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Program Structure for 4-Year Degree Curriculum

The Common Core Program in the new four-year degree curriculum comprises a set of credit requirements in the following broad core areas, totaling 36 credits (out of a total of 120-126 credits for the 4-year degree program in 2012):

Categories Credits
SSC School-Sponsored Courses 9 *
S&T Science & Technology 3
SA Social Analysis 3
H Humanities 3
QR Quantitative Reasoning 3
E-Comm English Communication 6 **
C-Comm Chinese Communication 3
HLTH Healthy Lifestyle 0
Elective Core Electives 6 ***
Total 36

*3 credits each from S&T SSCs, SA SSCs, and H SSCs
**Must be taken in the first year of study
***To be selected from S&T, SA, H, QR, or Arts common core courses

Each common core broad area has clearly defined learning outcomes that are presented as statements of what students might be able to do as a result of their learning experience in the relevant common core courses.

Introducing the school-sponsored courses (SSC) into the Common Core Program as one of its requirements is a new initiative for the four-year undergraduate curriculum to be implemented in 2012. Intended to be hallmark courses of the offering Schools and be representative of the uniqueness and values of the Schools, plentiful resources have been earmarked and devoted to developing these courses. Students can expect a distinct educational experience from these courses that are inter-disciplinary in nature, transcending single disciplines and integrating different subject areas – a design that fits well with the objectives of the Common Core Program.

School-sponsored courses are usually taught by experienced faculty. The carefully designed content and pedagogy will not only impart knowledge to students, but more importantly also spark their interest and passion to explore and create knowledge by themselves. The experience of learning with our faculty will be truly rewarding. Read more about SSCs.

All undergraduates will complete the same set of common core requirements regardless of their major discipline of study. Students are expected to complete the majority of the common core credits in Year 1 and 2. The 6 credits of English Communication are to be taken in the first year.

Program Structure for 3-Year Degree Curriculum

3-Year degree curriculum used to adopt a set of school-based distribution requirements for general education. As the common core program will be introduced to the new 4-Year degree curriculum, the University approved a plan in April 2010 to migrate the previous general education requirements and courses to the new common core structure. With effect from the 2010-11 academic year, students admitted to 3-Year degree curriculum will complete general education requirement that comprises credit requirements in specified common core areas. These requirements may vary from school to school, or from program to program. Here are the specific requirements.

Note:
Students admitted in 2009-10 academic year or earlier will still follow the school-based distribution requirements for general education. Here are the specific requirements


[Updated: March 2012]