EDUCATION

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PLAN OF STUDY

4-Year Curriculum

Major in Geology (Coordinator: Prof. Chang, Su-Chin) Major in Geology (Intensive) (Coordinator: Prof. Chang, Su-Chin) Major in Earth System Science (Coordinator: Prof. Li, Yiliang) Major in Environmental Science (Coordinator: Dr. Not, Christelle)

For course descriptions please visit the following link to the Science Faculty website:

https://www.scifac.hku.hk/current/ug/academic/syllabuses

4-Year Curriculum

Major in Geology (Coordinator: Prof. Chang, Su-Chin)

Geology concerns the scientific study of the Earth's structure, processes, materials and history. Geologists apply knowledge of chemistry, biology, physics and mathematics to solve Earth’s problems. The Geology Major aims to give students a sound foundation in the geological sciences and enable them to pursue postgraduate studies or careers in the geosciences. The curriculum emphasizes the development of knowledge and skills, and practical experience in the field. The core courses are designed to give students a well-rounded understanding of the geological disciplines including petrology, palaeontology, geophysics, geochemistry, geochronology and the applications of geological knowledge to resource development, natural hazard management, and geotechnical and environmental engineering.

The Department of Earth Sciences offers a Major in Geology which is accredited by the Geological Society of London. This more intensive "Accredited Pathway" requires 150-153 credits (not including University requirements such as language classes and Common Core classes), whereas the Major in Geology involves 96 credits. For more information, see the Accreditation webpage as well as the summary table showing the courses offered in our degrees (below).

Curriculum

Introductory Courses

42 credits

EASC1402 Principles of Geology

EASC2401 Fluid/Solid Interactions in Earth Processes

EASC2402 Field and Laboratory Methods

EASC2406 Geochemistry

EASC2407 Mineralogy

SCNC1111 Scientific Method and Reasoning

SCNC1112 Fundamentals of Modern Science

Advanced Courses

36 credits

EASC3402 Petrology

EASC3403 Sedimentary Environments

EASC3404 Structural Geology

EASC3408 Geophysics

EASC3409 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrogenesis

EASC4406 Earth Dynamics and Global Tectonics

Electives

12 credits among the following

EASC3406 Reconstruction of Past Climate

EASC3410 Hydrogeology

EASC3412 Earth Resources

EASC3413 Engineering Geology

EASC3414 Soil and Rock Mechanics

EASC3416 Advanced Geochemistry & Geochronology

EASC3417 Earth Through Time

EASC3999 Directed Studies in Earth Sciences

EASC4403 Biogeochemical Cycles

EASC4407 Regional Geology

EASC4408 Special Topics in Earth Sciences

EASC4999 Earth Sciences Project (12 credits)

ENVS3007 Natural Hazards and Mitigation

Capstone Requirement

6 credits

EASC4955 Integrated Field Studies

Major in Geology (Intensive) (Coordinator: Prof. Chang, Su-Chin)

Curriculum

Introductory Courses

54 to 66 credits (Note 1)

EASC1401 Blue Planet

EASC1402 Principles of Geology (Note 2)

EASC2401 Fluid/Solid Interactions in Earth Processes (Note 2)

EASC2402 Field and Laboratory Methods (Note 2)

EASC2406 Geochemistry (Note 2)

EASC2407 Mineralogy (Note 2)

EASC2409 Regional Field Studies

SCNC1111 Scientific Method and Reasoning (Note 2)

SCNC1112 Fundamentals of Modern Science (Note 2)

Advanced Courses

78 to 90 credits (Note 1)

EASC3402 Petrology (Note 2)

EASC3403 Sedimentary Environments (Note 2)

EASC3404 Structural Geology (Note 2)

EASC3408 Geophysics (Note 2)

EASC3409 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrogenesis (Note 2)

EASC3417 Earth Through Time

EASC4406 Earth Dynamics and Global Tectonics (Note 2)

EASC4407 Regional Geology

EASC4999 Earth Sciences Project (12 credits) (Note 3)

Plus at least 30 credits from Lists A and B, among which at least 6 credits from List A.

List A:

EASC3405 Environmental Remote Sensing

EASC3413 Engineering Geology

List B:

EASC2404 Introduction to Atmosphere and Hydrosphere*

EASC2408 Planetary Geology*

EASC3020 Global Change: Anthropogenic Impacts

EASC3406 Reconstruction of Past Climate

EASC3410 Hydrogeology

EASC3412 Earth Resources

EASC3414 Soil and Rock Mechanics

EASC3416 Advanced Geochemistry and Geochronology

EASC3999 Directed Studies in Earth Sciences

EASC4403 Biogeochemical Cycles

EASC4408 Special Topics in Earth Sciences

EASC4911 Earth System: Contemporary Issues

EASC4966 Earth Sciences Internship

ENVS3007 Natural Hazards and Mitigation

ENVS3313 Environmental Oceanography

* Introductory Course

Capstone Requirement

6 credits

EASC4955 Integrated Field Studies (Note 2)

Notes:

In the list of disciplinary elective courses, two of them are introductory level courses while the others are advanced level courses. If students take all advanced level courses in the list, the total number of introductory level courses is 54 credits while that of advanced level courses is 90 credits. If students take 2 introductory level courses in the list and 3 advanced level courses, the total number of introductory level courses is 66 credits and that of advanced level courses is 78 credits.
These are core courses in the regular Geology Major (96 credits) curriculum
Requires approval to qualify for accredited pathway. EASC4999 Earth sciences project must have a significant 3D geological evolutionary component to meet Accredited Pathway requirements, as specified during our 2016 re-accreditation. Therefore, each EASC4999 project intended to qualify for the Accredited Pathway must be approved by the Geology major coordinator as satisfying this requirement. This policy is effective for all projects starting in 2017 and after.

Major in Earth System Science (Coordinator: Prof. Li, Yiliang)

Earth System Science seeks to understand the Earth as an integrated system, including its past, present and future behaviour, from the environments where life evolves on the surface to the interactions between the crust and its fluid envelopes (atmosphere and hydrosphere), with interests extending to the Earth's interior. Core courses in the major focus on understanding the composition, structure and processes of the solid Earth, the hydrosphere and the atmosphere, and their interactions. Students will be equipped with knowledge to help manage geological resources and natural hazards. Throughout the curriculum there is consistent emphasis on transferable skills, learning through fieldwork, laboratory studies and research-based classes, designed to enhance students' ability to think critically, to communicate effectively and to develop solutions to complex problems. Graduates from the major can pursue further studies in the Earth Sciences and careers in a wide variety of geoscience-related areas including resource management, hazard mitigation, soil and water conservation and teaching.

Revised Curriculum (Starting from 2017-18 admission year)

Introductory Courses

48 Credits

EASC1401 Blue Planet

EASC2401 Fluid/Solid Interactions in Earth Processes

EASC2402 Field and Laboratory Methods

EASC2404 Introduction to Atmosphere and Hydrosphere

EASC2410 Data Analysis and Modeling in Earth Sciences

EASC2411 Introduction to the Earth-Life system

SCNC1111 Scientific Method and Reasoning

SCNC1112 Fundamentals of Modern Science

Advanced Courses

42 credits

EASC4403 Biogeochemical Cycles (6 credits)

Plus at least 36 credits from Lists A and B, among which at least 18 credits from List A.

List A:

EASC3410 Hydrogeology

EASC3415 Meteorology

EASC3418 Coasts and Coastal Change

ENVS3313 Environmental Oceanography

List B:

EASC3020 Global Change: Anthropogenic Impacts

EASC3403 Sedimentary Environments

EASC3405 Environmental Remote Sensing

EASC3406 Reconstruction of Past Climate

EASC3412 Earth Resources

EASC3417 Earth Through Time

EASC3419 Earth System Science Field Studies

EASC3999 Directed Studies in Earth Sciences

EASC4408 Special Topics in Earth Sciences

EASC4999 Earth Sciences Project (12 credits)

ENVS3007 Natural Hazards and Mitigation

Capstone Requirement

6 credits

EASC4911 Earth System: Contemporary Issues

Major in Environmental Science (Coordinator: Dr. Not, Christelle)

The Major in Environmental Science aims to provide students with a strong scientific and technological background for understanding and addressing the environmental issues faced by humankind. This includes a flexible teaching and learning programme so that students can explore environmental issues from a range of aspects. Core courses in the curriculum emphasize fundamental knowledge in life and environment, physical and sustainable environment, pollution, monitoring and management. Throughout the curriculum, students are encouraged to undertake their own independent study to incorporate critical thinking, field and laboratory work, documentary and archive scholarship as integrated elements of relevant courses. By completing the curriculum, students are expected to have enhanced their knowledge in environmental science and have developed their problem-solving ability, communication and social skills. Students will be prepared to work in a variety of fields including industry, government agencies, NGOs and academia, where they will help manage wisely the resources for which they are responsible.

Revised Curriculum (starting from 2018-2019 admission year)

Introductory Core Courses

36 credits

CHEM1042 General Chemistry I

ENVS1401 Introduction to Environmental Science

ENVS2001 Methods in Environmental Science

ENVS2002 Environmental Data Analysis

SCNC1111 Scientific Method and Reasoning

SCNC1112 Fundamentals of Modern Science

Introductory Electives

12 credits among the following

EASC1020 Introduction to Climate Science#

EASC1401 Blue Planet#

ENVS1301 Environmental Life Science*

BIOL2306 Ecology and Evolution*

CHEM2241 Analytical Chemistry I

GEOG2120 Introductory spatial analysis

# May take either EASC1020 or EASC1401 to fulfill this 12 credits requirement, but not both.

* May take either ENVS1301 or BIOL2306 to fulfill this 12 credits requirement, but not both.

Advanced Core Courses

6 credits

ENVS3004 Environment, Society and Economics (6 credits)

Advanced Electives

36 credits among the following

BIOL3109 Environmental and molecular ecology

BIOL3216 Food waste management

BIOL3217 Food, Environment and Health

BIOL3303 Conservation Biology

CHEM3141 Environmental Chemistry

CHEM3241 Analytical Chemistry II: Chemical Instrumentation

EASC3020 Global Change: Anthropogenic Impacts

EASC3405 Environmental Remote Sensing

EASC3419 Earth System Science Field Studies

ENVS3007 Natural Hazards and Mitigation

ENVS3010 Sustainable Energy and Environment

ENVS3019 Urban Ecology

ENVS3020 Global Change Ecology

ENVS3022 Environmental Science Field Course

ENVS3028 Coastal Sustainability

ENVS3042 Pollution

ENVS3202 Plant ecophysiology and climate change

ENVS3313 Environmental Oceanography

ENVS3401 Understanding Tropical Ecosystems in a Changing World

ENVS3402 Qualitative Data, social Science Methods and Decision-making in Environmental Science

ENVS3403 Spatial analysis in environmental biology

GEOG3202 GIS in environmental studies

BIOL4302 Environmental Impact Assessment

Capstone Requirement

6 credits

ENVS3999 Directed Studies in Environmental Science

ENVS4966 Environmental Science Internship

ENVS4999 Environmental Science Project (12 credits)

Summary table showing the courses offered in our degrees

For course descriptions please visit the following link to the Science Faculty website:

https://www.scifac.hku.hk/current/ug/academic/syllabuses

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EDUCATION

PLAN OF STUDY

Major in Geology (Coordinator: Prof. Chang, Su-Chin)

Major in Geology (Intensive) (Coordinator: Prof. Chang, Su-Chin)

Major in Earth System Science (Coordinator: Prof. Li, Yiliang)

Major in Environmental Science (Coordinator: Dr. Not, Christelle)

For course descriptions please visit the following link to the Science Faculty website:

https://www.scifac.hku.hk/current/ug/academic/syllabuses