PolyU HKCC - Associate Degree

Programme Code:	8C111-CSS
Academic Division:	Division of Social Sciences, Humanities and Design
Programme Leader:	POON, May
Assistant Programme Leader:	LAW, Shun-man
WhatsApp:	66395535

What is this programme about?

Why this programme?Generic and foundational training in counselling for social services...

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- 2025 articulation rate over 85%
- Generic and foundational training in counselling for social services
- You will learn counselling skills and knowledge from both micro (personal) and macro (socio-environmental) perspectives
- You will get a taste of contemporary and innovative psychotherapies
This programme equips you with basic counselling knowledge, skills and attitude in interacting with people from all walks of life in social services settings. Upon graduation, you can further your studies in counselling and other social sciences related programmes or pursue your career as a paraprofessional in human services such as a welfare worker.

HKCC Associate Degree/ Higher Diploma programmes are listed on the Qualifications Register (QR) of The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR); the qualification is recognised under the Qualifications Framework (QF) and is commensurate with Level 4 of the Generic Level Descriptors. For details of the QR and QF, please click here.

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Articulation opportunitiesGraduates of Associate in Applied Social Sciences (Counselling for Social Services) can apply for admission ...

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Graduates of Associate in Applied Social Sciences (Counselling for Social Services) can apply for admission to bachelor's degree programmes such as the following:
- PolyU's Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Applied Ageing Studies and Service Management
- PolyU's Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Language and Speech Sciences
- PolyU's Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Social Design
- PolyU's Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Social Policy and Administration
- PolyU SPEED's Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Professional Communication
- PolyU SPEED's Bachelor of Social Science (Hons)
- PolyU SPEED's Bachelor of Social Science (Hons) in Psychology
- CityU's Bachelor of Social Sciences in Criminology and Sociology
- CityU's Bachelor of Social Sciences in Environmental Policy
- CityU's Bachelor of Social Sciences in Social Work*
- CUHK's Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Studies
- CUHK's Bachelor of Education in Liberal Studies
- CUHK's Bachelor of Science in Community Health Practice
- CUHK's Bachelor of Science in Gerontology
- CUHK's Bachelor of Social Science
- CUHK's Bachelor of Social Science in Social Work
- EdUHK's Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Education for Sustainability
- EdUHK's Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Liberal Studies Education
- EdUHK's Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Special Education
- EdUHK's Bachelor of Education (Hons)
- EdUHK's Bachelor of Social Sciences (Hons) in Psychology
- HKBU's Bachelor of Social Work (Hons)*
- HKBU's Bachelor of Social Sciences (Hons) in Psychology
- HKBU's Bachelor of Social Sciences (Hons) in Social Policy
- HKBU's Bachelor of Social Sciences (Hons) in Sociology
- HKSYU's Bachelor of Social Sciences (Hons) in Counselling and Psychology
- HKSYU's Bachelor of Social Sciences (Hons) in Psychology
- HKSYU's Bachelor of Social Sciences (Hons) in Sociology
- HKU's Bachelor of Social Sciences
- HKU's Bachelor of Social Work*
- LingnanU's Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Cultural Studies
- LingnanU's Bachelor of Social Sciences (Hons)
- LingnanU's Bachelor of Social Sciences (Hons) in Political Science
- LingnanU's Discipline Major in Psychology with Counselling Psychology Concentration for Bachelor of Social Sciences (Hons)
- OpenU's Bachelor of Education (Hons) in Early Childhood Education (Leadership and Special Educational Needs)
- OpenU's Bachelor of Nursing (Hons) in General Health Care
- OpenU's Bachelor of Social Sciences (Hons)
- OpenU's Bachelor of Social Sciences (Hons) in Applied Social Studies
*Admission is limited to the full-time programme only, excluding bridging or conversion degree programmes.

This new programme has yet to graduate its first cohort of students, so no articulation rate and employment rate are available. The average articulation rate for the other four programmes under the Associate Degree Scheme in Applied Social Sciences was nearly 92% in 2022.
Graduate Sharing

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What will I learn?Curriculum Structure
You are required to take, in two years, 21-22 subjects in total, ...

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Curriculum Structure⁺

You are required to take, in two years, 21-22 subjects in total, comprising 13-14 General Education Subjects and 8 Discipline-specific Subjects.

General Education Subjects

9 Compulsory Subjects
Language subjects
- Academic English (Social Sciences) I OR English for Academic Studies (Social Sciences) I
- Academic English (Social Sciences) II OR English for Academic Studies (Social Sciences) II
- Chinese Communication for College Students (Cantonese Version) ^COR Chinese Communication for College Students (Putonghua Version) ^COR Elementary Chinese ^{E & C ~}
Mathematics, IT and Critical Thinking subjects
- Elementary Statistics
- Information and Communication Technology
- The Art of Reasoning ^{E & C}
Discipline-relevant General Education subjects
- Hong Kong Society ^{E & C}
- Self Understanding and Communication Skills ^{E & C}
Essential Components of General Education (Non-credit bearing)
- Two e-modules:
1. Academic Integrity
2. National Education
^~ Students who are non-Chinese speakers, or whose Chinese standards are at junior secondary level or below are required to take this subject.

4-5 Elective Subjects^*# (from the following cluster areas)
- Chinese History and Culture
- Cultures, Organisations, Societies and Globalisation
- Human Nature, Relations and Development
- Language and Communication
- Science, Technology and Environment
For the full list of more than 60 General Education subjects, please click here.

^*Students with Level 3 or above in any one HKDSE subject (other than English) only need to take four General Education elective subjects.

Medium of Instruction: Most subjects are taught in English, although due to their nature and objectives, some subjects are taught in Chinese. Language subjects are taught in the language in question.

E & C English and Chinese
C Chinese

Discipline-specific Subjects

6 Compulsory Subjects
- Counselling Theories and Practice in a Contemporary World
- Guidance and Counselling
- Human Behaviour and Social Environment
- Introduction to Counselling for Social Services
- Introduction to Psychology
- Introduction to Sociology
2 Elective Subjects^# (from the following subjects or from the discipline-specific compulsory subjects offered in the other programmes under the Associate Degree Scheme in Applied Social Sciences)
- Abnormal Psychology
- Community Field Study ^{E & C}
- Community Project with Innovative Approaches E & C
- Globalisation and Development
- Guidance and Counselling ^{E & C}
- Issues in Hong Kong Society ^{E & C}
- Policy, Welfare and Human Values ^{E & C}
- Popular Culture and Consumption
- Practicum in Human Service Organisations ^{E & C}
- Social Welfare in Hong Kong ^{E & C}
- Social Welfare, Social Services and Social Policy in Hong Kong E & C
- Working with Groups, Communities and Organisations ^{E & C}
- Working with Individuals and Families ^{E & C}
⁺For students admitted from 2022/23#Offering of individual elective subjects is subject to resources and quota availability.

Medium of Instruction: Most subjects are taught in English, although due to their nature and objectives, some subjects are taught in Chinese. Language subjects are taught in the language in question.

E & C English and Chinese
C Chinese

Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this programme, graduates will be able to achieve its intended learning outcomes. For details, please click here.
Where will I go after HKCC?Articulation Track Record of Graduates
More than 90 local and overseas bachelor's degree ...

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Articulation Track Record of Graduates

More than 90 local and overseas bachelor's degree programmes have admitted graduates from HKCC's Associate Degree Scheme in Applied Social Sciences. In 2022, the average articulation rate of the Associate Degree Scheme in Applied Social Sciences was nearly 92%. For the articulation track record of graduates, please click here.

Career Prospects
- Programme Worker
- Project Assistant
- Teaching Assistant
- Welfare Worker
Admission Score

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Admission Score for this programme (2024/25 Cohort):

13.26 (Mean); 19 (Highest)

Click here to view admission score (2025/26 Cohort) for all programmes.

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Associate Degree

What is this programme about?

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Curriculum Structure+

General Education Subjects

9 Compulsory SubjectsLanguage subjects

Mathematics, IT and Critical Thinking subjects

Discipline-relevant General Education subjects

Essential Components of General Education (Non-credit bearing)

4-5 Elective Subjects*# (from the following cluster areas)

Discipline-specific Subjects

6 Compulsory Subjects

2 Elective Subjects# (from the following subjects or from the discipline-specific compulsory subjects offered in the other programmes under the Associate Degree Scheme in Applied Social Sciences)

Intended Learning Outcomes

Articulation Track Record of Graduates

Career Prospects

Admission Score for this programme (2024/25 Cohort):

13.26 (Mean); 19 (Highest)

Curriculum Structure⁺

9 Compulsory Subjects
Language subjects

4-5 Elective Subjects^*# (from the following cluster areas)

2 Elective Subjects^# (from the following subjects or from the discipline-specific compulsory subjects offered in the other programmes under the Associate Degree Scheme in Applied Social Sciences)