Our department offers full-time undergraduate programmes with curricula for training students to be equipped with comprehensive geographical knowledge and professional skills. Teaching and learning methods include not only classroom lectures, but also small group tutorial discussions and student presentations, case studies, and field study trips to both local and overseas destinations.
Download GRM Undergraduate Handbook
Download List of GRMD courses to be offered
Recommended Course Pattern for Freshmen
GRM Undergraduate Programme
Programme learning outcomes
Foundation Course(s)
Courses in this category:
GRMD 1403 Resources, Society and Environment *
GRMD 1401 A World of Diversity ^
*: Required course
^: Required course (applicable for admission in and before 2014-15)
Note:
1. Please refer to the CUHK Undergraduate Student Handbook for course description and prerequisite conditions of some courses.
2. Some courses may not be offered every year. Please check the Registration and Examinations Section of CUHK for courses offered in current year.
Required Courses
GRMD 1001 Field Studies in Hong Kong
GRMD 1403 Resources, Society and Environment
GRMD 2001 Non-local Field Studies I
GRMD 2102 Fundamental Statistics for Geographers
GRMD 2105 Introduction to GIS
GRMD 3001 Non-local Field Studies II
GRMD 3102 Research Design and Methodology
GRMD 3301 Geography of China
GRMD 4001 Final Year Thesis I
GRMD 4002 Final Year Thesis II
Note: Please refer to the CUHK Undergraduate Student Handbook for course description and prerequisite conditions of some courses.
Concentration Areas
Urban & Regional Development
Urban and regional development is a dynamic and uneven process. Within this concentration, there is a wide variety of courses addressing the dynamics of urban change, regional development and global economy, with special emphasis on the sustainable development in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, China and Pacific-Asia. Through lectures, tutorials, organized field trips, as well as the use of both local, regional and international case studies, students examine the spatial organization of cities and regions, the world spatial economy, behaviours of individual agents, and collective choice in the form of urban physical planning. Courses within this concentration also emphasize the understanding of the effects of urban development, such as transport, housing, welfare and the location and relocation of economic activities in space. At regional scale, students are also exposed to different forces that contribute to development, including the globalization, the cultural dimension, population change and regional development policies.
Students may choose to declare this area of concentration by taking at least 12 units of courses below, with at least one course from GRMD2321 or GRMD3323:
- GRMD 2303 Urban Geography
- GRMD 2321 Economic Geography
- GRMD 2501 Theory and Practice of Smart Cities
- GRMD 3302 Population and Migration
- GRMD 3304 Cultural Geography
- GRMD 3305 Transport Geography
- GRMD 3323 Urban and Regional Planning
- GRMD 4302 Urban Planning Workshop
- GRMD 4402 World Development
- GRMD 4503 Smart City Policies and Governance
Physical Environment and Resource Management
This concentration begins with a balanced introduction to hydrology, geomorphology, pedology, biogeography and climatology. Students are then exposed to more advanced study of environmental issues and the management of natural resources. Materials are generally taught in a system context and emphasis is placed on the integration of these various fields. Most courses also develop workshop, laboratory and/or fieldwork skills.
This concentration area enriches students with knowledge on various energy types and the methods, advantages and disadvantages of their utilization. Students will be exposed to different energy and environmental policies to understand their application and design. Furthermore, a particular focus of the training will be on the skills of critical thinking and in-depth analysis to employ the knowledge for finding solutions to real-world problems of resource and the environment.
Students may choose to declare this area of concentration by taking at least 12 units of courses below, with at least one course from GRMD3202 or GRMD3205:
- GRMD 2209 Physical Geology
- GRMD 2221 Weather and Climate
- GRMD 2401 Sustainable Development
- GRMD 2402 Natural Resource Management
- GRMD 2403 Nature Conservation in Hong Kong
- GRMD 3202 Environmental Management
- GRMD 3203 Urban Environmental Problems
- GRMD 3205 Geomorphology
- GRMD 3209 Soil Science
- GRMD 3224 Tourism Planning and Management
- GRMD 3403 Methods for Resource Evaluation and Planning
- GRMD 3404 Natural Hazards and Human Responses
- GRMD 4202 Hydrology and Water Resources
- GRMD 4203 Ecosystem Restoration and Management
- GRMD 4204 Environmental Planning and Assessment
- GRMD 4401 Energy Resources for Carbon Neutrality
Geo-spatial Data Science
This concentration area provides students with a wide range of geographical techniques to process and analyze geo-spatial data. These basic geographical techniques are essential for a better understanding of all other subjects in human, physical and regional geography. Certainly, geographical techniques per se are interesting subjects for study.
For students interested in advanced techniques and their application in geographical studies, they can specialize in geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing. Most courses include interesting laboratory work offering hands-on experience to students. The Department is well equipped with advanced GIS and digital image processing systems for study and research.
Students may choose to declare this area of concentration by taking at least 12 units of courses below, with at least one course from GRMD2104 or GRMD3106:
- GRMD 2104 Remote Sensing of Environment
- GRMD 3104 Satellite Image Analysis
- GRMD 3106 Advanced GIS
- GRMD 3108 Cartography and Geovisualization
- GRMD 3403 Methods for Resource Evaluation and Planning
- GRMD 4101 GIS Workshop
- GRMD 4502 Urban Big Data Analysis and Application
- GRMD 5110 Statistical Applications in Geography
Smart Sustainable Cities
This area of concentration is jointly offered by the Department of Geography and Resource Management and the Urban Studies Programme. The goal of this concentration is to equip students with experience, competency and entrepreneurial spirit in leveraging the digital revolution to contribute to the transdisciplinary efforts of building future cities that are not only smart but also sustainable, humane, convivial and ecological.
Accelerated globalisation and urbanisation have posed many challenges to cities, including resource depletion, climate change, global warming and socio-economic polarisation. The emerging digital revolution if harnessed smartly, can contribute to a better understanding, analysis and resolution of such issues. Smart planning, smart transport and smart grid can lead to more efficient allocation of resources and reduced energy consumption and greenhouse emissions, thus ameliorating climate change and global warming. Big data analytics, crowd-sourcing, digital engagement, sharing of information and views could be essential platforms to promote the development of a more inclusive society, polity and economy. The ambitious programmes of building smart cities in Hong Kong, mainland China and many other countries involve new ethical and moral issues, giving rise to an urgent need of nurturing talents who can employ creatively cutting-edge technologies and design thinking to plan, develop and govern our cities.
Students taking this concentration will learn about theories, concepts, technologies and best practices of smart sustainable city development. Courses in the concentration will expose students to theoretical knowledge by academics and practical knowledge by practising professionals, hands-on experience and student-centered learning activities such as group projects seeking technology-driven and creative solutions of building smart sustainable cities.
Students may choose to declare this area of concentration by taking GRMD2501 and at least 9 units of other courses listed below:
- GRMD 2501 Theory and Practice of Smart Cities
- GRMD 3106 Advanced GIS
- GRMD 3203 Urban Environmental Problems
- GRMD 4502 Urban Big Data Analysis and Application
- GRMD 4503 Smart City Policies and Governance
- URSP 2800 Urban Form, Sense of Place and Well-being *
- URSP 2900 Recommoning *
- URSP 3600 Designing Smart Cities *
* Courses offered by the Urban Studies Programme
Field Study Trips, Final Year Thesis and Other Elective Courses
Courses in this category:
GRMD 1001 Field Studies in Hong Kong *
GRMD 1003 Understanding China through Cultural Landscape
GRMD 1301 Understanding Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area
GRMD 2001 Non-local Field Studies I *
GRMD 3001 Non-local Field Studies II *
GRMD 3002 Field Studies in China
GRMD 3003 Field Studies in Taiwan
GRMD 3004 Field Studies in Southeast Asia
GRMD 3005 Field Studies in Australia
GRMD 3006 Field Studies in Europe
GRMD 3007 Field Studies in North America
GRMD 3008 Field Studies in Africa
GRMD 4001 Final Year Thesis I *
GRMD 4002 Final Year Thesis II *
GRMD 4003 Special Topics in Geography and Resource Management I
GRMD 4004 Special Topics in Geography and Resource Management II
*: Required course
Please visit: Previous Field Trips Website
Note:
1. Please refer to the CUHK Undergraduate Student Handbook for course description and prerequisite conditions of some courses.
2. Some courses may not be offered every year. Please check the Registration and Examinations Section of CUHK for courses offered in current year.
- Mapping of GRMD courses to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- General Education Courses
- Faculty Package Courses
Urban Studies Programme
The Urban Studies Programme is a 4-year undergraduate multidisciplinary programme jointly organised by the Department of Geography and Resource Management and the School of Architecture, CUHK. For detailed information, please refer to the Programme Website.
GRM Undergraduate Minor Programme
Students are required to complete a minimum of 18 units of courses, with at least 6 units of courses at 3000 level or above:
Elective Courses:
GRMD1003, 1301, 1302, 1401, 1402, 1403, 2102, 2104, 2105, 2209, 2221, 2303, 2321, 2401, 2402, 2403, 2501, 3102, 3104, 3106, 3108, 3202, 3203, 3205, 3209, 3224, 3301, 3302, 3304, 3305, 3323, 3403, 3404, 4003, 4004, 4101, 4202, 4203, 4204, 4302, 4401, 4402, 4502, 4503, 5110
Enquiry
Dr. LEE Wai Ying, Joanna
Tel: (852) 3943-6530
E-mail: joannaleewy@cuhk.edu.hk