Bachelor of Arts, Science and Technology (Hons) in Individualised Major (JS2950)
This is a novel programme preparing students for the future. It aims to nurture talents to work across different disciplines to address complex problems with bold ideas and sustainable solutions.
Individualised Learning Pathway: Students will have flexibility and additional support from the University to design their own learning pathway to address a Question driven by their mission which will affect different sectors of our society for the many years to come. Students will go through an active and exploratory intellectual journey with cycles of problem-solving under the guidance of professors and external specialists. They are expected to make impact on addressing the Question, in the form of arts and design, cultural studies, technological inventions, or scientific research.
Targeted Students: Those who aspire to make a difference in the world on a chosen issue through means such as entrepreneurship, research, advocacy, invention and performance, and prefer to choose their own individualised education journey to fulfil this goal.
The programme adopts a highly flexible structure with a set of carefully designed Solution-based Learning Modules (~60% of the total units) to take students through a series of problems. These experiences become the building blocks for students to acquire the metacognitive capabilities, competences, and skills to solve a Question driven by their own mission before they graduate.
Students will work on an interdisciplinary real-world problem at a time, beginning with smaller, structured problems and gradually move onto bigger, more complicated and ill-defined problems as they progress. They will experience collaborative team work involving local and/or overseas partners in Year 3, and solving the Question driven by their own mission in Year 4 as a capstone.
Students will take related courses and have an academic department as its home based on the contents of their learning journey to facilitate their job search and future study.
Programme Structure
Units
University Requirements
University Core
13
General Education
6
Free Electives
16
Programme Requirements
Transdisciplinary Common Core (TCC)
9
Learning to Learn (L2L)
6
Solution-based Learning Modules (SBLM)
36
Internship
6
Personalised Knowledge and Skills (KS)
36
Total
128
Transdisciplinary Common Core (TCC)
9 Units
ITS1005 Global Challenges I
3
ITS2028 Global Challenges II
3
ITS2029 Global Challenges II
3
Learning to Learn (L2L)
6 Units
RELI 1006 Reasoning for Real World Problem Solving
3
ITS 1007 Methods of Inquiry
3
Solution-Based Learning Modules (SBLM)
36 Units
ITS 1018 Transdisciplinary Guided Study I
3
ITS 1019 Transdisciplinary Guided Study II
3
ITS 2018 Transdisciplinary Problem Solving I
3
ITS 2019 Transdisciplinary Problem Solving II
3
ITS 3008 Transdisciplinary Knowledge Application and Transfer I
6
ITS 3009 Transdisciplinary Knowledge Application and Transfer II
6
ITS 4898 Transdisciplinary Honours Project I
6
ITS 4899 Transdisciplinary Honours Project II
6
ITS 3005 Internship
6 Units
Personalised Knowledge and Skills (KS)
36 Units
Students can consult the Academic Supervisor to take courses offered by HKBU for acquiring the required knowledge and skills needed to address their identified problems related to the mission-driven Question.
Both TCC and Programme courses prepare students to design their own learning pathway to address a Question driven by their mission which will affect different sectors of our society for the many years to come. Students will go through an active and exploratory intellectual journey with cycles of problem-solving under the guidance of professors and external specialists. They are expected to make impact on addressing the Question, in the form of arts and design, cultural studies, technological inventions, or scientific research.
To provide better guidance for their personalised learning pathways, potential mission-driven Questions and the corresponding transdisciplinary learning pathways, research groups, strategic partners, and hosting Faculty/School will be presented to the students.
Total
93 Units
Approved Individualised Major
The individualised major of Digital Cultures and Media Technologies integrates studies in media and communication, cultural studies, politics, psychology, sociology, science and technology applications. Understanding of digital information dissemination and consumption under emerging digital technologies, and their impact on contemporary culture and society, students creatively and critically develop solution-based projects grounded on practical/empirical fieldwork, as they draw on technical skills to analyse, design, and implement innovative digital solutions. Graduates emerge well-skilled to navigate the complexities of digital cultures and media technologies, and to pursue careers in fields such as digital media production, social media management, digital policymaking, and technology research and development.
The FinTech and Digital Innovation is an individualised major covering the interfaces of finance and technology, digital innovation and transformation. Through studies on emerging technologies, data-driven business strategies, financial regulations, and societal impact of fintech, students develop solution-based projects informed by practical/empirical fieldwork. Students acquire necessary skills to drive innovation and entrepreneurship in the financial sector driven by comprehensive understanding of the FinTech ecosystem. Graduates will be well-positioned for careers in FinTech startups, banks, investment firms, regulatory bodies, and other organizations at the forefront of financial innovation.
In this individualised major, students bring technical expertise to forge a healthier, more inclusive future. Students explore how emerging health technologies—such as AI, wearable devices, gerontechnology and biotech—transform the landscape of public health, ethics, policy, and equity. Equipped with core knowledge and skills span health informatics and analytics, health programme evaluation, systems thinking, and ethical reasoning, students will be ready to carve careers as health technology developers, digital health strategists, public health innovators, or policy analysts, addressing challenges like health disparities, population ageing, ethical AI deployment, and equitable access to wellness advancements.
Human-centred AI covers knowledge and skills related to AI technologies and design to bring positive human and societal impact through innovations in intelligence technologies. It focuses on interdisciplinary learning, practical projects, and ethical considerations to create AI systems that prioritize human needs and values. The transdisciplinary study prepares students for careers in AI development, AI product design, and responsible use and implementation of AI solutions.
Social Inclusion and Educational Technology is an individualised major that addresses inclusive education principles, educational technology tools, digital literacy, accessibility design, cultural competence, policy analysis, instructional design, and the impact of technology on diverse learners. The transdisciplinary study plan emphasizes practical applications, interdisciplinary approaches, and strategies to leverage technology for promoting equity in and access to education.
Sustainability Studies is an individualised major that critically explores the intricate relationship between nature and culture. It guides students towards integrating diverse approaches in the service of creating, designing, and finetuning practices in any and every valued field of human activity, thereby engendering preservation, long-term development, and enrichment. The studies in this major emphasize transdisciplinary learning, incorporating critical and creative thinking with hands-on practicalities. The programme thus creates graduates equipped with the kind of adaptive and versatile mentality needed to address unpredictable and complex challenges faced in today’s increasingly pressing set of global ecological crises.
The scope of Sustainable Finance and Data Analytics covers sustainable finance principles, ESG investing, financial modeling, data analytics, risk management, impact assessment, econometrics, and ethical considerations. This individualised major emphasizes practical applications, interdisciplinary learning, and analytical skills to drive sustainable investment and decision-making in finance. Through a combination of theory, case studies, and hands-on experience with data analytic tools, students develop a comprehensive understanding of the sustainable finance landscape and the ability to analyse complex data sets to inform investment decisions. Graduates will be equipped with the knowledge and skills for careers in sustainable finance, ESG research, impact investing, risk management, and data analysis.
The individualised major of Technology, Ethics and Society provides normative study drawing from different social scientific methods and approaches to investigate the ways that technologies develop and impact societies. Ethics of technology, following the "empirical turn" in philosophies of technology, engages with Science and Technology studies for normative assessments to guide technological impact, and strengthen society in adapting, developing, or mitigating technology. Through coursework, case studies, and practical applications, students develop a nuanced understanding of the ethical implications of technological advancements and the skills to analyse, evaluate, and recommend moral guidelines for technological development. With the knowledge and skills to navigate the complex intersections of technology, society, and ethics, graduates are ready for careers in public policy, ethics and compliance, education, public service, non-profit leadership, and advanced studies in philosophy of technology.
The Social Entrepreneurship and Impact Management is an individualised major for the future social entrepreneur. It caters to students interested in understanding the ecosystem of social entrepreneurship, and in developing insights in how positive social impacts are created and measured.
This transdisciplinary study helps students develop competencies and skills required to integrate innovative ideas and technologies into sustainable entrepreneurial practices that address pressing societal challenges.
Studies in this major cover social business model innovation, social entrepreneurship, stakeholders’ engagement, AI technologies for social good, social business financial modelling and methodologies of social impact articulation. The transdisciplinary training prepares students to envision the next generation of ethical leadership and communication to drive positive change.
Career Prospects
Graduates will be adaptable, resourceful, and innovative problem-solvers who can relentlessly re-learn and adapt to a rapidly changing world. They may become entrepreneurs, consultants, technologists, researchers, or artists, who could bring in innovation leading to community and/or organization transformation for achieving some targeted goals. They will be competent future leaders in the governments, corporations and NGOs who are capable of handling changes, taking on multiple careers which will be the trend in the future society, and engaging in jobs or industries that are yet to emerge, confident to meet the challenges, tolerant of ambiguity and able to manage uncertainties and risks. Thus, their potential employers include (not limited to):
NGOs (social innovation)
Social enterprises
Commercial organizations (innovation and transformation units/departments)
Innovation technology companies
Consulting firms
Government offices
Public utility companies
In addition, as the curriculum is highly flexible, graduates could also prepare themselves early on for launching start-up or pursuing transdisciplinary research study.
Facilities
Students will study in the existing facilities of HKBU such as the six Interdisciplinary Research Clusters, as well as the state-of- the-art facilities of the Jockey Club Campus of Creativity.
Admission
The programme will follow the general admission requirements. Candidates will be required to submit a portfolio and may be required to attend an interview.
We welcome students from different cultural and educational backgrounds. Local students applying on the strength of Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) should submit applications via the Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS) at http://www.jupas.edu.hk/en/.
Non-JUPAS applicants please apply directly to the University via the Direct (Non-JUPAS) Admissions Scheme. Please visit the website of Academic Registry of the Hong Kong Baptist University at http://ar.hkbu.edu.hk/pros/ for details.
Apart from University’s admission requirements, all applicants are also required to participate in the programme admission exercise with an aim to assess their suitability to the Bachelor of Arts, Science and Technology (Hons) programme. Candidates will be invited to submit a portfolio for review and some will be invited to attend an interview.
The interview will be conducted in English.
The short answer has two key words: Active and Authentic. The learning experience will be personalised, with each student playing an active and essential role in deciding their areas of study and designing their own curriculum. It will also be filled with research and activities towards solving real problems with which the student is authentically concerned.
Each student will be matched with a chief Academic Supervisor at the beginning and with more Co-advisors later on, both inside and outside the university. They will co-design their personalised learning journey together with these advisors throughout the four-year study.
Yes. All students of the programme are required to undertake Internship as a mandatory course in year 3. In addition, various internship or internship-like opportunities are likely to come up in the Solution-Based Learning Modules.
Absolutely. This programme highly encourages students to join an exchange programme and spend at least one semester overseas to enrich their global experience. The University has established exchange collaborations with international institutions from diverse countries such as Australia, Germany, Switzerland, Portugal, Iceland, Ireland, Brazil, and so on. Please refer to the website of International Office for details.
With problem-solving abilities, cross-disciplinary perspectives, and transferrable skills, graduates of this programme will not only excel in a wide range of conventional professions, but also be especially competitive in emerging jobs or industries. They may also pursue transdisciplinary postgraduate studies and research in emerging fields or launch start-ups, and are likely to take on multiple careers which will be a trend in the future society.
Enquiry
For further information or enquiry about the programme, please contact us at
or 3411-2835
Stay updated with us
If you would like to learn the latest development of the programme, you may view our programme leaflet and explore the programme Instagram below.
