This Course Guide has been taken from the most recent presentation of the course. It would be useful for reference purposes but please note that there may be updates for the following presentation.
SOSC A112
Understanding Economics and Politics
Welcome to SOSC A112 Understanding Economics and Politics. This is a 10-credit distance-learning undergraduate course of foundational level. This course intends to introduce the basic concepts and theories of economics and politics, and it assumes no specific knowledge in economics and politics.
The section of economics covers basic principles in economics, the key concepts and applications of demand-supply analysis, the market equilibrium under various market structures, the definitions of various macroeconomic indicators and the application of the AD-AS model. The section of politics covers the methods of the study and the basic concepts of political science, various political regime types and country examples, various means of politics, and the key concepts and practices in international relations.
SOSC A112 is delivered using a custom textbook, supplemented by a Study Guide, online multimedia components and face-to-face sessions.
Course aims
The overall aims of SOSC A112 Understanding Economics and Politics are to:
Course learning outcomes
Upon the completion of SOSC A112 Understanding Economics and Politics, you should be able to:
In this custom textbook approach, different learning modules have been carefully selected by the course team from two textbooks, one on economics and one on politics, and organised into two volumes specifically designed for SOSC A112 students. By incorporating the latest editions of book chapters from different sources, the custom textbook will provide you with comprehensive coverage of the major concepts, theories, and applications of economics and political science.
In addition to the custom textbook, you will be working through the course using an HKMU- produced Study Guide. The Study Guide leads you along your study pathway unit by unit, providing commentary on each textbook chapter and supplementary self-learning and self-assessment opportunities.
The third main point of reference for learning resources during the course is HKMU's Online Learning Environment (OLE). There, you will have access to multimedia materials such as the introductory video and PowerPoint slides, and you will be able to discuss topics with other students and your tutor on the course discussion board. This course is further supported by regular face-to-face meetings in the form of tutorials and day schools.
Introductory video
To start off, you should watch the introductory video for the course in the ePub version of this Course Guide or on the OLE. Then turn to the Study Guide for further guidance through the course.
The custom textbook
The title of the custom textbook is SOSC A112 Understanding Economics and Politics. The chapters are selected from the following textbooks:
The Study Guide will indicate at which point you should read each chapter of the custom textbook.
The Study Guide
The Study Guide sets out your study pathway through the custom textbook and other course learning resources. It serves several functions. First, as no textbook is able to cover all aspects of economics and politics perfectly, the Study Guide will fill the gaps where necessary. Second, it serves as a guide to the textbook chapters, helping you to organise major ideas with tools like tables and diagrams. Third, it contains activities and self-tests to facilitate your learning and revision. You'll therefore need to keep it by your side as you work through the course.
The Study Guide is divided into ten units. The titles of the units and the custom textbook chapters that they will cover are set out in the following table.
| Unit | Custom textbook chapters |
| 1. Introducing economics | Module 1: Ten principles of economics Module 2: Interdependence and the gains from trade |
| 2. Demand-supply analysis | Module 1: The market forces of supply and demand Module 2: Elasticity and its application Module 3: Consumers, producers, and the efficiency of markets Module 4: Supply, demand and government policies Module 5: Application: The costs of taxation |
| 3. Firm behaviour and the organisation of industry | Module 1: The costs of production Module 2: Firms in competitive markets Module 3: Monopoly |
| 4. National income, inflation and unemployment | Module 1: Measuring a nation's income Module 2: Measuring the cost of living Module 3: Money growth and inflation Module 4: Unemployment |
| 5. Economic fluctuations and growth | Module 1: Aggregate demand and aggregate supply Module 2: The influence of monetary and fiscal policy on aggregate demand Module 3: Production and growth |
| 6. The study of political science and basic concepts | Module 1: Introduction: The study of politics Module 2: The idea of the public good: Ideologies and isms Module 3: Utopias: Model states |
| 7. What are states and regime types? | Module 1: Constitutional democracy: Models of representation Module 2: Parliamentary democracy: Pros and cons of perishable governments Module 3: The authoritarian model: Myth and reality Module 4: The totalitarian model: A false utopia |
| 8. Political socialisation and participation | Module 1: Political socialisation: The making of a citizen Module 2: Political participation: The limits of democracy |
| 9. Politics by other means: Revolutions and wars | Module 1: Revolution: In the name of justice Module 2: War: Politics by other means Module 3: Terrorism: War, crimes, or war crimes? |
| 10. Politics beyond boundaries | Module 1: World politics: The struggle for power |
E-Library E-Reserve Readings
In the Study Guide, you may be instructed to read articles in the E-Library E-Reserve. To read these items, go to the University's E-Library homepage and click on 'E-Reserve'. Log in, click Accept/Agree' on the Copyright Restrictions page, fill in the 'Course Code' box, and click Search'. Alternatively, you may access the readings via a hyperlink in the online course materials.
The Online Learning Environment (OLE)
A dedicated area for SOSC A112 students has been set up in HKMU's OLE. You will need to log on regularly to the OLE to read the latest news from your Course Coordinator. You can also access the course materials, online discussion board and other online learning components through the OLE.
Face-to-face support
You will be supported throughout the course by regular face-to-face meetings in the form of tutorials and day schools. Basically, every unit will be covered by a tutorial whilst three day schools will be arranged around the beginning, middle and end of the course. You can find the arrangement of these face-to-face sessions in the 'Course overview' section (p. 6 of this Course Guide). Details of the dates and times of these sessions can be found in the Course Schedules page of the OLE.
Assessment
This course is designed to assist you in moving easily from the stated objectives, through the study units, readings, and materials to the assignments and examination. During the course, you will have your progress assessed both formally and informally.
Formative assessment includes various activities and self-tests that you will undertake while working your way through the study units, textbook, and readings.
Summative assessment consists of assignments and a final examination.
Assessment summary
The summative assessment items are outlined in the following table.
| Assessment item | Weighting | |
| Assignment 1 | 12.5% | You will be graded on the four best scores of the five assignments (i.e. 4 × 12.5% = 50%) |
| Assignment 2 | 12.5% | |
| Assignment 3 | 12.5% | |
| Assignment 4 | 12.5% | |
| Assignment 5 | 12.5% | |
| Examination | 50% | |
| Total | 100% | |
Assignments
There are five assignments in this course. You will be expected to apply concepts and techniques acquired during the course when completing assignments.
The best four scores out of the five assignments will be counted towards the course grade, with a total weighting of 50%.
How to submit assignments
You must use word processing software (such as Microsoft Word) to prepare the assignments. The Assignment File gives you details on how to present and submit your assignments. Please refer to the OLE Assignments → General Information section. Please also read the Student Handbook for HKMU's policy on late assignments.
Assignments must reach your tutor by the due date shown on the Presentation Schedule under Course Schedules (available on the OLE). If, for some good reason, you are unable to submit your assignment on time, you should, before the due date, ask your tutor or Course Coordinator for permission to submit it late. In general, you are expected to submit your assignments via the OLE. Assignments will be returned to you, marked and with commentary, as soon as possible.
Examination
The final examination for SOSC A112 Understanding Economics and Politics will be of three hours' duration and have a value of 50% of the total course grade. The examination will consist of questions that reflect the types of practice exercises and assignments you have previously experienced, covering Units 1 to 10.
The following table gives a general overview of the course structure. It suggests the amount of time you should allow for completing units and provides a broad schedule for you to plan your work. This estimation includes time for reading the units and custom textbook, completing activities, self-tests and assignments, and attending tutorials and day schools. You can also find a rough schedule of the tutorials and day schools.
| Unit | No. of weeks | Tutorial | Day school | Assessment |
| 1. Introducing economics | 3 | 1st | ||
| 2. Demand-supply analysis | 4 | 2nd | Assignment 1 | |
| 3. Firm behaviour and the organisation of industry | 3 | 3rd | 1st | |
| 4. National income, inflation and unemployment | 4 | 4th | Assignment 2 | |
| 5. Economic fluctuations and growth | 4 | 5th | ||
| 6. The study of political science and basic concepts | 4 | 6th | Assignment 3 | |
| 7. What are states and regime types? | 4 | 7th | 2nd | |
| 8. Political socialisation and participation | 3 | 8th | Assignment 4 | |
| 9. Politics by other means: Revolutions and wars | 4 | 9th | ||
| 10. Politics beyond boundaries | 3 | 10th | 3rd | Assignment 5 |
SOSC A112 provides you with the basic concepts, theories and models of economics and politics. The section of economics covers basic principles in economics, the key concepts and applications of demand-supply analysis, the market equilibrium under various market structures, the definitions of various macroeconomic indicators and the application of the AD-AS model. The section of politics covers the methods of the study and the basic concepts of political science, various political regime types and country examples, various means of politics, and the key concepts and practices in international relations. Upon completion of the course, you will be able to grasp the basic ideas of economics and politics, which will lay a good foundation for your future studies in other courses in social sciences.
