instructors and students, and students may take the course repeatedly as long as the course content changes.

This course introduces the operation of the Chinese legal system or legal institutions. It examines how laws are used in the social, economic, and political activities of the Chinese people. The course focuses not on the Chinese laws per se but on how laws are used in people's daily lives. Examples or cases are used extensively in the course to illustrate the topics included. Major topics discussed include the interactions between legal institutions and the party-state (i.e., the party and the government), the behavior of legal workers (e.g., judges, police officers), citizens' use of civil lawsuits and administrative litigation, and some important mechanisms through which citizens or other social actors seek justice in China.

This course studies how poor nations have alleviated poverty through economic growth and why inequality continues to persist in rich nations. The course examines closely how empirical evidence is used to arrive at robust findings of falling inequality globally, but rising inequality within nations. Simple economic ideas on economic growth, international trade and investments are introduced and used to explain why the spread of markets and economic globalization has fostered growth and reduced poverty in many poor nations. Other topics include why some poor nations have failed to grow and remain mired in poverty; why poverty has not been eliminated in rich countries and why inequality has increased in recent decades. The role of human capital investments, technological advances, and political economy factors are introduced and used to investigate the experiences of the rich economies, including Hong Kong.

This course introduces a variety of theoretical and methodological perspectives to examine education policy reform, processes, contents and outcomes. It provides an international perspective to education policy, focusing on international organizations, international case studies, and international data bases. The course explores both the power and the limits of policy as a lever for improving P-12 educational organizations, specifically in terms of education equity and quality. The course provides a foundation to the complex, interdisciplinary and, at times, controversial nature of education policy analysis.

This course provides an advanced level understanding of the nature of urban transportation problems from an economic perspective. This course focuses on urban transportation as it is examined in the context of general economic, social and spatial trends in metropolitan settings. Particular attention is placed on the decision making process and how it affects policy choices. The course develops an understanding of relevant theories and analytical techniques, through the exploration of various cases drawn from different parts of the world. This course covers a wide range of topics in transportation economics: the major forces of transportation demand; conceptual and analytical models of travel behavior; the costs of driving; the role of transportation infrastructure in land use and economic development; the concept of accessibility. It also covers other topics in transportation policy with a discussion of relevant institutions being involved, including transportation finance, public transportation, non-motorized transportation modes, energy consumption, environment, land use and social equity. Through these topics, students are able to critically evaluate policies aimed to influence various urban transportation issues.

This course introduces the theories and practices of strategic communication, in the broader context of how NGOs, public relations firms, and other advocates seek to influence public opinion. Through readings, discussions, case studies and writing exercises, the course presents how to apply the methods these organizations use to build public awareness of their mission and brand. Students develop a comprehensive strategic communication plan, employing multiple media, for a local NGO.