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ADMISSION (2022-23 INTAKE)

 

Message from the Programme Director 

Prof. Wong Hung

Prof. Wong Hung

Programme Director
Master of Social Work Programme

The Master of Social Work (MSW) Programme is a one-year full time or two-year part time programme that aims to equip students with knowledge and skills in developing new creative ventures in social work or social service. The Programme provides a broad-based theoretical foundation on which students can learn from the emerging innovative practices in tackling local and global challenges and social issues.

The curriculum includes three required major courses, including “Social Innovation and Innovative Practice for Social Work”, “Social Theories, Social Welfare and Social Work” and “Programme Evaluation”. Students can develop the relevant skills and capabilities for assessing service needs based on critical inquiries, defining goals for social interventions and projects, formulating strategies and drawing up plans to reach those goals, and mobilizing social resources and enhancing interdisciplinary collaborations. Students are free to choose other five elective courses in any areas of interest.

This Programme is able to offer you a challenging and rewarding learning experience in innovative practice in social work. We look forward to meeting you and hope you can join our MSW Programme.

Prof. Wong Hung
Programme Director
Master of Social Work

 

Introduction

In the face of the growing complexity of social needs and social problems, and the increasing challenges met in daily social service provision, it is of paramount importance for social workers or related practitioners to acquire a critical perspective in assessing service needs, and advance their knowledge and skills in designing, implementing and evaluating innovative practices. The Master of Social Work (MSW) Programme aims to provide a comprehensive advanced course of social work training for students’ professional development and career advancement. It aims to prepare them to develop innovative practices in tackling local and global challenges and social issues, and critically evaluate how innovative practices can fulfil the objectives, mission and values of social work profession.

 

Programme Characteristics

1. An emphasis on the integration of critical inquires and innovative practices.
2. A holistic curriculum that addresses service needs and innovative practices at individual, family and community levels.
3. A flexible curriculum that gives students freedom to concentrate on a specific area of interest or take elective courses in different areas of interest.

 

Important Note:

Among our postgraduate programmes, only the Master of Social Science in Social Work Programme (MSSc) is particularly designed for applicants who would like to become a Registered Social Worker (RSW) in Hong Kong after graduation.

Students admitted to the Master of Social Work (MSW) Programme are not eligible to become a RSW upon graduation.

 

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Programme, students are expected to be able to:

1. understand advanced social work knowledge and skills, and apply them to social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities;
2. integrate macro and micro perspectives in their practice;
3. formulate culturally specific, holistic, proactive and innovative practice approaches or policy alternatives according to the needs of the target group and the context in which these needs arise; and
4. integrate social innovation into social work practice and social services.

 

Programme of Study

Study modes available:

Full-time: 1 year
Part-time: 2 years

The Programme consists of 3 required courses and 5 elective courses to be completed in either one (Full-time mode) or two academic years (Part-time mode) of study beginning in September. The required courses are usually taught in the evenings. The courses offered are as follows:

Required Courses
Required Courses Units
SOWK5111
Social Theories, Social Welfare and Social Work
3
SOWK5114
Social Innovation and Innovative Practice for Social Work
3
SOWK5810
Programme Evaluation
3
Elective Courses
Elective Courses* Units
SOWK5060
Fundamental Theories of Social Policy
3
SOWK5061
Social Policy and Social Welfare in China
3
SOWK5630
Mental Health and Mental Disorders
3
SOWK5913
Social Policy and Social Welfare in Hong Kong and East Asia
3
SOWK5950
Organizational Theories for Social Service Agencies
3
SOWK5960
Social Service Management Project I
3
SOWK5970
Macro Social Work Practice: Strategic Planning
3
SOWK5980
Human Resource Development in Social Services
3
SOWK5990
Social Enterprise
3
SOWK6061
Comparative Social Security Systems
3
SOWK6062
Seminar on Selected Topics: Special Topics (I)
3
SOWK6070
Social Policy Research II
3
SOWK6080
Applied Statistics for Social Work and Social Welfare
3
SOWK6210A
Seminar on Selected Topics: Special Topics (II) Advanced Approaches to Marriage and Family Therapy
3
SOWK6211
Seminar on Selected Topics: Structural Family Therapy
3
SOWK6510A
Seminar on Selected Topics: Special Topics (III) Child Welfare and Socail Work
3
SOWK6510C
Clinical Intervention for Gerontological Social Work
3
SOWK6510D
Seminar on Selected Topics: Special Topics (III) Clinical Social Work and Health Care
3
SOWK6902
Youth Culture and Youth Work
3
SOWK6909
Social Work with People with Disabilities
3
SOWK6923
Working with Children and Youth with Special Needs
3
SOWK6924
Use of Arts, Dance and Experiential Learning in Social Work Practice
3
SOWK6941
Master of Social Work Project
SOWK6950
Use of Information Technology in Social Services
SOWK6960
Social Service Management Project II
3
SOWK6970
Budgeting and Financial Planning in Social Service Organization

# Students are required to take five of these courses which are offered in accordance with resources available. Only those courses that meet the minimum enrollment quota will be offered.

 

Scholarships

The following scholarships are available to students of the MSW Programme:

1) Admission Scholarship: Master of Social Work Scholarship

2) Distinguished Academic Scholarship for Master of Social Work Students