Course list

(For all students in the Program)

Undergraduate Minor Program in Psychological and Behavioral Science

Any undergraduate students who have completed at least two regular terms of study with a CGA of 2.3 or above may enroll in the minor program. They must declare their intention to enroll in the program during the application period conducted in January and August every year no later than the commencement of their final year of study. Students who wish to withdraw from the minor program should apply before the last day of the add/drop period in the first regular term of their final year of study.

Minor Requirements

To graduate with a minor in Psychological and Behavioral Science (PBS), the students must have enrolled in the minor program and completed a minimum total of 18 credits and all of its requirements, as well as all the requirements of their major program of study. They are also required to attain an average grade point of at least 1.7 in courses taken within the minor program.

A maximum total of 6 credits completed successfully outside HKUST can be transferred to the minor program.

Out of the total credits required by the minor program, at least 9 credits should be single-counted within the minor and are not used to fulfill any other requirements for graduation except the 120-credit degree requirement. Courses used to fulfill the requirements of other minor programs offered by the School of Humanities and Social Science or the School of Business and Management cannot be used to count toward the minor program.

Students may use no more than 6 credits earned from courses offered in pure online delivery mode to satisfy the graduation requirements of a degree program. This 6-credit limit does not apply to credits obtained through the credit transfer procedures of the University.

Required Course(s)

  Credit(s)
attained
SOSC Note: SOSC 1960 OR SOSC 1969 OR SOSC 1980  
 

 

This course examines human thinking and behavior processes from a psychological perspective and illustrates the relevance of psychological insights to the betterment of society. It is designed to help students acquire a basic understanding of psychology as a scientific discipline and prepare them for more advanced psychology courses in the future.
 3
 

 

This course introduces the fundamental scientific knowledge about human thinking and behavior processes and illustrates the relevance of this knowledge to the betterment of human performance and well-being in a wide variety of settings in society.
 3
 

 

This course introduces major challenges of adjustment individuals face during their transition to adulthood from a psychosocial perspective. Topics include role identities, personality, emotion, stress and coping, interpersonal attraction and communication, and workplace issues.
 3
 

 

This course introduces students to the basic research principles in psychological science. It evaluates various research designs and statistical analyses, and discusses relevant ethical issues encountered in studying human behaviors.
 3

Elective(s)

  Minimum
credit(s)
required
SOSC/MARK/MGMT Psychological and Behavioral Science (PBS) Electives (Courses from two specified elective list, of which at least two courses from List A, and at least one from List B, with no more than one 1000-level course in total). Courses taken as Required courses may not be counted toward the elective requirement.   12
List A: SOSC courses

**** Not all courses are offered every year ****
 

 

This course introduces the fundamental concepts and theories in social psychology, a scientific field of study that seeks to understand the nature and causes of individuals’ thinking and behavior in social situations.
 3  
 

 

This course provides an introduction to the biological approach to psychology. Comparative studies on non-human animals and the issue of genetic inheritance of behavior will be discussed. Emphasis will be placed on key principles of human nervous system function and how they are reflected in human thoughts and behavior. Key topics covered include the organization of the brain, the visual system, how learning and memory occur in the brain, and the cognitive and behavioral consequences of brain injury and disease.
 3  
 

 

Cognitive Psychology explores mental processes, including perception, attention, memory, language processing, and problem-solving. This course introduces basic concepts, theories, research findings, and new developments in studying how people acquire, store, and use information and knowledge. Methods and skills in investigating cognitive processes will also be discussed. Students are expected to gain experience in conducting cognitive psychology experiments and writing laboratory reports.
 3  
 

 

This course surveys the principal approaches to studying personality and examines relevant modern research.
 3  
 

 

Developmental psychology is the scientific study of human development over the course of the life span. This course introduces theories, research methods, and research findings on developmental processes from adolescence into old age, primarily focusing on areas including physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development. Some topics are love and partnership, peer relationship, family and parenting, death and grieving, and common psychological disorders among adolescents and adults. Throughout the course, students will be inspired, challenged, and excited to learn more deeply into the psychology of adolescence and adulthood.
 3  
 

 

This course examines the transactions between humans and the physical environment from a psychological perspective. It discusses how human behavior is affected by, and affects, the built and natural surroundings. It also explores the human dimension of environmental issues.
 3  
 

 

Abnormal psychology is the scientific study of psychopathology and abnormal behavior. This course introduces theories, research methods, and the most updated research findings in the field of abnormal psychology. Students will be introduced to various types of psychological disorders, such as mood disorders, schizophrenia, personality disorders, somatoform disorders, sex-related disorders, etc. They will also learn about the diagnosis, causes, maintenance, and treatment of major psychological disorders from an integrative perspective.
 3  
 

 

Health psychology is the scientific study of how biological, psychological and social factors affect health promotion as well as the prevention and treatment of illness. We look at how people stay healthy, why they become ill, and how they cope and recover when they are ill. This course is intended to introduce students to the theoretical models, research methodology, empirical findings and current issues in health psychology. Students should complete the course with a fundamental knowledge in this young and exciting field of study.
 3  
List B: SBM courses
 

 

The dynamics of marketing within a social and ethical context; exploration and analysis of social issues affecting marketing managers’ decision making; approaches to business marketing success in line with social accountability and relevance of the business firm.
 3  
 

 

Historical, cultural, psychological and economic perspectives on consumerism; the role of advertising and branding in influencing self-identity and consumerism; money, materialism, and happiness; managing personal finances.
 3  
 

 

The course provides an introduction to the logic and dynamics of mass media communications, with an emphasis on deconstructing the impact of traditional and emerging media on society and on marketing practice. Special attention is devoted to the digital revolution in challenging and transforming the principles and practices of mass media communication.

**The course was last offered in 2015-16 and was deleted subsequently.

 3  
 

 

Introduction to marketing from the perspective of the decision-maker; controllable variables (product, price, promotion and distribution), uncontrollable variables (competition, law, society, technology, and economy), consumer behavior and marketing research.
 3  
 

 

Basic research tools and procedures used in marketing research, and strategic uses of marketing research information in managerial decision making.
 4  
 

 

Major aspects of promotion, with emphasis on advertising: setting of advertising objectives, strategies, tactics, choice of media, budget determination and measuring advertising effectiveness.
 4  
 

 

Psychological concepts such as perception, learning and motivation, sociological concepts such as reference groups, family and culture and theories of purchase decision processes underlying consumer buying behavior.
 4  
 

 

Leading people effectively is a tremendous challenge, a great opportunity, and a serious responsibility. This course is about developing your full potential as a leader. The focus will be on skills development so that you can use leadership theories and concepts to improve your leadership skills. Topics include leadership traits and behavior theories, leadership values, the team concept and group dynamics and leader as coach and developer of people. Interactive class activities will be conducted including videos, discussions and self-assessment exercises.
 3  
 

 

Decision making is a central human activity, but how good are we at it? Scientific evidence suggests that our decisions are often biased and flawed, resulting in disappointing or even disastrous outcomes. This course draws upon contemporary research in psychology and other social sciences to better understand how it is that people make decisions, and why those decisions are often made badly. The course will emphasize a theoretical understanding of human decision making, as well as a comprehension of the real world implications of our mistakes both for us and for our society, and what, if anything, can be done about it.
 3  
 

 

Human behavior and behavioral issues in organizations studied from the perspective of the individual and that of the organization.
 3  
 

 

Manpower planning, job analysis and design, recruitment, performance appraisal, compensation, training and development, health and safety at work and discrimination.
 4  
 

 

Understand the nature of leadership and how it goes beyond managership. To develop an appreciation for the complexities of dealing with people who hold different values. To introduce, develop and encourage new strategies and techniques to enhance both teamwork and effectiveness in the workplace.
 4  
 

 

This course is about how people make decisions, with special emphasis on decision making in an organizational context. It attempts to provide an understanding of employee and manager decision making at two levels – the individual and the group.
 4  
 

 

Theories and processes of negotiation; negotiation strategies; contextual factors in negotiation; other issues in negotiation.Theories and processes of negotiation; negotiation strategies; contextual factors in negotiation; other issues in negotiation.
 4