Programme Information
Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Policy Science and Management
(Senior Year Entry only)
admission@eduhk.hk
Programme Aims
The Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Policy Science and Management (BSocSc(PSM)) is a unique programme. Its aims to develop skills associated with policy analysis and evaluation, critical and analytical capacities for assessing and understanding processes of policy formulation, implementation, and policy outcomes, and knowledge skills designed to allow students to understand diverse, international policy contexts and governance challenges in the contemporary world. Specifically, the programme provides interdisciplinary training in public policy, governance and public sector management and is designed to equip students with essential skills for careers in public management, policy analysis and evaluation, public and private sector consultancy, the non-profit sector (advocacy and civil society organisations) and government-business relations.
Programme Features
The programme is uniquely positioned within the higher education policy science landscape of Hong Kong. The programme not only provides policy science education, but also offers the depth of training, pathways for specialisation, or the depth of immersion into core evaluative and policy analysis skills and competencies.
The programme will add further capacity to the suite of programmes and activities broadly nestled around policy related themes/issues, providing a specific focus on policy analytics, evaluation, and specialisations in Public Sector Management and Social Policy and Management that will help position EdUHK at the forefront of policy science in Hong Kong and the region.
Upon successful completion of the Programme, students will be able to:
| PILO1 | Understand the principles, theories and practice of policy sciences and public sector management; |
| PILO2 | Apply substantive knowledge of techniques, institutions and processes in public policy and management ethically; |
| PILO3 | Analyze critically contemporary public policy and management issues in Hong Kong, Greater China, and Asia from a comparative and multidisciplinary perspective; |
| PILO4 | Apply analytical assessment/evaluation skills to policy and organisational problems; |
| PILO5 | Apply critical thinking skills related to human development in local, national, regional and global contexts ethically by upholding moral values and integrity; |
| PILO6 | Apply managerial and leadership competence required for effective organisational and public sector management ethically; and |
| PILO7 | Communicate analysis of policy problems and solutions to policy-makers, relevant stakeholders and the broader community. |
Programme Structure (for Senior Year Entrants)
| Domain | Components | Credit Points (cps) |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Major core | 6 |
| Major electives | 18 | |
| Major Interdisciplinary Course | 3 | |
| Internship (Applied Policy Analysis Consultancy) (APAC) | 6 | |
| Final Year Project | Capstone Project (Phase I): Applied Policy Analysis Consultancy (APAC) - Project | 3 |
| Capstone Project (Phase II): Applied Policy Analysis Consultancy (APAC) - Project and Conference | 3 | |
| Electives / Minor | Electives / Minor (Must take a 3-cps education course to fulfill the graduation requirement) |
15 |
| Common Core | University e-Portfolio | 3 |
| General Education (GE) Experiential Learning / GE Breadth Course |
3 | |
| Total: | 60 | |
| Information Technology Competence Requirement | ||
Major Studies
The BSocSc(PSM) programme comprises two Major courses namely “Tool Kits for Policy Analysis” and “Qualitative Approach to Policy Analysis” which train students with analytical skills and competencies in policy analysis and evaluation. On top of the two Major core courses, Students will gain greater insights, functional knowledge, and specific skills in the area concerned through taking the Major electives. Students choose a total of six Major electives either from the same specialisation for claiming respective specialisation or any from the two specialisations without claim on specialisation upon graduation.
The Internship provides a real-life placement (organisational embedding) that is designed to provide students with a case study on which to build their Capstone Project (Phase I & II). This level of capstone integration [Internship, Capstone Project (Phase I & II)] provides a distinctive basis for experiential learning and skills development/application.
| Domain | Course Title |
| Major Courses |
|
| Major electives (6 courses from Specialisation 1 or 2 for claiming respective specialisation; or any free choices for 6 courses from the two specialisations without claim on the specialisation) |
Specialisation 1: Public Sector Management
|
Specialisation 2: Social Policy and Management
|
Electives / Minor
Students are free to choose elective courses offered by any of the University’s departments. They have the option of taking a Minor of 15 cps of taught courses in the Elective domain for graduation with a Minor, subject to specific requirements of the Minor(s). Students are also required to complete one education course through a GE course on education, if available, or one elective education course provided by the Faculty of Education and Human Development (FEHD).
General Education
Students can choose from a wide selection of General Education(GE) courses to enhance their whole person development
GE Experiential Learning Course
Students may choose a GE Experiential Learning course which encourages students to learn through experimentation, observation, reflection and (re-) conceptualization while undertaking a wide variety of activities, such as creative work, field studies, projects, thematic overseas trips, outward-bound training etc. These courses enrich students’ learning experiences and skills through learning, thinking and reflecting on practice, in practice and for practice, while exposing them to authentic and real-life contexts.
University ePortfolio
Students will take a 3-cp course at Consolidation Level to complete their University ePortfolios normally before the final year. Based on their on-going evidence-based reflections on learning during the study, students are required to complete the construction of their University ePortfolios that are made up of the artifacts and evidence derived from a wide variety of learning. It provides an intellectual platform for students to synthesize their learning experiences garnered from the academic journey at the EdUHK by critically reflecting on the values and significance of what they have learned, making connections to their lives, and charting or imagining their own future.
Medium of Instruction
The programme will mainly be conducted in English. All Major courses will be taught in English. For some non-Major courses, Cantonese or Putonghua may be adopted as the medium of instruction when the language is considered to be the most effective for teaching.
Career Prospects/Professional Qualifications
There are numerous prospective employment pathways, including:
- Advocacy, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), think tanks, and civil society organisations (not for profit sector)
- Government, statutory bodies/organisations, and government linked corporations
- Government – Business relations (including the provision of services to government; contracting out, procurement, program analyst, regulatory compliance)
- Private sector (including consultancy organisations)
It is further noted that employment pathways for graduates of policy science programmes are often international in orientation, especially for students who pursue careers in NGOs, advocacy and civil society organisations, and international/regional organisations [e.g., The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)]