Skip to navigation
Skip to content

Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences (options: BSocSc Criminology and Sociology, BSocSc Psychology, BSocSc Social Work)

社會及行為科學系 [選項: 社會科學學士(犯罪學及社會學)、社會科學學士(心理學)、社會科學學士(社會工作)]

Academic Year of Entry 2023/24
Mode of Funding Government funded
Admission Code 1110
Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences (options: BSocSc Criminology and Sociology, BSocSc Psychology, BSocSc Social Work)
Mode of Study Full time
Indicative Intake Target
Local Places : click here (for JUPAS and non-JUPAS)

Non-local Places : click here
Normal Duration of Programme 4 years
Tuition Fee Click here for more information
General Enquiries
ssbdss@cityu.edu.hk
Remark: For JUPAS applicants, the programme code is JS1110

Programme Outlines

Programme Video

Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences


The Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences prides itself on its long track record of offering quality education delivered by a multi-disciplinary team of faculty members.  “Social and Behavioural Sciences ” is the term used to describe the scientific studies of the thoughts, feelings and behaviours of humans and animals and their surrounded social systems in order to understanding and resolve individual, social, and community issues. It includes the study of counselling, criminology, psychology, social work and sociology.

The Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences offers the following majors:

  • Criminology and Sociology
  • Psychology
  • Social Work

Criminology and Sociology provides students with a broad knowledge of criminology and sociological practice, and professional competence to conduct sociological research to solve problems in organisational, community, societal, national and international contexts. This major is suitable for students with a particular interest in protecting the public and maintaining Hong Kong’s status as one of the safest cities in the world.  Psychology is a scientific study of thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Students are provided with comprehensive education in major fields of psychology, including biological, clinical, cognitive, developmental, educational, health, personality, and social psychology. They are also offered opportunities to design and conduct psychological research. Social Work is a helping profession that applies knowledge from various disciplines of the social sciences to develop theories and practices. We set out to strengthen and provide support for individuals, families, groups and the community, in problem solving as well as in achieving growth and development.  

 

「犯罪學和社會學」提供廣博的犯罪學和社會學知識和實踐，學生擁有專業能力進行社會研究以解決組織、社區、社會，以至國家和國際環境的問題。該主修亦適合有志於投身紀律部隊以保護公眾的學生，維持香港作為世界上最安全的城市之一。「心理學」是有關思維，情感和行為的科學研究。我們的課程讓學生理解心理學的主要範疇，包括生物心理學、臨床心理學、認知心理學、發展心理學、教育心理學、健康心理學、人格心理學以及社會心理學等；學生亦有機會親身設計和進行心理學的研究。「社會工作」是一門跨學科的助人專業，應用不同社會科學的知識來發展理論和實踐，以協助個人、家庭、群體以至社會面對和解決問題,推動其成長與進步。

Admission Arrangements for Direct/Non-JUPAS Applicants


Applicants to this programme (admission code: 1110) will be considered for admission to first-year studies in the Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences. Students will have a free choice of majors (current major options: Criminology and Sociology; Psychology; Social Work) offered by the Department after one year of study.

Applicants seeking advanced standing entry can submit an application for the following programmes:

  • BSocSc Criminology and Sociology (admission code: 1358A)
  • BSocSc Psychology (admission code: 1298A)
  • BSocSc Social Work (admission code: 1303A)

Click here for the qualifications eligible for advanced standing entry. 

Entrance Requirements for Direct/Non-JUPAS Applicants


To be considered for admission, you must satisfy the General Entrance Requirements. 

Curriculum Structure


During their first year, students will study a broad range of Gateway Education (GE), College core and Departmental requirement courses.

For details of the programme’s curriculum structure, please visit the ‘Undergraduate Catalogue’ (Note: The catalogue for the 2022 cohort is for reference only. The 2023 catalogue will be published around July 2023.)

Joint Bachelor's Degree Program between City University of Hong Kong and Columbia University


For details, please visit http://gs.columbia.edu/cityu-hk/

Useful Links

Major Option(s) Currently Available (The University reserves the right to make changes to the major offerings.)

Social Work

Programme Title
BSocSc Social Work
社會科學學士(社會工作)
Our Target


This major is designed for applicants wishing to pursue a career in social work, a helping profession that promotes human and community well-being, underpinned by a commitment to uphold human dignity, social justice and social changes. The programme produces social work practitioners who are competent, reflective, and ethical in professional practice.
What You Will Be Studying


This major enables students to evaluate and align their personal values with the value base of the social work profession, and to acquire knowledge, skills, understanding and competence in reflective professional practice. Upon successful completion of this major, student should be able to:

  • evaluate and align their personal values with the value base of the profession and its ethical standards and principles, and practise accordingly;
  • integrate the liberal arts perspective that enriches understanding of the person-in-environment context of professional practice with critical analysis and assessment of interpersonal, bio-psycho-social, cultural and environmental factors;
  • explain the use of comparative theories of working with individuals and families, groups, organisations and communities;
  • use communication skills differentially and creatively across client populations, colleagues and communities;
  • apply the knowledge and skills of generalist social work practice with systems of all sizes and integrate new ideas into practice;
  • demonstrate the skills to practice without discrimination, with respect and knowledge of clients’ characteristics, cultural beliefs and contexts;
  • apply critical thinking skills within the context of professional social work practice;
  • describe the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination and apply advocacy and social change strategies that advance social and economic justice;
  • conduct research studies and evaluate and apply research findings to provide creative solutions to practice within the community, with an aim to engage in evidence-based practice; and
  • demonstrate knowledge, understanding and competence in practice through reflection to accomplish discovery and innovation in social work practice.

Based on its learning objectives, this major has the following main components:

  • College Core Courses
  • Social Work Core Courses
  • Social Work Elective Courses
  • Concurrent Practicum

Please refer to the Departmental homepage for further details on these courses: https://www.cityu.edu.hk/ss.
Start Your Career Here


Upon graduation, you will have the competence to practise as a professionally qualified social worker in a variety of settings through which human services are delivered (e.g. social services agencies, schools and health care institutions); work in the field of human resources (e.g. customer service and staff training); or pursue further studies in social work or related fields (e.g. psychology and education). You will also be eligible to apply for social work positions as a Registered Social Worker (RSW) in government and non-government organisations.
Professional Recognition

 

Graduates are qualified to register with the Social Workers Registration Board as Registered Social Workers (RSW). This qualification is recognised by the majority of societies throughout the world.
Bonus Features
  • For every year since 2015, 10 full-time undergraduate social work students will be awarded HKD 25,000 each under the HSBC Social Work Scholarship Scheme.
  • Starting from 2018, students with outstanding academic performance can apply for non-local fieldwork placement at other countries/cities, such as United States, Canada, Australia, Singapore, etc.
  • Access to a rich array of co-curricular activities, such as student exchanges, summer internships, study tours, volunteer services and other whole person development activities, and the like.
  • Opportunities to work alongside teachers in research and action learning projects locally or overseas.
  • Minor studies in psychology, applied sociology and criminology are offered to students within the Department.
  • Minor studies in disciplines outside the Department are also offered to students.
Did You Know?

~Over the past 10 years:
• Seven colleagues at the Department have won the Teaching Excellence Award in the University on eight occasions; two Social Work colleagues also won the UGC Teaching Excellence Award in 2013 and 2014, respectively.
• Five Social Work colleagues won the CLASS’ Excellence in Knowledge Transfer Award in 2020/21, 2018/19, 2014/15 and 2013/2014, respectively.
• Two social work students won the Champion of Discovery Enriched Curriculum DEC (individual) competition held by CLASS in 2016 and 2018.
• Eleven of our Social Work graduates have won the Outstanding Social Workers Award, five of whom were winners of the New Outstanding Social Workers Award. In 2020-21, one outstanding social worker and one outstanding new social worker were our graduates. The event was organised by the Hong Kong Social Workers’ Association.
• The Department has sponsored over 300 students in cross-cultural learning programmes and internships outside Hong Kong;
• More than twenty students who studied under the exchange programme at the University of Houston have been granted scholarships to pursue a Master in Social Work.
• More than 100 students have received scholarships to study overseas under the Academic Exchange Programme.
 

 
Useful Links