Welcome to our Department Website

The Department of Sociology at Hong Kong Shue Yan University has faculty members who specialize in a variety of fields in sociology and anthropology, including social stratification and mobility, culture and heritage, popular culture, social movement, migration, gender, political sociology, social problems and crime, economic sociology, and medical and health care. Its curriculum goes beyond offering general training in undergraduate sociology and the teaching of quantitative and qualitative research methods. It distinguishes itself from other sociology departments in Hong Kong in three ways:

(1)    Concentrations
While the curriculum covers general sociology courses, two “Concentrations” were implemented in 2021-22, namely, “Entrepreneurship and Community” and “Culture, Heritage, and Innovation”. They allow students to take courses in specific areas within a general sociology curriculum.

(2)    Addition of New Programme
Since 2022-23, the department has begun to develop a new programme entitled “Arts, Culture, and Technology” (ACT), which provides specialized training to students interested in the application of technology in the fields of arts and cultural heritage. The first batch of ACT students was admitted in 2023-24. Therefore, the Department of Sociology now has two independent undergraduate programmes as follows:

BSocSc (Hons.) in Sociology Programme, and
BSocSc (Hons.) in Arts, Culture, and Technology Programme

(3)    Credit-bearing Internships
For over fifteen years, the department has offered credit-bearing internship courses for students to gain first-hand experiences in social, business, and cultural enterprises and apply sociological knowledge in the workplace. This practical side of the curriculum, aiming to enhance the employability of students, has been further strengthened when the two Concentrations and the new ACT Programme were launched.
 
In sum, the approach we are using can be summarized by the “A-R-P” Triangle as shown below:

A = Academic training (Sociological analysis and critical thinking)
R = Research skills (Ability to conduct research and analyze data)
P = Practical experience (Gaining practical experience through internships)

The three components, A, R and P, are interrelated, and together they equip students with sociological perspectives and insights, social research skills, and opportunities of practical experience that would enhance their employability in the job market.

I invite you to browse through the different pages of our website.  Please kindly contact us if you have any valuable comments or suggestions.

Yuet-wah Cheung, PhD, MH, JP
Distinguished Professor and Head of Department