Plan of Study

 4-Year Curriculum

Major in Geology (Coordinator: Dr. Mckenize, Ryan)
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

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

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

Major in Geology (Intensive) (Coordinator: Dr. Mckenize, Ryan)

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:

1. 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. 
2. These are core courses in the regular Geology Major (96 credits) curriculum 
3. 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: Dr. 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

For course descriptions please visit the following link to the Science Faculty website:​https://www.scifac.hku.hk/current/ug/academic/syllabuses

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)

For course descriptions please visit the following link to the Science Faculty website:​https://www.scifac.hku.hk/current/ug/academic/syllabuses

Summary table showing the courses offered in our degrees

Course	Course	ESS	GEO	GEO (Intensive)	2023-2024	2024-2025
EASC1020	Introduction to Climate Science				✔	✔
EASC1401	Blue Planet	Core		Core	✔	✔
EASC1402	Principles of Geology		Core	Core	✔	✔
EASC1403	Geological Heritage of Hong Kong				✔	✔
EASC1407	Dinsaur Ecosystems				✔	✔
EASC2401	Fluid/Solid Interactions in Earth Processes	Core	Core	Core	✔	✔
EASC2402	Field and Laboratory Methods	Core	Core	Core	✔	✔
EASC2404	Intro. Atmosphere and Hydrosphere	Core		Elect	✔	✔
EASC2406	Geochemistry		Core	Core	✔	✔
EASC2407	Mineralogy		Core	Core	✔	✔
EASC2408	Planetary Geology			Elect	✔	✔
EASC2409	Regional Field Studies			Core	✔	✔
EASC2410	Data Analysis and Modeling in Earth Sciences	Core			✔	✔
EASC2411	Introduction to the Earth-Life system	Core			✔	✔
EASC3020	Global Change: Anthropogenic Impacts	Elect		Elect		✔
EASC3402	Petrology		Core	Core	✔	✔
EASC3403	Sedimentary Environments	Elect	Core	Core	✔	✔
EASC3404	Structural Geology		Core	Core	✔	✔
EASC3405	Environmental Remote Sensing	Elect		Elect	✔	✔
EASC3406	Reconstruction of Past Climate	Elect	Elect	Elect	✔
EASC3408	Geophysics		Core	Core	✔	✔
EASC3409	Igneous & Metamorphic Petrogenesis		Core	Core	✔	✔
EASC3410	Hydrogeology	Elect	Elect	Elect	✔	✔
EASC3412	Earth Resources	Elect	Elect	Elect		✔
EASC3413	Engineering Geology		Elect	Elect		✔
EASC3414	Soil & Rock Mechanics		Elect	Elect		✔
EASC3415	Meteorology	Elect				✔
EASC3416	Adv. Geochemistry & Geochronology		Elect	Elect
EASC3417	Earth Through Time	Elect	Elect	Core	✔	✔
EASC3418	Coasts and coastal change	Elect			✔	✔
EASC3419	Earth System Science Field Studies	Elect				✔
EASC3999	Directed Studies in Earth Sciences	Elect	Elect	Elect	✔	✔
EASC4403	Biogeochemical Cycles	Core	Elect	Elect	✔	✔
EASC4406	Earth Dynamics and Global Tectonics		Core	Core	✔	✔
EASC4407	Regional Geology		Elect	Core	✔	✔
EASC4408	Special Topics in Earth Sciences	Elect	Elect	Elect
EASC4911	Earth System: Contempt. Issues	Core		Elect	✔	✔
EASC4955	Integrated Field Studies		Core	Core	✔	✔
EASC4966	Earth Sciences Internship			Elect	✔	✔
EASC4999	Earth Sciences Project	Elect	Elect	Core	✔	✔
ENVS1401	Introduction to Environmental Science				✔	✔
ENVS3004	Environment, society and economics				✔	✔
ENVS3007	Natural hazards and mitigation	Elect	Elect	Elect	✔
ENVS3042	Pollution				✔	✔
ENVS3313	Environmental Oceanography	Elect		Elect	✔	✔
ENVS3999	Directed Studies in ENVS				✔	✔
ENVS4966	Environmental Science Internship				✔	✔
ENVS4999	Environmental Science Project				✔	✔

*	ESS	-	Major in Earth System Science
	GEO	-	Major in Geology
	GEO (Intensive)	-	Major in Geology (Intensive)
	✔	-	Courses that will be available in 2023 - 2024 and 2024 -2025

For course descriptions please visit the following link to the Science Faculty website: ​https://www.scifac.hku.hk/current/ug/academic/syllabuses