Master of Social Sciences in Counselling

Programme Director: Dr PAN, Jiayan

The Master of Social Sciences in Counselling, delivered in one-year full-time mode or two-year part-time mode, is a taught postgraduate programme deliberately designed for those working in education, social services, health services, religious services, personnel management, and others who are interested in counselling and working with people. The programme aims to develop students’ knowledge in understanding, analysing and researching the changing needs of people and the social cultural contexts within which these individuals develop; and to equip students with selected counselling theories and practice skills, with narrative therapy in particular. Upon completion of the programme, students are expected to be able to:

1. To become self-directed learners, recognising personal needs, selecting preferred alternatives for themselves;
2. To become reflexive professionals in counselling, who are able to assess changing social needs, challenge the dominant discourse that is oppressing and disempowering people, particularly the powerless people;
3. To have a solid conceptual framework in understanding human diversity and needs;
4. To analyse the social dynamics and policies which affect the counselling needs of people;
5. To acquire knowledge of the philosophical and theoretical underpinnings of selected counselling perspectives, and that of narrative therapy in particular;
6. To apply the selected counselling theories and practice skills in counselling with people in need and in different work settings; and
7. To be “research literate”—and be able to criticise, use and promote research relevant to advancing students’ counselling capacity and professional sensitivity.

The 30-unit programme is designed to be completed in one year by full-time study or two years by part-time study. Only under exceptional circumstances may students seek extension of the period of study. This programme consists of two specialisations, namely youth counselling and mental health counselling, and students are required to choose one specialisation only. Also, students are required to complete 80 counselling hours during practicum.

The structure of the curriculum is as follows:

Requirements