Psychology

PSYC1003 is a prerequisite for PSYC1004 and PSYC1004 is a prerequisite for all remaining Psychology courses.

NOTE: See the beginning of Section F for abbreviations, course numbers and coding.

PSYC1004Introductory Psychology II 3 ch (3C)

Examines social behaviour, personality, assessment, abnormal psychology, and psychological therapy. Students may be requested to participate in research and some course credit may be earned in this way.

Prerequisite: PSYC 1003.
PSYC1273Life Span Development3 ch (3C)

An introduction to theory, methods, and research findings in lifespan developmental psychology. The life cycle as a whole and basic processes in socialization, cognition, and personality development will be examined. This course is designed primarily for Nursing students. Enrolment of other students is by permission of the instructor. Students currently enrolled in the BN programme are exempt from the PSYC 1004 prerequisite requirement. NOTE: Students who take PSYC 1273 may not take PSYC 3201 or PSYC 3293

PSYC2693Foundations in Perception and Cognition3 ch (3C)
This course provides students with foundational knowledge in theory, methodology, and. research findings in the field of cognitive psychology. Students who have completed this course will be adequately prepared to take upper level courses on topics such as sensation & perception, attention, memory, mental imagery, knowledge, language, thinking, and reasoning.

Prerequisities: PSYC 1003 and PSYC 1004.
PSYC2712Foundations in Neuroscience3 ch (3C)
An introduction to the anatomy and physiology of nervous systems with a special emphasis on behavioural indices of function. Illustrative examples of both human and animal research are surveyed.

Prerequisites: PSYC 1003 and PSYC 1004.
PSYC2901Introduction to Statistical Analysis for Psychologists3 ch (3C)

Designed to acquaint the student with the basic tools of statistics which are used to summarize and analyze psychological data. 

Prerequisites: PSYC 1003 and PSYC 1004.

PSYC3033Health Psychology3 ch (3C) (LE)

An aggregate of the scientific and professional contributions of the discipline of psychology towards promotion of a holistic approach for the maintenance of health, the prevention and treatment of illness including etiologic as well as diagnostic correlates of health and illness.

Prerequisites: PSYC 1003 and PSYC 1004.

PSYC3035Environmental Psychology3 ch (3C)
Examines the interplay between the individual and the environment. The influence of the positive and negative effects of the environment on human behaviour and well-being is examined. Topics include environmental risk perception; environmental stressors; the effects of natural and constructed environments; the health effects of environmental quality; including climate change risks; and suggested ways to foster pro-environmental behaviour.

Prerequisites: PSYC 1003 and PSYC 1004.
PSYC3201Child Development3 ch (3C)

A study of theory, methods and research findings in infancy and childhood. Examines social, cognitive, emotional and physical development. Credit will not be granted for both PSYC 3201 and ED 3021. Students who completed PSYC 2201 cannot get credit for PSYC 3201.

Prerequisites: PSYC 1003 and PSYC 1004.
PSYC3293The Psychology of Aging3 ch (3C)

Focuses on changes in learning ability, memory, perception, physical development, personality and social development associated with aging, beginning in young adulthood and extending to late adulthood.

Prerequisites: PSYC 3201 or ED 3021.

PSYC3323Community Psychology and Mental Health3 ch (2C 1S)

Provides a detailed examination of how to evaluate programs in the community. Areas covered are mental health, criminal justice, and other systems that provide human services.

Prerequisites: PSYC 1003 and PSYC 1004.
PSYC3343Human Sexuality3 ch (3C)

Provides an introduction to the psychology of human sexuality, including examination of topics such as sexual anatomy, sexual behaviour, sexual response, sexual dysfunction and therapy, sexual variation and other topics of interest.

Prerequisites: PSYC 1003 and PSYC 1004.
PSYC3362Introduction to Guidance and Counselling3 ch (3C)

A survey of the concepts, theories, and resources involved in the guidance and counselling area.

Prerequisites: PSYC 1003 and PSYC 1004.
PSYC3383Perception3 ch (3C)

Provides a broad introduction to visual and auditory perception. Topics include the structure and neural functioning of auditory and visual systems and contemporary approaches to traditional problems of perception. The course may include reviews of other sense modalities.

Prerequisites: PSYC 1003 and PSYC 1004.
PSYC3393Systems of Therapy3 ch (3C)

The array of contemporary psychotherapeutic techniques is examined with emphasis on the relationship that exists between the theoretical and historical background of a therapy and the form it assumes when put into practice.

Prerequisites: PSYC 1003 and PSYC 1004.
PSYC3401Social Psychology3 ch (3C)
The scientific study of how people think about, influence, and relate to one another. The course examines methods and findings related to topics such as the self in society, attitude formation, judging others, conformity, aggression, prejudice, and attraction. Students who completed PSYC 2401 cannot get credit for PSYC 3401.

Prerequisites:
PSYC 1003 and PSYC 1004.
PSYC3412Advanced Social Psychology3 ch (3C)

Further examines the scientific methods and findings that pertain to the functioning of individuals in social contexts. Topics include advanced methods used to study groups, aggression, prejudice, attraction and altruism. 

Prerequisite: PSYC 3401.
PSYC3416Psychology of Happiness3 ch (3C)
Examines the study of individual characterstics and environmental factors that are associated with increased subjective well-being. Topics will include loss and trauma, models of personality, emotional expressivity and valence, mindfulness, and psychological resilience.

Prerequisites:
PSYC 1003 and PSYC 1004.
PSYC3461Theories of Personality3 ch (3C)

Theory formation is greatly influenced by the assumptions, beliefs and experience of the theorist. In surveying formal theories of personality, an attempt is made to demonstrate the influence of personal-subjective factors in the development of theory.

Prerequisites: PSYC 1003 and PSYC 1004.
PSYC3493Changing Behaviour3 ch (3C)

An examination of the application of basic principles of learning to human behavioural processes. A study of the treatment techniques and assessment procedures employed in behaviour modification programs.

Prerequisites: PSYC 1003 and PSYC 1004.
PSYC3503Learning3 ch (3C)

A survey of principles of both instrumental and classical conditioning focusing on animal subjects. Such topics as biological constraints on learning, cognitive interpretations of learning, and memory processes will be included. There will be various demonstrations throughout the course. 

Prerequisites: PSYC 1003 and PSYC 1004.
PSYC3553Psychopathology3 ch (3C)

This course will provide the student with a comprehensive picture of maladaptive behaviour from a biological and psychosocial perspective. Problems associated with diagnostic systems, the role of stress, and other causative factors implicated in the traditional clinical syndromes will be discussed.

Prerequisites: PSYC 1003 and PSYC 1004.
PSYC3603Selective Attention and Memory3ch (3C/SL)

An examination of the processes involved in the reception, election and storage of information.

Prerequisite: PSYC 2693.
PSYC3632Motivation3 ch (3C)

A critical examination of the concept of motivation in terms of its power to explain findings in the experimental literature and its capacity to generate research. 

Prerequisites: PSYC 1003 and PSYC 1004.
PSYC3695Psychology of Music3 ch (3C)
This course will provide a broad introduction to the psychology of music. Topics covered will include the origins of music in humans, music acquisition during childhood and adolescence, how music interacts with emotions, well-being, and other cognitive abilities, the process of performing music, and the neuroscience of music.

Prerequisites:
PSYC 1003 and PSYC 1004.
PSYC3712Behavioural Neuroscience3 ch (3C)
This course builds on the basic principles of biological psychology by exploring in detail the brain processes related to topics such as memory, consciousness, and cognitive processes, as well as sensation and perception.

Prerequisite: PSYC 2712.
PSYC3714Animal Communication (Cross-listed: BIOL 3714)3 ch (3C)
An overview of animal communication and its biological significance, with emphasis on vocal communication. The course will discuss various systems of communication in terms of production, perception, and the conveyance of vital information, with reference and comparison to human communication where applicable. The ways in which communication systems are shaped by - and in some cases contribute to - evolutionary processes will also be discussed. 


Prerequisites: PSYC 1003 and PSYC 1004, or BIOL 1105 and BIOL 1205.

PSYC3723Introduction to Human Neuropsychology3 ch (3C)

A review of human neuroanatomy with a focus on recent theories and findings regarding the functional organization of the brain. The principles of cerebral asymmetry, disconnection syndromes, and the functions of the occipital, parietal, temporal, and frontal lobes are examined. A special emphasis is placed on the role of brain systems in sensory motor skills, higher order cognitive functions and personality. 

Prerequisite: PSYC 2712.

PSYC3724Introduction to Clinical Neuropsychology (Cross-Listed: HEAL 3102)3 ch (3C)

Explores the neuropsychological sequelae of the most common neurological and psychiatric disorders seen in the practice of clinical neuropsychology, including vascular disorders, traumatic head injuries, epilepsy, tumours, multiple sclerosis, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, dementia, and neuro-degenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease. 

Prerequisite: PSYC 2712 or PSYC 3723.

PSYC3725The Dementias3 ch (3C)

An introduction to a devastating group of diseases which cause irreversible decline in cognitive functioning and for which the incidence is expected to triple by the year 2031. The etiological models, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral changes, treatment, care, and management issues of the most common types of dementias are explored including cortical (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, Vascular Dementia, Frontal Lobe diseases) and subcortical (e.g., Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and AIDS) dementias.

PrerequisitesPSYC 1003 and PSYC 1004.
PSYC3726Neurobiology of Learning (Cross-Listed: HEAL 3103)3 ch (3C)
In this course students will explore the process of memory and corresponding anatomic regions of the brain that are involved in learning and memory. Using a series of podcasts, webinars, and interactive workshops, students will explore the current understanding of the neurobiology of learning and memory. Required neuroanatomy linked with memory, attention, consolidation, recall, and cognitive load will be reviewed. In the course, students will apply basic concepts to their individual areas of interest.

Prerequisites: PSYC 2712 and one of BIOL 1415, BIOL 2015, BIOL 2065, BIOL 2245, BIOL 2485 OR permission of the instructor.
PSYC3752Drugs and Behaviour3 ch (3C)

A survey of all classes of psychoactive drugs, their effects on human and animal physiology and behaviour, their history of use, and various drug-related issues such as abuse, dependency, and legality.

Prerequisites: PSYC 1003 and PSYC 1004.
PSYC3913Introduction to Statistical Inference and Experimental Design in Psychology3 ch (3C 1L)

This course provides an introduction to research design and statistical inference in psychology. Topics covered are computational procedures and theory up to analysis of variance, including multiple comparisons and multiple regression. Students will also learn how to analyse data using one or more statistical packages. NOTE: Credit can be obtained for only one of STAT 2793, BA 2606, PSYC 3913.

PrerequisitesPSYC 2102 and PSYC 2901.

PSYC4021Cognitive and Psychophysiological Research3 ch (3C) [W]

Deals with research scenarios that involve measuring cognitive and physiological correlates of human functioning. Measurements reflect processes and conditions related to stress, cognitive functioning, motivation and individual differences.

Prerequisite: PSYC 2102.
PSYC4053History of Psychology3 ch (3C)

This course traces the origins and development of modern psychology from its roots in ancient Greece through the philosophical and scientific developments in Europe that have culminated in the broad polymorphic discipline of today.

Prerequisites: PSYC 1004 and 60 ch in any discipline.
PSYC4101Advanced Topics in Psychology3 ch [W]
An advanced course that will provide an in-depth analysis of current theory, research and its applications in a specific area of psychology. 

Prerequisite: PSYC 1004 and completion of 60 ch in any discipline.
PSYC4111Conducting Research Studies3 ch [W]

The purpose is to enable students to become actively involved in basic research. This involvement will take the form of participation in research, reading and discussion of research topics, and development of research skills.

PrerequisitePSYC 2102 or an alternate research methods course approved by the instructor.
PSYC4122Basic Research II3 ch (3S)

Continuation of PSYC 4111.

Prerequisites: PSYC 4111 or permission of the instructor.
PSYC4142Honours Research Seminar3 ch
In this seminar course, students will be exposed to topics relevant to the research process including future opportunities for students, ethics requirements for animal and human research, research design, data analyses, writing and presenting, etc.

Prerequisite:
One of: PSYC 4111, PSYC 4122, PSYC 4201 and acceptance into the Psychology Honours Program
PSYC4143Designing Research Proposals3 ch [W]

Under the direction of a supervisor a student develops a proposal which is assessed and approved by the Department.

Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Psychology Honours Program. A letter grade will be assigned.

PSYC4145Honours Thesis3 ch [W]

Under the direction of a supervisor a student conducts, completes and defends the research. 

Prerequisite: A grade of B+ or higher in PSYC 4143. A letter grade will be assigned.

PSYC4201Special Topics in Experimental Psychology3 ch [W]
An advanced course in research design. Topics will include research ethics, research design, and synthesis of research results.

Prerequisites: PSYC 2102. Not suitable for students who have completed or are enrolled in PSYC 4142.
PSYC4233Programme Evaluation3 ch (3C) [W]

A seminar course focusing on review of the principles and methods used in planning and conducting programme evaluations. A basic introduction to the review and assessment of applied/clinical research using meta-analytic methods. 

Prerequisites: PSYC 2102 or an alternate research methods course approved by the instructor. 

PSYC4263Field Placement in Community Corrections I3 ch (LE)

The field placement is designed to provide students with practical experience in a community correctional setting that provides services for federal paroles. The course has limited enrolment and is open to 3rd - 4th year psychology & sociology majors. 

Prerequisites: PSYC 3263 and PSYC 3493 and SOCI 2611 and SOCI 3614; 3rd - 4th year PSYC/SOCI, Cumulative GPA=B (exceptions may be made at the discretion of the instructors).

PSYC4264Field Placement in Community Corrections II3 ch (LE)

The field placement is designed to provide students with additional practical experience in a community correctional setting that provides services for federal paroles. The course has limited enrolment and is open to 3rd - 4th year psychology & sociology majors. 

Prerequisites: PSYC 3263 and PSYC 3493 and SOCI 2611 and SOCI 3614; 3rd - 4th year PSYC/SOCI, with a minimum Cumulative GPA of 3.0 (exceptions may be made at the discretion of the instructors).

PSYC4265Field Placement in Clinical Psychology3 ch (3C) (LE)

Exposure to community mental health settings, with the goal of gaining applied supervised experience with individuals who have mental health, behavioural and/or intellectual challenges. Enrolment is limited to Psychology Major/Honour students with a minimum CGPA of 3.3 (B+) and is subject to permission of the instructor. 

Prerequisites: PSYC 3553, PSYC 3493, and either PSYC 3362 or PSYC 3393.

PSYC4266Field Placement in Aging I 3 ch (LE)
This field placement is designed to provide students with experience working with the elderly. Students will gain practical experience (e.g. working with Recreationists creating programming opportunities for residents; learning about proper approaches to interact with elderly, etc.). Students will work for 3 hours a week for the duration of the term in their field placement. This course has limited enrolment, and is open to students completing the Minor in Gerontology.

Prerequisite:
PSYC 3293 and permission of the field placement co-ordinator.
PSYC4267Field Placement in Aging II3 ch (LE)
A continuation of PSYC 4266. This field placement is designed to provide students with experience working with elderly. Students will gain practical experience (e.g., working with Recreationists creating programming opportunities for residents; learning about proper approaches to interact with elderly, etc.). Students will work for 3 hours a week for the duration of the term in their field placement. This course has limited enrolment, and is open to fourth year students completing the Minor in Gerontology.

Prerequisite:
PSYC 3293 and permission of the field placement co-ordinator.
PSYC4293Adolescence3 ch (3C/S) [W]
A seminar course examining physical, cognitive, social and emotional development in adolescence.


Prerequisites
PSYC 3201 and PSYC 2102 or an alternate research methods course approved by the instructor. 

NOTE: Students who take PSYC 1273 may not take PSYC 3201PSYC 3293, or PSYC 4293.

PSYC4313Psychological Testing3 ch (3C/L) [W]

A seminar course focusing on Psychometric Theory and principles of psychological testing as they arise in consideration of relevant statistical concepts and methods and of historical experience in development and use of tests for general intelligence, differential abilities and personality traits. 

PrerequisitePSYC 2102 or an alternate research methods course approved by the instructor and PSYC 3913.

PSYC4463Attachment and Relationships3 ch (C/S) [W]

A seminar course focusing on an in-depth analysis of selected topics in personality theory and research. Possible topics include attachment, interpersonal relations and communication, intimacy, loneliness, solitude, and issues in personality assessment.

Prerequisites: PSYC 2102 or an alternate research methods course approved by the instructor and PSYC 3461

PSYC4493Developmental Psychopathology3 ch (3C/S) [W]

A seminar course that introduces students to the literature of maladaptive behaviour within the developmental perspective. Specific disorders of childhood and adolescence will be included in the seminar topics.  

Prerequisites: PSYC 2102 or an alternate research methods course approved by the instructor and PSYC 3201 and PSYC 3553 or permission of instructor.

PSYC4583Advanced Perception3 ch (3C) [W]

A seminar course that provides an in-depth discussion and analysis of selected problems in perception. Topics may include temporal factors in perception, optical illusions, spatial frequency representation, perceptual development, motion perception. 

Prerequisites: PSYC 2102 or an alternate research methods course approved by the instructor, PSYC 3383

PSYC4712Neuroplasticity (Cross-Listed: HEAL 4102)3 ch (3C) [W]
A seminar course exploring the topic of plasticity within the central nervous system. Neuroplasticity will be discussed at a variety of levels, from individual neurons to large-scale brain changes, and with reference to learning and memory, neuropathology, lifestyle, and other factors.

Prerequisite: PSYC 3712 or PSYC 3723.
PSYC4733Cognitive Neuroscience3 ch (3C/S) [W]

A seminar course that deals with contemporary neurological models of perception and cognition. Topics will be selected to reflect the expertise of faculty. They may include computational networks, blindsight, prosopagnosia, lateralization, etc. 

Prerequisites: PSYC 2102 or an alternate research methods course approved by the instructor, PSYC 2712, and either PSYC 3383 or PSYC 2693

PSYC4813Substance Use Disorders3 ch (3C) [W]

A seminar course that covers a broad spectrum of topics in the area of addiction including the epidemiology of substance abuse and dependence, the biopsychosocial bases of addiction, as well as, issues of comorbidity and treatment. 

Prerequisites: PSYC 2102 or an alternate research methods course approved by the instructor and one of PSYC 3752 or PSYC 4833.

PSYC4833Psychopharmacology3 ch (3C) [W]

A seminar course focusing on the drugs used in the treatment of depression, anxiety, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, phobias, schizophrenia, dementias, and related disorders. The emphasis is on the biological bases of these syndromes and the pharmacological agents used to alleviate them. 

Prerequisites: PSYC 2102 or an alternate research methods course approved by the instructor and PSYC 2712.