Undergraduate Programmes

General Office (Tel: 3917 5867, E-mail: ugpsyc@hku.hk )

The Department of Psychology offers 3 major programmes and 4 minor programmes to undergraduate students.

1. Major/ Minor Programmes Available

Programme1st Major (For BPsych students only)2nd MajorMinor
Psychology
Cognitive Science
Neuroscience
Human Resource Management - FSS

2. Regulations, Syllabus & Structure and List of Courses

IntakeRegulations & SyllabusProgramme StructureList of Courses & Descriptions
2022-20232021-2022 Regulations & Syllabus2021-2022 Regulations & Syllabus
BPsych /  BSocSc
Programme_Structure_2021-22List of courses & descriptions_2021-22
2021-20222021-2022 Regulations & SyllabusProgramme_Structure_2021-22List of courses & descriptions_2021-22
2020-20212020-2021 Regulations & SyllabusProgramme_Structure_2020-21List of courses & descriptions_2020-21
2019-20202019-2020 Regulations & SyllabusProgramme_Structure_2019-20List of courses & descriptions_2019-20
2018-20192018-2019 Regulations & Syllabus2018-2019 Programme Structure2018-2019 List of courses & descriptions
2017-20182017-2018 Regulations & Syllabus2017-2018 Programme Structure2017-2018 List of courses & descriptions
2016-20172016-2017 Regulations & Syllabus2016-2017 Programme Structure2016-2017 List of courses & descriptions

3. Recommended Study Pathway

IntakeRecommended Study Pathway
2022-20232019-2020 Recommended Study Pathway
2019-20202019-2020 Recommended Study Pathway
Before 2019-2020 cohort2018-2019 Recommended Study Pathway

4. Major / Minor Declaration

  • BPsych students can start declaring their 2nd major/minor at the beginning of their Year 2 study, change the declared major / minor throughout the Year 2 & 3 study but not later than semester 1 of the last year.
  • For neuroscience major/minor programme, online declaration is not available in SIS. Students who would like to declare major/minor in Neuroscience are required to submit an application form to the Department of Psychology one week before the end of add/drop period each semester.

5. FAQ about the Requirements for Major / Minor Fulfillment

Question 1:
What courses can I choose as disciplinary elective?

Answer 1:
Students can choose courses listed in the syllabus for respective programmes as disciplinary electives. However, core courses cannot be taken as disciplinary elective, since no courses can be double counted.


Question 2:
I am doing a first major in psychology (BPsych students admitted in 2022-23 and thereafter / students admitted before 2022-23). The course PSYC1001 appears in the syllabi of psychology, cognitive science and neuroscience. How would it be counted?

Answer 2:
No courses can be double counted. The course PSYC1001 will primarily be used to fulfill the requirement of introductory disciplinary course for the major in psychology.

Students have to take any 2 other courses from COMP1117/ LING1000/ LING2034/ PHIL1012 to fulfill requirement of introductory disciplinary course of 2nd major/minor in cognitive science.

For students who wish to do a 2nd major/minor in neuroscience, students have to take one more advanced disciplinary elective listed in the neuroscience syllabus to make-up the shortfall credits of PSYC1001.


Question 3:
I am a BPsych student. I would like to declare a 2nd major in cognitive science. How many pre-requisite courses do I have to take from the 6 units in social sciences?

Answer 3:
For double majors in psychology and cognitive science, students have to complete a total of 18 credits to fulfill the pre-requisite courses requirements (equivalent to 3 introductory courses). The introductory pre-requisite courses should be taken from two different departments within one single major. It will be fine if you take two different pre-requisite courses from the same department in two different major requirements.

Here is a doable example for reference:

​Components ​​BPsych ​2nd Major in Cognitive Science
Introductory disciplinary courses PSYC1001 & PSYC1004 PHIL1012 & LING1000
Pre-requisite courses ​ ​ SOCI 1001 ​GEOG1016 & SOCI1003
 

Question 4:

How can I check the outstanding credits or requirements for my declared major/minor?

Answer 4:
Students can check the Degree Audit Report which is available at the SIS for details about requirements that have been satisfied and also those requirements that are still outstanding. Please see the User Guide here (HKU portal login required).


Question 5:
I am a student declared psychology as a second major admitted before 2022/23. To fulfill Social Innovation and Global Citizenship requirement, I am required to take 24 credits of courses listed under the Faculty of Social Sciences syllabuses, including the social sciences and non-social sciences courses. What courses can I choose to fulfill the Social Innovation and Global Citizenship requirement?

Answer 5:
All free-electives courses at advanced level can fulfill the Social Innovation and Global Citizenship requirement. Students are strongly advised to check with the course offering units about the course level (Introductory or Advanced) since the Department is not the appropriate unit to define the course level for non-psychology courses.

1. List of Courses

2022-2023

2021-2022

2020-2021

2019-2020

2018-2019

2. Lecture Timetable for Courses Offered by the Department

Semester 1, 2022-2023

Semester 2, 2022-2023

Summer Semester, 2022-2023

 

Timetable of tutorials:      Please access Tutorial Sign-up application via (1) the hyperlink in My eLearning tab or (2) iOS app and Android app of mobile device.

3. Course outlines in previous years (For Reference ONLY)

Current students may use the HKU portal login to access the course outlines in previous years as below.

The course offering, class timetable and course instructor are subject to change. Students who wish to obtain an official course outline for the current academic year should go to the Moodle class after formally registered in the course. Enquiries about updated course offerings should be sent to ugpsyc@hku.hk.

Course Code Course Title Course Outline
PSYC1001 Introduction to psychology click here
PSYC1004 Introduction to quantitative methods in psychology click here
PSYC2002 Psychological testing and measurement click here
PSYC2005 Introduction to counseling and therapeutic psychology click here
PSYC2007 Cognitive psychology click here
PSYC2009 Life-span developmental psychology click here
PSYC2019 Psychology of personality click here
PSYC2020 Fundamentals of social psychology click here
PSYC2022 Biological psychology click here
PSYC2035 Introduction to educational psychology click here
PSYC2051 Perception click here
PSYC2060 Research and quantitative methods in psychology click here
PSYC2062 Introduction to psychopathology click here
PSYC2065 Health psychology click here
PSYC2066 Foundations of cognitive science click here
PSYC2067 Seminars in cognitive science click here
PSYC2071 Judgments and decision making click here
PSYC2072 Research internship in psychology I click here
PSYC2073 Research internship in psychology II click here
PSYC2074 Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy click here
PSYC2101 Foundations of neuroscience I click here
PSYC2102 Seminar in neuroscience click here
PSYC2103 Foundations of neuroscience II click here
PSYC2110 Developmental neuroscience click here
PSYC2111 Neurobiological basis of psychological issues click here
PSYC2112 Research internship in neuroscience click here
PSYC2113 Introduction to brain imaging click here
PSYC3051 Advanced personality psychology click here
PSYC3052A Advanced social psychology click here
PSYC3052B Advanced social psychology click here
PSYC3052C Advanced social psychology click here
PSYC3052D Advanced social psychology click here
PSYC3054 Human neuropsychology click here
PSYC3061 Advanced issues in perception click here
PSYC3064A Advanced developmental psychology click here
PSYC3064B Advanced developmental psychology click here
PSYC3068 Advanced cognitive psychology click here
PSYC4007 Independent study in psychology (12 credits) click here
PSYC4008 Thesis in psychology (12 credits) click here
PSYC4068 Research project in cognitive science (for Cognitive Sciences major) click here
PSYC4101 Thesis in neuroscience (for Neuroscience Major) click here
PSYC4102 Capstone project in neuroscience (for Neuroscience Major) click here

4. Important Notes about Course enrollment

  • All courses offered by the Department have quota restriction.
  • Some courses may have pre-requisite requirements.  Students should obtain a passing grade in the pre-requisite course(s) before taking the subsequent courses.
  • Taking advanced courses concurrently with its pre-requisite is NOT allowed.
  • Course enrollment with timetable conflicts will NOT be approved.
  • Double-counting is NOT allowed.
  • Students should read carefully the syllabus and course descriptions at major minor overview.

1. Research Internship Course (6 Credits)

A research internship course is different from a standard course. It combines working as a student intern in a research laboratory – helping with data collection and administrative tasks, attending lab meetings – with reading and learning about the related literature, etc. The specifics are highly dependent on the specific laboratory.

For research internship opportunities offered by lecturers, please click the lecturer’s name from here and read the details under “Research Internship Opportunities”.

Major/Minor ProgrammeCourseOverview & Application
PsychologyPSYC2072 & PSYC2073
Research internship in psychology I & II
Psychology	PSYC2072 & PSYC2073 Research internship in psychology I & II
NeurosciencePSYC2112
Research internship in neuroscience
Neuroscience	PSYC2112 Research internship in neuroscience

2. Research Project Course (6 Credits)

Research project courses comprise an independent research study in an area of cognitive science or neuroscience of the candidates’ choice, subject to availability of supervision. Students will read within an area of study, to be agreed with their instructor, and write an extended essay or research proposal.

Major/Minor ProgrammeCourseOverview & Application
Cognitive SciencePSYC4068
Research project in cognitive science
Cognitive Science	PSYC4068  Research project in cognitive science
NeurosciencePSYC4102
Capstone project in neuroscience
Neuroscience	PSYC4102 Capstone project in neuroscience

3. Independent Study (12 credits)

Students who are interested in conducting an independent empirical investigation of a psychological problem may take Independent Study course. The project write-up should be about 8,000 to 10,000 words (exclusive of tables, bibliographies and appendices) and should follow the practice of communication in top psychology journals. Approval by Departmental Head is required for admissions into this course.

Major/Minor ProgrammeCourseOverview & Application
PsychologyPSYC4007
Independent study in psychology
Psychology	PSYC4007  Independent study in psychology