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Master of Arts in Social Work

Introduction

The course of social work has been introduced with one introductory course/subject in the BA in Sociology program since 1994. After three years of cooperation with the University of Washington in Seattle, the RUPP Department of Social Work was established and it recruited its first cohort of undergraduate students in 2008. Around this time, year 2005, to respond the immediate need for strengthening the capacity of social workers currently working in the government, civil society and private sectors, RUPP also initiated cooperation with the Ewha Womans University (EWU) in Seoul, Republic of Korea to plan and establish a Master Program in Social Work. In June 2007, a MOU between RUPP and EWUwas officially signed and it described the support by EWU Graduate School of Social Welfare to RUPPto establish a Master course in Social Work at RUPP. Shortly after this, a curriculum for this MA Social Work program was elaborated in collaboration with the EWU academic experts. In January 15th 2009, EWU supported RUPP in conducting a workshop to gather all local and international stakeholders ‘comments on the drafted Master’s program of Social Work curriculum at the RUPP Campus 2. At the workshop, 60 participants were from various NGOs and government agencies working in the field of Social Work and Social Welfare in Cambodia. After the workshop, the curriculum was finalized.

Introduction

Background

The Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) was founded in 1960 with the original name, Royal Khmer University. During the period of 1975-1979 of the Pol Pot regime, the university experienced destruction and was closed as a decimation of teaching service and a cessation of the whole education system. In 1980, the university re-established as the Ecole Normale Superieure (Higher Normal College) and merged with the Institute of Foreign Language (re-founded in 1981) in 1988 to create the Phnom Penh University, and was re-named as the Royal University of Phnom Penh in 1996. RUPP first created its postgraduate program in 1998. So far there have been 16 programs of graduate degree. Master’s program of Social Work, which was launched in 2009, aimed to teach theories and practice skills of social work and to educate students to be distinguished professional young leaders who can play important roles in various fields of social work and social welfare.

Vision

Student's professional development

The Master of Arts in Social Work program (MASW program hereafter) focuses on student’s professional development of practical skills. It also helps students to integrate theories and practical skills by strengthening student’s educational and research capabilities.

Special emphasis on in-depth education

The MASW program puts special emphasis on in-depth education and research for the development of professional capabilities. Students are to select either clinical track or policy track.

Strengthening student's international leadership

The MASW program aims to educate international leaders by strengthening student’s international leadership. It facilitates development and dissemination of Cambodia culture specific models of social work as well as the development of international leadership by having ongoing interactions with internationally well-known universities and organizations.

Basic Resources and Facilities

Students in the MASW program have an access to all of RUPP’s libraries, including the well-resourced Hun Sen Library. They also have access to the library of the Campus II, and a special materials and textbooks of the working library program, which has been developed especially for their needs. In addition, students have access to the facilities offered by the Cambodia Development Resources Institute (CDRI) and the Cooperation Committee for Cambodia (CCC). Several computers, with an access to the internet and social work journal databases, are also available for the Master’s program students.

Admission

Who should enroll?

  1. Those who are now working in ICT related industry or government sector and a higher degree will help advance their careers.

  2. Those who are now enjoying their careers in ICT and want to enhance and upgrade their knowledge of the field to a higher level of specialist.

  3. Fresh graduates who are looking for a higher degree to advance their knowledge and to increase their career opportunities.

Application Documents:

  1. Two copies of the completed Application Form.
  2. Certified transcripts of completed B.A., transcript of an equivalent accredited degree in the field of Social and Human Sciences.
  3. Proficiency in written and spoken English.
  4. Two recommendation letters from former teachers or current employers.
  5. Copy of valid identity card and family book (with originals).
  6. Four recent 4 x 6 photographs.

Application and Registration

  1. Applicants who already attended two or more colleges or universities in the past should list all schools they have attended on the application form and submit necessary documents from those schools.
  2. The documents and the application fee submitted are non-refundable.
  3. Applicants cannot get admission if they fail to submit required documents in a designated date.
  4. The documents not submitted during the application period will not be taken into account during the evaluation.
  5. Students who are expected to graduate from an undergraduate program should submit a graduation certificate form following the deadlines to the Coordinator office.
  6. Students who are admitted should pay tuition and other fee within a designated time period.
  7. When an admitted applicant does not register and wants to get a refund for the tuition and other fees, he/she should complete and submit a required document to the school. A refund will be made according to the “Rules on Tuition and Entrance Fee.”
  8. There is no restriction on the number of students to be admitted.
  9. Evaluation Criteria: Good morals, GPA, student’s academic capabilities, language skills, etc.

Admission Notice

  1. Individual admission notice will be mailed and/or telephoned.
  2. Admission will be canceled when a student’s submitted documents are proved to be misrepresented or falsified, even when they did not affect the decision of admission.
  3. All other issues that are not mentioned here will be referred to the rules of the RUPP admission committee.

Fees

  • Registration and entrance examination fee 20USD.
  • The tuition fee for the two-year Master’s degree program in Social Work is 2000USD. This must be paid in installments of 500USD at the start of each semester.

Scholarships

Scholarship are made available to students to be in special need. These scholarships consist of:

    1. Ewha Scholarship

    2. A reduction in tuition fee costs. Students on a scholarship pay only 25% of the course tuition fee. Scholarships are dependent on students achieving at least a 3.50 GPA for each semester. If a student’s performance falls below this mark, the scholarship committee will suspend that student’s allowance.

Curriculum

Year I​

Semester I

Course Title
Credits
Introduction to Social Work
3
Human Behavior and Social Environment
3
Foundation of Social Work Practice
3
Social Welfare Policy
3

Semester I​I

Course Title
Credits
Research Methods for Social Work
3
Social Work with Children and Youth
3
Community Organization & Development
3
Ethics and Human Rights in Social Work
3
Advanced Field Practicum I
3

Year I​I

Semester I

Course Title
Credits
Social Work Counselling & Crisis Intervention
3
Program Development & Evaluation
3
Social Science Statistics
3
Case management
3
Leadership & Management of Human Service Organizations
3

Semester II

Course Title
Credits
Public Health in Social Work
3
Poverty and Income Maintenance
3
Social Work Practice with Family
3
Social Work for People with Disabilities
3

Couse Description

Enrollment

Who can apply

  • Applicants must have a Bachelor’s Degree or equivalence in Social Science from an accredited institution
  • Pass the entrance exam on English and general knowledge in the field of Social Work

Instructional Method

  1. The medium of instruction is English
  2. Each subject contains relevance to the Cambodian context, analytical skills, writing skills, and library and internet research
  3. The program adopts co-teaching by RUPP lecturers and national and international academics and practitioners in the area of Social Works
  4. Course outline and teaching notes of each subject are jointly developed by RUPP and partner lecturers
  5. The program also includes fieldwork and guest lectures/seminars/workshops/ conferences by relevant social work stakeholders and experts.
About Us

The Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), founded in 1960, has undergone a series of transformations to become the leading national university in Cambodia.

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