This is a Service-Learning course which integrates meaningful social service activity with instruction and critical reflection in class to enrich the learning and the betterment of society, aims to foster students’ humanism through civic participation. Based on the principles of Service-Learning, volunteerism and reflective learning, students are required to apply theories and concepts to design and implement a series of services for a specialized community, including direct service, inquiry and advocacy experiences.

Since the genetic codes and sequences of human beings and many different organisms become available, their role in biological processes and diseases become more understood and comprehensible to human beings. Possibilities of making good use of these bioinformatics knowledge and manipulation of genes have opened a brave new world for us to explore. This course in intended to introduce basic concepts of gene structures, gene functions, genetic engineering, synthetic biology and the impacts of such gene technology on our society.

This course gives an introduction to students on how to appreciate Cantonese opera. Learning to appreciate and understand the Cantonese opera and the relationship with its contexts may enhance students’ understanding of the Chinese culture and aesthetics, as well as improve students’ personal morality. Both lectures and field visits will be arranged to describe the workplace requirements and demonstrate positive value, professional attitude and work ethics through Cantonese opera activities.

Emotion (literally means “evoke motion”) energizes and directs human behavior. Emotion dysregulation, however, disrupts normal mental processes and impairs psychological functioning. This course covers the basic scientific knowledge about what emotion is, how emotion affects body and mind, how emotion dysregulation results in different emotional disorders (e.g., anxiety or mood disorders), and what one can do to manage and transform emotion into positive energy to serve adaptive purposes.

Since ancient time, human beings have been curious about and fascinating with the remote sky. This curiosity and fascination have boosted the invention of various techniques in observational astronomy and, on the other hand, the spread of mythology about constellations under cultural influences. This course introduces the mythology in both the East and the West, stimulating students to ponder on the cultural significances behind the stories. In addition, students are encouraged to practice basic techniques in observational astronomy, acquiring knowledge through experiential learning.