Postgraduate Programs 2018/19
Postgraduate Diploma and Master of Arts Programs in Social Science
Award Title

Postgraduate Diploma in Social Science
Master of Arts in Social Science

Program Short Name

PGD(SOSC)
MA(SOSC)

Mode of Study

Both full- and part-time

Normative Program Duration

MA

Full-time: 1 year
Part-time: 2 years

Program Fee

MA

HK$115,000

New students admitted with credit transfer are also required to pay the full program fee. Students who need to retake failed course(s) must pay the pro-rated fee for the necessary course(s).

Program Advisor

Academic Director:
Prof Michelle YIK, Professor of Social Science

Remarks

Currently, the PGD Program does not admit new students.

The Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) and Master of Arts (MA) Programs in Social Science offer an interdisciplinary curriculum for those seeking employment in business, government, mass media, and education, as well as those who subsequently wish to pursue a research program in one of the social science disciplines. The taught programs are designed to provide the necessary skills required for social science research and a broad spectrum of analytical perspectives for a critical understanding of a variety of issues and phenomena in the modern world.

On successful completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

  1. Design research projects based on fundamental principles of social science inquiry;

  2. Explain basic statistical concepts used by social scientists and apply related methods to data analysis;

  3. Articulate key concepts and important theories in major social science disciplines;

  4. Evaluate and critique scholarly works in the social sciences; and

  5. Formulate theoretically informed and empirically grounded perspectives for the analysis of social and economic issues in Greater China and beyond.

  1. Minimum Credit Requirement

    PGD: 15 credits
    MA: 24 credits

     

  2. Credit Transfer

    Subject to the approval of the Academic Director, graduates from the PGD program may transfer up to 15 credits of coursework to the MA program.

     

  3. Foundation Courses

    PGD: 3 credits
    MA: 6 credits
     

SOSC 5110
SSMA 5020

 

  1. Required Courses

    PGD: 9 credits
    MA: 12 credits

     

    Designed specifically for the PGD/MA students, the required SSMA courses cover disciplines in sociology, psychology, economics, and political science. Students are required to take courses from one or more of these disciplines. At the beginning of each term, the Program Office will announce a list of courses to be offered by the Division.

     

  2. Elective Courses

    PGD: 3 credits
    MA: 6 credits

     

    Students can take any postgraduate courses (and a maximum of one undergraduate course at 4000-level) offered by the School of Humanities and Social Science.

     

  3. Remarks

  • Should students wish to take courses other than those specified above, prior approval must be obtained from the Academic Director.

  • Most courses are taught in English. Students who wish to enroll in courses in which Chinese materials are used extensively must demonstrate proficiency in Chinese.

  • Full-time students are required to take a minimum of 9 credits of coursework each regular term, whereas part-time students are required to take a minimum of 3 credits each regular term.

  • Upon entering the program, students' progress will be monitored by the Academic Director.

  • With the approval of the Academic Director, student may take study leave for no more than one regular term.

  • Subject to the approval of the Academic Director, students of the MA program may subsequently apply for transfer to the PGD program.

 

Last Update: 31 July 2018

To qualify for admission, applicants must meet all of the following requirements. Admission is selective and meeting these minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.

 

1. General Admission Requirements of the University
  • Applicants seeking admission to a master's degree or postgraduate diploma program should have obtained a bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution, or an approved equivalent qualification.

2. English Language Admission Requirements

Applicants have to fulfill English Language requirements with one of the following proficiency attainments:

  • TOEFL-iBT: 80

  • TOEFL-pBT: 550

  • TOEFL-Revised paper-delivered test (effective from 2018/19 admission): 60
    (total scores for Reading, Listening and Writing sections)

  • IELTS (Academic Module): Overall score: 6.0 and All sub-score: 5.5


Applicants don't need to present TOEFL or IELTS score if

  • their first language is English, or

  • they obtained the bachelor's degree (or equivalent) from an institution where the medium of instruction was English.