DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK
 

BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK (HONS)
 
Mission
To develop competent social work professionals who are able to practise in a wide range of service settings.
 
Goals
To enable students to become generalist social workers who are:
1. equipped with a person-in-environment perspective;
2. able to understand human diversity and at-risk targets and develop skills to address social needs; and
3. committed to:
ĦE the objectives, values and ethics of the social work profession;
ĦE multi-level approaches in problem-solving; and
ĦE the continuous development of professional self.
 
Features
1.

The 4-year full-time honours degree programme gives students a first qualification in social work. A generalist model is adopted to equip students with theories, knowledge and skills in social work.
2.

Students are offered 3 supervised fieldwork placements, which is a unique pattern of fieldwork practice in current social work training in the territory. As a pre-placement exposure, Year 2 students are required to undertake 100 hours of service in social service organizations.
3.

Courses on social work research methods, programme evaluation and quality management are offered to enable students to develop competence in research and programme evaluation.
4.

In the final year, students are required to complete an Honours Project to crystallise what they have learnt for the development of their professional niche.
 
Core Social Work Courses

Year 1
Principles of Sociology
Introduction to Philosophy of Social Welfare
& Social Work
Social Welfare System and Social Services
in Hong Kong

Year 2
Theories and Methods in Working
with Individuals
Advanced Case Work
Theories and Methods in Groups
Advanced Group Work
Human Development and
Social Environment I & II
Theories and Methods in Community Work
Working with Community Groups
Social Work Research I & II

Year 3
Social Policy and Planning
Working with Marginal Youth
Ethics for Social Workers
Working with Family and Children
Working with the Aged
Programme Evaluation and Quality Management
Integrative Practice Seminar I & II
Fieldwork I & II
Fieldwork III (Summer Block Placement)
Law and Social Work

Year 4
Residential Care for Young People with Adjustment Problems
Working with People with Intellectual Disabilities
School Social Work
Integrative Practice Seminar III & IV
Fieldwork IV & V
Social Work Management
Honours Project I & II
 
Career Prospects

Graduates of the BSW (Hons) Programme:
1.

are eligible to apply for registration as Registered Social Worker (RSW) with the Social Workers Registration Board;
2. 

can apply for social work posts in the Social Welfare Department of the HKSAR, non-government organizations and related social service organizations;
3. 

can apply for posts related to human services in government departments and profit and non-profit making organizations;

4.

 may be admitted to Master of Social Work programmes and related disciplines in local or overseas universities. Since 1981, Shue Yan University and the University of Alabama (USA) have jointly offered a MSW (Part 1) programme in Hong Kong. A student after completion of Part 1 in Hong Kong may transfer to Alabama and complete the MSW programme.
 
Website
http://www.hksyu.edu/sw