General Education Study Scheme CUHK(SZ)

(Amended in November 2017)

University General Education (GE) is offered to all undergraduates at CUHK(SZ). All students are required to complete a minimum of 18 units of GE courses. The GE curriculum is composed of two categories of courses—General Education Foundation (GEF) courses and General Education Elective (GEE) courses.

1. Overview of GE Curriculum

1.1 General Education Foundation (GEF) courses

1.1.1 GEF courses aim to provide all undergraduate students with a common learning experience and foundation for university learning.

1.1.2 The courses engage students in dialogues on perennial concerns of human existence through the reading of classics. Taught in seminar style, they are designed to help students cultivate knowledge, attitudes, and skills that are essential for independent learning.

1.1.3 All students are required to complete the following two compulsory courses:

(a) GFH1000 In Dialogue with Humanity

(b) GFN1000 In Dialogue with Nature

1.2 General Education Elective (GEE) courses

1.2.1 The GEE courses fall into the following Four Areas:

(a) Area A (GEA) Chinese Cultural Heritage

This area introduces students to the essential characteristics of Chinese culture. By way of an integrated approach, students will learn to appreciate and evaluate the Chinese cultural heritage and its relevance in modern life from a broad intellectual perspective.

(b) Area B (GEB) Nature, Science and Technology

This area broadens students’ perspectives on nature, science, and technology. It introduces students to various principles, discoveries, and methods of natural sciences as well as modern technology. Students will learn to appraise the physical world with a scientific attitude and to evaluate humans’ role in being part of nature and the impact of science and technology on modern life.

(c) Area C (GEC) Society and Culture

This area enhances students’ understanding of the ways in which human societies are constituted and human cultures are represented, in their generality as well as their diversity. Students are introduced to the theories and/or methodologies through which social, political, economic or cultural issues are studied.

(d) Area D (GED) Self and Humanity

This area enables students to explore the diversity of human values, reflect on the meaning of human endeavours, and gain a better understanding of themselves.

1.2.2 All students must complete at least one course (3 units) from each Area.

2. University GE Course Enrolment Restriction (Applicable to students admitted in 2014-2016)

2.1 Starting from the 2nd term of their first academic year, students are allowed to take a maximum of two University GE courses per term (Term1, Term2, and Summer Term).

2.2 Students should have completed or enrolled in at least one of the two GEF courses before they are allowed to enroll in any course(s) in the Four Areas.

2.3 Students cannot take University GE courses related to their major programmes to fulfil the University GE requirement. Such exclusion has been stipulated in the “Course List”. Students who have declared a new major are therefore advised to check the course enrolment restriction in the Student Handbook of their admission year. If they have taken a course in the past which is not for students of their new major programmes, the units earned will be treated as general elective and they have to take another University GE course to make up for the required units.

2.4 Some University GE courses are also double-coded with departmental/programme courses. If students would like to use the units earned from such departmental/programme courses to fulfil the University GE requirement and that the GE course enrolment restriction is duly fulfilled, they shall submit an application to the General Education office. If students would like to use the units earned from a University GE course to fulfil programme requirement, they have to apply to the relevant Department/Programme Office, and students should take another University GE course to make up for the required units.

2.5 Recommended course pattern: The University recommends that students refer to the following GE course pattern table for an appropriate learning schedule. In general, students should finish all GEF courses before the beginning of the third academic year.

2.6 Year 3 and Year 4 students have a priority regarding GEE course selection.

3. Course Enrolment Restriction (Applicable to students admitted in 2017 and after)

3.1 Students are not allowed to take University GE courses during the first term of their first year of attendance.

3.2 Starting from the 2nd term of the first academic year, students are allowed to take a maximum of two University GE courses per term (Term1, Term2):

(a) One GEF course & one GEE course;

(b) Two GEE courses after GEF courses are finished.

3.3 Students are allowed to take a maximum of two University GE courses during Summer Terms. In respect of the University Summer Session, students will be allowed to enroll in one University GE course during the course registration period and to enroll in the second University GE course during the add/drop period subject to availability of class quota.

3.4 Students cannot take University GE courses related to their major programmes to fulfil the University GE requirement. Such exclusion has been stipulated in the “Course List”. Students who have declared a new major are therefore advised to check the course enrolment restriction in the Student Handbook of their admission year. If they have taken a course in the past which is not for students of their new major programmes, the units earned will be treated as general elective and they have to take another University GE course to make up for the required units.

3.5 Some University GE courses are also double-coded with departmental/programme courses. If students would like to use the units earned from such departmental/programme courses to fulfil the University GE requirement and the GE course enrolment restriction is duly fulfilled, they shall submit an application to the General Education office. If students would like to use the units earned from a University GE course to fulfil programme requirement, they have to apply to the relevant Department/Programme Office, and students should take another University GE course to make up for the required units.

3.6 Recommended course pattern: The University recommends that students refer to the following GE course pattern table for an appropriate learning schedule. In general, students should finish all GEF courses before the beginning of the third academic year.

3.7 Year 3 and Year 4 students have a priority regarding GEE course selection.