Sections
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CURRICULUM

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curriculum
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CURRICULUM

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GBUS is a truly constructive community.
Like-minded and conscientious students motivate and push each other to new heights in life.

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Overview

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BBA in Global Business (GBUS) is a comprehensive business program offered by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. To ensure a well-rounded business education, our curriculum is designed with the objective to develop students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills and strengthen their knowledge and strategic mindset in various global business areas and trends. It also provides the greatest possible flexibility to accommodate our student's academic strengths, aspirations, and passions. Over 50% of our graduates graduated with first-class honors, and of which some outstanding students were awarded the HKUST Academic Achievement Medal, the highest academic honor bestowed by the University, from each cohort. Our graduates are expected to possess top qualities and hands-on experience through experiential learning.

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To graduate from the GBUS program, students are required to complete a minimum of 120-credit within 4 years of the normal study time frame and suggested study pathway. Across the study years, students will study: 

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Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
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School Requirements: Business Core (45-credit)
  • The Business Core courses aim to strengthen students' business acumen in all business-related disciplines. 
  • Students are expected to take most Business Core courses in the first three semesters of study. 
  • Students admitted in the 2021 intake onwards can refer to School Requirements for details.
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Major Requirements: BBA in Global Business (26 to 27-credit)
  • The GBUS Required Course(s) and Elective(s) strive to offer GBUS students an exclusive experiential learning experience and solid training in critical thinking. Students are purposefully equipped with in-depth skills when approaching business problems and applying their professional knowledge to a real-world business / organisational challenge. Case-based learning and discussion spark students’ ability to be competent in strategic business analysis, problem-solving and professional communication to deal with the ever-changing global dynamics.
  • GBUS students are expected to complete 11 to 12-credit of GBUS Required Course(s), together with a minimum of 15 GBUS Elective(s). One regular term of study abroad is also part of the graduation requirements.
  • Students can refer to Major Requirements for details.
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Additional Major Requirements (at least 20 credit single-counted)
  • GBUS students can choose an additional major or a minor according to their interests.
  • Students will declare an additional major in another Business discipline by the end of Year 2 Spring.
  • Students must complete at least 20 single-counted credits for the additional major. These 20 credits cannot be used to fulfil any other requirements for graduation except for the 120-credit degree requirement.
  • Students should refer to the additional major/ minor of their choice for further course information.
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University Common Core Requirements (30-credit)
  • The Common Core courses aspire to bring students a balanced and broad education that nurtures them to be responsible citizens and independent thinkers with the heart and aspiration to excel in their endeavors.
  • Students are expected to fulfil 30-credit of Common Core courses including the following areas before they graduate:
    • Experiencing (0 to 3-credit) 
    • Broadening (12 to 18-credit)
      • Arts (A) 
      • Humanities (H)
      • Science (S) 
      • Technology (T)
      • Social Analysis (SA) 
    • Foundations (Skillsets & Mindsets) (12 to 15-credit)
      • Cognitive Foundations of University Education: Critical Thinking and Data Literacy (CTDL) (0 to 3-credit) 
      • Behavioral Foundations of University Education: Habits, Mindsets, and Wellness (HMW) (3-credit)
      • English Communication (6-credit; must be taken in the first year of study) 
      • Chinese Communication (3-credit) 

University Common Core Program

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A minimum of 120-credit is required for graduation

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GBUS Major Requirements

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For 2021 intake and onwards

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Required Courses

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GBUS 1000 Global Leadership Development (0-credit)
GBUS 2010
GBUS 2020
Global Business Analysis (3-credit)
Public Service Project (1-credit) or
GBUS 2040 ESG Corporate Project (1-credit)

GBUS 3030
ISOM 4780

Global Business Case Studies (4-credit) or
Integrated Planning and Execution (3-credit)

GBUS 4910 Capstone Project (4-credit)
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Elective(s)

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Global Business Electives (15-credit required, at least 6-credit from each area and at least 2 courses must be offered by GBUS)

  • Area A: Global and Societal Perspective
  • Area B: Business Strategy and Innovation
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Other

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One regular term of study abroad

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GBUS Courses

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GBUS 1000
Global Leadership Development (0-credit)
0-credit
The course is designed to promote students' personal development, teamwork, communications skills, career preparation, leadership capability, and a global mindset.
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GBUS 2010
Global Business Analysis (3-credit)
3-credit
This course develops students' proficiency in business analysis by building competence in using fundamental tools for business problem solving and delivering professional presentations.
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GBUS 2030
From Zero to Exit – Journey of A Start-up (2-credit)
2-credit
This course is designed for students who are interested in understanding the dynamics of entrepreneurship and the start-up ecosystem in Hong Kong. You will be taken through the journey of a real entrepreneur, from coming up with their own start-up idea to incepting the idea, taking it to the market, selling it to customers pitching for funding and finally, growing own start-up until reaching the exit stage. At the end of the course, you will be familiarized with the skills and knowledge necessary to plan your next move as an entrepreneur.
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GBUS 2040
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Corporate Project (1-credit)
1-credit
This is a project-based experiential learning course with the aim to nurture students' passion for commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG). Students will collaborate with a non-governmental organization (NGO) or small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to explore ESG initiatives and strategies. 
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GBUS 2050
Blue Ocean Strategy Innovation & Execution (2-credit) 
2-credit
This course introduces students to Blue Ocean Strategy, one of the most original ways of developing innovative strategy to appear in business thinking in recent years. This approach to strategy innovation distinguishes between the conventional cutthroat way most companies compete based on price and product features, known as the red ocean, and a new way of competing that emphasizes finding new markets that are free of competition – blue oceans. The course equips students with a set of highly practical tools that can be used in any organization both to develop strategic innovation and then to implement this change successfully. 
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GBUS 3010
Global Perspectives on Contemporary Issues (3-credit)
3-credit
This course aims to develop students' capacity for critical reflection. To deal with human interactions in a global setting, we need to equip ourselves with a spectrum of understanding and responses that go beyond our parochial mind-set. The course exposes students to issues outside the business field, providing an opportunity to explore relevant topics concerning their community, their world and themselves.
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GBUS 3030
Global Business Case Studies (4-credit)
4-credit
This is an advanced case studies course that develops students' proficiency in conducting business problem solving and presentations under conditions simulating real business settings.
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GBUS 3040
Business and ESG Management for Asia and Emerging Markets (3-credit)
3-credit
This course intends to develop a deep understanding of the contextual factors of Asia and emerging market countries, with a specific emphasis on the risks, challenges, and mitigants to doing business in these countries. In studying key business, political, economic, social, financial, and cultural characteristics of these countries, students will recognize regional differences and learn to develop relevant business strategies. Students will also explore how country differences impact business strategies and managerial decision-making. In addition, concepts that relate to corruption, corporate governance, and ESG will be covered.
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GBUS 3050
Deal Making in Asia and Emerging Markets (3-credit)
3-credit
This course introduces students to cross-border and cross-cultural business transactions in Asia and emerging markets. Analyzing cases studies of different types of real business deals, the course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive overview of doing business in these regions and the opportunity to strategize as corporate decision makers through discussions, role plays, and presentations. The objective is to sharpen students' capabilities in deal structuring, financing, negotiating, and deal closing from a strategic management perspective.
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GBUS 3060
Value Investing in Global Markets (3-credit)
3-credit
This course covers the basic theory and philosophy of value investing as it has developed since Graham. The styles of important value investors including Graham and Buffett will be introduced and discussed. The basic techniques of investing will also be presented: search; valuation and the construction of a portfolio. The framework developed will be adopted in class to study specific companies. This course will only focus on equities.
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GBUS 4910
Capstone Project (4-credit)
4-credit
This course is designed for final year GBUS students to synthesize skills and knowledge learned from the program by undertaking a challenging individual or team capstone project.