University of Hong Kong

This course examines how journalist have occupied a unique place in Western popular culture and looks at questions such as why are journalist so ubiquitous in popular culture; how accurate have those depictions been now and in the past; how has the depiction of journalist changed over time, and how have those changes mirrored the public perceptions of journalists and journalism; how do those depictions of journalist compare to reality; how has popular culture dealt with real life ethical dilemmas that confront journalists; and how effective have real-life journalists been at telling their own narratives — portraying the gritty reality, or embellishing the fictionalized view of the profession.

This course examines the technological challenges, economic realities, and ethical and legal considerations we will face as a space-faring civilization in the future. It will address who owns property or natural resources in space; who will be responsible for responsible practices off planet; how will humans survive and thrive in the harsh conditions of outer space; are we destined for a bionic future; can we terraform planets to make them habitable; can we find answers to our origins in the ether beyond Earth; and careers in space-related businesses such as Space Lawyer, Space-Medicine, or Space-Entrepreneur. 

This course examines how philosophers and linguists answer questions such as: a) what is a language; what makes linguistic expressions meaningful; what can logic tell us about the grammar of natural languages; are human beings born with a universal grammar; what is the difference between what we mean and what we convey when we say something; and how does a metaphor work.

This course studies the consumer decision-making process and the resulting implications for marketing strategy, focusing on such psychological factors as consumer motivation, personality, self-concept, perception, learning, and attitude. It also studies social influences on buying behaviors such as family, group, and culture. Through marketing applications and case analyses, students learn to apply their understanding of consumer behavior by developing and evaluating marketing strategies and tactics to influence consumers. Text: Wayne Hoyer and Deborah MacInnis, CONSUMER BEHAVIOR. Assessment: class participation (15%), case study (15%), midterm quiz (15%), group project report (20%), group project presentation (10%), final exam (40%).