Course Descriptions
SOC501 | Social Policy Analysis: Global Comparative Perspectives This course explores the field of policy analysis with a particular focus on how policy is formulated and delivered in different institutional contexts. |
SOC 504 | Comparative Social Policy in Greater China and East Asia In this course, you will critically examine how the government, NGOs, and private enterprises respond to significant social challenges. |
SOC 505 | Globalisation, Policy and Society This course provides students with an introduction to debates on globalisation and its consequences for social policy, well-being and contemporary social divisions. |
SOC 506 | Policy Research and Evaluation Design This course introduces you to the role of research in evidence-based policy and practice. |
SOC 601 | Comparative Governance and Social Policy in a Global Context This course is designed to explore the nature of governance, management, and delivery in different comparative contexts. |
SOC 602 | Dialogue with Policy Practitioners: Theory and Practice In this course, you will engage in field visits to government offices, NGOs, and policy institutes in Hong Kong. |
SOC 604 | International Social Policy Symposium This course will enable you to interact with leading international researchers in an academic conference setting. |
SOC 605 | Comparative Social Policy Research Project In this course, you will demonstrate your analytical ability through the completion of an individually supervised research topic of your own choice. |
SOC 606 | Comparative Research Methods in Social Policy In this course, you will be introduced to major social indicators and gain the opportunity to explore them through ‘hands-on' data exercises. |
SOC 607 | Applied Survey Methodology This course introduces you to principles in survey methodology applied to social policies. |
SOC 608 | Qualitative Methods for Social Policy Analysis This course offers you an in-depth exploration of the principles and applications of qualitative research methods to social policy. |
SOC 609 | Social Entrepreneurship & Social Impact In this course, you will be given a comprehensive understanding of social entrepreneurship as an innovative solution for addressing pressing social issues. |
SOC 610 | Non-Profit Organisations & the Voluntary Sector In this course, you will be equipped with knowledge of the role and management of non-profit organisations and the voluntary sector from a comparative perspective. |
SOC 617 | Social Network Analysis (subject to senate approval) This course provides an intensive, hands-on introduction to the analysis and visualization of social networks using computational and statistical methods. |
SOC 618 | Machine Learning with Social Data (subject to senate approval) This course introduces students to the application of machine learning methods in the analysis of social data. |
Comparative Social Policy Research Project
Once you completed all coursework, you will work on your capstone project with the help of an expert faculty supervisor. This project will enable you to produce a substantial research paper of typically around 8,000-10,000 words in length that reflects a deep understanding of a topic entirely of your own choice. Due to the individual nature of students' research interests, the subjects studied vary considerably, but projects may ask, for example:
- How is people's experience of poverty and material deprivation affected by welfare policies in the Southern Chinese Greater Bay Area?
- Is the public support for older adults in Hong Kong adequate and can policymakers learn any lessons from European societies?
- What makes a sound housing policy in contemporary Asian societies?
- Are public policies to increase health care coverage in low-income countries effective?
- How do higher education policies in different societies influence young people's school-to-work transition?
- What are the factors impacting the work-life balance of families with children in different societies?
- Do conditional cash transfers in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa work?
A series containing the student works produced by individually supervised and executed research projects from the course SOC 605 Comparative Social Policy Research Project can be accessed here.
