Sept 2025 Entry
1.5 years (Full-time)
3 years (Part-time)
31
This programme is offered within the Postgraduate Scheme in Applied Social Sciences.
This programme adopts multi-method approaches in teaching and learning such as online, classroom, skill laboratory, or blended learning.
- This programme admits students in alternate years.
What's New
Programme Aims
The overall aim of the programme is to prepare reflective social work and mental health practitioners via a mixed-mode programme of study which enables participants to develop specialised practice knowledge through an intellectually challenging experience.
Characteristics
This programme is specially designed for practising social workers, teachers, nurses and other mental health professionals. The specialism is offered on a mixed-mode basis, with the majority of subjects being taught in the evening. On completion of 22 credits (8 subjects), students can apply to graduate with a Postgraduate Diploma.
This programme provides students with a holistic and multidimensional perspective on understanding and working with individuals who are confronting mental health and mental illness issues. It embraces a humanistic and deep understanding of clients with mental problems. It also equips students with current knowledge of international trends in mental health practice. This enables them not only to gain knowledge and practice competence from prevalent clinical perspectives, but also to embrace a humanistic orientation to promote mental growth and mental health for individuals, families and communities.
During the course of study, students will be equipped with the knowledge that is needed to make integrative links between classroom learning and direct field practice.
Human services professionals such as social workers, teachers and nurses are spontaneously challenged by clients with various degrees of mental health problems. A master level training in mental health specialism surely enhances their practice competence in handling clients' mental health problem which may result in better career prospect and development.
Programme Structure
Students are required to take 31 credits (5 Required Subjects, 5 Elective Subjects and 1 AIE Subject) to be eligible for the award of Master of Arts in Mental Health.
Students who successfully complete 22 credits (5 Required Subjects, 2 Elective Subjects and 1 AIE Subject) can apply early exit the Programme with a Postgraduate Diploma in Mental Health.
Core Areas of Study
Required Subjects (5 subjects)
- Adolescent Mental Health
- Mental Health and the Aged
- Mental Health Practice
- Practice Research
- Psychopathology: Holistic and Humanistic Orientations
Elective Subjects (Students should take 5 elective subjects, including an option of a practicum)
- Advanced Practice Methods: Brief Therapy
- Advanced Practice Methods: Cognitive Behavioural Intervention
- Delinquency and Family
- Evolution in Family Therapy: Structural & Systemic Approaches
- Guidance and Counselling for Students with Special Needs
- Individual and Group Counselling Skills Workshop
- Integrative Project
- Mental Health Policy
- Mental Health Practice and Interpersonal Neurobiology: Attachment, Trauma and Healing in the Context of Relationships
- Mindfulness-based Programme in Mental Health and Social Care
- Narrative Therapy
- Practicum in Mental Health Care #
- Social Constructionism and Collaborative Dialogic Approach
- Use of Creative Arts in Mental Health Care
- Use of Drama in Mental Health Care
- Violence in Intimate Relationships
# If students who do not have a social work or counselling degree with a one-semester course in micro clinical skill training, they should take "Individual and Group Counseling Skills Workshop" as a pre-requisite.
Remarks:
- In addition to the above subjects, students are required to complete a 1-credit subject on Academic Integrity and Ethics (AIE). No tuition fee is required for this subject.
- Programme structure and content are subject to continual review and changes.
31
Dr Herman Lo
BSSc, MSW, PhD, ACounS, AFHKPCA
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A Bachelor's degree in social work, social sciences or related disciplines.
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.
For further information on admission matters, please contact:
Tel: (852) 2766 5714
Email: sspg@polyu.edu.hk
3 for local students
6 for non-local students
HK$195,000 per programme (HK$6,500 per credit) for local and non-local students
* No tuition fee is required for the 1-credit Academic Integrity and Ethics subject
Entry Scholarships are available. Please click here for details.
PolyU reserves the right to change or withdraw the scholarship at any time. In case of any dispute/disagreement, PolyU's decision is final.
Copies of the graduation certificates and official academic transcript are required. Please also provide the academic transcript explanatory notes of the grading systems (課程績點與等級換算關係表).
