Chinese University of Hong Kong

This course introduces the roles of chemistry in different stages of our life. Topics include: basic chemical knowledge related to life science; origin of life - essential elements, water, and proteins; growing up - food. nutrients, and hormones; medication: chemicals against diseases; messing up - narcotics, some stimulant drugs, and hallucinogens ( e g heroin. ketamine, and ecstasy); ageing; the mystery of heredity - nucleic acids and the Double Helix.

This course examines representative works of Japanese cinema. It explores the wonders of cinematic form and how it can communicate fundamental aspects about Japanese culture and society as well as the human condition. The course introduces the basics of film analysis, giving students critical-thinking skills that enable them both to see how Japanese cinema engages with world cinema and to understand how Japan—especially after the post-war—becomes a hub for myriad cultural flows. Each lesson begins by referring to various academic readings and showing movie clips, if necessary, to serve as the basis for in-class discussions.

This course exposes students to a range of state-of-the-art developments in biomedical engineering. It invites students from various disciplines to discuss the long-term societal impacts and ethical implications of these technological advances, particularly in human enhancements beyond therapy. The course starts by illustrating the many amazing designs in the human body and yet how vulnerable it is in terms of injuries, diseases and ageing. Examples on how modern biomedical engineering helps us face our human conditions are given, such as musculoskeletal prosthetics and orthotics, cardiovascular implants, neuro-engineering, stem cells and regenerative medicine, gene editing, bio-nanotechnology, intelligence and artificial intelligence, and senses and artificial senses. A historical account of human quest for “living” machine, including a brief coverage of modern movies on bionic human then follows. The course wraps up with some social, ethical and philosophical reflections on the above issues and on the meaning of being human, opening up questions concerning the perennial human quest of becoming super human.

This course familiarizes students with the kindred relationships between film and literature as well as their essential mediumistic differences such as film and the novel, film and drama/theatre, film and poetry, etc. Their similar or different uses of time and space, and problems of adaptation are discussed in some works which have both filmic and literary versions. Examples include examining the enduring lives and afterlives of the cyborg, the alien, the undead, and the living dead, and consider why they matter. Staging thought experiments where opposites thrive and converge, the course explores how imaginative fiction challenges and destabilizes the boundaries between the human and the non-human, self and other, and life and death. 

This course introduces Chan Buddhism from historical, philosophical, and textual approaches. With respect to historical developments, it examined the transition of this tradition from India to China. With regard to philosophical and doctrinal aspects, it explored the characteristics of Chinese Chan through a comparative study with Indian, Tibetan, and Japanese Buddhist traditions. Besides lectures, seminars are arranged to read and discuss selected core texts.

This course introduces Hong Kong popular music and the basic operations of the music industry. It covers a wide range of practical operation of record companies, including Artist and Repertoire Management, production of music and lyrics, marketing and sales, promotion and distribution. Besides the practical and management aspects, it also covers history and issues of popular music in Hong Kong, music commentary and the board theoretical, legal and social implications of the industry.

This is a production-based course with an emphasis on hands-on learning. The course provides students with intensive training on digital storytelling techniques from cinematography, lighting to sound recording. Going through different stages of video-making from preproduction, production to postproduction, students are abel to understand the aesthetic reasoning behind visual production. They learn how to communicate and tell a story via visual images.

This course explores the intersection of Digital Media, Design Thinking, and AI, guiding students to transform creative ideas into meaningful and impactful applications. It first builds a strong foundation in digital media ecosystems and business models, then dives into the core design thinking abilities of Noticing, Sensemaking, and Experimenting. Students learn to integrate AI tools into the design thinking process — for ideation, synthesis, and rapid prototyping (no coding required) — bringing ideas to life faster and smarter. This course emphasizes applying core design thinking abilities to real-world challenges in the digital media world. The course includes reflection journals, hands-on workshops, and a final project where students design, test, and pitch their own Digital Media Design and Application Project, demonstrating how design thinking and AI can shape new possibilities in digital media.

This course provides an in-depth study in the understanding and modification of human behavior in organizations. It explores factors that affect behaviors in an organization at three different levels: individual, interpersonal, and team. This course uses a cooperative learning approach in which the instructors and students work together closely, using a variety of learning methods to achieve the course objectives. The topics covered include introduction to organizational behavior (OB), performance, organizational commitment, job satisfaction, personality, motivation, ability, groups and teamwork, decision making, leadership, power, and negotiation and conflict management. The course content is delivered through interactive mini-lectures, assigned readings, and in-class discussions and activities. Additionally, cases, exercises, and assignments provide experience in applying organizational behavior concepts.

This course provides students with a theoretical and practical appreciation of the role of "integrated marketing communication" (IMC) in today's business environment. IMC differs from traditional advertising and promotion programs by using zero-based planning, data-driven communication and brand touch points. The program focuses on using strategic mix of advertising, sales promotion, public relations, event marketing and direct response promotions along with mass and two-way communication.