Master of Social Sciences in Counselling
(MSocSc in Counselling)

Programme Structure

Basic Structure

The Programme is delivered in 1-year full-time mode or 2-year part-time mode programme with courses normally offered on weekday evenings or Saturday morning/ afternoon. Students in this programme must complete a total of 30 units, that is, 4 core courses, 3 specialization courses and 1 elective course for Youth Counseling Specialization or Mental Health Specialization, or 4 elective course for Generic Counseling Specialization, and a 6-unit counselling practicum.

 

Core Counselling Courses 12 units
Counselling Specialization Courses 9 units
Practicum 6 units
Counselling Elective Courses 3 units
TOTAL 30 units

 

I Core Counselling Courses 12 units
  SOWK7420 Theories in Counselling & Therapy 3 units
  SOWK7450 Processes and Issues in Counselling 3 units
  SOWK7410 Human Diversity & Cultural Differences 3 units
 

SOWK7040 Research & Programme Evaluation

3 units

 

II Counselling Specialization Courses (choose one of three specializations) 9 units
  Youth Counselling Specialization (YC Specialization)  
  SOWK7170 Youth at the Margins: Theory & Practice 3 units
  SOWK7430 Narrative Approach to Counselling 3 units
 

SOWK7440 Narrative Practice with Specific Youth Groups

 

*Students in Youth Counseling Specialization have to choose either SOWK7120 or SOWK7110 to fulfill the requirement of HKPCA.

3 units
  OR  
  Mental Health Counselling Specialization (MHC Specialization)  
  SOWK7120Child & Adolescent Mental Health 3 units
  SOWK7510Cognitive-behavioral Therapy 3 units
  SOWK7790Mental Health Counselling with Older People 3 units
     
 

OR 

 

 Generic Counselling Specialization (GC Specialization)

 

Four elective courses*

 

 

 

 

 

12 units

* The Generic Counseling Concentration/Specialization was approved by HKBU Senate in May 2024 and HKPCA in August 2024, respectively.

**Students in this concentration/Specialization have to choose either SOWK7120 or SOWK7110 to fulfill the requirement of HKPCA.

***There is no concentration course in this concentration. Students in this concentration need take 4 core courses and 4 elective courses.

 

III Practicum 6 units

 

Students require to undergo a total of 80 hours of practicum training and participate in training activities related to the practicum.

 

IV Counselling Elective Courses (choose one of these courses for Mental Health Counseling or Youth Counseling Specialization or choose four of these courses for Generic Counseling Specialization* ) 3 or 12 units
  SOWK7470 Counselling Project 3 units
  SOWK7500 Family Therapy
3 units
  SOWK7430 Narrative Approach to Counselling
* for Mental Health Counselling Specialization only
3 units
  SOWK7510 Cognitive-behavioral Therapy
* for Youth Counselling and Generic Counseling Specialization only
3 units
 

SOWK7840 Data Methodology in Social Sciences Research

3 units
 

SOWK7890 Career Facilitation and Counseling

3 units
 

SOWK7110 Mental Health, Mental Disorder and Social Work

3 units
 

SOWK7120 Child & Adolescent Mental Health

* for Youth Counselling and Generic Counseling Specializations only

3 units

 

SOWK7440 Narrative Practice with Specific Youth Groups

* for Mental Health Counselling and Generic Counseling Specializations only

3 units
 

SOWK7170 Youth at the Margins: Theory & Practice

* for Mental Health Counselling and Generic Counseling Specializations only

3 units
 

SOWK7790 Mental Health Counselling with Older People

* for  Youth Counselling and Generic Counseling Specializations only

3 units
 

SOWK 7910 Cognitve Behavior Therapy Skills Workshop (Prerequisite: SOWK7510 Cognitive Behavior Therapy)

3 units

 

**Students in Generic Counseling concentration/Specialization have to choose either SOWK7120 or SOWK7110 to fulfill the requirement of HKPCA.