Bachelor of Arts (BA) - The University of Hong Kong

191GEOG2080.Regional geography of Europe (6 credits)(This course is also offered to second and third year non-BA students for inter-Faculty broadeningpurposes.)Whereas physically Europe could arguably be regarded as just a part of Asia, it distinguishes itselfculturally. So, the course first tries to define Europe and describe its characteristics. It does this bylooking at cultures, landscapes and especially the cities. The fascinating thing about Europe is that asdiverse historically, culturally and economically as it is, it chose to overcome differences and to activelyengage in an unprecedented integration process. In its second part the course looks at this process and itspolitical, economic and spatial implications. It links the European experience to globalisation and tointegration processes in Asia. The last part of the course then explores the recent development ofselected regions within Europe. Apart from introducing a unique continent to the participants the courseprovides an understanding of interrelated political and regional developments.Assessment: 40% coursework, 60% examination.This course will be offered in the second semester.GEOG2081.Sustainable urban transport (6 credits)(This course is also offered to second and third year non-BA students for inter-Faculty broadeningpurposes.)This course introduces a new approach to apply the concept of sustainability to urban transport. Itprovides basic knowledge about the operation of urban transportation systems, urban transport planningand policy. Trends in population and urbanization will be associated closely with the patterns of travelbehavior and demand, transport technology, and energy use. Personal mobility and accessibility in theurbanized developed and developing worlds will be explained with cases over the globe. Anintroduction of trends in intercity travel and freight mobility bring this course further with a regionalcontext, and examples are drawn from the Pearl River Delta as well as other mega-city regions.Assessment: 40% coursework, 60% examination.This course will be offered in the first semester.GEOG2082.Economic development in rural China (6 credits)(This course is also offered to second and third year non-BA students for inter-Faculty broadeningpurposes.)China is still largely an agricultural country with an overwhelmingly rural population. This courseexamines China’s rural and agricultural development issues from both developmental and geographicalperspectives. It provides an in-depth insight into Chinese transformation in agricultural and rural sectorsover the past five decades. It focuses on three parts of knowledge: basic theories in rural and agriculturaldevelopment, existing condition and situation of Chinese agricultural production and the rural economy,and hot topics of debates on contemporary reform and development in Chinese countryside.Agricultural and rural problems, government policies and the associated impacts will be analyzed alongwith natural environment and condition. The course emphasizes the training of critical thinking andcomprehensive analytical skills, as well as practical problem-solving ability. The course is primarilyorganized into three parts: lectures, seminars and a fieldtrip. Part I is lectured by the instructor of thecourse, Part II are seminars presented by students, by topics and in groups, and Part III is a fieldexcursion to China.Assessment: 40% coursework; 60% examination.This course will be offered in the first semester.