Important Update: (Updated
08:33 am, Friday, May 27)
Our University has announced the learning, teaching and assessment (LTA) arrangements for Semester One, 2022/23. Please click here for details.
Our University has announced the learning, teaching and assessment (LTA) arrangements for Semester One, 2022/23. Please click here for details.
FTF (Full-time)
FTP (Part-time)
1.5 years (Full-time)
3 years (Part-time)
30
3 for local students
6 for non-local students
For local students
Taught subject: HK$5,350 per credit
Practicum: HK$11,300 per credit
Clinical Internship: HK$8,500 per credit
For non-local students
Taught subject: HK$6,550 per credit
Practicum: HK$13,500 per credit
Clinical Internship: HK$10,250 per credit
Dr So Wa Ngai
PhD, MS MFT, BA Psy, AAMFT Clinical Fellow and Approved Supervisor
Programme Aims
The emphasis of this programme is on 'scholarship in practice' in both teaching and learning and on the development of reflective and competent practitioners who can work with individuals, couples and families. Students are encouraged to enhance their sensitivity to recognise the complexity and inter-connectedness of the problems and issues that confront people; to reflect upon and draw implications from examining the social, economic and political contexts that influence human service practitioners and their clients with individual, marital and family problems; to relate family-centred practice theories and systems therapy to their own practice; and to develop personalised professional styles.
Characteristics
This programme is designed for practising social workers and related human service professionals who are interested in working with individuals, couples and families. The programme is offered on a mixed-mode basis, with the majority of its subjects being taught on weekday evenings.
Students who enrol in the 30-credit programme can either take an additional 13 credits (3 credits of coursework and 10 credits of clinical training) and prepare themselves for application for Clinical Membership in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) or complete 21 credits and exit with a Postgraduate Diploma.
This is one of the two specialisms under the Master of Arts in Social Work Programme. With a configuration of multiple subjects, the programme is the only one of its kind in postgraduate training in applied social sciences in Hong Kong. Allowing students from different specialisms to take subjects from the same pool of Electives is important in promoting their competence to learn and practice in a multidisciplinary context, which is one of the characteristics of a well-rounded professional.
During the course of study, students are equipped with the knowledge that is necessary to make integrative links between classroom learning and practice in the field.
The Programme has been fully accredited by the Hong Kong Professional Counselling Association (HKPCA). Graduates who have completed the Practicum course will fulfil a total of 180 supervised practice hours as required by HKPCA to qualify as an HKPCA Candidate of Certified Counsellor.
Programme graduates (30 credits) are eligible to apply for membership in the Hong Kong Marriage and Family Therapy Association (HKMFTA).
Programme graduates (43 credits) fulfil the coursework requirement and half of the supervised direct client contact hours requirement for Clinical Membership in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).
Programme Structure
To be eligible for the award, students are required to take 30 credits of coursework (5 Required Subjects and 5 Elective Subjects). Students who have successfully completed 5 Required Taught Subjects and 2 Elective Subjects may exit the programme with a Postgraduate Diploma.
Students who wish to prepare for application for Clinical Membership in the AAMFT* should continue their study after completing the 30-credit MA award and take an additional 13 credits (3 credits of coursework and 10 credits in clinical training). Upon completion of the 43-credit study, these students should have taken 5 Required Subjects, 6 Elective Subjects and 4 Clinical Training Subjects. Clinical training consists of 300 practicum hours and 500 hours of clinical internship. For each Clinical Internship period, students undergo 250 direct practice hours with 50 hours of group supervision.
* To apply for AAMFT clinical membership, students are advised to refer to current courses requirements laid down by the AAMFT by browsing the Association's website.
Core Areas of Study
For MA award: 30 credits
Required Subjects (5 subjects, 15 credits)
Elective Subjects (5 subjects, 15 credits)
For Application for AAMFT Clinical Membership: 43 credits
Required Subjects (5 subjects, 15 credits)
Elective Subjects (6 subjects, 18 credits)
Clinical Training (4 subjects, 10 credits)
Programme structure and content are subject to continuous review and change.
Information on the subjects offered can be obtained at www.polyu.edu.hk/apss.
Relevant work experience is desirable.
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. Please refer to the "Admission Requirements" section for details.
Career Prospects
The MASW(FCPFT) programme provides students with opportunities to gain the latest knowledge, develop specialist skills and become reflective, competent practitioners/therapists working with individuals, couples and families challenged by complex problems. The learning experience will facilitate students improving the quality of their service and to meet the continuous education requirements stipulated by professional and licensing bodies. This programme will also allow students to pave a career path with an option to become a private practitioner in helping individuals and families in need.
For enquiries about this programme, please contact:
Ms Lilian Leung (tel: (852) 2766 5716 or email: sspg@polyu.edu.hk).
I highly recommend the Master of Arts in Social Work, Family-centered Practice and Family Therapy (MASW-FCPFT) programme to those who seek to improve their intra- and interpersonal relationships, or to increase their proficiency in their current professional roles.
The thoughtful design of this programme has well-balanced components of both theory and practice. Supported by a resourceful teaching and learning community, students are intensively and diversely trained by renowned professionals in the field in order to meet the demands of professional competence on today’s practitioners. The one-year supervised practicum was a practice ground where knowledge and theory were integrated and applied to tackle the complex problems arising from real-life situations.
In addition, studying in this programme has enabled me to embark on the journey of self-growth as I became more aware of the perplexing features of family dynamics and its perpetual impact on each member within the family. My relationships with myself and my family members have significantly improved resulting from being more compassionate towards my parents while mindfully learning to be a loving parent to my children. This wonderful three-year training was a complete make-over for me, saturated by cherished memories and with overflowing gratitude from my heart. Chan Yim Lai Helen |  |
 | Studying in MASW- FCPFT was an interesting and rewarding experience. Due to the variety of elective classes, it was always fun for me to decide before the start of each semester. All subject teachers are skilled and experienced in the profession. Many real-life examples, up-to-date local practice and role play case studies were given to enhance student engagement during the lectures. Classmates are from different professions and backgrounds, and it was a valuable experience to study alongside them.
The major gain for me in doing this programme was self-reflection. By understanding family dynamics from different approaches, it provided a chance for me to reflect on myself and my limitations, and to re-organise my mind before helping others. After completing the programme, not only had I acquired new skills in family therapy, but I had also learnt more about myself. Chung Yee Lok |
Studying in the Master of Arts in Social Work, Family-centered Practice and Family Therapy (MASW-FCPFT) programme has led to intensive self-reflection and was a life-changing experience for me. The programme, composed of various therapeutic approaches, offered plenty of opportunities for professional development and personal growth. Through the reflections of how I have been interacting with my family-of-origin and my family of procreation, it uncovered many blind spots in my personal life, and it has also opened up new ways of perceiving, positioning and relating. This self-awakening and self-healing process is very crucial in being an effective counsellor. I have become more positive, more emotionally stable, and less judgmental. By connecting and building relationships with professors and fellow students, I have a new-found passion for this profession. In short, I am very thankful to have studied this enriching and fulfilling programme. Lo Man Shan Iren |  |
 | I decided to start my journey of studying this programme because I was impressed by the importance of the three pillars of casework collaboration (therapist’s knowledge, skills and self) in the information seminar.
Retrospectively, the 3-year study had been rewarding and the destination was far beyond what I had expected. For knowledge, I was informed by a wide range of marriage and family therapy approaches. Additional study on neurobiology, psychopathology, ethics and research enabled me to understand family systems and human development comprehensively. For skills, a variety of case natures were encountered in the practicum. I acquired the strategies of building rapport, gathering useful information, conceptualising cases and shifting family patterns. For myself, through class activities and a specially designed “Care and Growth Group” I was made aware of how my family-of-origin influenced my personality and counselling style. Overall, the structured programme allowed me to build stronger connections with service users and increased my confidence in being a change agent.
Another unique feature of this programme is that it paves the way for becoming professional members in the American Association Marriage and Family Therapy, the Hong Kong Marriage and Family Therapy Association and the Hong Kong Professional Counselling Association, the only programme in Hong Kong that enables all of these designations. I was also fortunate to meet a group of companions in this ongoing professional development journey, and anyone who joins will do so as well. Tsang Wai Lun Will |
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