City University of Hong Kong

Information on a Gateway Education Course

offered by Department of Biology and Chemistry
with effect from Semester A in 2012 / 2013
.

Part I
Course Title:

Death: A Discovery Approach

Course Code:

GE1311

Course Duration:

One semester

Proposed Area: (Please insert 1 for the single primary area, and 2 for the secondary area if
applicable. Students will only earn credit units from the primary area.)

Arts and Humanities

Study of Societies, Social and Business Organisations

Science and Technology

No. of Credit Units:

Level:

A2, B1

Medium of Instruction: English

Medium of Assessment: English
Prerequisites: (Course Code and Title) None
Precursors: (Course Code and Title) None
Equivalent Courses: (Course Code and Title) generally none
Exclusive Courses: (Course Code and Title) None
Part II
1.

Abstract
There is one thing I am sure about: we are all going to die. But given the
certainty of death, it is sometimes surprising how much of a taboo it is in our
society. In his most famous book "On the shortness of life", Roman philosopher
Lucius Annaeus Seneca writes that one's life philosophy is dictated by his view
on death. This course aims to introduce students with the ways in which different
academic disciplines view and study death, mortality, aging and the afterlife. In
1

this course, students will approach Death from 4 perspectives: political,

scientific, cultural and legal. The overarching objective of this course is to
inspire, using death as an example, the students to examine and evaluate other
fundamental questions using the approaches introduced by this course. This
course is a useful way to start a young persons university life, as it illustrates
how academic methodologies can be used to provide the conceptual framework
for dealing with some of the most fundamental events in his/her life.

2.

Course Aims
This course aims to offer an interdisciplinary approach to view Death. Four
perspectives will be used in this course, with the following aims
(1) To view death from the perspective of global public health data. It is
surprising how much data on the global distribution of health are publicly
available and how powerful these data are in formulating our view about the
world. The country (and the continent) we are born in influences how we will die
and how long we will live. Students will learn how to explain this by considering
the various factors - genetic, political and economical in shaping this
phenomenon.
(2) To introduce the modern scientific research on the biology and chemistry of
death. Cellular events during the last few minutes of life, and near death
experience, and physiochemical changes during the decay of dead bodies will
be examined. Latest research on the roles of genetics and nutrition on longevity
will also be introduced.
(3) To approach death from a legal perspective. The legal definitions of death
and murder, especially how scientific research has informed these definitions,
will be introduced.
(4) To examine the cultural and social aspects of death. How does death drive the
social and cultural experience of life? How do different cultures reconcile the
reality of death with such concepts as reincarnation and the afterlife? What is the
cultural explanation of the recent obsession with violent death in the popular
culture, as exemplified by Hollywood franchises such as The Final Destination
and Saw?
Teaching and learning activities will include web-based investigations, writing
exercises, classroom presentations and interviewing of invited guests.
The aims of this course are designed to fit the context of the Intended Graduate
Outcomes of CityU, as delineated by the General Education Programme
Intended Learning Outcome(s) PILO(s). See below for details.
The overarching objective of this course is to inspire, using death as an example,
the students to examine and evaluate other complex, emotional and fundamental
questions, such as happiness, love and equality, using the academic approaches
introduced in this course.

3.

Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs)

Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:
No.
1.
2.

3.

4.

4.

CILOs
Describe important characteristics of the image of Death in
different cultures, and their impact on global issues.
Describe the basic methodologies and techniques of inquiry
of science of Death. Analyze how the scientific
understanding of death leads to the establishment and
modification of the legal positions on death-related issues
such as definition of death and euthanasia
Compare and contrast the global data concerning the
geography of Death. Relate the relationship between public
health and social justice and causes of death in different
countries
Analyzeethical and moral issues about Death

Weighting (if applicable)

Teaching and Learning Activities (TLAs)

(designed to facilitate students achievement of the CILOs - Some TLAs may address more than one CILO.)

TLA
Presentation: Storytelling and internet journalism
Writing exercise: Storytelling and internet
journalism
Presentation and debate: The most interesting
religious view on Death
Classroom discussion: Death in movies
Interview of an invited guest
Writing exercise: Interview of an invited guest
Data collection: Major causes of death in Hong Kong

5.

CILO No.
1
1

Hours/week (if applicable)

2
1

2
4
4
2, 3

3
3
1
2

Assessment Tasks/Activities
(designed to assess how well the students achieve the CILOs Some assessment tasks/activities may address
more than one CILO.)

Type of Assessment Tasks/Activities

CILO No.

Weighting
(if applicable)

Participation
Individual presentations
Writing exercise
Final exam

1-4
1-4%
1-4
1-4

10%
35
30
25%

Remarks

6.

Grading of Student Achievement: Refer to Grading of Courses in the Academic Regulations

Letter Grade
A+
A
A-

Grade Definitions
Excellent:

B+
B
B-

Good:

Evidence of grasp of subject; some evidence of critical capacity and

analytical ability shown in the TLAs; reasonable understanding of
how to interpret and analyse the CILOs; good participation in and
contribution to class discussions.

C+
C
C-

Adequate:

Student has some understanding of the subject, and shows some

analytical capability; evidence of interest in the material as assessed
by the TLAs, such as participation in class discussions.

Marginal:

Sufficient familiarity with the subject matter to enable the student to

progress without repeating the course; only perfunctory participation,
interest or original thought shown for the TLAs; little original
thought, interpretation or analysis.

Failure:

Little evidence of familiarity with the subject matter; weakness in

critical and analytic skills; little or no participation, interest or
original thought shown for the TLAs.

Strong evidence of original thinking in the interpretation, analysis,

and discussion undertaken as part of the TLAs and on the final exam;
superior grasp of all 4 CILOs; evidence of critical thinking, and
willingness to acquire broad and integrated knowledge.

Part III
Keyword Syllabus:
Keyword Syllabus:
Please provide information about the tentative weekly schedule under Part B of the
Annex to this Form.
Death, Life, Aging, Global Public Health, Religions, Laws
Recommended Reading:
Text(s) and Online Resources:
This course contains a wide spectrum of topics. No single book can sufficiently
covers all the topics. A course pack, specifically compiled and edited for this course,
will be available. This course pack will contain selected chapters on books,
newspaper/magazine cuttings, journal articles, including the following:.. (Note:
funding is being sought to support a teaching assistant to prepare this.)
www.gapminder.org
www.google.com/publicdata/home
David E Nelson, Bradford W Hesse, Robert T Croyle. Making Data Talk:
Communicating Public Health Data to the Public, Policy Makers, and the Press.
Publisher: Oxford University Press 2009
Christopher Jay Johnson. How Different Religions View Death & Afterlife. Publisher:
Charles Press Publishers; 2nd edition (May 1, 1998)

Sherwin Nuland. How We Die: Reflections of Life's Final Chapter. Vintage; 1 edition
(January 15, 1995)
Nick Lane. Power, Sex, Suicide: Mitochondria and the Meaning of Life. Oxford
University Press, USA; 1 edition (December 1, 2005)
Nick Lane. Origins of death. Nature 453: 583-585 (2008)
Tom Kirkwood. Understanding the odd science of aging. Cell 120: 437-447 (2005)
Francis, Robert. An Ethical Debate: A Legal Comment. BMJ. 18 03 1995. 8 Mar 2008
Appel, JM. Defining Death: When Physicians and Families Differ Journal of
Medical Ethics Fall 2005