Course Description
A. Required Courses (4 compulsory courses, a total of 12 credits)
PSY513 Organisational Psychology (3 credits)
This course introduces students to the field of organizational psychology, which is the study of human behavior in groups and organizations. Students will learn about the dynamics between individuals and groups, and how these dynamics affect individuals’ behaviors in organizational contexts. Students will build their knowledge by learning the principles underlying the analysis and understanding of human behaviors in organizations.
PSY515 Research Methods in Work Psychology (3 credits)
This course provides an overview of advanced research methods used in industrial and organisational psychology, including research ethics. Students will learn to determine whether the data investigation approaches are the best ones for the research purpose. Tips on writing research articles are also discussed. Students will have hands-on practice in actual data analyses using statistical software and in research report writing. This course may also include extensive fieldwork experience at a selected site in the local community.
PSY619 Educational Psychology: Theory and Practice (3 credits)
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.
MOP608 Leadership in Educational Management (3 credits)
This course is designed to equip students with the theoretical foundations, applied skills, and practical techniques necessary to assume leadership roles in educational administration. Students will examine the pivotal role of leadership within educational institutions and explore how both classical and contemporary leadership theories can be applied to address the complex challenges faced by schools, colleges, and universities today.
B. Psychology Cluster (At least any 6 credits)
MOP607 Youth Mental Health: Developmental Risk and Resilience (3 credits)
This course aims to enhance students' scientific understanding of youth mental health issues, integrating theories and studies from developmental psychopathology, clinical disorders, and contemporary societal challenges for youth. It covers major clinical issues (e.g., mood disorder and anxiety disorder) and daily challenges in school (e.g., academic stress and bullying) and digital world (e.g., online gaming disorder). Students will critically analyze the biological, psychological, and social factors that influence mental health in children and adolescents, with emphasis on both risk and resilience factors from individuals, family, school, and broader sociocultural contexts. The course will equip students with knowledge and tools to promote resilience (minimize risks) for youth development and learning.
PSY605 Coaching and Counselling in the Workplace (3 credits）
This course is intended as an introduction to the basic concepts and issues of workplace coaching and counselling. Various issues faced by employees that hinder their professional and personal growth are also examined to promote performance, well-being, teamwork, and career development in work settings.
Course highlights:
1. Evidence-based practice of organisational psychology
2. Development of critical thinking and reflexivity
3. Collaborative learning
PSY613 Principles of Psychological Assessment (3 credits）
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 organized 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 settings; 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.
PSY618 Personal Growth (3 credits）
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.
PSY514 Occupational Health Psychology (3 credits）
This course will provide students with an introduction to theories and practices in occupational health psychology. The important dynamic relationship between work and the workers is highlighted. This course offers a platform for an impressive blend of research, discussion, and training in promoting workers’ health and well-being, thereby enhancing the experience and consequences of work itself.
C. Education Management Cluster (At least any 9 credits)
MOP601 Regional Study on Education Management in Greater China and East Asia (3 credits)
In collaboration with major universities in Taiwan, Mainland China, Macau, and East Asia, special lectures and class discussions, professional visits, and cultural tours will be organised for students. In selected Asian societies, students will be engaged in field observations and field visits to develop a more critical understanding of education management and governance through their active participation in and personal experience and critical reflection. More specifically, this course is an intensive and experiential unit, which provides a platform for students to study beyond the classroom. Through observing different higher education institutions, student learning experience will be enhanced through theory-field experience integration and reflection.
MOP602 Applied Education Management Project (Term 1 & Term 2，6 credits)
This course aims to provide students with hands-on research experience. In particular, a research project related to education management and applied psychology will be conducted. In their projects, students will implement research ideas by extending theories and research skills that they have learned and acquired. They will produce a research report under the supervision of the instructor.
MOP605 Guided Study in Education Management (3 credits)
This course provides an opportunity for students to engage in an independent study on a topic of their own choice relating to education management. With academic guidance of the Program Director, students may identify an area of professional/academic interest for taking the guided study. The matching between the student and the tutor will be based on individual student's learning needs and expertise of the faculty member. Through one-to-one personal tutorials and guidance, students are expected to complete their studies within a semester.
MOP606 Fostering Interculturality through Intercultural Education (3 credits)
With the globalization and internationalization of higher education, there is a growing number of opportunities for students to cross borders, countries and cultures to start a new language and cultural learning journey in a different educational context. It is crucial to prepare our students with relevant theory and research together with some practical examples, facilitate their understanding of their intercultural education, and help them achieve positive learning outcomes by relating their international/intercultural learning experiences to the topics in this course. This course is designed for postgraduate (PG) students in the university with recent or current international experience (study abroad, exchange program, immersion program, internships, or educational visit). It will guide students in understanding theories and topics such as language/cultural shock, acculturation challenges and strategies, intercultural adjustment, intercultural relations, identity expansion, global citizenship and intercultural competence through using English as a second language from perspectives of international education (intercultural contact and diversity) and cross-cultural psychology (the stress and coping theory, cultural learning theory and the social identity theory).
MOP609 Innovative Pedagogy: Frameworks & Application (3 credits)
Innovative pedagogy represents a shift from traditional teacher-centered approaches to student-centered, dynamic, and context-aware teaching practices. This course explores the theoretical foundations, design principles, and practical applications of innovative pedagogical models such as project-based learning, flipped classroom, inquiry-based learning, game-based learning, and technology-enhanced teaching. These innovative learning methods enable students to apply different innovative pedagogical models to solve real-world educational challenges.
MIH601 Internationalising Education: Institutional Strategy and Development (3 credits)
In this module you will explore the origins and development of international higher education with particular focus on current drivers and practices. Drivers include economic, political, cultural, and academic pressures, while the practices covered will include transnational campuses, international collaborations in teaching and research, the recruitment of overseas students and staff, and the use of new distance learning technologies. These will be illustrated through specific examples in different contexts, making use of both the literature and invited speakers.
MIH611 Generative AI in Education: Applications and Challenges (3 credits)
This course explores the application, integration, and challenges of Generative AI (GAI) in both school education and higher education. It aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills to effectively integrate GAI into teaching, learning, and assessment processes. The course covers contemporary strategies, techniques, ethical considerations, and practical challenges associated with GAI in education.
CRS512 Evolution of Early Childhood Education in China and the World (3 credits)
Early childhood education (ECE) is one of the indicators in the education domain to reflect urbanization. This course is designed to introduce and review the development of ECE in regions including Mainland China and the Western world. Over the past few decades, following the policy of marketizing and privatizing non-compulsory preschool education and the announcement of the “Outline of China’s National Plan for Medium and Long-term Education Reform and Development (2010-2020)” (State Council of China, 2010), a dramatic change has been seen in ECE in Mainland China. Students will be able to learn more about the development of China and the world from the perspective of education and how the influences of social, political and economic development drive mainland China’s ECE evolution: the early development of ECE before the 1950s; the one-child policy of the 1980s; the decline of public kindergartens in the 1990s; and post-2010 developments. And by comparing studies from Mainland China and the Western world, the course will also discuss the quality standards, assurance policy development, kindergarten participation, and disparities in the quality of provision so as to let students have a more comprehensive understanding towards the ECE ecosystem establishment and related discussions. Current trends and challenges will also be explored.