Master of Social Sciences (Career Counselling)

Programme Objectives

To address the growing demand for professional career counselling services, HKCT offers a part-time Master of Social Sciences in Career Counselling programme. This programme provides systematic and practice-oriented master's level training for individuals aspiring to work in this field. The curriculum will equip students with a critical and in-depth understanding of mainstream career development theories, and teach them how to apply these theoretical frameworks to scientifically analyse individuals' career development needs and challenges across different life stages. This will enable them to provide professional career counselling services to support clients in their career decision-making.

On a practical level, the part-time Master of Social Sciences in Career Counselling programme is dedicated to cultivating students' professional practice capabilities. Students will undergo rigorous training, learning and applying various standardised career assessment tools, including different types of vocational aptitude tests, to objectively assist clients in exploring their personal traits and career directions. Furthermore, the programme provides comprehensive job search counselling training, covering skills such as CV analysis, interview guidance, and group counselling, ensuring that graduates can offer comprehensive career planning and counselling services to individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Programme Features

A unique focus on social science theories and practice knowledge

(a) Critical understanding of mainstream social science theories
(b) A focus on practice and practice knowledge
(c) Situated learning tied to the context 
(d) Holistic understanding of professional practice

Flexible learning path with multiple exit points

• A flexible learning path to accommodate students of diverse backgrounds and circumstances. Students can choose to complete the Programme in 2 years on a part-time basis or 1 year on a full-time basis , and apply to graduate with a Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate according to their individual learning needs.
• Graduation Requirements: Postgraduate Certificate (4 common core modules), Postgraduate Diploma (4 common core modules + 3 electives), Master (4 common core modules + 4 core modules in career counselling stream +2 electives).

English supplemented with Chinese as the Medium of Instruction 

• English supplemented with Chinese is used as the medium of instruction that facilitates the best teaching and learning outcomes.

Internship opportunities

• Provide 80 hours of career counselling internship to allow students to combine theory and practice to improve their professional capabilities effectively.

Special offer of multiple scholarships

• To encourage those interested in participating in social service, HKCT offers scholarships to newly enrolled students. A specific "CTIHE Scholarship" is established for eligible students.

Learning outcome evaluation

• The main assessment methods are group discussion, report writing, and special articles without examination.

Main Modules

• Ethical & Legal Issues for Helping Professions^#
• Human Behaviour and Social Environment^#
• Research for Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning in Human Service^#
• Social Science Perspectives on Practice^#
• Theories and Practice of Counselling
• Assessment in Career Counselling
• Career Counselling and Practice Skills
• Career Counselling Practicum⁺

Electives

• Social Welfare Policy in Hong Kong
• Social Welfare Management
• Innovation and E-practices in Human Service
• Cognitive-behavioural Interventions
• Schön and the Reflective Practitioner
• Community of Practice
• Group Counselling
• Career Programme Development
  

^#Common core modules for Master of Social Sciences.

• Complete 4 common core modules to award a Postgraduate Certificate in Social Sciences.
• Complete 4 common core modules and any 3 additional electives to award a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Sciences.
• Complete 4 common core modules, 4 Career Counselling Stream modules and 2 additional electives to award a Master of Social Sciences.

⁺For those students in the Career Counselling Stream who will not take the module “Career Counselling Practicum", they should take alternative module as a core module.

Graduation Path

Graduates can pursue further doctoral studies in related fields, including the Doctoral Degree in Education (EdD) programmes offered by local universities.

Career Path

Graduates can apply their expertise in various career fields, including:

• Certified Counsellor: Graduates can apply to the Hong Kong Professional Counselling Association (HKPCA) to register as a Certified Counsellor, formally becoming a professional counselling practitioner.
• Education Sector Professionals: This programme is specifically designed to assist teachers in tertiary institutions, secondary schools, and primary schools. Graduates, having acquired professional knowledge, will be able to provide career counselling to their students.
• Social Services Sector: After completing the career counselling programme, social workers within their respective organisations can promote youth development or employee retraining initiatives.

Tel: 2265 6993
Email: mss@ctihe.edu.hk

Tuition fees and subsidies are to be reviewed and adjusted annually on various factors.