Southern University College General Studies Centre

南方大学学院 通识教育中心

GENERAL STUDIES HANDBOOK

通识教育手册

(29-1-18)

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Why Establish General Studies

1. A New Paradigm of Education

Southern University College wishes to become the role model of western and eastern education, as well as to create her own brand of education, and move forward to a comprehensive university through upgrading its teaching and research. In this way, Southern University College will be able to keep abreast of other top universities around the world.

After upgrading to University College, Southern University College should adjust her curriculum planning, so that the existing students would be equipped with both professional and liberal studies knowledge, thus a more comprehensive talent. Since our mission is to create a “cultural establishment and humanistic campus”, we can shape the cultural atmosphere of the campus by implementing liberal studies. This is to guide the students to a correct understanding of multiculturalism, and to usher the implementation and construction of Southern University College into a multicultural campus.

2. College Should Pursue a Variety of Purpose

Our education has been the continuation of the British traditional education

classification, where the students are divided into different specializations during high school. In the early period of time, there were two specializations: Arts and Science, but now the specializations are further differentiated into three categories: Arts, Science and Business. Currently the society and parents also generally agree that these professional courses are the appropriate foci of study.

Tertiary education in Malaysia also goes with course classification, emulating secondary schools. In general, Arts students do not need to choose subjects from either Business School or Science School. This situation results in specialization and fragmentation of students’ knowledge structure.

In this case, Southern University College is not only providing education to make a living, but also creating an educational life by pursuing a variety of purpose, including a carefully circumscribed effort to foster generally accepted values and behaviour, such as honesty and moral reasoning.

3. Should Emphasize Traditional Culture

The national education system is not giving appropriate attention to the national and society aspects of knowledge, to some extent this was deliberately ignored. This results in students' understanding of the national history and culture incomplete. In this case, a College should take the responsibility of being a cultural heritage and play the critical role of social, political, and cultural conscience. Hence we can utilize General Studies to set up some courses related to traditional culture and history, in order to enable students to learn more about the history of the nation and our culture. At the same time, combine both history and culture of the country as a whole to nurture students to a better ethnical, cultural and national identity.

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While emphasising our own culture, we should not ignore the existence of other cultures, religions and ethnicities. The reason for dissimilarities of the people in multi-culture and core culture is due to the nation and community ideological factors. But, as bastion of the freedom of thought, the university should have a capacity of toleration, and its fundamental education basis should be derived from a variety of spiritual resources. This is an important part of a society capital and is particularly important in a pluralistic society like Malaysia.

4. Characteristics of Southern University College

The setup of course syllabi of each Academic Department in Southern University College is to tie together with the industrialization development and thus contributing to the cultivation of the national human resources. This is not much different from other colleges. Southern University College needs to create her own academic avenue in order to find her own characteristics where other universities lack of.

Colleges in Malaysia do not pay much attention to the courses of General Studies which focus the knowledge interest, critical thinking and learn strategies. Southern University College is one of the few which proposes a complete and innovative set of general education courses, and set up a General Studies Centre. This certainly will make Southern University College stand out from other colleges with its unique course design, and thus make Southern University College imbued with “The Spirit of The Great Learning Way”, and achieve the vision of “The Great Learning Way”.

Therefore students of any major, need to complete 33 credits of General Studies, which including University Core subjects, MPU subjects and General Subjects. With these 33 credits of General Studies for students of any major, we believe we can do a better job of educating our undergraduates, widening their vistas, and preparing them to succeed in life.

Course Planning Undergraduate is required to complete 33 credits of General studies before graduation.

1. Core Subjects (16 credits) A．University Compulsory (10 credits)

a. Basic Chinese (UMPU 3033) / Chinese (UMPU 3043) --- 3 Credits b. Advanced English (UMPU 3023) --- 3 Credits c. Learning Skills (UMPU 3053) --- 3 Credits d. Physical Education (UMPU 3061) --- 1 Credit

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B. U1 Local students（6 credits） a. TITAS (Tamadun Islam dan Tamadun Asia) (BMPU 3123) --- 3

Credits b. Hubungan Etnik (BMPU 3113) --- 3 Credits

International students（6 credits） a. Pengajian Malaysia 3 (BMPU3173) --- 3 Credits b. Bahasa Melayu Komunikasi 2 (BMPU 3143) --- 3 Credits

Remark: 1. Students from TESL are exempted from Advanced English (UMPU 3023), but

they need to fill up the credits from General Studies Subjects. 2. Students who pass the English placement test when they first enter the degree

programme will have to take Advanced English. Students who fail the English placement test need to pass Fundamental English (UMPU 3013) before they are allowed to take Advanced English. The credit and result was not culcalated as the gradute credit and result.

3. Students from Chinese Studies Department are exempted from Chinese (UMPU 3043), but they need to fill up the credits from General Studies Subjects.

4. Those from Chinese primary school are required to take Chinese (UMPU 3043), but those students from non-Chinese primary school are required to complete Basic Chinese (UMPU 3033) before graduation.

5. Diploma students from SUC entering as second year transfers must also need to complete 33 credits of General Studies.

6. Credit exemption for students entering as second year from other colleges should be handled on a case-by-case basis.

2. General Studies Elective Subjects (15 credits)

Fields Courses offer

U2（6 credits）

Bahasa Kebangsaan A （BMPU 3213）*

Artistic (3 credits)

Basic Photography (AMPU 3233)

Aesthetics Studies (AMPU 3223)

Film, Culture and Literature (AMPU 3253)

Chinese Calligraphy (AMPU 3243)

Kepimpinan (AMPU 3263)

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Great Books Reading (3 credits)

Great Books Reading (GMPU 3213)

Suggested classical books:

Eastern:

Dream of the Red Chamber, Three Hundred Tang Poems, Gandhi's autobiography - I experience the story of the truth, The Analects, All Men Are Brothers, Shi Ji (Historical Records) , Investiture of Gods and others.

Western:

Utopia, The Origin of Species, War and Peace, The Social Contract, Black Skin White Masks, The Old Man and the Sea, Democracy and Education, The Double Helix and others

U3 (9 credits)

Humanities and Science (3 credits)

Critical Thinking Skills (HMPU 3313)

Environment Change And Sustainable Development (HMPU 3323)

Science, Technology, and Society (HMPU 3343)

Japanese Level 1 (HMPU 3353)

Korean Level 1 (HMPU 3363)

Japanese Level 2 (HMPU 3373)

Korean Level 2 (HMPU 3383)

Multi-society and Culture (3 credits)

Introduction to Southeast Asia (MMPU 3323)

Malaysia’s Multi-ethnic and cultural Society (MMPU 3333)

Cross Cultural Translation and Interpretation: Between Chinese, English and Malay (MMPU 3313)

Cultivation (3 credits)

Introduction to World Religions (CMPU 3343)

Happiness (CMPU 3313)

Introduction to Islam (CMPU 3333)

Introduction to Buddhism (CMPU 3323)

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Remarks:

∗ For local students who have no credit in SPM Bahasa Melayu are required to take Bahasa Kebangsaan A as a component of U2. To complete the component, students have to choose another subject from Artistic category or Classical Book Readings category. Students who have a pass for Bahasa Kebangsaan A in Diploma level do not need to take this course.

1. The aim of these subjects is to widen the student’s knowledge structure, as well as their ethics, morals consciousness, humanities accomplishment and artistic aesthetic ability, national cultural structure and also their life compassionate value.

2. Students need to earn a total of 15 credits before they can graduate, and the electives must be cross-study of all 5 fields, that is, students must at least take one subject from each field.

3. Courses offered will be expanded from time to time to fulfil the need of students and society.

4. Students are not allowed to take subjects which offered by their departments as MPU subjects.

5. Credit exemption for students entering as second year from other colleges should be handled on a case-by-case basis.

3. Life 30 (LMPU 3412)(2 Credits)

Learning life should listen, read, and do services and more. So we launch “life 30” to enhance the student’s quality of life. a. Seminar:

In order to encourage students to explore different types of academic view and value of life, the University College would like our students to attend as many seminars as possible to widen their knowledge and view. So every student who attends a seminar will earn 1 points after approval by lecturer in charge.

b. Classical Books Reading: In order to promote independent learning and to develop the student’s insight, penetration of an idea, thoughtful consideration and studious reflection, the University College would like students to be exposed to ancient and modern classical books. This will generate intelligence, wit, humour, and wisdom, as well as cultivating a vital and interactive acquaintance with the writers, thinkers, and artists who wrote these books, as well as with one another as their readers. This will also train our students to appreciate the great value of the book which may help the society and show concern and have a more broadly-based general education derived from the books studied. Every book read and the completion of a report or oral discussion with the related lecturer will earn 3 points.

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Classical books include: A. Chinese Classical Text: Shi Ji (Historical Records), Lao Zi, Journey to the West,

Zhuang Zi, Strange Tales of Liaozhai, I-Ching, Investiture of Gods, The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Tang Poetry, Sun Zi Art of War Luotuo Xiangzi, Bailuyuan, Nahan, Weicheng, Leiyu and others.

B. Western Classical Text: Homer, The Decline of the West, Romeo and Juliet, Don Quixote, The Stranger, War and Peace, Das Kapital, The Interpretation of Dreams, Origin of Species, The Kite Runner, For Whom the Bell Tolls, A Farewell to Arms, The Old Man and The Sea and others.

C. Religious Text: Diamond Sutra (Vajracchedika-sutra), Al-Quran, Holy Bible, Hadith / Gospel, The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch and others.

c. Voluntary Work: “A volunteer is someone who gives time, energy and talents to others, expecting nothing in return. Volunteers must have an open mind, be willing to embrace wisdom learned from others and also let the experience of volunteering lead to personal inner growth. Volunteers realize the importance of time and kindness. With the wide range of opportunities, volunteers have the freedom to find an organization that best suits their needs. ” To train our students to become people who are willing to work and are always welcome to bring additional value to an organization’s work and understand the significance of “work”, we would like to encourage participation in off-campus community service activities. Only participated in off-campus community service activities, students can really realize social inadequate, and can understand the suffering of certain social group, furthermore perceived how happy they are! Volunteer work is minimum 4 hours for each time, more than 4 hours points are accumulated according to the number of hours, 1 hour eligible for 1 point. For instance, 4 hours of service earn 4 points; 6 hours service continuously will earn 6 points, and so on.

d. Student Exchange and Learning Programme:

Purposes of Student Exchange and Learning Programme are: A. Strengthen academic links and enrich cultural exchanges between the two

countries. B. Promote students' active participation in international activities and develop

their interpersonal skills. C. Enhance students' international perspective, and to experience ‘foreign’

education and culture.

Students, who participate in foreign student exchange and learning programme which is approved by the School and College for half semester will earn 8 points, for those who participate for one semester, they will earn 15 points.

Remarks:

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1. With every 15 points accumulated from field 1-4, students will earn 1 credit. 2. Points obtained must include points earned from the area 1, 2 and 3. 3. Students must get 2 credits before they can graduate. 4. Students entering as second year transfers still need to complete 2 credits of

Life 30, students are also required to comply with rules 1 and 2. Example of calculation: Activities Score 8 Seminars 8 2 Classical Text Reading 6 16 hours Voluntary Service 16 Total Points Earned 30 Points Total Credit Earned (30/15) 2 Credits

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为何南院要实行通识教育

1. 新教育愿景

南方大学学院希望成为东西教育典范，创立教育品牌，并且在教学与研究

上能上一层楼，往综合大学迈进，在学术殿堂里与国内外顶尖大学齐头并进。

成为大学，好的老师是必须的，深入的研究也是必要的。但是，如果在课

程上能有所创新，能更符合社会的发展趋势，那更能使大学成就本身的品牌。

升格后的，我们课程规划也应该有所调整，让学生在学习的过程中，能结合专

业与通识教育，成为更全面的人才。同时，既然打造“文化立校、人文校园”

是我们的使命之一，那我们就可以通过通识教育来塑造校园的文化气息，在校

园内培养学生对多元文化的正确认识，也落实和建设南院多元文化的校园。

2. 大学应有多元的课程目标

我国教育一直都延续着英国传统教育的分类法，学生到了高中就进行分科，

早期一般只分为文理两科，如今更进一步分化为文理商三科。而且目前社会和

家长普遍也认为专业课程才是学习的重点和合适方式。

马来西亚的大专课程继续着中学的分科，进一步细化课程的分类。一般而

言，文科生不需要到商学院或是理学院选修课程，同样的，其他科系的学生也

一般不会到文学院选修课程。当然，我们正在步入一个多样化和高技术的世界，

需要大量高素质和专业的人才。这就造成了学生们的知识结构过于专业化，甚

至有碎片化的情况。

因此我们有必要在大专阶段进行一些改变，让课程的设计更多元，更能培

养学生知识的广度，使学生能更好的结合专业知识和通识知识，在未来的人生

路上能决定自己将来的职业、获得社会交往的技巧、能够用正确的态度和他人

交往、具备作为人类社会中的一员以及民主国家中的公民所应有的理解力，态

度和行为、树立正确的人生观和价值观等。

我们希望南方大学学院的教育不仅仅是对谋生的教育，也是创造生活的教

育。

3. 重视传统文化

南方大学学院是大马民办学院的先锋，要继承优秀的民族文化传统，又要

为民族、社稷、国家乃至地球村培养英才。因此大学对于传统文化的传播有一

定的责任和使命，不单要重视日常习俗和表演文化，更应该强调思想文化的传

扬。

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在民族、社稷和国家方面，国家教育系统中并没有得到充分的重视，甚至

有特意被忽略的情况，造成学生对民族历史文化的认识是片面和“官方”的。

大学应承担文化的传承和社会政治、文化等方面批判的角色，因此我们可以充

分的利用通识教育这个平台，多设置一些与中华传统文化和历史相关的课程，

让学生多了解本民族的历史和文化，同时结合到整体国家的历史和文化，培育

学生更佳的族群、文化和国家认同。

当然，在重视中华传统文化的同时，我们也不应忽略了其他文化、宗教、

民族的存在。人们对多元文化和主流文化的不同选择，与一个国家和社会的意

识形态等因素有关，但大学作为自由思想的阵地，应有足够的包容性，其基础

教育应该汲取各种不同的精神资源，这是社会资本的重要组成部分。这一点在

多元社会的马来西亚尤其重要。

4. 成为南院之特色

南方大学学院学系和课程的设置配合工业化的发展，为国家人力资源的栽

培作出贡献。这一点与其他大专并无多大差异。南方大学学院要在巨大的竞争

中，开创出一条属于自己的学术大道，就有必要寻找其他大专所没有的特色。

大多数学院及大学并没有给予培养学生知识兴趣、批判思维以及学习技巧

等能力的通识教育足够的关注。南方大学学院开设通识教育，致力于通识教育

与专业教育相结合，必然能给高教改革一个新的启示。如果我们能进一步使通

识教育溶入南方大学学院的教育概念中，从而丰富和发展其教育思想和教育方

法，那定然可以使南方大学学院成为独具特色的学院。在马来西亚各大专不那

么重视或是不系统性开设通识教育的同时，南方大学学院能提出完整且创新的

通识教育课程，必然能让南方大学学院在课程设计方面有独特的一面，进而使

南院更具有“大学精神”，而达致“大学之道”的愿景。

因此，本校大学部学生，无论来自哪一个科系，都必须在毕业前完成 33 个

通识学分。这当中包含了校必修课程、MPU 课程以及通识课程。我们相信，通

过这 33 个通识学分，我们必能更有效的培养我们的学生，使他们具有更广阔的

事业，并获得更美好的生活品质。

课程规划 大学部学生必须在毕业前修完 33 个通识学分。

4. 核心课程 (16 学分)

A. 校必修（10 学分） a. 中文 (UMPU 3043)或基础中文(UMPU 3033) --- 3 学分 b. 高级英文 (UMPU 3023) --- 3 学分 c. 学习方法 (UMPU 3053) --- 3 学分 d. 体育(UMPU 3061) --- 1 学分

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B. U1

本地学生（6 学分） a. 伊斯兰文明与亚洲文明 (BMPU 3123) --- 3 学分 b. 族群关系 (BMPU 3113) --- 3 学分

国际学生（6 学分） a. 马来西亚研究 3 (BMPU 3173) --- 3 学分 b. 马来语会话 2 (BMPU 3143) --- 3 学分

备注：

1. 英语为第二语言教学系之学生免修高级英文（UMPU 3023），但必须选修

通识教育科目，以补足学分。 2. 顺利通过英语测试者，允许直接修高级英文 (UMPU 3023)。无法通过英语

测试者，必须先完成基础英语 (UMPU 3013)，才被允许修读高级英文 (UMPU 3023)。唯基础英语之学分与成绩不被计算在毕业学分与成绩内。

3. 中文系之学生免修大学中文 (UMPU 3043)，但必须选修通识教育科目，以

补足学分。 4. 华校生必须修读大学中文 (UMPU 3043)，而非华校生则选读基础中文

(UMPU 3033)。 5. 本校专业文凭班毕业并直接进入第二年者，亦须完成 33 个通识学分。 6. 其他从他校毕业，直接进入第二年的学生，所豁免的学分需视情况而定。

5. 通识选修课程（15 学分）

领域 课程

U2（6 学分）

Bahasa Kebangsaan A （BMPU 3213）*

艺术与美学（3 学分）

Basic Photography (AMPU 3233)

Aesthetics Studies (AMPU 3223)

Film, Culture and Literature (AMPU 3253)

Chinese Calligraphy (AMPU 3243)

Kepimpinan (AMPU 3263)

名著导读（3 学分） Great Books Reading (GMPU 3213)

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Suggested classical books:

东方： 红楼梦、唐诗三百首、甘地自传——我体验真理的故

事、论语、水浒传、史记、封神演义及其他

西方：柏拉图《理想国》、达尔文《物种起源》、托

尔斯泰《战争与和平》、卢梭《社会契约论》、法浓

《黑皮肤白面具》、海明威《老人与海》、杜威《民

主与教育》、詹姆斯·沃森《双螺旋》及其他 U3 (9 学分)

人文与科学（3 学分）

Environment Change And Sustainable Development (HMPU 3323)

Critical Thinking Skills (HMPU 3313)

Science, Technology, and Society (HMPU 3343)

日语（第一级） (HMPU 3353)

韩语（第一级）(HMPU 3363)

日语（第二级） (HMPU 3373)

韩语（第二级）(HMPU 3383)

多元社会文化（ 3 学

分）

Introduction to Southeast Asia (MMPU 3323)

Malaysia’s Multi-ethnic and cultural Society (MMPU 3333)

Cross Cultural Translation and Interpretation: Between Chinese, English and Malay (MMPU 3313)

觉智生命（3 学分）

Introduction to World Religions (CMPU 3343)

Happiness (CMPU 3313)

Introduction to Islam (CMPU 3333)

Introduction to Buddhism (CMPU 3323)

备注： ∗ 无法考获 SPM 马来西亚文优等的本地学生，必须选修 Bahasa Kebangsaan A

作为通识学分，有关学生只需从艺术与美学、名著导读和觉智生命中另选

修两门课。如已在专业文凭阶段选修 Bahasa Kebangsaan A 并获得及格者，

则不需选修此课。

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1. 通识选修课程目的为扩大学生之知识结构，同事加强学生之伦理、道德意

识、 人文素养和艺术审美能力，以及对国家文化结构的理解和增强生活价

值。 2. U2 和 U3 是选修课，每个学生必须选修 15 个学分的通识选修课程（即 U2

和 U3），而且这 15 个学分必须涵盖 5 个领域（即每个领域至少有一门课

被选修）。 3. 通识教育中心将不时增加选修课程，以符合学生及社会之需求。 4. 学生不被允许选修本系所开之通识课程。 5. 其他从他校毕业，直接进入第二年的学生，所豁免的学分需视情况而定。

6. 生命三十（2 学分）

学习生涯包括了聆听、阅读、服务以及其他。因此我们推介“生命三十”以加

强学生的生活品质。 a. 演讲 / 座谈会等：

为了让学生接触更多不同的学术观点和人生观，我们鼓励学生积极参与各

种研讨会、座谈会、讲习会等，以便让自己有更扩阔知识和视野。因此每

一位出席演讲 / 座谈会等的学生，在得到负责老师的确认后，将获得一个点

数。

b. 名著阅读： 为了培养独立学习，以发展学生的洞察力，思想、 思维能力和好学的习惯，

南方大学学院希望学生们多接触现代以及古典经典或名著。阅读经典或名

著将使学生更聪明、机智、幽默和具有智慧，同时也可以与作为作家、思

想家与艺术家的作者产生重要交流与对话，另一方面也可以其他的读者一

起分享心得。这样的方式除了可以训练我们的学生学习欣赏名著，同时经

典或著作的思想也可帮助学生协助与关心社会，也让学生通过自己的阅读，

增广个人的知识。

学生在阅读经典或名著后，须与相关的老师展开讨论或进行简单的测试，

就可获得三个点数。

经典或名著包括： A. 中文：史记、老子、西游记、庄子、聊斋志异、易经、封神榜、三国志、

唐诗三百首、孙子兵法、骆驼祥子、白鹿原、呐喊、围城、雷雨等。

B. 英文： Homer, The Decline of the West, Romeo and Juliet, Don Quixote, The Stranger, War and Peace, Das Kapital, The Interpretation of Dreams, Origin of Species, The Kite Runner, For Whom the Bell Tolls, A Farewell to Arms, The Old Man and The Sea and others.

C. 宗教典籍：金刚经、可兰经、圣经、圣训、六祖坛经等。

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c. 社会服务： “志愿者指的是那些愿意付出时间、体力和才能予其他人，但却不期望回

报的人。一个志愿者必须有开放的心态、汲取别人的智慧，也愿意想有经

验者学习以让个人内心得到成长。志愿者清楚知道时间与爱心的重要性。

在广泛的机会下，志愿者将自由的寻找到最适合自己的慈善组织。” 为了训练我们的学生愿意为他人服务并随时愿意献出服务，也真正了解服

务的意涵，我们鼓励学生们积极参与校外的社区服务活动；只有参与校外

的活动，学生才能真了解社会的不足，才能体会社会某些阶层的困苦，进

而领悟自己是多么的幸福！ 社会服务每次最少四小时，超过四小时以每小时计算，服务一小时获一点

数。例如：服务四小时获四点数；连续服务6小时获6点数，以此类推。 d. 交换与学习计划：

交换与学习计划的宗旨： A．加强学术联系和充实两国之间的文化交流。

B．鼓励学生积极参与国际活动和发展人际交往能力。

C．提升学生的国际观，和经验“国外”的教育与文化。

备注： 1. 从演讲/讲座、名著阅读、社会服务和交换与学习计划中累计 15 个点数，

将获得一个学分。 2. 所累计的点数必须包括演讲/讲座、名著阅读和社会服务领域。 3. 学生必须在毕业前完成生命三十的 2 个学分。 4. 从本校文凭班毕业，直接进入第二年的学生同样需完成生命三十的 2 个

学分，学生也需遵守备注 1 及备注 2 之条规。 点数计算例子 ： 类别 点数 8 场研讨会、座谈会、讲习会等 8 2 本名著 6 16 小时社会服务 16 总点数 30 所获学分 (30/15) 2 学分