The Strange Start of Psychology at the National University of Singapore

John Michael Elliott (with assistance from Sim Tick Ngee)

The psychology programme at the National University of Singapore (NUS) is today highly popular with students, while the general public in Singapore has begun to appreciate what psychology has to offer as a hub discipline that straddles many fields. Things, however, were not always as such, nor was the development of the programme smooth sailing.

This book traces the journey of NUS Psychology—how it started in 1986 as a programme in the Department of Social Work (subsequently renamed as the Department of Social Work and Psychology) before becoming an independent Department of Psychology in 2005. Set within a historical context of prevailing sentiments and challenges of the times, this account of the journey illustrates how the start of NUS Psychology was in many ways a strange one. Golden nuggets of information and insights, as well as useful lessons that can be learned from this strange start, are provided by an author who walked this entire journey.

John Michael Elliott joined NUS Psychology in 1986 as a Senior Teaching Fellow and retired in 2018 as an Associate Professor.

Sim Tick Ngee was part of the pioneer cohort of NUS Psychology students in 1986, and remains with the Department to this day. He served as Head of Department from 2011 to 2018.

Publication Year: 2021
136pp, 229 X 152mm
22 b/w images
Paperback
ISBN: 978-981-181-450-1