Introduction

Minor in Liberal Studies

Important Notice:

The Minor Program in Liberal Studies will stop admitting students who enter the University from the academic year 2017-18 and onwards. Continuing students who admitted in 2016-17 or before, who have previously taken all the course requirements of Liberal Studies, may apply for declaration of the minor program no later than the last day of the add/drop period in the first regular term of their final year of study.

Except for those studying in the BSc program in Global China Studies, any undergraduate student with a CGA 1.5 (C-) or above may enroll in the Liberal Studies Minor Program. Eligible students must declare their intention to enroll in the minor program no earlier than the second regular term of their second year of study no later than the last day of the add/drop period in the first regular term of their final year of study. Students who wish to withdraw from the minor program should apply before the last day of the add/drop period in the second regular term of their final year of study.

The Liberal Studies Minor Program is a cross-divisional program and its courses are grouped into five areas, namely:

  • Individual and Society
  • Asia and Global Processes
  • Citizenship, Democracy and Nationalism
  • Technology and Environment
  • Culture and Modern Life

Students are free to specialize in a single area or take courses across different areas according to their interest.

The Liberal Studies Minor Program requires a minimum total of 18 credits taken from Humanities (HUMA) and Social Science (SOSC) courses as specified in the Liberal Studies Course List , of which:

  1. at least 9 credits must be at the 2000-/3000-/4000- level;
  2. at least 6 credits in Humanities courses and 6 credits in Social Science courses;
  3. no more than 9 credits of Common Core courses offered by the School of Humanities and Social Science taken to fulfill the Common Core Requirements may count toward the Liberal Studies Minor Program;
  4. courses used to fulfill the requirements of other minor programs offered by the School of Humanities and Social Science cannot be used to count toward the Liberal Studies Minor Program.

For credit transfer, a maximum total of 6 credits completed successfully outside HKUST can be transferred to the Minor Program. Courses accepted for credit transfer must normally be at a level equivalent to 1000-level or above at HKUST.

Students may use no more than 6 credits earned from courses offered in pure online delivery mode to satisfy the graduation requirements of a degree program. This 6-credit limit does not apply to credits obtained through the credit transfer procedures of the University.

To graduate with a minor in Liberal Studies, the students must have enrolled in the minor program and completed all of its requirements, as well as all the requirements of their major program of study; and have attained an average grade point of at least 1.5 (C-) in courses taken in the minor program.