The curriculum of the Master of Social Sciences in the field of Clinical Psychology is a two-year (i.e., 24-month) full-time programme.  The curriculum consists of a total of 162 credits.  Candidates are required to complete 21 compulsory courses, including 15 taught courses (6 credits each)  (a total of 90 credits),  5 practicum courses, Practicum I to V with a total of 60 credits, and a dissertation research course given 12 credits (PSYC8006 Dissertation).  Each credit-unit is roughly equivalent to 20 hours of student learning activities (including both contact hours and all other forms of student learning activities) for the taught courses and the dissertation, or 30 hours of work for practicum, under supervision of a clinical supervisor.  Whereas the first year of the programme shall focus on the theoretical foundations and basic skills training in Clinical Psychology, the second year shall extend to include the application of the theories and assessment and treatment models to special populations in various clinical settings.

The courses are as follows:

First year
PSYC7024 – Induction Programme
PSYC7029 – Practicum I
PSYC7030 – Practicum II
PSYC7002 – Assessment of personality and psychopathology
PSYC7003 – Individual psychotherapy I
PSYC7004 – Individual psychotherapy II
PSYC7005 – Psychopathology I
PSYC7006 – Psychopathology II
PSYC7018 – Cognitive assessment
PSYC7019 – Research methods and statistics I
PSYC7020 – Research methods and statistics II
PSYC7009 – Clinical seminar I

Second year
PSYC8011 – Practicum III
PSYC8012 – Practicum IV
PSYC8013 – Practicum V
PSYC8001 – Clinical seminar II
PSYC8003 – Family and group therapy
PSYC8004 – Clinical neuropsychology

First and/or Second year
PSYC8002 – Community and health psychology
PSYC8005 – Ethics and professional issues

Capstone Experience Course
PSYC8006 – Dissertation

The courses listed above may be offered in a different year of study.

Regulations and syllabus of the degree of Master of Social Sciences (MSocSc), please click: here

PSYC7002 – Assessment of personality and psychopathology (6 credits)
This course focuses on the theoretical, practical, and cross-cultural issues related to the assessment of psychopathology and personality. Trainees will be exposed to a variety of clinical evaluation protocols in order to evaluate the level of functioning and symptomatology of an individual. They will also be exposed to the application of these techniques to a wide range of psychiatric problems as stipulated in DSM-5. These include mental state examination, test administration and interpretation, diagnostic decision making, integration of material derived from patient history and other relevant sources, and comprehensive case conceptualization.
Assessment: 100% coursework

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PSYC7003 – Individual psychotherapy I (6 credits)
This course introduces the common principles and skills of psychotherapies. In addition to reviewing the theoretical rationale and recent research and clinical literature, this course also focuses on the application of the empirically-supported therapeutic techniques to clinical and special populations.
Assessment: 100% coursework

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PSYC7004 – Individual psychotherapy II (6 credits)
The course focuses on the application of evidence-based psychotherapeutic approaches to the treatment of specific psychological disorders in both adults and children. Cultural issues in the practice of psychotherapy will be discussed when appropriate. Experienced clinicians are invited to introduce common treatment approaches applied to different populations in Hong Kong. In addition, new developments and contemporary issues in psychotherapy will be critically examined.
Assessment: 100% coursework

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PSYC7005 – Psychopathology I (6 credits)
In this first course of Psychopathology, students will learn important theoretical concepts in the definition, aetiology, features and classification of mental disorders. Major disorders across the life span will be examined. Significant paradigms, such as biological, psychodynamic, cognitive – behavioural and relevant psychosocial theories will be discussed, together with special issues in the diagnosis and conceptualisation of specific mental disorders.
Assessment: 100% coursework

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PSYC7006 – Psychopathology II (6 credits)
This second course of Psychopathology uses a developmental psychopathology perspective to discuss major topics of mental health problems across the life span. It aims to enhance the conceptualisation and case formulation skills of trainees as scientist–practitioners. The topics will be examined in depth, with special emphasis on the integration of theoretical conceptualisation, research findings and clinical practice. Special attention will be given to current issues of concern in both the Eastern and Western contexts.
Assessment: 100% coursework

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PSYC7009 – Clinical seminar I (6 credits)
A series of skill-training workshops will be offered to prepare students for further practical training in clinical placements. The course is composed of two arms: Assessment and Intervention. The Assessment arm covers core principles and strategies for intake interview with both adult and children populations. Intellectual assessment in the local context will be covered and commonly used tools for assessing a broad range of cognitive, behavioural, emotional, and social functions in children will also be introduced. The Treatment arm covers basic attitude and skills in counselling and forming therapeutic alliance, as well as specific skills used in cognitive and behavioural therapies.
Assessment: 100% coursework

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PSYC7018 – Cognitive assessment (6 credits)
This course provides an introduction to the assessment of cognitive functioning. Students learn to administer, score, and interpret a number of commonly used cognitive tests. Students also learn to present test results in professional psychological reports. Related psychometric principles, professional ethics, and cultural issues will be discussed.
Assessment: 100% coursework

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PSYC7019 – Research methods and statistics I (6 credits)
The topics in this course include intermediate research methods and statistics.  This course is designed to extend the knowledge and skills of students on research design and quantitative methods, using empirical examples in psychology to illustrate the key concepts and statistical reasoning involved. Students learn to become more intelligent consumers of research findings and more independent in conducting their own empirical studies.
Assessment: 100% coursework

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PSYC7020 – Research methods and statistics II (6 credits)
The topics in this course include intermediate research methods and statistics.  This course is designed to extend the knowledge and skills of students on research design and quantitative methods, using empirical examples in psychology to illustrate the key concepts and statistical reasoning involved. Students learn to become more intelligent consumers of research findings and more independent in conducting their own empirical studies. At the end of this course, each student will have developed a viable research proposal in preparation for his/her thesis according to standards of the American Psychological Association.
Assessment: 100% coursework

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PSYC7024 – Induction Programme (6 credits)
This course aims at engaging trainees in a number of orientation activities designed to provide them with a preliminary understanding of the theoretical and practical issues addressed in the programme and to prepare them for their first placement beginning in December of the year of training.
Assessment: 100% coursework

This course will be assessed on a pass/fail basis and will not be counted in the calculation of the GPA. However, grades will be recorded on the official transcript

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PSYC7029 – Practicum I (12 credits)
Practicum I is the first of the five practicum courses.  It consists of a minimum of 44 days of on-site clinical placement.  In addition, students will start their 2-year long, minimum 30 days, in-house supervised clinical activities with the Psychological Services Unit.  Through the on-site clinical placements, students will have the opportunity to learn and work under the direct supervision of experienced clinical psychologists who are providing services in different settings such as public hospitals, social services agencies, and government departments.  They will gain practical experience in working with a variety of client groups with different problems across the life span.  The training includes supervised practice in assessment, case formulation, and treatment.  Involvement in case conferences, workshops, seminars, or projects within the placement settings may also form part of the training.  Students will learn the professional ethics, service contexts and rules in different settings, and acquire knowledge and skills to work effectively in different teams or structures.

Assessment: 100% practicum

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PSYC7030 – Practicum II (12 credits)
Practicum II is the second of the five practicum courses.  It consists of a minimum of 44 days of on-site clinical placement.  In addition, students will continue their 2-year long, minimum 30 days, in-house supervised clinical activities with the Psychological Services Unit.  Through the on-site clinical placements, students will have the opportunity to learn and work under the direct supervision of experienced clinical psychologists in different settings such as public hospitals, social services agencies, and government departments.  They will gain practical experience in working with a variety of client groups with different problems across the life span.  The training includes supervised practice in assessment, case formulation, and treatment.  Involvement in case conferences, workshops, seminars, or projects within the placement settings may also form part of the training.  Students will learn the professional ethics, service contexts and rules in different settings, and acquire knowledge and skills to work effectively in different teams or structures.

Assessment: 100% practicum

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PSYC8001 – Clinical seminar II (6 credits)
The seminar provides in-depth clinical case discussions, with a focus on contemporary approaches to treatment planning and execution for a range of complex psychological problems.  Emphasis is placed on integration of psychological theories and clinical practice, as well as training on therapeutic skills and treatment strategies for effective implementation.  Students will get the chance to learn advanced knowledge and skills in specialist areas of psychological practice. Experienced clinicians and scholars will be invited to share their expertise on specialized topics.

Assessment: 100% coursework

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PSYC8002 – Community and health psychology (6 credits)
This course provides an overview of the history, context, and development of community psychology and health psychology. Students will be exposed to key concepts and values associated with the fields. They will also explore the application of community psychology and health psychology in the local context. The course provides ample opportunities for students to collectively develop and examine community-based initiatives to tackle mental health problems. Special emphasis is given to multicultural and diversity issues.
Assessment: 100% coursework

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PSYC8003 – Family and group therapy (6 credits)
This course provides an overview of the theories and practice of family and group interventions. For Family Intervention, it covers fundamental concepts, theories and frameworks in working with families and couples. Students will be able to develop basic knowledge and different theories of family therapy and how it can be applied in special populations. The course will be conducted in didactic lectures with case illustrations, videos and/or exercises.

The Group Intervention component aims to familiarize the trainees with the major theories, principles and techniques of group interventions through reading, discussion, videos and role plays. Group development, dynamics and different stages in the group processes will be examined. The empirical basis for efficacy of group interventions and group interventions for different populations and different psychological disorders will be addressed.
Assessment: 100% coursework

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PSYC8004 – Clinical neuropsychology (6 credits)
This course aims to provide an overview of basic functional neuroanatomy and clinical neuropathology. Literature in neuroscience and clinical neuropsychology will be reviewed and discussed. Neuropsychological assessment approaches will be introduced.
Assessment: 100% coursework

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PSYC8005 – Ethics and professional issues (6 credits)
The focus of this course is on the process of ethical decision making in the professional practice of clinical psychology.  Models of ethical decision making will be introduced, discussed, and applied.  In addition to the Code of Professional Conduct published by local professional bodies (e.g., the Hong Kong Psychological Society), a number of ethical codes, guidelines, and standards of practice will be reviewed.

Assessment: 100% coursework

This course will be assessed on a pass/fail basis and will not be counted in the calculation of the GPA. However, grades will be recorded on the official transcript.

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PSYC8006 – Dissertation (12 credits)
While in residence, each student proposes and completes a substantive, scholarly work relevant to clinical psychology. The dissertation must represent a student’s individual work. The examiners may also prescribe an oral examination on the subject of the dissertation. The title of the dissertation shall be submitted for approval on March 31 of the final academic year of study, and the dissertation shall be submitted by June 30 of the final academic year of study.
Assessment: 100% coursework

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PSYC8011 – Practicum III (12 credits)
Practicum III is the third of the five practicum courses.  It consists of a minimum of 44 days of on-site clinical placement.  In addition, students will continue their 2-year long in-house supervised clinical activities with the Psychological Services Unit and plan to complete a minimum of 30 days of the in-house training by the end of the 2-year training.  Through the on-site clinical placements, students will have the opportunity to learn and work under the direct supervision of experienced clinical psychologists in different settings such as public hospitals, social services agencies, and government departments.  They will gain practical experience in working with a variety of client groups with different problems across the life span.  The training includes supervised practice in assessment, case formulation, and treatment.  Involvement in case conferences, workshops, seminars, or projects within the placement settings may also form part of the training.  Students will learn the professional ethics, service contexts and rules in different settings, and acquire knowledge and skills to work effectively in different teams or structures.

Assessment: 100% practicum

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PSYC8012 – Practicum IV (12 credits)
Practicum IV is the fourth of the five practicum courses. It consists of a minimum of 44 days of on-site clinical placement.  In addition, students will continue their 2-year long in-house supervised clinical activities with the Psychological Services Unit and work towards completing a minimum of 30 days of the in-house training by the end of the 2-year training.  Through the on-site clinical placements, students will have the opportunity to learn and work under the direct supervision of experienced clinical psychologists in different settings such as public hospitals, social services agencies, and government departments.  They will gain practical experience in working with a variety of client groups with different problems across the life span.  The training includes supervised practice in assessment, case formulation, and treatment.  Involvement in case conferences, workshops, seminars, or projects within the placement settings may also form part of the training.  Students will learn the professional ethics, service contexts and rules in different settings, and acquire knowledge and skills to work effectively in different teams or structures.
Assessment: 100% practicum

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PSYC8013 – Practicum V (12 credits)
Practicum V is the fifth of the five practicum courses.  It consists of a minimum of 44 days of on-site clinical placement.  In addition, students will have to complete their 2-year long, minimum 30 days, in-house supervised clinical activities with the Psychological Services Unit within this period.  Through the on-site clinical placements, students will have the opportunity to learn and work under the direct supervision of experienced clinical psychologists in different settings such as public hospitals, social services agencies, and government departments.  They will gain practical experience in working with a variety of client groups with different problems across the life span.  The training includes supervised practice in assessment, case formulation, and treatment.  Involvement in case conferences, workshops, seminars, or projects within the placement settings may also form part of the training.  Students will learn the professional ethics, service contexts and rules in different settings, and acquire knowledge and skills to work effectively in different teams or structures.
Assessment: 100% practicum

MSocSc (CP) Advisory Panel

Adjunct Professors

Dr. Chan, Becky Mei Yin (Adjunct Associate Professor)

Dr. Chan, Chung Ming Anthony (Adjunct Associate Professor)

Dr. Cheung, Chuen Yih Amos (Adjunct Assistant Professor)

Dr. Chong, George Heung Chuen (Adjunct Associate Professor)

Dr. Hui, Shuk Han (Adjunct Associate Professor)

Dr. Kwok, Alice Wai Yee (Adjunct Associate Professor)

Dr. Lau, Edmond Kam Lun (Adjunct Associate Professor)

Dr. Ma, Ellen Yee Man (Adjunct Associate Professor)

Dr. Tsang, Lucia Yee Ha (Adjunct Associate Professor)

Dr. Wong, Chee Wing  (Adjunct Associate Professor)

Mr. Robin LEE (General Office)
Tel: (852) 3917 5866
Email:  msscp@hku.hk

Prof. Shirley X. LI
Admissions Coordinator
Email: shirleyx@hku.hk

Prof. W.S. CHAN
Programme Director
Email: msscp@hku.hk

For admission information, please go to this web page
MSocSc in Clinical Psychology