This is a four-year full-time Double Degree programme. It will provide students with knowledge and skills in the academic discipline of History and a recognized teaching qualification for teaching of Liberal Studies in schools. Graduates from the programme will be well prepared for teaching but will also be able to enter other careers such as business, personnel management and the civil service.
AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME
The aims of the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in History are:
- to investigate the development of human society from a historical perspective;
- to demonstrate power of critical thinking and analytical ability in understanding historical events;
- to show in-depth knowledge of the heritage of China and other great civilizations;
- to pursue graduate studies in history or a related discipline; and
- to enter various fields outside history, such as the civil service, business, publishing, and teaching.
The aims of the Bachelor of Education in Liberal Studies Teaching (Honours) are:
- To develop in students personal qualities that support teachers’ daily work and professional development. These personal qualities include interpersonal effectiveness, creativity, self-understanding, as well as the motivation and the readiness for self-reflection and self-improvement;
- To develop in students a functional knowledge of disciplines which informs educational practices. A functional knowledge of discipline means a basic knowledge of psychology, sociology and philosophy that is essential for understanding the aims and the processes of education;
- To develop in students a subject specialisation in schools. This expertise consists of effective strategies for planning, conducting and evaluating Liberal Studies teaching; and
- To develop in students knowledge essential for effective functioning within the teaching profession and the wider education context. This knowledge encompasses issues on teacher professionalism, educational organisation and management, as well as policy practices
STRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAMME
The Programme is a 131-unit programme, comprised of History courses, Education courses, an Honours Project and Complementary Studies courses, to be taken over four years of study.
The Structure of the curriculum is as follows:
| History Courses | 51 units |
| Education Courses | 50 units |
| Honours Project | 6 units |
| Complementary Studies courses | 24 units |
| Total: | 131 units |
The 50 Education credits units are divided into three categories:
| EDUC courses | Units | Examples (course titles) |
| Required (14 courses) |
32 |
|
| Elective (4 courses) |
8 |
|
| Integrated Practicum (3 periods) |
10 |
|
For details of the BA in History (Hons), please refer to the web site of the Department of History at http://histweb.hkbu.edu.hk
PROGRAMME DELIVERY
Most courses are taught by a combination of lecture-discussion and seminars. On-site supervision and peer observation are included in different aspects of the Field Practice. During the fourth year of study, students complete their honours projects under the guidance of the Department of History.
Students may be required to attend late afternoon classes and Saturday morning classes.
Normally students should complete the programme in four calendar years.
FIELD PRACTICE
Field Practice is an essential element of the Programme. It consists of two components: School Experience (SE) and Supervised Teaching Practice (STP). School Experience lasts for 3 to 4 weeks, with the aim to introduce student-teachers to teaching in a school context and the roles of a teacher in schools. Students learn through observation, reflection, participation in school activities and classroom teaching. Supervised Teaching Practice takes places in two semesters during the last two years of study. Each STP lasts for 6-8 weeks and provides opportunity for student-teachers to integrate theories of education and teaching methodology with practice. To encourage constructive collegial exchange of pedagogic ideas, the host school will appoint a School Mentor to advise the student-teacher during Field Practice.
During SE and STP, students will be visited by supervisors from the Department of Education Studies. Requirements for SE and STP and details of assessment are to be provided in separate handbooks, which will be given to students before SE and STP commence.
Satisfactory completion of School Experience and Supervised Teaching Practice I & II is required for graduation from the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in History and Bachelor of Education (Honours) in Liberal Studies Teaching programme.
CAREER PROSPECTS
The Programme will provide high quality preparation for teaching and teaching-related careers. Graduates will be equipped with a range of skills that will enable them to contribute effectively and flexibly to the changing needs of Hong Kong in the 21st century.