Students Taking Double Majors, Major-Minor or Double Minors with Overlapping Course Requirements

1. Double-counting of courses up to a maximum of 24 credits is permissible with double majors.  The double-counted courses in both Science majors should include SCNC1111 and SCNC1112 (unless otherwise exempted).  Additional credits to be double-counted must be for courses required (‘disciplinary core’) by both majors.  For cases with 24 or less double-counted credits, the student must make up an equivalent number of credits by taking other courses offered by any Faculty.

2. The following list shows the major-major combinations that have more than 24 credits of the same ‘disciplinary core’ courses that appear in both Science majors and is subject to the rule of double counting:
    

If more than 24 credits (including SCNC1111 & SCNC1112, unless otherwise exempted) are listed as required courses (‘disciplinary core’) in both the first (‘Major 1’) and second (‘Major 2’) majors undertaken by a student, the student must make up the number of credits above the 24 permissible by taking replacement course(s) in the second major (‘Major 2’).  The replacement course(s) must be the disciplinary elective course(s) in the second major (‘Major 2’) and have the same prefix and at the same or higher level as the double-counted course(s).  The double counted credits should count the following courses in this order: (1) SCNC1111 and SCNC1112, (2) introductory level (levels 1 and 2) courses, and (3) advanced level (level 3 or above) courses.  For example, if a student takes a first major in Ecology & Biodiversity (‘Major 1’) and a second major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (‘Major 2’), SCNC1111, SCNC1112, BIOL1110, BIOL2102 and BIOL2103 are the common ‘disciplinary core’ courses that appear in both majors.  The first 3 courses SCNC1111, SCNC1112, and BIOL1110 would first be counted plus either BIOL2102 or BIOL2103 for the major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology.  The student has to take a replacement ‘disciplinary elective’ course (with a prefix of BIOL at level 2 or above) in the second major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology to make up for BIOL2102 or BIOL2103.

3. Candidates who have been admitted to Year 1 in 2020-21 (and thereafter) and have achieved any one of the following qualifications are exempted from taking SCNC1111:
   
   • Level 4 or above in Mathematics Extended Part Module 1 or 2 in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE)
   • Level 5 or above in Mathematics Higher Level in International Baccalaureate (IB)
   • Grade B or above in Mathematics and Further Mathematics in General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (GCEAL)
   • Mathematics qualification in Gao Kao will be considered on a case-by-case basis
   
   It is optional for them to take the course SCNC1111. Those who are eligible for exemption and do not take this course in their first year of study should take a 6-credit disciplinary elective course of the science major in lieu.
   
   Candidates who have been admitted to Year 1 in 2021-22 (and thereafter) and have achieved any one of the following qualifications are exempted from taking SCNC1112:
   
   • Level 4 or above in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE)
   • Level 5 or above in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics Higher Level in International Baccalaureate (IB)
   • Grade B or above in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics in General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (GCEAL)
   • Biology, Chemistry, and Physics qualification in Gao Kao will be considered on a case-by-case basis
   
   It is optional for them to take the course SCNC1112. Those who are eligible for exemption and do not take this course in their first year of study should take a 6-credit disciplinary elective course of the science major in lieu.
   
   The eligible students will be informed by the Faculty, via email, of the granting of an exemption from taking SCNC1111 and/or SCNC1112 in late August (before the start of your first year of study). You (as an eligible student) can try out courses that suit your academic interest before you commit to a particular major and submit your application form for taking a replacement course(s) for SCNC1111 and/or SCNC1112 via the Science Online Application Submission System (OASS) during the courses add/drop periods in your second/third year of study. The replacement course must be the disciplinary elective in your declared Science major. If you wish to take double Science majors, you should take the disciplinary elective(s) in each of your declared Science majors to replace the exempted SCNC course(s).
   
   Under these circumstances, the following list shows the major-major combinations that have 24 credits (or more) of the same ‘disciplinary core’ courses that appear in both Science majors and is subject to the rule of double counting:
   
   Scenario #1
   (a)    Admission Year (Year 1):    2020 & therafter
            Exemption granted:             SCNC1111
   OR   
   (b)    Admission Year (Year 1):    2021 & thereafter
            Exemption granted:             SCNC1112

If more than 24 credits (including SCNC1111 & SCNC1112) are listed as required courses (‘disciplinary core’) in both the first (‘Major 1’) and second (‘Major 2’) majors undertaken by a student, the student must make up the number of credits above the 24 permissible by taking replacement course(s) in the second major (‘Major 2’). The replacement course(s) must be the disciplinary elective course(s) in the second major (‘Major 2’) and have the same prefix and at the same or higher level as the double-counted course(s). For example, if a student takes a first major in Ecology & Biodiversity (‘Major 1’) and a second major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (‘Major 2’), SCNC1111, SCNC1112, BIOL1110, BIOL2102 and BIOL2103 are the common ‘disciplinary core’ courses that appear in both majors.
 

(a) In light of the exempted course SCNC1111, the double counted credits should count the following courses in this order: (1) SCNC1112, (2) introductory level (levels 1 and 2) courses, and (3) advanced level (level 3 or above) courses. The 4 courses (SCNC1112, BIOL1110, BIOL2102, and BIOL2103) would be counted for the major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology. The student has to take a replacement ‘disciplinary elective’ course in the second major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology to make up for SCNC1111.

(b) In light of the exempted course SCNC1112, the double counted credits should count the following courses in this order: (1) SCNC1111, (2) introductory level (levels 1 and 2) courses, and (3) advanced level (level 3 or above) courses. The 4 courses (SCNC1111, BIOL1110, BIOL2102, and BIOL2103) would be counted for the major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology. The student has to take a replacement ‘disciplinary elective’ course in the second major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology to make up for SCNC1112.

Scenario #2
Admission Year (Year 1):    2021 & thereafter
Exemption granted:             SCNC1111 & SCNC1112
 

If more than 24 credits (including SCNC1111 & SCNC1112) are listed as required courses (‘disciplinary core’) in both the first (‘Major 1’) and second (‘Major 2’) majors undertaken by a student, the student must make up the number of credits above the 24 permissible by taking replacement course(s) in the second major (‘Major 2’). The replacement course(s) must be the disciplinary elective course(s) in the second major (‘Major 2’) and have the same prefix and at the same or higher level as the double-counted course(s). In light of the exempted courses SCNC1111 & SCNC1112, the double counted credits should count the following courses in this order: (1) introductory level (levels 1 and 2) courses, and (2) advanced level (level 3 or above) courses. For example, if a student takes a first major in Ecology & Biodiversity (‘Major 1’) and a second major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (‘Major 2’), SCNC1111, SCNC1112, BIOL1110, BIOL2102 and BIOL2103 are the common ‘disciplinary core’ courses that appear in both majors. The 3 courses (BIOL1110, BIOL2102, and BIOL2103) would be counted for the major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology. The student has to take 2 replacement ‘disciplinary elective’ courses in the second major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology to make up for SCNC1111 & SCNC1112.

4. Double counting of credits is not permissible for major–minor or double-minors combinations.  When a course is required (‘disciplinary core’) both by the major and minor or by both minors, the student must take a replacement course for the minor.  The replacement course must be the disciplinary elective in the minor and have the same prefix and at the same or higher level as the course to be replaced.

5. For students taking the Mathematics related majors/minors should note the following exemption and replacement arrangement:

Students who fall into the following exemption situation for the introductory level Disciplinary Core Mathematics courses in Science Majors/Minors are required to take the specified replacement course(s) as prescribed in the table below:

6. For the situations of 2, 3, 4 and 5 above, students have to complete and submit the online application form to the Faculty Office via the Science Online Application Submission System (OASS) by the deadline of course selection or add/drop periods. The application will then be forwarded to the relevant Course Selection Adviser (CSA) for endorsement and comment (if any).