Lingnan University Outlines History of Sociology Department

Lingnan University's Department of Sociology and Social Policy (SOCSP) traces its origins to 1888, with the founding of its predecessor, Christian College in China, in Guangzhou. The institution was renamed Lingnan College in 1912 and formally registered as Lingnan University in 1926.

The Department of Sociology was previously recognized for its comprehensive surveys of country life in Southern China. Key figures included Chen Xujing, who later became president of Lingnan and contributed to discussions on Chinese culture and modernization, and C.K. Yang, who modernized the curriculum and researched the impact of land reforms on family structures.

The university and its sociology department ceased operations in mainland China in 1952. Lingnan College was re-established in Hong Kong in 1967 through the efforts of alumni. The institution was officially recognized as a tertiary institution in 1978.

During the early 1980s, sociology courses were offered as part of the Faculty of Social Sciences, initially affiliated with the Faculty of Arts. In 1985, an independent Faculty of Social Sciences was formed. Emphasis was placed from the outset on both disciplinary knowledge and an interdisciplinary approach.

The institution received United Kingdom academic accreditation in 1991 and began awarding bachelor's degrees in 1992. In 1995, Lingnan University moved to its new campus in Tuen Mun and initiated postgraduate research programs, with the objective of becoming Hong Kong's sole liberal arts university.