Common Core Area Intended Learning Outcomes
The 36-credit Program is for students admitted in 2021-2022 or before
Each common core area is packed with clearly defined intended learning outcomes (ILOs) that will enhance your skills and knowledge. These area ILOs are all about what you will be able to do after completing the relevant common core courses, aligning perfectly with the mission, goals, and objectives of the Common Core Program.
| Common Core Area | Area Intended Learning Outcome | |
| Humanities (H) | H1 | Comprehend and narrate human phenomena from the perspectives of humanities disciplines |
| H2 | Appreciate and articulate diverse human values, feelings, reason and creativity in various forms of expression | |
| Social Analysis (SA) | SA1 | Analyze key societal and behavioral issues by applying relevant social scientific approaches in different contexts |
| SA2 | Communicate a concern about key societal issues as responsible citizens | |
| Science and Technology (S&T) | ST1 | Comprehend and apply the basic principles of science and methods of scientific inquiry |
| ST2 | Evaluate the social and philosophical implications of scientific discoveries and technological development | |
| Quantitative Reasoning (QR) | QR1 | Use mathematical models or quantitative methods to formulate, analyze and solve problems that you encounter in your daily and professional lives |
| QR2 | Choose an appropriate method to represent and process a given set of quantitative data and to draw inferences from such data in a systematic and logical way | |
| Arts | A1 | Appreciate the theory, history and practice of the arts |
| A2 | Express yourselves through various art forms or media | |
| English Communication (E-Comm) | E1 | Use English to achieve communicative purposes appropriate to the academic and social context |
| Chinese Communication (C-Comm) | C1 | For who with Chinese background will be able to use Putonghua and Standard Written Chinese to achieve communicative purposes appropriate to the context, be it academic, social or professional |
| C2 | For who with non-Chinese background will be able to achieve basic communicative purposes in Putonghua | |
| Healthy Lifestyle (HLTH) | HL1 | Recognize the importance of physical, physiological, social, and occupational wellness |
| HL2 | Develop strategies to manage your lives | |
| HL3 | Acquire new sports skills and maintain a higher level of physical wellness through a variety of activities | |
ABC LIVE – Attributes of HKUST Graduates
Get ready to embark on an educational journey that will help you develop a wide range of graduate attributes summarized as "ABC LIVE" at our University. We believe in nurturing your academic excellence, providing you with a broad-based education, building your competencies and capacities, fostering leadership and teamwork skills, developing an international outlook, igniting your vision and orientation to the future, and instilling ethical standards and compassion.
| A | Academic excellence An in-depth grasp of at least one area of specialist or professional study, based on a forward-looking and inquiry-driven curriculum |
| B | Broad-based education Intellectual breadth, flexibility, and curiosity, including an understanding of the role of rational, balanced inquiry and discussion, and a grasp of basic values across the disciplines of science, social science, engineering and the humanities |
| C | Competencies and capacity building High-end, transferable competencies, including analytical, critical, quantitative and communications skills |
| L | Leadership and teamwork A capacity for leadership and teamwork, including the ability to motivate others, to be responsible and reliable, and to give and take direction and constructive criticism |
| I | International outlook An international outlook, and an appreciation of cultural diversity |
| V | Vision and an orientation to the future Adaptability and flexibility, a passion for learning, the ability to develop clear, forward-looking goals, and self-direction and self-discipline |
| E | Ethical standards and compassion Respect for others, high standards of integrity, compassion, and a readiness to contribute to the community |
The Common Core Program serves as a platform to expand your academic breadth (B), ensuring you receive a well-rounded education. It also focuses on developing high-level competencies (C) that will set you apart in your future endeavors. Moreover, the pedagogy employed in the Common Core Program is designed to promote personal development, moral reasoning, and citizenship, encapsulating the spirit of "LIVE".