Master of Social Work (MSW)

MSW 1 To be eligible for admission to the courses leading to the degree of Master of Social Work a candidate

MSW 3 To be eligible for the award of the degree of Master of Social Work a candidate

(a)

The curriculum shall extend over

(i)	two academic years of full-time study; or
(ii)	three academic years of part-time study which shall include a continuous block period of not less than three months of full-time attendance.

(b)

A candidate who satisfies Regulation MSW 1 above and who has taken Social Policy and Administration, Sociology, or Psychology as his major area during his undergraduate study may be exempted from the relevant components of the curriculum and be permitted to complete the curriculum in not less than one academic year of full-time study or two academic years of part-time study.

(c)

A candidate with a postgraduate qualification in social work from another university or comparable institution of equivalent standard to this University may, on production of appropriate certification of having satisfactorily completed any of the core courses as specified in MSW 5(d), be exempted from those courses in the curriculum and permitted to enter the MSW programme at the appropriate point, subject to the approval of the Head of the Department. A candidate who has been granted such exemption may be permitted to complete the curriculum in not less than one academic year of full-time study or two academic years of part-time study.

(a)

shall follow courses of instruction and complete satisfactorily all written work and field practice as prescribed in the syllabuses;

(b)

in the case of full-time studies, shall satisfy the examiners in the following five written papers at the end of the first academic year:

Social policy and administration
Social science theories for social work
Social work research
Theory and practice of social work
Human behaviour and the social environment

(c)

in the case of part-time studies, shall satisfy the examiners in the following five written papers:

(i)	at the end of the first academic year of study, three papers set to examine the following courses of the curriculum: Social science theories for social work Human behaviour and the social environment Theory and practice of social work
(ii)	within the second academic year of study, two papers set to examine the following courses of the curriculum: Social work research Social policy and administration

(d)

in case of candidates granted exemptions under the provision of MSW 4(c), shall satisfy the examiners in the five core courses:

Social policy and administration
Social science theories for social work
Social work research
Human behaviour and the social environment
Theory and practice of social work

through written papers on those courses only which are not covered by such exemption;

(e)

shall complete and present a dissertation in accordance with Regulation MSW 6;

(f)

for each of the modules selected in accordance with the syllabuses during the final academic year of study, shall either present a satisfactory 15463 portfolio of written papers or satisfy the examiners in a written examination; and

(g)

shall satisfy the examiners in field practice.

MSW 6 A candidate shall be required to present a dissertation on an approved topic related to his field practice which shall be either an account of empirical research or a critical exposition of existing knowledge. The title of the dissertation shall be submitted for approval in the first semester of the final academic year of study and the dissertation shall be presented not later than August 31 of the final academic year of study. The candidate shall submit a statement that the dissertation represents his own work undertaken after registration as a candidate for the degree.

MSW 7 In determining the result of the written examination the examiners shall take into account continuous assessment of the candidate's performance in completing the courses of the curriculum. The examiners may at their discretion prescribe an oral examination for any candidate.

MSW 8 In the examination held in the first academic year of study a full-time or a part-time candidate

(a)

who has failed to satisfy the examiners in one written paper but who has completed satisfactorily the prescribed written work and field practice for the first year of the curriculum may be permitted to present himself for re-examination in that paper in a supplementary examination held in the following August/September, and if he fails to satisfy the examiners again, may be permitted to repeat the first year of the curriculum;

(b)

who has

either	failed to satisfy the examiners in more than one written paper,
or	failed to satisfy the examiners in one written paper and has not satisfactorily completed the prescribed field practice for the first year of the curriculum

shall be deemed to have failed and shall be required either to repeat the first year or to discontinue his studies;

(a)

a full-time candidate

(i)	who has failed to present a satisfactory dissertation but who has otherwise completed the requirements of the curriculum may be permitted to submit a new or revised dissertation within a period of four months after the publications of the results of the dissertation;
(ii)	who has failed to satisfy the examiners in no more than two modules he has selected but who has otherwise completed the requirements of the curriculum may be permitted to present himself for re-examination in the failed module(s) in accordance with Regulation MSW 5(f) within a specified period;
(iii)	who has failed to present a satisfactory dissertation and failed to satisfy the examiners in any one of the modules he has selected but who has otherwise completed the requirements of the curriculum may be permitted to submit a new dissertation in accordance with Regulation MSW 6 and to present himself for re-examination in the failed module in accordance with Regulation MSW 5(f) within a specified period;
(iv)	who has failed to present a satisfactory dissertation and failed to satisfy the examiners in more than one module he has selected but who has otherwise completed the requirements of the curriculum may be permitted to repeat the second year of the curriculum, and to submit a new dissertation in accordance with Regulation MSW 6, and to present himself for re-examination in all the modules in accordance with Regulation MSW 5(f);

(b)

a part-time candidate

(i)

who has failed to satisfy the examiners in one written paper but who has completed satisfactorily the prescribed written work and field practice for the second year of the curriculum may be permitted to present himself for re-examination in the following August/September in that paper, and if he fails to satisfy the examiners again, may be permitted to repeat the second year of the curriculum;

(ii)

who has

either	failed to satisfy the examiners in two or more written papers,
or	failed to satisfy the examiners in one written paper and has not satisfactorily completed the prescribed field practice for the second year of the curriculum

shall be required either to repeat the second year of the curriculum or to discontinue his studies.

MSW 10 A candidate who has not satisfactorily completed the prescribed field practice in either the first year of the full-time curriculum or the first or second year of the part-time curriculum but has satisfied the examiners in all the written papers may be permitted to undertake a supplementary period of field practice to be specified by the Head of the Department. A candidate who is not permitted to undertake a supplementary period of field practice or fails to satisfy the examiners at this second attempt shall be required to discontinue his studies.

MSW 11 In the examination held in the third academic year of part-time study, a candidate

(a)	who has failed to present a satisfactory dissertation but who has otherwise completed the requirements of the curriculum may be permitted to submit a new or revised dissertation within a period of four months after the publication of the results of the dissertation;
(b)	who has failed to satisfy the examiners in no more than two modules he has selected but who has otherwise completed the requirements of the curriculum may be permitted to present himself for re-examination in the failed module(s) in accordance with Regulation MSW 5(f) within a specified period;
(c)	who has failed to present a satisfactory dissertation and failed to satisfy the examiners in any one of the modules he has selected but who has otherwise completed the requirements of the curriculum may be permitted to submit a new dissertation in accordance with Regulation MSW 6 and to present himself for re-examination in the failed module in accordance with Regulation MSW 5(f) within a specified period;
(d)	who has failed to present a satisfactory dissertation and failed to satisfy the examiners in more than one module he has selected but who has otherwise completed the requirements of the curriculum may be permitted to repeat the third year of the curriculum, and to submit a new dissertation in accordance with Regulation MSW 6, and to present himself for re-examination in all the modules in accordance with Regulation MSW 5(f).

MSW 12 A candidate who has not satisfactorily completed the prescribed field practice at the end of the final academic year of the curriculum may be permitted to undertake a supplementary period of field practice to be specified by the Head of the Department. A candidate who is not permitted to undertake a supplementary period of field practice or fails to satisfy the examiners at this second attempt shall be required to discontinue his studies.

(a)

who

either	(i)	has failed to satisfy the examiners in a manner not covered in any of the Regulations MSW 8 to MSW 12,
or	(ii)	is not permitted to present himself for re-examination in any paper or papers in which he has failed to satisfy the examiners or to submit a new or revised dissertation or to present himself for re-examination in any module or modules in which he has failed to satisfy the examiners

shall be deemed to have failed and shall be recommended for discontinuation of studies under the provisions of General Regulation G 12;

(b)

who has failed to satisfy the examiners in a second attempt after being permitted to present himself for re-examination or to submit a new or revised dissertation or portfolio of written papers in accordance with Regulation MSW 9(a) or MSW 11 may be required to discontinue his studies.

MSW 14 A candidate who is unable because of illness to be present for any of the written papers in the examination held

may apply for permission to present himself at a supplementary examination to be held before the beginning of the following academic year. Any such application shall be made on the form prescribed within two weeks of the first day of the candidate's absence from any examination. A candidate who fails to satisfy the examiners in any paper in such a supplementary examination shall be considered under the provisions made in Regulation MSW 8 or MSW 9(b), as the case may be, for failure at the first attempt at the examination, except that a further supplementary examination shall not be permitted.

MSW 15 At the conclusion of the examinations and after presentation of the dissertation, and submission of portfolios of written papers, and completion of the prescribed field practice, a pass list shall be published in alphabetical order. A candidate who has shown exceptional merit at the whole examination may be awarded a mark of distinction, and this mark shall be recorded in the candidate's degree diploma.

The degree is designed to provide a professional training in the theory and practice of social work for those who intend to make this their career or who are already in the profession. It consists of a combination of academic studies and of related practical experience in the field under guidance, undertaken in terms and the short vacations, and during a substantial part of the long vacations between academic years.

The full-time curriculum extends over two academic years.
The following first-year courses are the basic and foundation courses which provide the core of the degree for the potential professional social worker:

15411.    Social policy and administration
15415.    Field practice
15419.    Social work research
15422.    Human behaviour and the social environment
15446.    Theory and practice of social work
15449.    Social science theories for social work

It is hoped that by the end of the first academic year of study students will have reached the stage of learning when they will have begun to develop competence in the practice of social work under supervision.
The second-year courses are designed to offer some choices that will permit a modest degree of concentration on an area of study and practice selected on grounds of personal experience and aptitude. The courses will be in modules designed to have various linkages, although not all modules will necessarily be offered each year. Students will be required to select a minimum of four modules from a minimum of two areas. The modules are:

13714.    Personnel policies and practices
13717.    Public policy analysis
15234.    Health administration
15309.    Social services agency administration
15315.    Comparative social administration
15469.    Social welfare in China
15470.    Computer utilization in social work practice
15472.    Advanced studies in research analysis
15473.    Information systems in agency administration
15478.    Management in professional social work
15479.    Family policy
15480.    Social policy issues in Hong Kong
15483.    Social service programme evaluation
15486.    Special topics in social work
15497.    Practice research in social work
83908.    Housing policy and management

15237.    Case management
15429.    Issues in community work
15430.    Organizing skills in community work
15431.    Theories of social groupwork
15432.    Group treatment
15433.    Clinical social work
15434.    Family social work
15435.    Staff development and supervision
15436.    Social work in residential and day care settings
15437.    Social work with the mentally ill
15466.    Decisions in child care
15471.    Social skills training in social work
15474.    Social work in marital situation
15477.    Legal issues and legislative processes
15481.    Social work with children and families
15482.    Evaluative research for clinical practice
15486.    Special topics in social work
15493.    Social work in health, illness and disability
15494.    Social work intervention in health settings
15495.    Working with youth at risk and juvenile offenders

15336.     Religion and clinical practice
15438.    Culture and behaviour
15440.    Aspects of handicap and rehabilitation
15441.    Psycho-social pathology
15442.    Human sexuality
15467.    Play and behaviour
15475.    Ageing and health
15486.    Special topics in social work
15496.    Young people in the juvenile justice system

The Department will announce at the end of the second semester of study to first-year students what modules will be offered in the second academic year of the course. Students may not select more than three modules for study in any one semester of the second academic year.

The part-time curriculum extends over three academic years and includes a period of sixteen weeks' full -time attendance at the University during the third year of the degree course. The curriculum provides a theoretical and practical knowledge to those who are already working as a social worker. Students are required to attend courses 1-1/2 days per week throughout the calendar year with the exception of the month of August in each year of study.

The first- and second-year courses are the basic and foundation courses and consist of:

Candidates are required during these two years to undertake appropriate and monitored work experience in their own agencies during a summer placement of ten weeks under supervision. Arrangements will also be made with students' agencies to provide them with on-the-job learning opportunities and students are required to submit some of their work records for assessment by Field Instructors of the course. Particular assignments are selected from students' work to maximize their learning opportunity.

As in the case of the full-time course, the third-year courses are designed to offer some choices and will permit a modest degree of concentration on an area of study and practice selected on grounds of personal experience and aptitude. The courses will be in modules designed to have various linkages although not all modules will necessarily be offered each year. Students will be required to follow one semester of full-time studies during which time they will do their final placement.

The written examination for each subject listed in the Degree Regulations is a three-hour paper. In the case of full-time studies, five written papers will be taken at the end of the first academic year. For part -time students, an examination of five written papers will be held during the first two academic years of study.

Modules chosen by the full-time students during the second academic year of their studies will be assessed from coursework presentations (e.g. essays, term papers, seminar papers) to be graded by the course teachers. For most modules students will then select and assemble a portfolio of these papers for submission to examiners at the end of the second academic year but some modules will be examined by means of a written examination instead. Part-time students will be assessed in a similar manner to the full-time students during the third academic year.

The definition, scope and content of social policy. The formation and development of social policy. The evolution of aims and principles in relation to the growth of social welfare, and the role of government in the field of social welfare. Concepts of need and social welfare. The assessment of the effects of the social services and social policies on individual and social need. The contributions made by political, professional and charitable bodies to the development of collective action to promote social welfare.

Field practice shall comprise three placements through the two years to provide students with opportunities to apply their practice skills within the community. During the placements students will carry out prescribed work in selected social agencies and institutions, and on social projects under guidance.

The need for, and practical application of, research in the social welfare field. Financing research projects in this area. Measurement and explanation in social work research; problem definition and the formation of hypotheses; techniques of data collection; observation, interviews, use of service records and documentary materials; data analysis and report presentation. Evaluation of social work methods and social welfare programmes. The critical evaluation of selected research studies in the field of social work, social policy and social administration.

Normal patterns of growth and psycho-social development. Socio-cultural influences in human behaviour, healthy personality and adjustment. Life stresses and coping failures. Introduction to concepts of health and disease, and concepts of mental health. Perspectives on abnormal behaviour. Implications for social workers.

Social work values and assumptions, and the basic processes of social work. Current trends and perspectives in theory and practice, and methods of social work. An examination of selected models and approaches of each method, and a critical study of social work intervention theories and their application in Hong Kong.

An examination of selected behavioural and social science theories relevant to the practice of social work. The emphasis will be on concepts of change, social and individual; social control, formal and informal; personality theories and the socialization process; and an examination of theories of social organization.

This course examines public personnel policies and practices in the context of organization theory. Specific topics for consideration include: recruitment, selection, training, wage determination, performance appraisal and position classification with particular emphasis on the Hong Kong civil service.

This course has two foci. The first is on policy design, and in particular, on the relevance and application of institutional analysis to the design of policy options. A basic presumption is that public policy analysis is largely a matter of problem-solving, therefore, the design of problem-solving mechanisms and procedures affects the extent to which the problems are coped with. Another focus of the course is on various processes of policy analysis such as cost-benefit analysis and policy implementation.

The theme of this course will be the importance of taking into account the cultural, economic, social and physical environments when examining matters to do with the provision of health care. The aim will be to introduce students to the issues of planning and priorities, financing and resource allocation, management principles, arguments concerning quality versus quantity, community health and public education as they relate to health administration.

Case management is a major practice strategy to promote effective service delivery to diverse target populations. It is based on the notion that human services practitioners often work with people who have multiple needs. The major outcomes of case management are better integration of services provided by a cluster of organizations and continuity of care. This course covers the role of case management in the human services; the method and functions of case management in both direct and indirect service; and the monitoring and evaluation functions of case management practice.

The aim of the course is to enable students to understand the nature and characteristics of human service organizations in terms of their environment, goals, technology and structure. The dynamics of performance appraisal, control, professional discretion, inducing changes, budgeting, teamwork and leadership are included.

The course is designed to introduce the comparative study of social policy in selected countries in the world, and to examine the provision of social development programmes and social services for analysis and evaluation in cross-country case studies.

This course aims to examine the basic foundations of clinical practice in the form of exploring the impact of religious faiths and beliefs of various kinds on human behaviour. It examines the question of how belief systems grow and develop, and the role they play in the understanding and the healing of the disturbed behaviours. And in the arena of clinical practice when helper and client meet, the issue of how human interaction is seen to be influenced by different understandings of the world will be studied, with reference to the rationale for professional intervention into individual lives.

This course explores areas of intervention where community work methods have been purposefully applied. It includes: community health, community education, labour organizing, civic participation, planning in new towns, urban renewal, community politics, grassroots organizations, protest actions.

This course introduces practical concepts and skills in intervention at the community level. It includes: volunteer training, public relations, working with the press, negotiation, entering a community, community survey, public speaking, working with committees, cultivating leadership.

This course will critically examine selected intervention or practice theories formulated for social group work, their relevance and application in Hong Kong, and consequences for prevention, rehabilitation, and social development.

This course will examine the use of the small group as a treatment modality in settings where social workers are called upon to provide professional service to client populations manifesting various behavioural or relationship difficulties. Selected treatment approaches and their relevance will be examined in the context of the students' current field-work practice.

This course is concerned with direct service to individuals and their families. It critically examines a selected number of social work interventive theories, relevant and practicable to the Hong Kong situation. The theoretical principles and interventive procedures of these social treatments will be related to practice situations, and evaluated through case material analysis from the student's current field experience.

This course helps the student to evolve a frame of reference for work within family situations. Various schools of thought for working in areas of parent-child, marital, and intergenerational exchanges are critically examined for their applicability to the Hong Kong setting. The focus is on family structure and transactional processes. The course provides a working approach to the family's communicative, affective, relationship and role systems. Issues arising out of the course of the family life cycle as well as from family crises will be considered.

Basic concepts and principles of staff development, with special emphasis upon the teaching of adults. Attention will be given to assessment of staff members' learning needs and opportunities, and to the planning, implementing and evaluating of staff development programmes.

This course will examine the purpose and range of residential care, looking at principles of practice that apply in all settings but with a special emphasis on provisions for children and adolescents. The possible adverse effects of institutionalization and the alternatives to institutional care will be discussed. The focus of the course will be the role of the social worker in residential care settings, both as a member of the staff team and as a specialist offering casework and group-work services. Selected treatment approaches and management styles will be examined.

The course would cover the different theoretical orientations towards mental illness and its definition(s); the relationships between mental illness and environmental conditions; models of service provision with particular reference to Hong Kong; the concept of professional 'teamwork' with particular relation to the mentally ill; the professional role and necessary skills for the social worker working with mentally ill people and their families.

This course is designed to provide students with a deeper understanding of the influence of culture on human behaviour and personality. Special attention will be given to the study of the cultural background of the Chinese personality; culture and child-training; issues of intercultural communication and implication to social work practice. Field visits and participant observations may be arranged during the vacation to enrich the students' culture-learning experience.

This course will consider selected aspects of handicap and rehabilitation and will cover such areas as: the nature of handicap; the experience of handicap; the handicapped person within the family; community attitudes and the problem of stigma; specific problems of handicapped people at different stages in the life cycle. The process of rehabilitation, its physical, social, psychological, educational and vocational aspects; habilitation versus rehabilitation; the holistic approach and the role of the social worker.

Concepts of normality and abnormality. Classification and assessment. Clinical syndromes, neuroses, psychoses, personality disorders, psychophysiologic disorders, organic brain syndromes, and mental retardation. Social problems: sociopathy, sexual deviations, and drug abuses. Behavioural disorders of childhood and adolescence. Community mental health.

Cultural and personal attitudes towards sex will be examined, along with the role sex plays in human relationships. Topics covered will include sex in human loving, the physiology of sexual reactions; contraception; sexual dysfunction (impotence, frigidity etc.) and their treatment; attitude de-sensitization; homosexuality; sex and violence; sexual aberrations. The aim of this course is to assist intending social workers to be sensitive to sexual issues important to their clients, and to be able to discuss them without embarrassment and with a degree of expertise.

Social workers are often called upon to make decisions related to child welfare, typically in child custody and removal into care. The course aims to provide a clear understanding of why and how such decisions are made, within the legal framework of Hong Kong. The areas to be covered are: assumptions about the family unit and child welfare, the existing range of family support measures and residential child care facilities, child care policies in Hong Kong and other countries, and the process of decision-making.

This course examines the various theoretical approaches to play as an interventive tool, and their implications for practice in local settings.

The course explores the philosophies, organization, techniques and development of social welfare provision in China. The work of the service organizations such as Civil Affairs Bureau, Street Offices, Unions, Federation of Women, and Communist Youth League will be studied. Issues of social security, youth policy, status of women, child care, the care of elderly people, the physically and mentally handicapped and professional training will be discussed.

This course is designed to introduce students to the utilization of computers in social work practice and agency settings. The major areas of content are (a) a review of the trends in the social work agencies' use of computerized information; (b) an exploration of software which is mostly used in social work practice; (c) the ethics of computer use in social work.

This course will examine the theoretical foundation of the social skills training method and its possible applications in different areas of social work practice (including personal social work, group and community work). This course will be conducted in a practicum format with lectures, demonstrations, class exercises and assignments.

The course focuses on the applications of multivariate analysis in social work research including multiple regression, logistic regression, path analysis, factor analysis, discriminant analysis, cluster analysis, etc.

The course will introduce basic concepts of system analysis and system design. It will also familiarize students with the various computer packages that are either currently used or may be useful in facilitating administration in social welfare agencies. The students may participate in small projects in developing systems for agencies.

This course will examine the various issues brought up by couples as they work towards conciliation or reconciliation in their marriage. The psychodynamic, social learning and system approaches will provide the basic foundation concepts. These will be examined for their assessment and intervention focus and strategies, and for their contribution in work with marriage difficulties whether they arise from personal vulnerabilities, reciprocal and intergenerational concerns and clashes, communication impasses or intimacy issues.

This course will help social work students develop aging-related clinical practice. Students will gain the requisite foundation in gerontology as well as clinical experience in a wide range of programmes for the aged in Hong Kong. This course will emphasize interdisciplinary geriatric social work. The aim of the course is to improve the health and social services available to elderly people in Hong Kong by increasing the number of well qualified professionals in geriatrics. Major features of the course are: foundation knowledge in gerontology and geriatrics; and clinical rotations in local recognized programmes for geriatrics.

This course critically examines the legal system in Hong Kong and some of the legislation that applies particularly to social work practice. The social worker's role and advocacy on behalf of clients rights, legislative changes and their implications will also be addressed.

This course will examine the management skills employed by social workers in the administration of social work services. Topics may include skills employed in the management of resources such as manpower, finance and information.

This course will study the changing functions of the family system as the most fundamental caring unit in society. Policies affecting the family system, its relation with other social institutions, and measures necessary to strengthen its roles will be discussed.

To analyse the kinds of social policy issues in Hong Kong and factors contributing to them. Various aspects of social service provision systems will also be examined.

This course uses a systems perspective in understanding children and families and managing problems commonly faced by them. Prominent models in working with children in the family context will be presented in lectures and discussed in student projects.

The course is designed to help prospective social workers to evaluate their own practice. Students will acquire knowledge and skills in operationalizing intervention objectives, utilizing and/or designing measuring instruments to assess changes in target systems, collecting and analysing data to evaluate practice. Students may be required to design and/or conduct an independent evaluation study in one of their own field practice.

The objective of the course is to introduce the various models, methodologies and issues in the evaluation of social service programmes. Students will be involved in case studies and may be required to participate in an evaluative research project of an existing social service programme.

Any specific topics in social work that reflect current topical and changing needs in the community.

The course will cover the psycho-social aspects of health, illness and disability; theories related to coping, stress and crisis management, family adjustment to illness, loss, pain and grief, systems and resource mobilization; social work intervention in health and hospital settings; intervention approaches of empowerment, team work, crisis intervention, group work and community work in health settings.

This course is an advanced course for students who are interested in practising as a medical social worker or social worker in health field. Social work skills of grief work, bereavement counselling, hospice care, networking, health promotion, occupational health, organizational change, legislative advocacy with specific illnesses will be covered.

This course will focus on social work practice with delinquents and other young people experiencing emotional or behavioural problems. It is assumed that students already have a sound knowledge of the major theoretical models of case, group and community work. Therefore the course will focus on the application and modification of these theories to match the specific problems of young people in Hong Kong. In order to facilitate skills development, much emphasis will be placed on experiential learning through the use of simulated exercises, games and role-plays. Throughout the course, case and group examples will be drawn from a variety of local practice settings-probation, residential facilities for juvenile offenders, correctional services, outreach and school social work.

This course will begin with a critical review of the current state of theory and research on youth problems and delinquency. It will then go on to evaluate existing policies and services directed at youth at risk and juvenile offenders in Hong Kong. Finally it will explore current issues in the field of youth policy and juvenile justice, particularly the development overseas of new programme initiatives. Special emphasis will be given to the relevance of these issues and programmes within the Hong Kong context.

Social workers are guided by theories, research and practice wisdom in their workplace. It is important for social work students to be able to utilize and participate in research. In order to build up social work knowledge appropriate to the practice situation in the field, this course will offer students a range of research methodologies in developing research from a practitioner's perspective. Approaches to intervention research, social research and development, clinical research with individuals and groups, single-subject design, case study, qualitative approaches, use of narratives, and process studies will be explored. Students will be required to plan and present a practice research project. Assessment: 100% coursework.

This course examines the problems, policies, finance and management of housing. It will focus on: the nature of the housing problem, demand and supply of housing, typology of housing, the social, economic, political and cultural aspects of housing, slums and squatter housing, housing policies, housing allocation, and housing management in both private and public sectors.

Field practice shall comprise three placements through the years to provide students with opportunities to apply their practice skills within the community. During the placements students will carry out prescribed work in selected social agencies and institutions, and on social project under guidance.

It is expected that the range of the modules available for selection will be the same as for the full-time MSW degree programme, and, exactly which ones will be offered in a particular year will depend on time-table arrangements and the staffing position in that year.

For all examination papers, except Field practice , 60% of the marks will be awarded for the examination results and 40% for coursework. In Field practice , performance during the entire period of study will form the basis of assessment of the Final Examination marks.