Required courses

PSY501 Research Methods in Psychology
This course provides an overview of advanced research methods used in various areas of psychology including research ethics. Students will learn to determine whether the data investigation approaches are the best ones for the research purpose.

 

PSY502 Cognitive Psychology
This course will discuss major theories and findings from areassuch as visual perception, attention, memory, language, problem solving and decision making. It will show how cognitive psychologists attempt to understand the human mind via the use of computers (this is related to the field of artificial intelligence also known as A.I.). It will also explore the relation between cognitive psychology and everyday experiences.

 

PSY503 Lifespan Developmental Psychology
This course introduces theories on human development across the life span and explain how people change (and how they remain unchanged) over time. The course also highlights the psychology of adulthood (including young, middle, and late adulthood) in the most interesting way. Issues relating to developmental problems will be discussed.

 

PSY504 Personality Psychology
This course introduces students to individual differences in both personality and intelligence by examining theories, research, measurements, and practical applications in daily life. We will examine, compare and evaluate the major theoretical perspectives on personality, and review relevant research supporting or refuting the theoretical formulations. Students will learn to appreciate the contributions and limitations of each personality paradigm, and how it has impacted on other areas of specialisation in psychology. We will also learn the implicit theory of intelligence, and its impacts on students’ learning motivation and performance. The issue of emotional intelligence will also be discussed.

 

PSY505 Social Psychology​

Social psychologists examine how the self and the social context interplay, as well as how individuals influence one another. In other words, social psychology is the study of the influences on and consequences of social interaction. Topics covered in this course include theories and research on social cognition (attitude, stereotypes, and judging others), social influences (conformity, obedience to authority, and persuasion) and social relations (prejudice, altruism, and aggression).

Elective courses

PSY611 Theories and Models in Counselling Psychology​
This course is an introduction to counselling psychology. Counselling approaches and interventions will be examined from various theoretical perspectives, with an emphasis on therapeutic intervention strategies and applications that promote personal growth and change. In this course, students will be exposed to therapeutic interventions which will increase their awareness of common themes/principles that evoke client change and growth. Major theories of counselling psychology such as cognitive behavioural, humanistic and positive psychological are presented and evaluated. This course also addresses a variety of topics of special relevance to counselling psychology including assessment of client problems, analysis of psychological status, intervention for people in crisis situations, assessment of suicidal risk, and the process of behavioural change. Core facilitative skills of counselling are acquired and demonstrated via coursework

 

PSY612 Psychopathology ​
This course will introduce the bases of clinical and counselling psychology through a broad survey of various aspects of abnormal behaviour. The course will cover common psychological disorders, such as mood disorders, eating disorders, personality disorders, and schizophrenia. Assessment and treatment of these psychological disorders will also be discussed.

 

PSY613 Principals of Psychological Assessment​
This course will provide an overview of basic issues involved in the field of psychological testing, as well as examine the application of various psychological assessments. The course is organised around three domains relevant for psychological testing and assessment: (1) principles of psychological testing; (2) application of psychological assessments in various contexts, particularly in clinical setting; and (3) professional issues related to psychological assessment. This course will require that students have some knowledge of statistics and quantitative methods prior to taking this course.

 

PSY614 Interventions and Professional Ethics in Counselling
This course is divided into two parts. First, it covers principles and issues of professionalism and ethics in counselling. This course offers a platform for the students to critically examine relevant counselling theories, trends, strategies and techniques with a conscious reference to cultural and contextual issues. Second, it introduces the skills and process of person-centred counselling. It concentrates on the theory and practice of developing a therapeutic relationship from a humanistic perspective using micro-skills. Framed in counselling, the skills taught relate to relationship building and communication in many interpersonal contexts outside formal counselling relationships. It is hoped that this course will assist students in their future daily work as professional counsellors.

 

PSY617 Guided Study in Psychology​
The guided study requires students to independently propose a research on a psychology topic of their choice under the supervision of a faculty member. Students will be guided to apply concepts, research tools and techniques in designing and writing up an independent research report in this course.

 

PSY618 Personal Growth
This course aims to promote among students an interest and readiness for taking charge of their personal growth. It draws attention to the significance of mental and physical health, and the pathway to living a more meaningful and fulfilling life. Some of the topics to be covered include reviewing one’s childhood and adolescence, body and wellness, career development, stress, coping and mindfulness, love and relationships, meaning and values, death and loss, and finding happiness. Special emphasis will be placed on helping students identify some of the significant influences of personal growth and recognizing options to optimize one’s development. Current trends and issues in personal growth such as sleep hygiene, wellness through exercise and healthy diets and setting digital boundaries will also be discussed.

 

PSY619 Educational Psychology: Theory and Practice

This course is designed to introduce students to psychological theories and principles as applied to learning and teaching. Topics include student development, learning theories from both behavioural and cognitive traditions, effective teaching methods and practices, learners’ individual differences, achievement motivation, and classroom assessment. Students will also be introduced to professional practices of educational psychologists. Students are encouraged to reflect on their own learning and teaching by integrating what they learn in this course with their real life experience.This course is suitable for those who are interested in a career in education or understanding how to become more efficient learners.

 

PSY 602 Human Relationship and Interpersonal Skills in Organisations
This course emphasizes the understanding and development of effective interpersonal skills and strategies in verbal and non-verbal communication in organisations. Personal, situational, and cultural influence on human interaction will be addressed. Key topics in this course include interpersonal dynamics, listening skills, conflict management, effective negotiation, communication in work team, business communication styles, etc. Video clips will be used to demonstrate effective and ineffective communication. Group discussion will be facilitated to discuss factors which may influence the interpersonal communication process.

 

PSY 604 Consumer Psychology
This course aims at providing a clear understanding of the principles and concepts of consumer behaviour. The course mainly focuses on the consumer as an individual and provides both the micro and macro perspectives of the factors influencing consumers. It emphasizes how the basic psychological process (e.g., personality, perception, memory, persuasion, etc.) and social and cultural factors (e.g., group dynamics, family, social class, etc.) affect consumer behaviours (e.g., brand attitudes, brand loyalty, decision making, etc). Students will learn how to use the knowledge of consumer psychology to develop effective marketing tactics. It is hoped that after completing the course, students will be able to think like marketers and be better consumers.

 

PSY 606 Applied Positive Psychology at Work
This course introduces new developments in positive psychology, specifically the applied positive psychology perspective, to enhance happiness, resilience, well-being, individual health, and performance/productivity of institutions. The course also highlights positive psychology ideas and science, and some psychological capacities such as Psychological Capital to psychological intervention in different work settings.     

 

HAM508 Applied Health Psychology in Social Service Settings​
Health psychology focuses on the role of psychosocial processes in health promotion and maintenance, illness prevention and treatment, and the relationship between psychosocial factors and physiological processes involved in health and diseases. The course provides a general introduction to the field of health psychology with a focus in the application to social service settings. We will study the biopsychosocial model of health and illness, and examine its contribution to understanding: a) health promotion and illness prevention, b) becoming ill and adopting the sick role, and c) coping with chronic illness. In each domain, we will discuss and critically evaluate the basic research, explanatory theories, and interventions developed or used by health psychologists. Finally, the course enmeshes you in the theory of, techniques for, and research on how psychology can help people live longer, healthier lives.

 

HAM509 Sleep, Health, and Everyday Life​
Why is sleep so important that we need to spend one-third of our life on this (in)activity? This course will provide a basic introduction to how sleep is regulated and measured, and how sleep changes across the lifespan. The importance of sleep in multiple age groups and in optimising various aspects of health will be discussed. This course will also address how sleep can be improved. Sleep research in Asian societies will be reviewed, where appropriate, to help students understand some of the topics in a local context.

 

SAG501 Positive Gerontology​
This course is to develop students’ ability to understand physiological, cognitive, psychological and social changes as people grow older, which is an inevitable course of life. This course helps students to embrace aging with a positive attitude and empower them with knowledge to improve the quality of life of the aging population. This raises students’ awareness and understanding of issues of aging as well as their impacts in social services across the world.