Master of Social Sciences in Marriage and Family Therapy
This master program, modeled after the high standard of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), is the first of its kind not only in Hong Kong, but also in the Asian region. It represents an important milestone in the recognition of marriage and family therapy as a profession to be developed in Hong Kong and the need for formal training at the post-graduate level.
Program Highlights
- Trans-disciplinary approach with expertise from five HKU departments including Psychology, Psychiatry, Family Medicine, Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, and Social Work & Social Administration
- Backed up by extensive research on family dynamics and clinical practice
- Expertise on Chinese families from diverse cultures in Asia, including Hong Kong, Mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore, and others in the region
- State-of-the-art video & technical facilities for clinical practice and training
Graduation Requirement
Under the HKU Department of Social Work and Social Administration, the part-time Master program in Marriage and Family Therapy uses a modular system that requires 3 to 5 years to complete. It has three major parts, consisting of coursework, clinical internship, and clinical paper. During the study of six consecutive semesters within three years, students are required to complete eight core and four elective courses, attain 500 hours of clinical practice, with 100 hours of supervision by experienced clinical supervisors, and submit a clinical paper of 8,000 to 10,000 words on family and family therapy related subjects.
:: For a complete list of MFT courses, click here.Application Form for M.Soc.Sc. in Marriage and Family Therapy (2009/10)
:: Information Booklet (.PDF):: Click here for application form (.DOC)
Ph.D. Candidates
Ten Ph.D. students in Family Therapy have been attached to the Institute working on various topics in family studies. Five of the students (with one awarded distinction) graduated in 2006 and 2007 under the supervision of Dr. Lee Wai-yung. Three students completed their research and have been conferred with their Doctor of Philosophy degrees in 2008. One remaining Ph.D. student, Mr. Tsui Pui-wang Ephraem, is expected to complete his study on the families of prisoners by the end of the coming academic year.
Dr. Hu Chiyi, one of the Ph.D. graduates, obtained a funding of RMB$1,200,000 from the Shenzhen Bureau of Health for his research on "An Epidemiological Study of Mental Disorders and Suicidal Behavior in Shenhen" in relation to his Ph.D. thesis.
Courses for Occasional Students
Some of our Master in Marriage and Family Therapy program courses are also open to occasional students who are interested in taking part in particular courses. Please check the MFT course list for reference.