Introduction to Psychology: Basic Processes
Students will study topics related to basic psychological processes. They will critically examine areas such as the biological basis of behaviour, sensation, perception, states of consciousness, learning and memory. Students will learn about the historical and philosophical contexts behind the development of psychology and the research methods used by psychologists.
Transferable (refer to transfer guide)
Introduction to Psychology: Areas and Applications
Students will study topics related to applications of psychological processes. They will critically examine areas such as cognition, motivation, emotion, theories of personality, development over the life span, the psychology of health and well-being, psychological disorders, approaches to treatment and therapy, and principles of social and cultural psychology.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1100
Transferable (refer to transfer guide)
Applied Statistics
Students will learn to apply descriptive and inferential statistics in the analysis of behavioral research
Prerequisites: PSYC 1200
Transferable (refer to transfer guide)
History and Systems of Contemporary Psychology
Students will study the evolution of psychology’s modern history, beginning approximately in the nineteenth century. They will analyze the debates, important discoveries, famous experiments, and differences seen amongst competing traditions within psychology. Students will examine the limitations of an historical approach to psychology.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1200
Transferable (refer to transfer guide)
Brain and Behaviour
Students will demonstrate how normal and abnormal behaviour in both humans and animals may be understood through knowledge of the function of the brain and its underlying structure. They will examine psychophysiologists’ current understanding of brain and nervous system involvement in areas such as sensation, perception, movement, memory, psychopathology, and recovery from brain damage.description
Prerequisites: PSYC 1200
Transferable (refer to transfer guide)
Developmental Psychology: Childhood
Students will study the process of human development from conception to adolescence, including major principles of development and the descriptive changes in child growth and behaviour. They will study the implications of theory and research findings for areas such as leaning, personality, social behaviour, and psychopathology.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1200
Transferable (refer to transfer guide)
Developmental Psychology: Adolescence
Students will examine the physical, cognitive, emotional and social changes that contribute to psychological development during adolescence. They will explore and discuss the implications of the major theories and research findings in the field of adolescent development.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1200
Transferable (refer to transfer guide)
Developmental Psychology: Adulthood
Students will become familiar with the developmental processes from young adulthood through old age. They will study the implications of specific periods/stages, such as parenting, career choice, role changes and losses, including dying and death.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1200
Transferable (refer to transfer guide)
Social Psychology
Students will examine psychological processes that occur in groups and their influence on the individual around such topics as prejudice, aggression, interpersonal attraction and intimate relationships, attitudes and persuasion, altruism, conformity, and group dynamics.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1200
Transferable (refer to transfer guide)
Students will critically examine historical and contemporary approaches to the understanding of psychological disorders and explore issues associated with diagnosis and classification. Students will study specific classifications of psychological disorders including anxiety, somatoform, dissociative, mood, personality, eating and psychotic disorders.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1200
Transferable (refer to transfer guide)
Psychology of Personality
Students will analyze Western personality theories such as the Psychoanalytic perspective, the Existential perspective, the Trait perspective, the Behavioural-Cognitive perspective, and the Humanistic perspective, among others.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1200
Transferable (refer to transfer guide)
Perception
Students will study the psychology of perception. They will learn about depth perception, colour perception, attention, spatial processing, audition and smell.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1200
Transferable (refer to transfer guide)
Cognition
Students will study cognitive processes, including memory, problem solving, reasoning, attention, spatial abilities and decision making.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1200
Transferable (refer to transfer guide)
Experimental Psychology: Research Methodology
Students will examine the scientific method as a way of studying behavioral phenomena and explore research paradigms commonly used in psychology.
Prerequisites: PSYC 2300
Transferable (refer to transfer guide)
Social Psychology: Theory and Research
Students will apply the theory, principles and methods of research learned in Social Psychology 2330 by doing an in-depth research investigation in their chosen area of interest. They will present a final research report orally and in written form.
Prerequisites: PSYC 2330
Transferable (refer to transfer guide)
Clinical Psychology: Psychotherapy
Students will explore the practice of clinical psychology. They will learn about assessment techniques, legal and ethical issues, effectiveness of therapy and major theoretical approaches to therapy.
Prerequisites: PSYC 2350
Transferable (refer to transfer guide)
Human Sexuality
Students will critically examine current research and theoretical perspectives that define the study of human sexuality. They will examine the interactive effects of physiology, cognition, socioemotional development, and culture on sexual development, sexual expression, sexual orientation, and gender-identity. Students will engage in critical discourse as it relates to sexuality in the media and society and will argue, with reference to empirical evidence, for or against contentious issues in human sexuality.
Prerequisites: PSYC 2400
Transferable (refer to transfer guide)
Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Students will learn to apply principles of psychology to create well-functioning and efficient organizations. They will focus on motivation to work, personnel selection and evaluation, employee development and relationships, with an emphasis on the application of psychological principles of individual behavior and group dynamics in various types of community and industrial organizations.
Prerequisites: PSYC 2330 and 2385 and 2400
Transferable (refer to transfer guide)
Attitudes and Persuasion
Students will critically examine the nature of attitudes, the relationship between attitudes and behaviour, the formation of attitudes, and the changes of attitudes through persuasion and influence. They will analyze current and past theories of persuasion and will learn to recognize applications of these theories in advertisements, political rhetoric, and other sources of influence.
Prerequisites: PSYC 2330 and 2400
Psychology of Memory
Students will engage in an in-depth examination of memory, one of the central areas in cognitive psychology. They will critically examine modern memory theory in its historical context, from the earliest works on forgetting to modern structural and processing theories. Student will also critically examine the neurology of memory, memory impairment and memory changes over the lifespan.
Prerequisites: PSYC 2385 and 2400
Group Dynamics
Students will explore the processes that occur among individuals within groups, as well as the processes involved when groups interact with each other. They will examine the functions and structure of groups, leadership, conformity pressure, group decision making, group performance and productivity. They will also gain knowledge about conflict and cooperation within groups and between groups. Throughout the course, students will learn to analyze group dynamics in their own experiences participating in and observing groups. NOTE: This is a seminar course. description
Prerequisites: PSYC 2400
Transferable (refer to transfer guide)
Applied Statistics II
Students will learn about research designs and statistical analyses commonly used in behavioural research, including analysis of variance (ANOVA) models, correlation, regression and multiple regression, as well as chi-square procedures, focusing on both conceptual understanding and practical application. They will learn computer software applications commonly used by potential employers to analyze data sets and interpret results.
Prerequisites: PSYC 2400
Corequisites: PSYC 3400
Learning: Theory and Practice
Students will critically examine classical and modern learning theory, including such areas as habituation, sensitization, classical and operant conditioning, modeling, concept formation, and how the theoretical perspectives on these topics relate to the cognitive perspective. They will investigate aspects of learning theory such as generalization, discrimination, reinforcement and punishment in the light of both animal and human learning. Students will explore and discuss issues of stimulus control and the application of learning principles in everyday life.
Prerequisites: PSYC 2300 and 2400
Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Psychology
Students will critically analyze selected themes within the intellectual history of western civilization from early origins to the present time, with particular emphasis on ideas that form the background of contemporary psychology.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1200 or (60 credits of UT courses, 1100 or higher)
Transferable (refer to transfer guide)
Psychology of Consciousness
Students will engage in an in-depth examination of the psychology of consciousness, one of the most fascinating and least understood frontiers of science. They will critically examine the phenomena associated with consciousness from a strictly scientific perspective. Students will critically explore, debate and discuss the historical overview of thinking on consciousness including the mind-body problem, theories of consciousness, altered states of consciousness, how consciousness interacts with the laws of physics, the current cognitive neuroscience approaches to understanding the processes involved in consciousness, and consciousness and quackery.
Note: This is a seminar course.
Prerequisites: PSYC 2300 and 2400
Infancy
Students will explore current research trends and theoretical perspectives in the field of infant development. They will critically examine how neuropsychological processes affect cognition, sensation, perception and learning in infancy. Student will analyze the process of attachment and emotional development and the environmental and interpersonal conditions associated with optimal development. They will also critically evaluation the concepts of risk and resilience as applied to infant development.
Prerequisites: PSYC 2320 or 2321
PSYC 3320 CR-3
Drugs and Behaviour
Students will learn about psychopharmacology and neurophysiology as it relates to psychoactive drugs. They will examine in depth the different classes of drugs, stimulants, hallucinogens, and tranquilizers and their various effects on the nervous system, as well as the relationship between those effects and drug-induced changes in behaviour. Students will also critically analyze historical and current aspects of social policy and its basis, including possible topics such as research on usage, availability, a discussion of the effects of patent laws and the use of drugs in sports.
Prerequisites: PSYC 2315
Psychology of Gender
Students will critically examine current research and theoretical perspectives on gender. They will examine the biological, cognitive, social, and cultural variables linked to gender identity. Students will explore, debate and discuss gender issues, gender roles, gender stereotypes, and gendered communication.
Prerequisites: PSYC 2330 and PSYC 2400
Transferable (refer to transfer guide)
Psychology of Prejudice
Students will critically examine current research and theoretical perspectives on prejudice. They will learn the cognitive and social origins of prejudice. Students will explore and discuss forms of prejudice and discrimination pertaining to ethnic, racial, national, and religious groups. They will explore and discuss strategies to counter prejudice.
Prerequisites: PSYC 2330 and PSYC 2400
Transferable (refer to transfer guide)
Advanced Topics in Psychopathology
Students will engage in an in-depth examination of specific classifications of adult psychopathology on topics varying from year to year, such as personality disorders, sexual and gender identity disorders, substance abuse disorders, cognitive and psychophysiological disorders, psychological disorders associated with aging, impulse control disorders, mood disorders, sleep disorders, and psychotic disorders. Students will expand their knowledge of DSM diagnoses, explore issues around differential diagnosis and comorbidity, critically examine current diagnostic classification systems, consider recent research in the area, and explore gender, social and cultural issues in the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders. Students will develop their familiarity with diagnostic criteria and the course of specific disorders through media and textbook clinical cases.
NOTE: This is a seminar course.
Prerequisites: PSYC 2350
Transferable (refer to transfer guide)
Advanced Personality Theory
Students will examine and analyze original readings within the area of Personality Theory. They will discuss and evaluate readings from the following areas: psychoanalytic, analytical, object relations, individual, interpersonal, existential and phenomenological, humanistic, transpersonal, trait, behavioural, feminist, biological, cognitive, somatic, and eastern perspectives.
Note: This is a seminar based course.
Prerequisites: PSYC 2370
Applied Research I
Students will learn how to carry out research in the community using experimental as well as quasi-experimental designs. They will learn how to design and implement a study, analyze the results, and communicate the findings to a variety of different audiences.
Prerequisites: PSYC 2400
Corequisites: PSYC 3300 and CMNS 3100
Clinical Psychology: Intervention
Students will learn about the practice of clinical psychology. They will critically examine assessment techniques, legal and ethical issues, as well as theory, practice, and outcome research of major approaches to therapeutic intervention and prevention.
Note: This is a seminar course.
Prerequisites: PSYC 2350
Transferable (refer to transfer guide)
Psychology and Law
Students will critically examine the relationship between psychology and the law. They will analyze the roles that cognitive, social, and clinical psychology play in both criminal and civil matters. Students will analyze and interpret research in areas such as jury decision making, eyewitness memory of children and adults, face identification and surveillance technology, police investigations, and risk assessment.
Note: This is a seminar course
Prerequisites: PSYC 2385 and 2400
Interpersonal Relations I
Students will survey select issues of interpersonal relations relevant to working effectively with others and interacting successfully in the workplace. They will critically examine topics such as interpersonal influence, impression formation and management, nonverbal communication, individual differences, obstacles to effective interaction, social roles and power.
Prerequisites: PSYC 2330 and 2400
Transferable (refer to transfer guide)
Health Psychology
Students will learn how the discipline of psychology addresses the prevention and treatment of illness, and the promotion of psychological and physical health. They will explore the nature of stress, illness-prone personality types, and health management from a psychobiological perspective.
Prerequisites: PSYC 2330 and 2400
Evolutionary Psychology
Students will critically discuss research and present the theories, methods, and current issues in the field of evolutionary psychology as it applies to human and animal behaviour. Students will focus in particular on the history of evolutionary thought, methods for testing evolutionary hypotheses, the problems of survival, mating strategies, parental care, kinship, cooperation, aggression, dominance hierarchies, memes, and Darwinian medicine.
Note: This is a seminar course
Prerequisites: PSYC 2330 and 2400
Neuropsychology
Students will learn the basic principles of neuropsychology as they relate to brain function and behaviour, especially in the context of the workplace and rehabilitation. Students will examine experimental and clinical neuropsychology and neurology. Students will identify sensory, motor, cognitive and affective disturbances resulting from brain damage and dysfunction, and the tests administered in their diagnosis. Students will participate in field trips to neuropsychological testing sites and hospitals where available.
NOTE: This is a seminar-based course.
Prerequisites: PSYC 2315 and PSYC 2400
Aging (Changes to this course will become effective May 2009. View future changes )
Students will critically examine fundamental psychological processes from mid-life onward, including current research with emphasis on physical changes, sensation and perception, work, social relationships, the self and sense of well-being. They will develop skills and awareness of issues related to working with older adults.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1200 (PSYC 2322 recommended)
Consumer Psychology - Research & Applications
Students will examine the psychology of consumer behavior and advertising. They will review the cognitive and social psychological literature with an emphasis on experimental research.
Prerequisites: PSYC 2330 and 2385 and 2400
Adult Education
Students will learn theories, research findings, and techniques applicable to training adult learners. They will explore a variety of contexts within which adult students learn, and will practice training techniques in simulated or actual settings.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1200 and 60 University Transfer credits.
Transferable (refer to transfer guide)
Cognitive Ergonomics
Students will study cognitive processing as it relates to human-machine interactions. They will examine information theory, attention and spatial displays, language and communication, memory, decision making, manual control, human error, process control, automation, and human computer interaction, and will explore several case studies in reference to these issues.
Prerequisites: PSYC 2385 and 2400
Program Evaluation
Students will learn to evaluate the effectiveness of institutional programs and procedures, including human service programs and corporate procedures. They will learn to identify the elements of effective programs and how to conduct needs assessments. Students will also learn how to do background preparation including liaising with different stakeholders, as well as designing, implementing, reporting and presenting evaluations of programs.
Prerequisites: PSYC 2400
Community Psychology
Students will learn about social institutions and their policies and how they affect the mental and physical health of individuals and groups living within communities. They will learn about primary, secondary and tertiary preventive strategies and measures that can be used for promoting health used by community-based multidisciplinary and multicultural agencies and programs. Students will explore career opportunities within these programs.
Prerequisites: PSYC 2400
Students will critically examine theory and application in the field of environmental psychology and the interrelationships between ourselves and the environmental systems in which we live and work. They will study specific topics such as the history and scope of environmental psychology; theories of environment and behaviour; environmental stress; natural environments; built environments; designing for humans; specialized living and working environments and behavioural change in relation to contemporary global environmental issues.
Prerequisites: PSYC 2330 and (PSYC 2400 or CRIM 1208 or SOCI 2260)
Transferable (refer to transfer guide)
Practicum
Students will manage, design, prepare, and present a comprehensive applied psychology project that will meet the requirements of a client organization under the co-supervision of the employer and a faculty member. They will meet regularly throughout the semester with a faculty member to discuss their progress, and will produce a final report describing their project and its result upon completion of the practicum.
Prerequisites: PSYC 3200 and 4200 and 4400
(PSYC 4800 recommended)
Tests and Measurement
Students will study the basic principles of psychological testing including norms, reliability, validity, item response theory, scaling, scoring methods, item analysis, and ethical standards. They will experience taking and interpreting tests. They will focus on the use of appropriate standardized occupational tests and the development of evaluation instruments in the work setting.
Prerequisites: PSYC 3300
Human Factors & Ergonomics
Students will study the human role in modern systems, with a focus on the design of systems that optimize performance, productivity, and human well-being. They will examine the history of human factors and ergonomics; human and system capabilities and limitations (physical, perceptual, and cognitive); environmental stress effects; task analysis; performance measurement; human error, and workspace design. Students will examine several case studies that exemplify various types of human factors problems and intervention strategies.
Note: This is a seminar-based course.
Prerequisites:PSYC 2330 and 2385 and 2400
Critical Thinking in Psychology
Students will examine and critically analyze information from different sources such as advertising, the Internet, magazines, news, and interpersonal communication. They will differentiate between science and pseudoscience, and question core assumptions and beliefs. This is a seminar course
Prerequisites: PSYC 2400
Neuroscience
Students will examine brain function in depth by focusing on the biophysics of neural membranes, ion channels/receptors, neurotransmission, and signaling. They will examine the biophysiological mechanisms underlying neural development, neural organization, learning and memory, and brain dysfunction.Note: This is a seminar-based course
Prerequisites: PSYC 2315
Developmental Psychopathology
Students will engage in an in-depth exploration of developmental psychopathology from infancy through to adolescence with an emphasis on the characteristics of disorders of development, their determinants, outcomes, and interventions. They will critically explore, debate, and discuss current theories and research as well as recent trends in intervention and prevention. Students will critically examine developmental psychopathology within the broader contexts of family, school, culture, and the community while investigating both legal and ethical issues related to the research and diagnosis of childhood disorders. NOTE: This is a seminar course.
Prerequisites: PSYC 2350 and (2320 or 2321)
Transferable (refer to transfer guide
Research Methods II: Qualitative Methodologies
Students will design and implement research projects using qualitative methodologies such as case studies, phenomenological interviews, surveys, focus groups and accessing archival data. They will learn how to analyze qualitative data using appropriate techniques such as horizontalization, clustering, and thematic analysis, and open, axial, and selective coding.
Prerequisites: PSYC 3300 and 3400
Transferable (refer to transfer guide)
Interpersonal Relations II
Students will survey issues of interpersonal relations relevant to working effectively with others and interacting successfully with customers and clients. Students will critically examine interpersonal problems and solutions involved in working with, understanding, and getting along with others. They will explore theory and research in the areas of conflict and aggression, cooperation, prejudice, cultural diversity, and community psychology.
Prerequisites: PSYC 2330 and 2400
Positive Psychology
Students will explore, evaluate, and apply findings from positive psychology—an area of psychology relying on social science methods to study human well-being, human strengths, and factors that enable some people to flourish in the face of adversity. They will compare the major theories of positive psychology and will examine the historical background of positive psychology. Students will develop expertise in the use of social science methodology to study human strengths and well-being. Students will also develop expertise in distinguishing justified from unjustified interpretations of research in positive psychology
Prerequisites: PSYC 1200 and (PSYC 2400 or CRIM 1208 or SOCI 2260)
Transferable (refer to transfer guide)
Psychology of Genocide
Students will apply theories from social and personality psychology to the understanding of the causes, correlates, and consequences of genocide and mass killing. They will think critically about the complex and multi-factorial relationships found in the real world. Students will explore the psychology of different groups of people associated with genocide, including perpetrators, bystanders, rescuers, and survivors. Students will also learn about the extent to which the discipline of psychology itself has been shaped by various episodes of genocide and other mass killing.
Prerequisites: PSYC 2400 or CRIM 1208 or SOCI 2260
Transferable (refer to transfer guide)
Culture and Psychology
Students will critically examine research findings pertaining to the influence of culture on human behavior including issues of ethnicity and race, the acculturation process, self and identity, health beliefs and practices, language and accent, interpersonal attraction and intimate relationships, prejudice and discrimination. They will explore the practical applications of these findings to day-to-day life involving interactions with culturally diverse individuals, and develop greater inter-cultural sensitivity. Note: This is a seminar course
Prerequisites: PSYC 2300 and (PSYC 2400 or CRIM 2103 or SOCI 2260 or MATH 2335)
Transferable (refer to transfer guide)
Professional & Ethical Issues
Students will examine ethical codes/requirements and issues in applied research, and regulations governing the practice of psychology in Canada and the US and, more specifically, in British Columbia. Students will also prepare for job searching by creating effective portfolios and resumes, and by developing effective job search techniques and interviewing styles.
Prerequisites: PSYC 3200 and 4200 and 4400
Special Topics in Psychology
Students will engage in an intensive study of a selected topic in psychology. This study will include the development of a proposal, writing reports and presenting the results.
Note : The area of study will be established in advance by the department.
Prerequisites: PSYC 2400
Rehabilitation
Students will learn about rehabilitation services, the work of psychologists and other rehabilitation professionals, and the role of psychology in aiding rehabilitation. They will examine some common disabling conditions including strokes, aneurysms, spinal cord and head injuries. Students will study the physiology of these conditions and their medical, psychological, social, and vocational effects.
Note: This is a seminar-based course.
Corequisites: PSYC 2330 and 2400
Human Factors and Computer Interface Design
Students will study procedures for analyzing human-computer interaction (HCI) and will translate this information into design criteria. They will learn to ensure that computer interface design specifications meet end-user requirements for perceptual and cognitive factors; learnability; recall, recognition and retention; speed and accuracy of performance; cultural factors; and job satisfaction. They will identify task and system requirements and perform usability testing methodologies for both desktop and small screen interfaces.
Prerequisites: PSYC 2385 OR 15 credits CISY (CISY 1113 recommended)
Note: Students may earn credits for only one of PSYC 4920 or INFO 4210 as they are identical courses
Honours Thesis I (BAA)
Students will carry out a detailed investigation of a topic of interest relevant to the community, workplace or other related areas of psychology. They will carry out the investigation, under the supervision of a faculty member with expertise in the area, in the form of a literature survey and review. Students will be required to identify relevant sources of information and to develop a comprehensive understanding of their topic, in addition to submitting a final paper. Students will also be expected to design a research experiment and offer hypotheses based on their literature review.
Note: This is a seminar-based course. The final paper for this course will be useful for subsequent development of a thesis in PSYC 5010. Students are strongly advised to seek methodological advice in the development of their proposal. Wile thesis advisors may be chosen from any regular psychology faculty member, methodological advisors may be chosen only from Kwantlen instructor who teach PSYC 3300, 3400, 4100 or 4400
Prerequisites:PSYC 3300 (B) and 3400 (B+) and 4400 (B+), and permission of supervisor and permission of Psychology BAA Degree Committee
Honours Thesis I (BA) (Changes to this course will become effective May 2009. View future changes )
Students will carry out a detailed investigation of a topic of interest relevant to psychology. They will carry out the investigation under the supervision of a faculty member with expertise in the area, in the form of a literature survey and review. Students will be required to identify relevant sources of information and will submit a final paper representing an original literature review and an empirical research design.
NOTE: This is a seminar-based course
Prerequisites: PSYC 3334 or 3300 (B+) and 3400 (B+) and (permission of Psychology BA Degree Committee)
Honours Thesis II
Honours candidates will carry out research under the supervision of a faculty member with expertise in the area selected. They will use the information obtained from the literature review in PSYC 5000 to help identify specific issues for research. Candidates will, using appropriate methods, collect and interpret data, and write a thesis on the results of the project, and will present their thesis at a conference.
Note: Candidates are strongly advised to seek methodological advice in the development of their proposal. Advisors may be chosen from Kwantlen PSYC Instructors who teach PSYC 3300, 3400, 4100 or 4400
Prerequisites:PSYC 5000 (B) or 5001 (B)
This course may not be repeated without special permission of department.