(Full-time / Part-time)
Message from the Programme Director
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 4 required courses and 4 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:
# Students are required to take four 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