Gender Studies Programme - Bachelor of Social Science in Gender Studies (2-Year)

About the programme

This programme focuses on the gender topics related to diversity and social policy. It affords a broad, critical view of gender issues that are related to contemporary social life, with a focus on the diverse perspectives of stakeholders, developments of debates and discourses in the larger society, and how gender interfaces with factors related to the relationship between the social minority and majority, and among different belief systems and ethnic groups. Students will develop capabilities in gender mainstreaming, social commentary, as well as policy design, implementation, and evaluation.

The pamphlet of the programme is available here .

Programme Features

Uniqueness in Hong Kong
This is the first undergraduate major programme in gender studies in Hong Kong. Working on our strength as the first and only integrated Gender Studies Programme locally, which offers a range of research and taught programmes (including an undergraduate minor programme, MA, Mphil, and PhD programmes), this proposed programme is grounded in the local social and cultural context. Meanwhile, our experience of having worked with cutting-edge scholars in gender studies and women studies worldwide, via individual research links as well as our successful Visiting Scholar Programme and Public Lecture Series, will provide valuable intellectual basis for undergraduate teaching.

Interdisciplinary Education
Apart from core courses in theories and methodologies in gender studies, students will benefit from elective classes with orientations from the fields of sociology, psychology, history, English and Chinese literatures, education, law, and health. This will enable them to acquire broad-based knowledge, multidisciplinary perspectives and skills in understanding and handling gender-related issues.

Student Initiative and Identity
Student interest and demand for courses in gender-related subjects have grown tremendously. From only a couple of courses offered in the early 1990s, gender-related courses on campus now number over 30, which are offered by various disciplines and teaching units on campus. Many other courses include gender topics in their syllabi. With a new consolidated Gender Studies Major Programme, the intellectual and social development of undergraduate students will be enhanced.
Gender Studies majors will be part of a vibrant academic community with a unique identity due to the distinctive gender perspective that underlies their multidisciplinary studies, and to their ability to take part in ongoing social debates in gender and sexuality. GRS postgraduate students have consistently contributed to organizing GRS public lectures, workshops, and exhibitions, initiated film shows and academic festivals on campus, and taken part in collaborative advocacy projects. They will act as mentors to undergraduate students who will be engaged in these co-curricular activities which not only augment their classroom knowledge, but also provide them with career opportunities.

Capstone Experience: Internship or Graduate Thesis
Students will have the choice of participating in an internship or taking a graduate thesis course as the capstone experience of their study. The choice will allow students to prepare and equip themselves with experience that will benefit their preferred career paths.

For students choosing internship, in the summer of the first year of their study programme, they will complete a supervised internship with a local or overseas organization (a university-affiliated unit or an NGO) in selected spheres of social research and/or intervention. This forms a capstone experience for the student. Apart from learning to observe and appreciate social practices through the lens of gender theory, student interns have to demonstrate in a final report and presentation how they integrate what they have learned in the classroom with the actual work and decision-makingon internship. The partnering organizations of internship in 2020-21 are listed here.
For students choosing graduate thesis, they will complete their graduate thesis under the supervision of a faculty staff, providing them with valuable research experience for further study.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of the Programme, graduates should be able to:

Knowledge

  1. develop knowledge of multidisciplinary theories and methodologies of gender;
  2. communicate effectively broad-based and in-depth understanding of local and cross-cultural issues related to gender ideology, institutions, and relationships;
  3. articulate critical understanding of debates and developments related to social justice, equality, and peace at local and global levels.

Skills

  1. apply skills in innovative and critical thinking as a member within a community of scholars, as citizens and in the work place;
  2. employ skills for social research analysis to a broad range of professional and disciplinary contexts;
  3. integrate theoretical analysis with empirical observation and lived experience, and to link micro phenomena with macro systems within in complex, changing social and cultural contexts;
  4. apply problem-solving skills effectively to meet goals and challenges in the workplace and personal life;
  5. demonstrate skills for effective communication, team work, and successful interpersonal relationships with awareness and sensitivity to the diverse cultural differences and backgrounds in order to address shared goals;
  6. pursue life-long learning.

Values and Attitudes

  1. develop an open mind and readiness to embrace diversity;
  2. committed to applying a sense of justice and fairness to daily life;
  3. appreciate a broad set of humanist values, with a commitment to social harmony, equality, and peace.an open mind and readiness to embrace diversity;

Career opportunities and further studies

Graduates will fill the increasing demand for gender-aware personnel in the civil service, in statutory bodies such as the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Women's Commission, in human resources departments in business corporations, in education professions especially in liberal studies in the new secondary school curriculum, as well as in social services.
Graduates are well-prepared to pursue further studies in higher degree programmes in gender and related studies both locally and globally.

Our graduates enters various industries and positions, such as education, NGOs, as well as business sectors, while some further their studies in CUHK.

Employment Statistics of 2021 & 2022 graduates:

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Period of study

2 Years (for Associate Degree / Higher Diploma Holders)


Tuition and Hostel Fee

The University's tuition fee for 2023-24 is HK$42,100 per annum. A caution fee of $450 must be paid upon enrolment. This is refundable on withdrawal from the University, but is usually used as graduation fee.
The hostel fee for 2022-23 is around $14,500, depending upon the type of hostel. The fees for 2023-24 are yet to be confirmed.

Financial Assistance

Please refer to Office of Admissions and Financial Aid website for details.

 

Language

For Gender Studies's courses, lectures are usually in English. While for discussion and students' presentation, students can use the language they feel most comfortable with, as long as the lecturers concerned understand that language. Meanwhile, most courses use English reading materials.

Coursework Requirements

Students complete a minimum of 54 units for Major Requirement and 12 to 16 units of other University Requirements.

I. Major Requirements includes 27 units of Required Courses, 27 units of Major Elective Courses.

 

 

                 Course List
Course CodeCourse TitleUnit(s)
GDRS1001 Thinking Gender: An Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies 27
GDRS1002 Feminist Theories
GDRS2010 Quantitative Research Methods in Gender Studies
GDRS2011 Qualitative Research Methods in Gender Studies
GDRS3005 Gender and Sexuality in Contemporary Societies
GDRS3007 Understanding Masculinities and Social Change
GDRS3009 Family and Society
GDRS4012 Gender Development from a Lifespan Perspective

GDRS4009

or

GDRS4005 & GDRS4010

Internship

or

Thesis I & Thesis II

Elective courses:   
GDRS2012 Advancing DEI in Organizations  
GDRS3001 Gender Studies: Special Topic I    27^
GDRD3002 Gender Studies: Special Topic II
GDRS3003 Gender Studies: Field Study
GDRS3004 Love and Intimate Relationship
GDRS3006 Living Feminisms: Creating a Nonviolent and Collaborative Future
GDRS3008 Public Policy and Social Minorities in Hong Kong
GDRS3011 Women's Narrative and HK History
GDRS3012 Engendering Chinese Cultures
GDRS3014 Experiential Guided Research
GDRS3015 Minority Experiences in Hong Kong: Local Field Study
GDRS3016 Interdisciplinary Seminars on DEI: From Research to Practice
GDRS3021 LGBTQI + Studies Identities and Social Change
GDRS3024 Gender Biases in Education and the Workplace
GDRS3025 Innovating the Future: Gender, Science, and Technology
GDRS3026 A Screen of One’s Own: Women and Films
GDRS3103 Gender Studies: Field Study II
GDRS4001 Gender Studies: Advanced Seminars
GDRS4006 Gender in China
GDRS4007 Gender, Sexuality and Race in Political Issues
GDRS4008 Gender, Sexuality and Health: Towards Diversity and Equity
GDRS4011 Gendered Migration in Transnational Asia and Beyond
GDRS5085 Gender and Work
GDRS5210 Gender and Law
ANTH1310 Marriage, Family and Kinship
ANTH2310# Gender and Culture
ANTH2330# Gender in Asia
ANTH3360# The Anthropology of the Body, Love and Emotions
ANTH3540# Anthropology of Gender, Sexuality and the Law
COMM2920# Media, Sex and Violence
COMM3193# Media and Gender
CURE2014# Body Politics and Representations
CURE2022# Feminisms: Thoughts and Movements
CURE2036# Queer Theory and Culture
CURE2041# Gender and Theatre
CURE3021# Modern Girls: Gender and Social Change
CURE3131# Women, Religion and Chinese Literature
CURE3374# Religion and Gender Studies
ENGE3230# Gender and Literature
ENGE3690# Gender and Language
GPAD3071# Public and Politics
HIST3420# Gender and History
HIST3421# Women, Family and Community in Western History
JASP2520# Gender and Sexuality in Japan
PHIL3373# Philosophy of Love
PSYC3640# Psychology of Gender
SOCI2218# Marriage and Family
SOCI3208# Gender and Society
Total no. of units:54

 Please click here for course description

Explanatory Note:
^ At least 27 units from the list above, with a maximum of 6 units of non-GDRS courses
GDRS courses at 2000 and above level as well as those labeled as # will be included in the calculation of Major GPA for honours classification.
The courses listed are subject to course offering of each academic year

II. University Core Requirements

Units
English 2-5
University General Education 7
College General Education 2-3
Physical Education 1
Other electives                                                            0 - 6
Total no. of Units: 12-16

 *Grades and other course-related matters are handled by each course-offering department.

Course Grades Release

Course grades will be available in CUSIS through the following path: MyCUHK > CUSIS > Academic Records > View Grade > select the corresponding academic term. 

A student who wishes to lodge a grade appeal in a particular course MUST approach the course teaching staff within two weeks from the grade release date. Late appeal will NOT be accepted.

Admission Requirements

Applicants shall be eligible to apply for admission if they

1. have successfully completed a local course of study leading to the qualification of associate degree / higher diploma, and
2. have attained an acceptable level of proficiency in the English and Chinese languages.#
(Applicants with overseas associate degree/ higher diploma qualifications should apply for admission via the Non-JUPAS (Local) Admissions Scheme)

# Below are minimum required scores or grades for some of the more common acceptable examinations:

Chinese Language TestMinimum Requirement
HKALE E
HKCEE E / Level 2
HKDSE Level 3
GCE (AL/AS) E
GCSE/IGCSE/GCE-OL C / Grade 4
IB 4
AP 3
English Language TestMinimum Requirement
HKALE E
HKCEE E / Level 2
HKDSE Level 3
GCE (AL/AS) E
GCSE/IGCSE C / Grade 4
GCE-OL C
IB 4
SAT Reasoning Test Essay 8
SAT Evidence-Based
Reading and Writing 
590
IELTS (Academic) 6.0
TOEFL
-Paper 550
-Computer 213
-Internet 80
Australian State or Territory High School Certificate Grade 12 English 80%
Canadian Grade 12 English 70%

For further details, please refer to Office of Admission and Financial Aids website .

Application Method

Please apply online at: ONLINE Application.

Application Deadline

Advanced Round: 16 Nov 112

Regular round: 20 Feb 2024

Enquiry

Address:  Room 250, Sino Building, Chung Chi College,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
Tel:  (852) 3943 1429
Email:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.