Program overview
In Chinese universities, psychology typically falls under the category of science, with graduate programs emphasizing the integration of research and practice. Simply put, psychology explores why people think and act the way they do, and how to predict and change behavior. Core courses include General Psychology (foundation), Experimental Psychology (designing experiments), Psychological Statistics and Measurement (data handling), Developmental Psychology (from infancy to old age), Social Psychology (group influence), Cognitive Psychology (memory, thinking), and Abnormal Psychology (atypical behavior). If you are curious about people, enjoy observing and listening, and are willing to use scientific methods to test ideas, this major is a great fit. Chinese universities have strengths in cognitive neuroscience (e.g., Beijing Normal University, Peking University), clinical and counseling psychology (e.g., East China Normal University, South China Normal University), and industrial-organizational psychology (e.g., Zhejiang University). Many labs are equipped with EEG, eye-tracking devices, and other tools, offering solid research conditions.