Social Work

This is an advanced, practice-based professional doctoral degree programme that aims to develop the advanced professional competence, reflective practice and applied research capacities of senior practitioners, human service managers, action researchers and social work educators in changing contexts. As we believe that practice wisdom should be rooted in specific political, economic, social and cultural contexts, and should evolve through persistent professional and personal commitments, this programme emphasises opportunities for students to engage in continual dialogue and critical reflections in practice. As social work is an international profession that is grounded in commitment to local communities, the understanding of both global trends and local issues is equally emphasised in the curriculum.

DSW graduates are expected to demonstrate a critical understanding of and the ability to integrate the following elements:

• ​Theory and Practice;
• International perspective and Local context;
• Personal values and Professional conduct; and
• Individual concerns and Societal consideration.

The characteristics of the DSW programme include:

1. ​Reflective practice with a concentration on professional social work practice in specific political, social and cultural contexts;
2. Exposure to social problems and social work practice in the Chinese societies and overseas countries;
3. Dialogue with scholars, researchers, teachers, administrators and practitioners from different service settings and cultural contexts; and
4. Opportunities to conduct high-level practice-based applied research.

Core Subjects (15 credits)

• ​Epistemology of Social Work Knowledge (3 credits)
• Controversies & Issues in Social Work Practice: Global & Local Dialogues (3 credits)
• Challenges & Opportunities in Educating & Developing Social Work Practitioners (3 credits)
• Philosophies & Paradigms in Social Work Research (2 credits)
• Quantitative Research Methods in Social Work Research (2 credits)
• Advanced Qualitative Research Methodology (2 credits)

Elective Subjects

Students have to take three subjects, including a guided study subject (3 credits) and two subjects at level 6 in one of the following three areas:

I. Direct Service Practice (Family Practice & Mental Health)

• ​Advanced Family-Centred Social Work: Theory, Practice & Research (3 credits)
• Recovery & Emotionality in Mental Health Practice (3 credits)

II. Policy & Administration Practice (Social Policy & Social Service Administration)

• ​Critical Social Policy in Comparative Contexts (3 credits)
• Innovations & Explorations in Social Service Administration (3 credits)
• Pathways to Social Development (3 credits)

III. Social Work Education

• ​Towards a Personal Stance in Teaching Social Work Practice (3 credits)
• Organisational Learning & Learning Organisations (3 credits)

Doctoral Thesis and Research Seminar (24 credits)

• ​DSW Thesis Seminar & Proposal Development (6 credits)
• DSW Thesis (18 credits)

Requirements

• ​MSW, MASW, MSocSc (Social Work) or a Master's degree in related disciplines.
• Copies of Transcripts and Graduation Certificates are required.
• For all applicants, five years of relevant work experience is normally required.
• Applicants with a Master's degree in related disciplines other than social work are required to take two additional Master-level subjects (for a total of 6 credits) related to social work theory and practice. Students are required to pay the additional credit fees.
• If you are not a native speaker of English, and your Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification is awarded by institutions where the medium of instruction is not English, you are expected to fulfil the University’s minimum English language requirement for admission purpose.