Bachelor of Social Sciences (Hons) in Psychology

This degree program is a broad-based program in which the core courses in Psychology comprise 37%, and departmental electives comprise 27% of the total credits. The remaining credits cover the areas of language competence, information and communication technology, and non-departmental electives. The minimum number of credits for each semester is 12. The minimum requirement for graduation is 122 credits. Students may take up to a maximum of 135 credits with the approval of the Registrar and Head of Department.

The department offers four suggested areas of concentration:

Work and Organizational Psychology Concentration (Quotas: 20 per year)

For students who wish to apply their knowledge of Psychology in the business world, the suggested electives listed below should give them adequate preparation to become management trainees.

Suggested Departmental Electives or Other Electives:

• Health Psychology
• Business Psychology
• Industrial and Organizational Psychology
• Motivation and Learning
• Industrial Attachment

*Students who would like to pursue in Work and Organizational Psychology Concentration should be alerted about the limited seats offered in “Industrial Attachment” in each academic year. You may be arranged to take this course in either Year 3 or 4.

School Psychology Concentration

For students who are interested in pursuing the education aspects of Psychology, the following electives are recommended.

Suggested Departmental Electives:

• School Counselling
• Counseling Students with Special Education Needs
• Career and Employment Counselling
• Educational Psychology
• Motivation and Learning

*Students who would like to pursue in School Psychology Concentration should enroll in pre-requisite subject by themselves before taking specific electives

Health and General Counselling Concentration

Students who are interested in entering the health care or counseling sectors are advised to take the following electives.

Suggested Departmental Electives:

• Theories and Systems in Counselling and Psychotherapy
• Micro-Skills in Counselling and Psychotherapy
• Advanced Skills in Individual Counselling and Psychotherapy
• Ethics: Professional Issues and Personal Awareness
• Health Psychology

*Students who would like to pursue in Health and General Counselling Concentration should enroll in pre-requisite subject by themselves before taking specific electives

Research and Cognitive Science Concentration

For students who are interested in research or Cognitive Psychology, the following electives are available:

• Advanced Cognitive Psychology
• Research Internship
• Psychology of Consciousness
• Human Neuropsychology
• Specific Issues in Neuroscience

• The top private university in Hong Kong by QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) Asian University Rankings for 5 consecutive years
• Ranked as 180 at QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) Asian University Rankings - Eastern Asia 2024
• Ranked 13th Nationwide in Psychology and Top 5 in Hong Kong by Research.com
• The first private university in Hong Kong
• The World's Top 2% most cited scientists at HKSYU

Education Pathways

Graduates could further study education psychology, counseling psychology, industrial and organizational psychology, or cognitive psychology in Hong Kong or overseas.

The University offers three taught postgraduate and two research postgraduate programs for the graduates of this program as well. The Master of Social Sciences in Counselling Psychology (MSSCP) is aimed at training professional counseling psychologists. It is recognized by both local and overseas professional bodies. The Master of Social Sciences in Play Therapy (MSSPT), which qualifies graduates for providing play therapy as a form of psychological intervention, is the only program in Hong Kong delivering such training at the master's level. We aspire to groom the next generation of scholars and leaders in the field. To this end, we offer advanced research and professional training through the Doctor of Psychology in Counselling Psychology program, Master of Philosophy program, and Doctor of Philosophy program.

• Graduates with Health and General Counselling or School Psychology concentrations could be secondary/primary school counselors, SEN teachers, therapists, and community service specialists.
• Graduates with a Work and Organisational Psychology concentration could be marketing specialists, human resources officers, and research analysts.
• Graduates with a Research and Cognitive Science concentration could be university research assistants or data analysts.

Professional Recognition

Graduates are eligible to apply for membership in the Hong Kong Psychological Society.