Master of Social Sciences (MSocSc) in Development Studies
發展研究社會科學碩士
Department of Asian and International Studies
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
What is Development Studies? back to top
• Development Studies is an increasingly important field of study, especially for developing countries undergoing rapid changes.
• Development Studies applies inter-disciplinary perspectives and methods to analyse and evaluate current development issues and
processes, including human rights, social movements, global institutions, policy-making, gender, ethnicity, labour and environment.
• A sound Development Studies programme
should also build capacity to advocate policy changes and to implement
appropriate,
equitable and
sustainable development projects.
Hong Kong's only programme in Development Studies back to top
• City University of Hong Kong offers the only Development Studies programme in Hong Kong.
• It is taught by well-qualified lecturers with years of experience in applied research and development work in the Asian region, especially
East and Southeast Asia.
• This programme meets a societal need for in-depth knowledge about development issues and processes, particularly in Asian countries.
• CityU developed this programme in Development Studies in response to the demand articulated by local and regional NGOs.
• The quality of the programme will be assured through regular internal monitoring and external assessment by world-class academic,
research and development advisors.
Distinctive features include:
• Focus on case studies from East and Southeast Asia
• Special attention to ethnicity and tourism, environment, gender, and labour
• Emphasis on the role and effectiveness of civil society actors in development processes
Who will benefit from studying this Programme? back to top
• This programme will provide a solid foundation for building human capacity in international organizations, governments, media
organizations, educational and research institutions, foundations, donor agencies, civic organizations, and NGOs.
• All these bodies increasingly need well-trained development professionals able to analyse, plan, implement, monitor and evaluate
development issues and processes – local, national, regional and international.
• The programme will enhance the knowledge, capacity and competence of professionals already working in development-related fields.
• Staff members of Hong Kong-based NGOs are encouraged to enroll as part-time students.
• Other graduates, new to the field of development, will be well prepared for careers in development-related work across a range of
sectors – governmental and non-governmental, in local, national, regional and global contexts.
• Graduates may also proceed to further studies at MPhil and PhD levels.
Learning Objectives back to top
• The intended learning outcomes of the programme are practical and useful, with a focus on application-oriented learning outcomes.
• Students will also benefit from extensive links with other universities and with development organizations, forged by the Department,
Faculty and CityU as a whole.
• After completing the programme, students will be able to demonstrate the ability:
1. To identify a range of development issues of relevance to economic, political, social, cultural and environmental changes in local,
national, regional and international contexts;
2. To explain similarities and differences in development processes experienced by different countries and regions;
3. To undertake the problem-analysis of current development issues and processes with a view to propose, examine and evaluate potential
solutions at micro, meso and macro levels , in relation to a substantive body of knowledge concerning socio-economic, cultural and
political developments in Asia and other developing regions;
4. To investigate practical problems using a comparative perspective, through analysing and evaluating interactions between local,
national, regional and international processes, and thereby to propose effective action plans to tackle these problems;
5. To appraise development-related problems facing governments, organizations, societies, women, workers, communities and to propose
potential solutions, including the different costs and benefits implied for different stakeholders;
6. To apply the practical lessons learned from the study of governments, international organizations, NGOs, international media and
foundations;
7. To make informed evaluations and to construct reasoned arguments about development issues and processes at local, national,
regional and international levels, and about their interconnections;
8. To handle a range of research methods, and techniques of data collection and analysis;
9. To conduct independent studies to collect information that is necessary to aid policy formulation, implementation and evaluation in
international organizations, government bodies, foundations, civil society organizations, businesses, particularly in areas that require
development knowledge, sensitivity to issues of rights, cross-cultural awareness, and an outward-looking, international perspective;
10. To present materials effectively in oral and written contexts;
11. To communicate and collaborate with partners in other countries on local, national, regional and international development projects;
12. To transfer and use acquired knowledge and skills, including multi-media tools, in a variety of work settings.
Programme Structure back to top
The programme will be offered on a full-time and part-time basis. Full-time, the programme can be completed in 12 months, with 9 months for the courses and 3 months for the thesis. Part-time, the programme can extend to two years or more.
The curriculum will consist of:
A. Four core courses (12 credits):
• Theories and approaches in Development Studies
• Institutions and movements in global contexts
• Project planning and management for development
• Critical issues in development and policy advocacy
B. Option 1 : non-specialised MSocSc – any four electives (12 credits)
OR
Option 2 : specialized MSocSc -- two specialized courses (6 credits) in one of four streams:
• Environment
• Ethnicity and tourism
• Gender
• Labour and human rights
Plus two electives (6 credits)
C. Thesis on a Selected Development Issue (6 credits)
Electives include:
• Ethnicity, tourism and environment (3 credits)
• Ethnicity, migration and employment (3 credits)
• Gender, environment and resource politics (3 credits)
• Gender, labour and human rights (3 credits)
• Absolute poverty, relative poverty and the rich-poor gap (3 credits)
• Rural development and urbanization (3 credits)
• The social and environmental consequences of trade liberalisation (3 credits)
Modes of Teaching and Learning back to top
Courses will use a seminar format that will encourage student participation. Teaching and learning methods will include:
• Lectures on key theories, concepts, issues and cases
• Small group discussions and reflections
• Research and analysis, including data collection from a range of sources, critical reasoning
• Web-based discussions: out-of-class online comments, questions, responses, debates, discussions, reviews
• Use of multi-media documentation
Degree, Diploma, Certificate back to top
• Completion of four core courses (12 credits) only: Post-graduate Certificate (PGC)
• Completion of four core courses (12 credits) plus four electives (12 credits) only: Post-graduate Diploma (PGD)
• Completion of four core courses (12 credits), any four electives (12 credits) plus a thesis (6 credits): non-specialised MSocSc
• Completion of four core courses (12 credits), two specialized courses (6 credits), two electives (6 credits) plus a thesis (6 credits):
specialised MSS in one of the following:
Environment
Ethnicity and tourism
Gender
Labour and human rights
Cost back to top
Each credit = HKD 2,100 (approximately USD 270)
Total of 30 credits needed for MSocSc = HKD 63,000 (approximately USD 8,100)
[ Note: Fees are charged in Hong Kong dollars. ]
Apply now! back to top
To enroll for the intake of September 2006, please do so online at http://www.cityu.edu.hk/cityu/admissions/index.htm
Application deadline: 31 May 2006
Entrance requirement: Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline
A limited number of rooms in CityU hostels are available for non-local students.
Briefing Session back to top
18 May 2006
(Thursday)
7 - 8 pm
G4-701, Green Zone, 4/F, Academic
Building, City University of Hong Kong
(seat reservation: (852)3442-6355 or
ais.enquiry@cityu.edu.hk)
Contact us back to top
For more information, contact the Programme Leader, Dr Vivienne Wee: v.wee@cityu.edu.hk / tel. +852-27888766
