Bachelor of Social Sciences (Hons) in Social Work

Programme Contents

This programme enables students to master the knowledge base of social work and incorporate relevant social science knowledge to develop a critical understanding of social phenomena and social work intervention. It equips students with the ability to analyse and practise social work, apply social development concepts, and exercise good judgement when serving in different organisational and service contexts. The programme places special emphasis on enhancing the personal and professional growth of students, helping them become competent and reflective professional social workers who possess the professional values and qualities that a social worker should have.

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Programme Features

Senior teaching team and rich social worker training experience

• The programme is designed and taught by several senior professors in the social sciences and service fields, including the Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences and the Head of the Department of Applied Social Sciences Professor Chui Yat Hung, Consultant of CTIHE Professor Chan Yuk Chung and the Program Leader of the Department of Applied Social Sciences Associate Professor CHUN Ping Kit. With rich experience in training thousands of social workers for over 22 years, the teaching, learning and quality of the programme are guaranteed.

A better articulation social work programme

• The current design of the articulation programme does not require students to repeat the generic practice knowledge learnt in their sub-degree programmes. Instead, new input on more advanced generic practice theories and models is provided.

Programmme and graduates with professional recognition

• The programme has been approved by the Social Workers Registration Board and graduates can apply to become registered social workers.

Employment advantages and decent income

• Graduates meet the basic entry requirements for government civil service positions such as Social Work Assistant (SWA) or Assistant Social Work Officer (ASWO), offering a clear career progression path.
• According to the 2022/23 graduate survey, the average annual salary of graduates of this programme is more than HKD$400,000.

Bilingual teaching is conducive to learning

• Chinese and English teaching is conducive to learning. Each specific module will be taught in the designated language (Chinese or English) to meet the needs of study and the industry while giving chances to further develop students’ competence in both languages.

Generalist social work training that values ​​down-to-earth practice and values

• The programme aims to train students to become practical and down-to-earth generalist social workers. They will learn to continue growing at the individual and professional levels while embracing the ideal of social work, affirming the value of people, tolerating differences, and exercising independent judgment with self-reflection ability and a sense of responsibility when providing services for people with different needs and promoting social development.

Fieldwork placement opportunities to enhance theoretical and practical integration

• The 900-hour internship (including 100 hours of preparatory workshops for fieldwork + 800 hours of fieldwork experience) allows each student to experience the integration of theory and practice in different fields, such as services for young people, people with disabilities, the elderly and families. This will help students to gain experience and deepen their learning.

2+2 Articulation Scheme

• Students who have completed the 2-year HKCT Higher Diploma in Social Work and fulfilled designated requirements will be eligible to receive an admission offer for this 2-year bachelor programme of senior-year entry (i.e. direct entry to the third year of this Programme).

Key Training Features

It aims to cultivate students holistically with the following emphases:

Personal and professional growth

• Personal and professional growth are our pivotal concerns. To enhance students’ personal and professional growth, four subjects with a total of 8 credits are devoted to this aim. Students will also strengthen their personal growth during co-curricular activities, such as reading the book Choosing Civility: The Twenty Rules of Considerate Conduct by P.M. Forni, and watching the movie "Scent of a Woman".

Passion and compassion

• Passion is the basic condition for achieving success, but social workers need to have compassion at the same time. This must be coupled with compassionate actions that help reduce or eliminate the suffering of the client and prevent professional workers from the pitfalls of becoming aloof and arrogant. The programme will provide chances for students to encounter and communicate with vulnerable groups in society, such as low-income families, dwellers of partitioned flats, blind persons, rehabilitated mental health patients, and marginal youth, so that students can understand and empathise with their situations and be compassionate when walking with them.

Innovation and creativity

• Social workers must also think outside the box and practise their profession creatively. With the strength of the college in social innovation education, this programme also trains students to be down-to-earth and accept changes so that they can solve social problems with innovative ideas. An assignment within the subject on personal growth is designed for students to move out of their comfort zones. Subjects like approaches in 'Globalisation and Social Development', 'Social Innovation', and 'Science, Technology and Society' will open up students to examples of innovative solutions against problems in the world and the state of the art under the development of science and technology. These help students develop innovative ideas and creativity.

Social development perspective

• The focus of social development is to accumulate social capital in social networks and relationships through the collaboration of different stakeholders, and to respond more effectively to social needs and complex social issues. Through multi-party cooperation, sustainable social development can be achieved. Two elective subjects of the programme fall under social development perspectives. To promote social justice, social development is an additional option besides social action.

Graduation Path

The Bachelor of Social Sciences (Hons) in Social Work is accredited by the Social Workers Registration Board. Graduates meet the basic entry requirements for government civil service positions such as Social Work Assistant (SWA) or Assistant Social Work Officer (ASWO), offering a clear career progression path. They can also work in Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) as school social workers, outreach social workers, medical social workers, etc.

After completing the programme, students will have the analytical skills, problem-solving skills, and the ability to collaborate or cooperate with others as expected of a university graduate. Thus, they are also capable of taking up other jobs that only require a general degree qualification, including government posts such as those in the disciplinary services (especially as an Assistant Officer II / Officer of the Correctional Services Department), or as an Administrative Officer / Executive Officer II. For non-civil servant posts, our graduates are also qualified for jobs such as programme officer, project manager and assistant to LegCo and District Council members.

Student Words

Cheung Ying

"The Bachelor of Social Sciences (Hons) in Social Work programme I studied at the HKCT Institute of Higher Education has been accredited by the Social Workers Registration Board. We can become registered social workers. The teachers are passionate about their teaching and social work practice. Besides the formal curriculum, they have organised different co-curricular activities for us (such as reading books, watching films, and conducting seminars on special topics in social work). These activities strengthen our knowledge of humanistic beliefs and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the nature of social work, so as to prepare us to become competent social workers in the future. The teaching quality is guaranteed because most of the teachers have rich teaching experience in universities. They also possess years of frontline working experience before teaching."

Lau Pak Hong

"As a student pursuing a Bachelor of Social Sciences (Hons) in Social Work at HKCT, I am impressed by the diverse learning experiences. The instructors here do not just bring rich teaching expertise but also valuable frontline experience to the classroom. Beyond theoretical knowledge, I have gained insights into the latest trends in social work, which have helped me understand how to equip myself better to become a "people-oriented" social worker."

LI Hing Ying

"Compared to exams, I have always preferred practical experience. Fortunately, the curriculum at HKCT provides us with numerous opportunities for practical engagement. For example, we had practical workshops during classes, visits to organisations for community work, and service needs assessments at non-profit organisations. These opportunities allowed us to apply our knowledge in real-life situations. Additionally, during the internship, I realised that there is a need for theoretical support behind every activity, which makes me deeply appreciate the importance of classroom learning and exams. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the internship organisations, supervisors, and different partners for their support and encouragement. Their assistance has helped us become social workers step by step."