Requirements (2024-25 Student Cohort)

The Foundations group lays the groundwork for your university education by providing core skillsets and mindsets training that prepare you to effectively manage your personal and academic life while fostering essential skills applicable in diverse contexts:

• Critical thinking and data literacy: Equip yourself with analytical skills to assess information effectively
• Wellness education: Foster physical and mental well-being for a balanced life
• Effective communication: Cultivate your communication skills in both English and Chinese 

These foundational components total 15 credits. You are highly encouraged to complete these courses during your first year. To ensure adequate training in English language and prepare for university life, you will be pre-enrolled in at least one course from each of the following areas in Year 1:

• Behavioral Foundations of University Education: Habits, Mindsets, and Wellness (HMW)
• English Communication (E-Comm)

While you are strongly encouraged to take the Cognitive Foundations of University Education: Critical Thinking and Data Literacy (CTDL) courses to enhance your cognitive skills, you have the flexibility to choose courses from the following areas to substitute for the CTDL credit requirement. However, please note that you cannot use transferred credits from any other common core areas to fulfill this requirement: 

• English Communication (E-Comm) (Advanced Communication courses only)
• Chinese Communication (C-Comm)
• All areas in the Broadening group
• Undergraduate experiential Opportunities Programs (UxOP) 

The Broadening group enhances your educational experience by encouraging exploration across a vibrant range of disciplines, including Arts (A), Humanities (H), Science (S), Technology (T), and Social Analysis (SA). This group aims to cultivate a well-rounded education through these fields of study that help you develop critical thinking skills, gain interdisciplinary insights, and prepare for complex real-world challenges, ensuring you navigate both academic and professional environments effectively.

Program-specific credit requirement

You are required to complete a minimum of 12 credits in the Broadening group, in accordance with the program-specific credit requirement for your major.

Each major program has designated home common core areas within the Broadening group that correspond to its primary academic disciplines. To achieve a balanced and well-rounded education, you must complete 12 credits from each non-home common core area. If the total credits required from your designated non-home areas fall short of 12 credits, you may take courses from any Broadening areas, including your home areas, to make up the outstanding credits.

For example, for students majoring in SSCI programs, the home area is Science (S). SSCI majors must complete 12 credits from each area in Arts (A), Humanities (H), Technology (T), and Social Analysis (SA).

Students enrolled in an additional major, dual degree program, or Joint-School program will have home common core areas consisting of the union of all home areas from individual majors. For instance, students in a dual degree program that involves SSCI, SENG, and SBM will have home areas pertaining to Science (S), Technology (T), and Social Analysis (SA). They are required to complete 3 credits in each of the Arts (A) and Humanities (H) areas, with the remaining 6 credits earned from any common core areas in the Broadening group.

Important Note
It is crucial to thoroughly check the non-home areas and specific requirement for your major to ensure you enroll in the correct common core areas and courses. This information is pivotal for your academic planning.

The Experiencing group consists of a single common core area – Undergraduate experiential Opportunities Programs (UxOP). This group places strong emphasis on hands-on learning through various experiential opportunities, enabling you to engage with real-world issues.

You can choose from the following structured programs, each worth 3 credits:

• Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)
• Undergraduate Teaching Opportunities Program (UTOP)
• Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program (UPOP)
• Undergraduate Global Challenges and Opportunities Program (UCOP)

Each UxOP program is designed with a unique focus to immerse you in real-world experiences, where you can actively apply what you learn in the classroom to practical settings. These programs are all about enhancing essential skills and nurturing both your personal growth and professional development – making your learning journey more dynamic and impactful!

While you are strongly encouraged to take the UxOP courses, you have the flexibility to choose courses from the following areas to substitute for the UxOP credit requirement. However, please note that you cannot use transferred credits from any other common core areas to fulfill this requirement:

• Cognitive Foundations of University Education: Critical Thinking and Data Literacy (CTDL)
• English Communication (E-Comm) (Advanced Communication courses only)
• Chinese Communication (C-Comm)
• All areas in the Broadening group

To help you make informed choices, don’t hesitate to connect with your academic advisor or the friendly student advising team from your School/Department. They’re here to provide you with personalized guidance in tailoring your education to your passions – Your journey toward a fulfilling and exciting educational experience starts here!

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

UROP offers you a hands-on learning experience designed to enhance your research skills, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary communication abilities. You can choose research topics that interest you, whether within your major field or in another discipline, all under the guidance of experienced faculty members. 

Pathways and requirements

The Common Core UROP course, UROP 3200, is distinct from other non-common-core UROP courses, such as the tasting course (UROP 1000) and the series (UROP 1100, 2100, 3100, and 4100) currently offered by the Research Office (RO). 

You have two pathways to satisfy the Common Core UROP requirement:

• Option A: Complete Two 1-credit non-common-core UROP 1100 courses + One 1-credit Common Core UROP 3200 course 
• Option B: Complete One 1-credit non-common-core UROP 1100 course + One 1-credit non-common-core UROP 2100 course + One 1-credit Common Core UROP 3200 course

Upon completion of UROP 3200, all 3 credits earned from this series will count as common core credits to fulfill the requirement; otherwise, the credits earned from UROP 1100 and/or UROP 2100, without UROP 3200, will not be recognized as common core credits.

Together, these three UROP courses engage you in real research practices, allowing you to apply the skills and concepts you’ve learned throughout your studies. This hands-on experience is crucial for developing a deep understanding of research methodologies and making meaningful contributions to your field of study.

Learn more about UROP 3200 and how to get involved

Undergraduate Teaching Opportunities Program (UTOP)

UTOP offers you invaluable hands-on experience in teaching and instruction. You will engage in projects designed to develop essential skills and knowledge that will benefit your future career. Whether you choose subjects that align with your major or explore topics outside your discipline, UTOP provides a fantastic opportunity to build your teaching experience and enhance your competencies!

Course structure

To embark on your teaching journey, you will begin with training workshops that lay the groundwork for effective teaching practices. These workshops will cover essential topics such as developing teaching plans, classroom management techniques, active learning strategies, and effective use of classroom technology.

Following the workshops, you will work in groups to conduct tutorials, lessons, or workshops for fellow HKUST students, primary and secondary school students, or specific groups within non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Explore available UTOP courses

Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program (UPOP)

UPOP offers structured internship opportunities that provide you with valuable real-world work experience. This program is designed to prepare you for future careers, expand your job options, boost your confidence, enhance your workplace competitiveness, and build connections in your chosen profession.

Course requirements

To satisfy the UPOP requirement, you must complete: 

• One credit from a non-common-core course focusing on pre-internship training
• One 2-credit Common Core UPOP course

Upon completion of the 2-credit Common Core UPOP course, all 3 credits will count as common core credits; otherwise, the credits earned from the non-common-core pre-internship training course, without the 2-credit Common Core UPOP course, will not be recognized as common core credits. Any surplus credits from the pre-internship training course can be counted toward free elective credits.

Course structure

The non-common-core pre-internship training course will engage you in essential topics, including workplace ethics, curriculum vitae (CV) writing, communication skills, interview techniques, networking strategies, job offer management, time management, and problem-solving skills.

During the 2-credit Common Core UPOP course, you will participate in actual internship experiences. You can choose internships that align with your major or explore opportunities in other fields.

Courses

Currently, there are four non-common-core preparatory courses:

• GNED 2510 Career Building
• SCIE 1100 Career Building for Science Students
• SHSS 1030 Career Building for GCS and QSA Students
• UPOP 1920 Career Readiness Training Program

These preparatory courses are all eligible as prerequisites for the Common Core UPOP course, UPOP 2920 Undergraduate Practice Opportunities.

Learn more about these courses

Undergraduate Global Challenges and Opportunities Program (UCOP)

UCOP offers an enriching opportunity for you to tackle pressing global challenges through theme-based projects that draw on cross-disciplinary knowledge and transferable skills. The program emphasizes problem structuring, effective communication, and critical thinking, with suggested topics connected to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and Global Grand Challenges.

By completing UCOP, you will gain a deeper understanding of complex societal issues, improve your ability to communicate across disciplines, and demonstrate critical thinking using both qualitative and quantitative methods.

Check out the UCOP courses