Department of Psychology Student Handbook

Department of Psychology Student Handbook

Welcome to the Psychology Department A big Hello and Welcome to all of you! As the Chair of the Department of Psychology at Mount Royal University I would like to give you, both new and returning students, a big Calgary welcome to our Department. Mount Royal University (MRU) is a vibrant campus filled with enthusiastic students, just like you, and faculty and staff that are dedicated to making your experience at MRU an experience that will stretch your thinking beyond where it has gone before. As part of the Department of Psychology we have one full time Administrative Assistant and 36 Full and Part Time Faculty that are dedicated to your success. They will all be more than happy to assist you as you successfully complete courses and ultimately a degree in Psychology. You will have the opportunity at MRU to get to know your instructors face to face because our class sizes are kept small. Ask your professors questions before, during and after class! Be curious and show your passion for acquiring new knowledge. All of the faculty in the Department of Psychology are passionate about their areas of expertise and will be more than happy to share what they know about our discipline with you. While you will have the opportunity to broaden your knowledge base in the classroom there are also many options for enriching your degree experience outside of the classroom. Many of our faculty are actively engaged in research and often take on students as research assistants. Should you take a class that really piques your interest ask the Professor about research opportunities. This is especially important for those of you who wish to pursue our Honours degree and may be thinking about going to Graduate School. Our Honours program will allow you to gain formal research experience with a faculty member that will be recognized on your transcript. While completing a degree with Honours is challenging I have yet to meet a student that wasn t enriched by the experience. Our Psychology Students Society is also a great way to get to know one another and to network with other students. This network can be used to find study partners but more importantly can be used to find other passionate students with interests similar to yours. They have a great website http://www.mrupss.com/pages/default.aspx and will be thrilled to have you join. Finally, as you move through your degree please don t forget to talk to a Psychology Advisor. They can give you many tips and suggestions regarding the navigation and successful completion of your degree. We have four excellent Advisors in our Department (listed on the back page of this handbook) that are willing to help you navigate the process of obtaining a degree in Psychology at MRU. On behalf of our entire department I wish you all the best in your years here and hope to see you one day walk across the graduation stage to get your Degree in Psychology from MRU. Dr. Evelyn Field

Declaring a Major in Psychology The process for declaring Psychology as your major will be different for different groups of students. What follows is a guideline - you may want to consult with the Admissions office or an academic advisor if you are not sure which category applies to you. If you are currently in the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, you are a Psychology major and don t need to do anything! If you were admitted to the Bachelor of Arts at Mount Royal prior to or including the 2010-2011 academic year, in order to declare Psychology as your major, you need to complete a declaration of major form at the Office of the Registrar. http://www.mtroyal.ca/wcm/groups/public/documents/pdf/ssdata_declaration_major_arts.pdf If you were admitted to the Bachelor of Arts at Mount Royal beginning in Fall 2011 or anytime since then, you need to apply to the Psychology program in order to become a Psychology major. You should consult with Admissions for information about the application procedure. Prior to applying, it is recommended that you complete PSYC 1105* and at least 8 courses. In addition, please keep in mind that admission to the Psychology program is competitive based on GPA. *if you have prior PSYC credit, please consult with an advisor prior to registering for an introductory psychology class If you would like to pursue a double major with Psychology as one of the majors, you need to be admitted to the Psychology program. If you are currently a Psychology major, you can simply declare your second major using the declaration of major form above. If you are currently not a Psychology major, you will need to apply to the Psychology program. If you would like to declare a minor in Psychology or any other area, you can complete a declaration of minor form at the Office of the Registrar. You can declare a minor at any point during your academic career. http://www.mtroyal.ca/wcm/groups/public/documents/pdf/ssdata_declaration_of_minor.pdf

Psychology Faculty and the Courses they Teach Dr. Karen Atkinson-Leadbeater conducts research in the areas of neural and axon development. Two courses that she regularly teaches are PSYC 2275 (Brain and Behaviour) and PSYC 3302 (Psychopharmacology). Dr. David Cann conducts research in the area of memory, including such topics as false memory, eyewitness memory, and individual differences in memory. He teaches PSYC 2265 (Cognitive Psychology), PSYC 3367 (Human Memory), and the Honours Seminar. Dr. Tony Chaston conducts research in the area of time perception and cortical hemispheric differences. He teaches regularly PSYC 2213 (Research Methods) and PSYC 3369 (Sensation and Perception). Dr. Mitchell Clark conducts research in the areas of well-being of persons with disabilities and their families. He regularly teaches PSYC 2235 (Life-Span Development) and PSYC 1105 (Introductory Psychology). Dr. Malinda Desjarlais conducts research in the area of human-computer interactions with a focus on online communication and self-regulated learning on the Internet. She regularly teaches PSYC 2210 and 2211 (Statistics) and PSYC 2213 (Research Methods). Dr. Evelyn Field conducts research on sex differences in behaviour and how the nervous system functions. Currently she is interested in how environmental contaminants that act like hormones change animal behaviour in response to drugs such as caffeine and taurine. She often teaches PSYC 3327 (Psychology of Sexuality), PSYC 3307 (Evolutionary Psychology), PSYC 2275 (Brain and Behaviour), and PSYC 4403 (Advanced Topics in Brain and Behaviour). Dr. Cass Foursha-Stevenson conducts research in the areas of lexical acquisition, syntactic acquisition, and monolingual and bilingual language processing. She regularly teaches PSYC 2235 (Lifespan Development), PSYC 3351 (Topics in Child Development), and PSYC 4900 (Advanced Topics in Infant Cognition). Dr. Naomi Grant s research focuses on social influence and compliance tactics. She regularly teaches PSYC 2245 (Social Psychology) and PSYC 3346 (Social Influence and Persuasion). Dr. Tru Kwong conducts research in the area of cognitive development, with a focus on written language. She regularly teaches PSYC 2235 (Lifespan Development) and PSYC 3351 (Topics in Child Development). Dr. April McGrath conducts research on cognitive dissonance and student learning in the areas of statistics and writing. She regularly teaches PSYC 2210 and 2211 (Statistics), PSYC 2213 (Research Methods), and PSYC 2245 (Social Psychology). Dr. Bev McLeod conducts research on academic dishonesty and deceptive communication. She regularly teaches PSYC 2245 (Social Psychology) and PSYC 4483 (Advanced Topics in Social Psychology). Dr. Alain Morin conducts research in the areas of self-awareness, theory of mind, self-destruction, neurophilosophy, and the development of self-consciousness. He regularly teaches PSYC 2283 (Theories of Personality) and PSYC 4401 (Social Cognition).

Dr. Douglas Murdoch conducts research in the areas of parenting (particularly the Burden of Care experienced by parents of children with disorders); the relationship between alcohol and aggression; consumer responses to the reports of professional psychologists; and how to brand and market clinical psychology. He regularly teaches PSYC 2285 (Introduction to Abnormal Behaviour), PSYC 4485 (Advanced Topics in of Abnormal Psychology), and PSYC 4406 (Introduction to Counselling and Psychotherapy). Dr. Nancy Ogden conducts research on the cognitive, behavioural, and social development of children and adolescents. She regularly teaches PSYC 2235 (Life-Span Development), PSYC 3351 (Topics in Child Development), PSYC 3355 (Topics in Adolescence), and PSYC 4451 (Atypical Child Development). Dr. Verna Raab conducts research in the field of development with a specialization in the development of youth. She regularly teaches PSYC 2235 (Life-Span Development) and PSYC 3355 (Topics in Adolescence). Dr. Carrie Scherzer conducts research in the area of sport psychology, with a focus on injury rehabilitation and professional development. She also focuses her research on eating disorders and pedagogy. She regularly teaches PSYC 2285 (Psychology of Abnormal Behaviour), PSYC 4485 (Advanced Topics in the Psychology of Abnormal Behaviour), and PSYC 4406 (Introduction to Counselling and Psychotherapy). Dr. James Taylor conducts research on a variety of topics in cognitive psychology. Recent work has probed memory, judgements under risk, and time perception. He regularly teaches psychological statistics and research methods courses at the 2000 and 4000 level (PSYC 2211 Statistical Methods for Psychology II, PSYC 2213 Research Methods, and PSYC 4412 - Advanced Statistical Methods for Psychology). Dr. Cheryl Techentin conducts research on hemispheric laterality, dichotic listening, language and emotional processing, and the processing of sarcastic speech. She regularly teaches PSYC 1103 and 1104 (Introductory Psychology), PSYC 2265 (Cognitive Psychology), PSYC 3369 (Sensation and Perception), and PSYC 3305 (History of Psychological Thought). Dr. Bob Uttl conducts research in the area of cognition and memory, with a focus on prospective memory, cognitive aging, cognitive and neuropsychological assessment, measurement, and human factors. He regularly teaches PSYC 2210 (Statistics), PSYC 4413 (Advanced Methods II), PSYC 4405 (Psychometrics), and PSYC 4465 (Advanced Topics in Cognition). Dr. Anne Vernon conducts research on grief and bereavement with a focus on meaning-making and changes in identity following bereavement. She regularly teaches PSYC 2219 (Death and Dying), PSYC 3353 (Topics in the Psychology of Aging), and PSYC 2285 (Psychology of Abnormal Behaviour).

Bachelor of Arts - PSYCHOLOGY 40 courses 120 credits Student Name: Student ID: Psychology Courses 1. PSYC 1103 Natural Science 2. PSYC 1104 Social Science 3. PSYC 2210 Statistical Methods I 4. PSYC 2211 Statistical Methods II 5. PSYC 2213 Research Methods I 6. PSYC 2235 Lifespan Development 7. PSYC 2245 Social Psychology 8. PSYC 2265 Cognitive Psychology 9. PSYC 2275 Brain and Behaviour 10. PSYC 2283 Personality 11. PSYC 2285 Abnormal Behaviour 12. PSYC option 13. PSYC option 14. PSYC option 15. PSYC 4000 level 16. PSYC 4000 level Students must complete a minimum of 16 Psychology courses to a maximum of 24. Any additional PSYC courses will be recorded in either electives or General Education. For Honours, students must complete at least 20 Psychology courses. Additional PSYC courses for Honours are: PSYC 3305 - History of Psych Thought PSYC 4412 - Advanced Statistics PSYC 4413 - Research Methods II PSYC 5110 - Honours Seminar I PSYC 5120 - Honours Seminar II General Education Approved General Education courses can be found in the academic calendar and online at: mtroyal.ca/gened/courses Foundation Tier Choose one course from each cluster from the approved courses. 13. Cluster 1 14. Cluster 2 15. Cluster 3 16. Cluster 4 Second Tier Choose one course from each cluster from the approved courses. 17. Cluster 1 18. Cluster 2 19. Cluster 3 20. Cluster 4 Third Tier Choose four approved courses from at least two clusters. 21. Cluster 22. Cluster 23. Cluster 24. Cluster Only 16 courses can be at the junior/first year level. If interested in honours and/or minors, check the current academic calendar for specific requirements and seek academic advice. Refer to the Academic Calendar of your admission year for a complete list of graduation requirements. Use in coordination with mrugradu8. If there are discrepancies between information on this page and the academic calendar, the academic calendar is deemed correct. Electives An elective is any three credit post-secondary level course. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. Minor A minor is optional. Choose to complete a minor to show focus in a second area of interest. A minor may be taken from Arts, Business or Science. 6-10 courses are required for a minor. Refer to the current academic calendar for detailed minor information. Courses needed for a minor are taken as part of the 40 course requirement for a BA. Courses are recorded as either electives or General Education. Declare your minor for up to date academic records.

Declaring a Minor in Psychology If you are not majoring in Psychology you can complete a minor in Psychology by following the guidelines below. Eight Psychology courses including: PSYC 1103 PSYC 1104 OR PSYC 1105 Six additional PSYC courses at the 2000 level or higher, including at least two at the 3000 level or higher

Honours in Psychology The Purpose of an Honours Degree There are several reasons why a student might want to participate in the Honours stream and obtain a BA Honours degree: An Honours degree provides a more extensive exposure to the knowledge and practice of the discipline. In addition to the core courses required to obtain a BA in Psychology, Honours students take several psychology courses that non-honours students do not. The Honours degree recognizes academic excellence. Because admission to the Honours stream is based partially on GPA, only those who have excelled as undergraduate students are accepted into the stream. Completion of an Honours degree indicates that you have engaged in some form of independent learning, under the guidance of a faculty supervisor, over and above that required by regular degreerelated course work. Usually that independent work is research-related, and such research experience is considered an important admission criterion by many graduate schools. Summary of the Requirements of an Honours Degree in Psychology In addition to satisfying the course requirements of the BA Psychology degree, an Honours student in Psychology must: 1. Complete the following three courses: a. PSYC 3305: History of Psychology b. PSYC 4412: Advanced Statistical Methods for Psychology c. PSYC 4413: Research Methods II 2. Complete the following two courses during the student s Honours year (exceptions must be approved by the department). a. PSYC 5110: Honours Thesis I b. PSYC 5120: Honours Thesis II Note: These courses are numbered among the Psychology courses taken to complete the BA in Psychology, so the total number of Psychology courses taken should not exceed 24, the maximum number of Psychology courses permitted in the BA Psychology program. 3. Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 (B) in each year during participation in the Honours stream. If you have any questions or difficulties at any time you should contact the Chair of the Honours Committee: Dr. April McGrath (amcgrath@mtroyal.ca). For more information, please consult the Psychology Honours Handbook, which can be downloaded from www.mtroyal.ca/psychology

Get Involved Outside of Class Psychology Student Society The Psychology Student Society is a great way to get more involved with the field of Psychology outside of the classroom. Meet other students that share your interest in Psychology and attend different events hosted by the society. To learn more, visit the website at: http://www.mrupss.com/pages/default.aspx Volunteer Look for opportunities to volunteer or work as a research assistant. Faculty members have different projects happening throughout the year and you could gain valuable research experience by volunteering your time. Feel free to approach faculty members about their current projects. Tutor Consider becoming a peer tutor. Mount Royal University offers a Peer Tutoring Program. If you have performed well in a course you may be able to tutor other students in that subject and get paid!

Recommended Coursework The following list is meant to assist you in picking Psychology courses with particular areas of interest in mind. These are suggestions and should not be interpreted as mandatory or sufficient in order to pursue further study or employment in a given area. As new courses are developed, this list will be updated, but it may not be immediate. As always, it s best to consult with one of the Psychology Department advisors if you have questions. Clinical/Counselling Intro to the Psychology of Abnormal Behaviour, Introduction to Counselling and Psychotherapy, Advanced Topics in the Psychology of Abnormal Behaviour, Psychology of Death and Dying, History of Psychological Thought, Psychopharmacology Cognitive Science Cognitive Psychology, Human Memory, Sensation & Perception, Advanced Topics in Cognition Developmental Life-Span Development, Topics in Child Development, Topics in the Psychology of Aging, Topics in Adolescence, Atypical Child Development, Advanced Topics in Adolescence Neuroscience Evolutionary Psychology, Sensation & Perception, Brain and Behaviour, Psychopharmacology Advanced Topics in Brain and Behaviour Graduate Directed Advanced Statistical Methods for Psychology, Research Methods II, Honours Seminar I, Honours Seminar II, Advanced Topics Courses, Directed Readings Recommended Coursework (by year) To complete the BA in Psychology in four years, you will need to take 10 courses per year, for a total of 40 courses for your degree. The courses will fall into three categories 16 courses to complete the Psychology major, 12 courses to complete General Education requirements, and 12 elective courses (at least 4 must be outside of Psychology). Year One Fall: PSYC 1103 Year One Winter: PSYC 1104 Year Two Fall: PSYC 2210 Year Two Winter: PSYC 2211, PSYC 2213 Year Three Fall: PSYC 4412 (if considering Honours) Year Three Winter: PSYC 4413 (if considering Honours)

Psychology Course Descriptions PSYC 1103 Introduction to Psychology I: Natural Science (formerly PSYC 1102) This course introduces the history, methods, and current state of knowledge in selected areas of modern psychological research. A range of content areas will be surveyed, including biological psychology, sensation and perception, learning, memory, cognition, and consciousness. Note: Psychology 1103 and 1104 are required for BA Psychology majors. Non-majors may instead take Psychology 1105 and use it as a prerequisite for most 2000-level Psychology courses. Students who complete 1105 but who subsequently become Psychology Majors will be required to complete Psychology 1103 in addition to 1105. Only one of Psychology 1105 and 1104 can be used to satisfy graduation requirements for the BA (Psychology) degree. Credit will be allowed for only one of Psychology 1102 and Psychology 1103. PSYC 1104 Introduction to Psychology II: Social Science (formerly PSYC 1101) This course provides a survey of the current psychological knowledge in a range of topics that will include developmental psychology, personality, psychological disorders, therapy, stress, social psychology, assessment, motivation and emotion. Prerequisite: Psychology 1103. Note: Psychology 1103 and 1104 are required for BA Psychology majors. Non-majors may instead take Psychology 1105 and use it as a prerequisite for most 2000-level Psychology courses. Students who complete 1105 but who subsequently become Psychology Majors will be required to complete Psychology 1103 in addition to 1105. Only one of Psychology 1105 and 1104 can be used to satisfy graduation requirements for the BA (Psychology) degree. Credit will be allowed for only one of Psychology 1101 and Psychology 1104. PSYC 1105 Introduction to Psychology (formerly PSYC 2205) This course introduces the history, methods, and current state of knowledge in modern psychological research. A wide range of content areas will be surveyed, including biological psychology, learning, memory, perception, personality, psychological disorders, therapy, stress, social psychology, psychological development in children, and the ethics of research. Additional topics may be included at the discretion of the instructor. Note: Psychology 1105 is intended for non-psychology majors only and can be used as a prerequisite for most 2000-level Psychology courses. Psychology 1103 and 1104 are required for BA Psychology majors. Students who complete 1105 but who subsequently become Psychology Majors will be required to complete Psychology 1103 in addition to 1105. Only one of Psychology 1105 and 1104 can be used to satisfy graduation requirements for the BA (Psychology) degree. PSYC 1121 Interpersonal Communications I (formerly PSYC 1221) This course provides an opportunity to explore some important aspects of interpersonal communication, to develop a greater understanding of interpersonal effectiveness, and on the basis of this understanding to practice behaviours, that increase interpersonal effectiveness.

PSYC 2210 Statistical Methods for Psychology I (3 credits TG) 2 hours lecture, 1 hour tutorial This course introduces basic statistical techniques as applied to psychological research. Tabulation, graphic representation, univariate descriptive techniques, correlation and linear regression will be examined. The course will also cover basic inferential statistics, including normal curve and t tests. Students will learn statistical software and will use the software to perform calculations. Prerequisite: Mathematics 30 (pure or applied) or equivalent; Prerequisite or Co-requisite: Psychology 1104 or Psychology 1105. PSYC 2211 Statistical Methods for Psychology II (3 credits TG) 2 hours lecture, 1 hour tutorial This course introduces students to more advanced statistical techniques than those covered in Psychology 2210 (Statistical Methods for Psychology I). Statistical processes such as multiple regression, one-way and two-way analysis of variance including post-hoc comparisons, and non-parametric hypothesis tests are included. Students will use statistical software to perform data analyses. Prerequisites: Psychology 2210 Note: Credit will be allowed for only one of Psychology 2212 and Psychology 2211. PSYC 2213 Research Methods I (formerly PSYC 3313), 1 hour tutorial This course is an introduction to basic research methods in psychology. Students will examine both the theory and application of a variety of research techniques including observation, surveys/questionnaires, and experiments. The course provides students with practice in defining and understanding key aspects of these techniques and applying these techniques to address a variety of psychological research questions. Prerequisite: Psychology 2212 or both Psychology 2210 and 2211 Note: Psychology 2211 may be taken concurrently. PSYC 2219 Psychology of Death and Dying (formerly PSYC 3319) (3 credits - TG) 3 hours lecture The course examines social and psychological aspects of death and dying, such as: historical and cross cultural variability in death attitudes, spirituality, the dying process, ethical issues such as euthanasia and suicide, bereavement, burial practices and death perceptions across the life-span. Prerequisite: Psychology 1104 or Psychology 1105, or consent of the department. PSYC 2223 Interpersonal Communications II: Teamwork, Diversity, and Conflict Resolution Students will explore teamwork, diversity, and conflict resolution as three key aspects of work communication. Students will be assisted in developing conceptual understandings of these topics through illustrative case studies which consider a variety of work situations, through role plays, and through selected readings. Facilitated teamwork in seminars, in projects, and in presentations, as well as journal activities, will assist students in making their learning relevant to their current and anticipated work settings. Recommended preparation: Psychology 1121.

PSYC 2235 Life Span Development (formerly PSYC 3325) This course provides an overview of the major developmental stages from birth to death. Development will be studied from a variety of theoretical perspectives and the application of theory to practical situations will be examined. PSYC 2245 Social Psychology (formerly PSYC 3345) Students will examine social psychological approaches to understanding social influence, social perception and cognition, attitudes and group dynamics. PSYC 2265 Cognitive Psychology (formerly PSYC 3365) This course provides a survey of the major areas of research and theory in cognitive psychology. Topics may include the origins of cognitive psychology in traditional learning theories, as well as contemporary views of neurocognition, attention, perception, language, memory, problem solving, creativity and intelligence. PSYC 2275 Brain and Behaviour (formerly PSYC 3375) This course encourages students to adopt a biological perspective towards psychological issues. From an overview of brain anatomy and neuron physiology, it will explore topics such as sensory processing, brain damage and recovery hormones and behaviour, learning and memory, emotions and stress. PSYC 2283 Personality (formerly PSYC 3383) This course emphasizes a scientific approach to the study of personality formation. It examines theories and research related to the structure and dynamics of personality. Five main theoretical views are covered: psychodynamic, learning, humanistic, existential, and trait. Representative theories are presented for each perspective along these lines: main concepts and hypotheses, empirical work (e.g., measurement of individual differences), and/or psychotherapeutic applications. The course establishes links of divergence, convergence, and similitude between the different theories of personality. PSYC 2285 Introduction to the Psychology of Abnormal Behaviour (formerly PSYC 3385) This senior-level course is a survey of the symptoms, causes and treatment of psychological disorders as they occur across the lifespan. Through lecture, videos and in-class applied exercises, students will consider the experience of psychological abnormality and study contemporary methods used in clinical diagnosis and intervention.

PSYC 3301 Learning and Behaviour (3 credits) 3 hours lecture This course includes topics in the field of learning and behaviour such as classical and operant contingencies, experimental methodologies, and critical scientific thinking skills. The course will also focus on the application of learning theory to a variety of real-world situations related to behavior modification, behavioral economics, and addiction. PSYC 3302 Psychopharmacology This course provides an introduction to the relationship between drugs, the brain, and behaviour. Students will learn how neuropharmacologic agents (psychotropic and psychotherapeutic drugs), through their influence on the biochemistry and physiology of neurons and neurotransmitter systems, affect nervous system function, and thus behaviour. Prerequisite: Psychology 2275. PSYC 3305 History of Psychological Thought In this course, students will examine the societal, philosophical, and scientific trends that, beginning in ancient Greece, ultimately gave rise to modern psychology. In addition, students will learn how the topics of psychology were investigated prior to the formation of psychology as a distinct scientific discipline. Prerequisites: Psychology 1104 or 1105 and two of Psychology 2235, 2245, 2265, 2283, or 2285. PSYC 3307 Evolutionary Psychology This course examines psychological questions about behaviour from an evolutionary perspective. Following a basic overview of evolutionary theory, this course will look at the origins of behaviours such as language, social cooperation, parenting, aggression, mate selection, and sex. Prerequisite: Psychology 2275. PSYC 3327 Psychology of Sexuality This course emphasizes psychological theory and research concerning human sexuality. It reviews methods and methodological problems in research on sexual behaviour. It covers basic information about sexual physiology and function, sexual development and differentiation, sexual behaviour, attraction, intimacy, sexual orientation, and sexual dysfunction. Prerequisite: Psychology 2275. PSYC 3346 Social Psychology: Social Influence and Persuasion This course explores theories and research concerning social influence, with particular attention to compliance, conformity, persuasion and obedience. It will also explore how the principles of social influence apply to real world phenomena. Prerequisite: Psychology 2245.

PSYC 3347 Psychology of Gender This course takes a psychological approach to the study of gender stereotypes, the empirical evidence for female-male differences and similarities in behaviour and experience, and the implications of gender roles for interpersonal relationships and social roles. Biologically-based and socially-based explanations will be evaluated. PSYC 3348 Cultural Psychology (3 credits) 3 hours lecture This course will examine a wide range of social psychological topics (e.g., the self, social norms, motivation, emotion, reasoning, interpersonal relationships) from a cultural perspective by drawing on both cross-cultural and within-cultural research. Prerequisite: Psychology 2245. PSYC 3351 Topics in Child Development This course focuses on psychological development from conception through childhood and adolescence, examining such topics as the development of cognition, emotion, identity, moral thinking, and psychosocial abilities. Recommended Preparation: Ten credit courses including Psychology 1104 or 1105. PSYC 3353 Topics in the Psychology of Aging This course examines the nature, causes and implications of developmental changes across the middle and later adult years. Following a basic overview of theoretical perspectives and research methods used in the area, the course will look at age-related changes in physiological, psychological, and social functioning. Diversity in later adulthood is also discussed, as it is reflected in gender and in cultural, lifestyle and individual variability. Recommended Preparation: Ten credit courses including Psychology 1104 or 1105. PSYC 3355 Topics in Adolescence This course emphasizes the biological, cognitive, social and emotional changes that occur within adolescent development. It investigates the impact of various contexts (family, peers, school, etc) on developmental outcomes. Topics include the transitory difficulties and psychosocial problems that may arise during this period as well as cultural and historical aspects of development. Recommended Preparation: Ten credit courses including Psychology 1104 or 1105. PSYC 3357 Topics in Brain and Behaviour (3 credits) 3 hours lecture This course will expand and build upon the content covered in the 2000-level course, Brain and Behaviour. It will include topics such as homeostasis, variations in consciousness, the neural control of language, brain laterality, environmental influences on brain function, and psychopathology. Prerequisite: Psychology 2275.

PSYC 3367 Human Memory This course provides an overview of the history, current theories, and research findings relating to human learning. Processes involved in encoding, storing and retrieving information from memory stores will be studied by examining such topics as implicit and explicit memory, autobiographical memory, and constructive processes. Prerequisite: Psychology 2213 and 2265. PSYC 3369 Sensation and Perception The course will provide students with an understanding of how the brain receives and processes information about the world around us. This will include the basic anatomy and physiology of the primary sensory systems, the scientific methods used to measure sensory function, and how information is represented in neural processing. The course will also look at traditional and cutting edge approaches to object perception, theories of depth perception, color perception, pattern recognition, motion, attention and at the processes of bottom-up and top-down processing and how they interact. Prerequisite: Psychology 1104 or Psychology 1105. PSYC 3406 Introduction to Counselling and Psychotherapy (formerly PSYC 4406) This course critically examines the basic principles and therapeutic processes that characterize mainstream counselling/psychotherapy approaches, such as those based on the Psychodynamic, Behavioural and Cognitive-Behavioural, Humanistic, and Contextual/Systemic perspectives. Prerequisites: Psychology 2283 and 2285 PSYC 4401 Social Cognition This seminar course examines theories and research results pertaining to the structures (self, person, role, and event schemas) and processes (expectations, attributions, and inferences) underlying self and person perception. Prerequisite: Psychology 2245. PSYC 4403 Advanced Topics in Brain and Behaviour A basic review of brain anatomy and physiology will be followed by an exploration of topics such as neuroplasticity, neuroendocrinology and psychoneuroimmunology. These topics will be examined in relation to abnormal neural and behavioural function in disorders such as depression, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson s disease. Prerequisite: Psychology 2213 and 3357. PSYC 4404 The Self (3 credits) 3 hours lecture This course presents research results on the self within social-experimental, comparative, developmental, and neuroscience perspectives. The nature and function of the self will be examined. Topics will include: self-knowledge, self-motivation, self-esteem, self-regulation, self-recognition, Theory-of-Mind, measurement issues, and the influence of culture on views of the self. Prerequisites: Psychology 2213 and 4401.

PSYC 4405 Psychometrics (3 credits) 2 hours lecture, 1 hour tutorial The course examines the theory and practice of psychological testing. Topics include theories underlying psychological testing, test development and design, item analysis, reliability, validity, bias, interpretation of test scores, and common psychological tests. The course also provides students with hands-on experience in the design and evaluation of psychological tests. Prerequisite: Psychology 2213. PSYC 4412 Advanced Statistical Methods for Psychology (3 credits TG) 2 hours lecture, 2 hours tutorial This course reviews material from prior 2200-level statistics courses and introduces more advanced analyses. Students will learn to screen data and to conduct analyses including multi-factor ANOVA, planned comparisons, advanced regression, power and nonparametric tests. Brief conceptual introductions to multivariate techniques (e.g. factor analysis, mediation analysis, MANOVA/MANCOVA) will be provided. Prerequisites: Psychology 2211 or 2212 with a minimum grade of B, and Psychology 2213 with a minimum grade of B. PSYC 4413 Research Methods II (3 credits TG) 2 hours lecture, 2 hours tutorial This course extends research concepts, practices, and designs introduced in Psychology 2213 and 4412. Students will gain more in-depth hands-on experience with core elements of the research process while critiquing, designing and conducting small research projects. In addition, specialized techniques in social science research will be introduced. This course lays a foundation for honours thesis research. Prerequisites: Psychology 2213 with a minimum grade of B and Psychology 4412. PSYC 4451 Atypical Child Development Psychology 4451 provides a critical examination of issues pertaining to developmental psychopathology during childhood and adolescence with an emphasis on the characteristics of the disorders of development, their determinants, outcomes and interventions. Contemporary research and theories as well as current approaches to intervention and prevention will be emphasized. Prerequisite: Psychology 2213, 2285 and 3351. PSYC 4455 Atypical Adolescent Development Course seminars will examine the foundations and pathways, normative and psychopathological, of adolescent development. Small-scale hypothesis-driven studies and multilevel research designs are utilized to demonstrate the complexity of the study of adolescent development. Advances in theory and research pertaining to the biological, cognitive, emotional, and social development of adolescents, including emerging adulthood, will be emphasized. Prerequisite: Psychology 2213 and 3355.

PSYC 4465 Advanced Topics In Cognition This course examines current topics in cognitive psychology while focusing on theories and research findings. The topics may vary from year to year and may include research methods, perception, attention, memory, knowledge, problem solving, decision making, and cognitive development and aging. Prerequisites: Psychology 2213 and 2265. PSYC 4475 The Development of Brain and Behaviour (3 credits) 3 hours lecture This course will involve an in-depth examination of the development of the brain and how it controls behaviour. This will include discussion of how nutrition, drugs, and stress affect brain development in children and contribute to disorders such as fetal alcohol syndrome, autism and attention deficit hyperactivity syndrome. Prerequisites: Psychology 3357 and 2213. PSYC 4476 Research Methods in Brain and Behaviour (3 credits) 1 hour lecture, 2 hours lab This course will provide practice in developing experimental protocols, data analysis, and presentation of experimental results in the area of biopsychology through both laboratory exercises and lectures. Prerequisites: Psychology 2275 or 3357, and 2213. PSYC 4483 Advanced Topics in Social Psychology (3 credits) 3 hours seminar This course explores select topics in social psychology. Students will focus on these topics in depth by critically evaluating theory and research in the area. Sample topics include group dynamics, leadership, conflict resolution, nonverbal and deceptive communication, interpersonal relationships, altruism and aggression. Prerequisites: Psychology 2245 and 2213. PSYC 4485 Advanced Topics in the Psychology of Abnormal Behaviour This course surveys current controversies in clinical psychology related to legal and ethical issues, research, and the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders. Prerequisites: Psychology 2213, 2285, and one of: Psychology 2275, 3305, 3307, 3327, 3346, 3351, 3353, 3355, 3367, 3369. PSYC 4900 Advanced Topics in Infancy and Childhood: Infant Cognition (3 Credits) 3 hours lecture This course examines the theoretical and empirical nature of cognitive development in infancy. Topics include infant research methods, sensation, perception, intelligence, concepts and categories, memory, and early communicative development. Prerequisite: Psychology 2213 and 3351. PSYC 4901 Advanced Topics in Infancy and Childhood: Child Cognitive Development (3 Credits) 3 hours lecture This course examines theory and research in cognitive development throughout childhood. Topics include research methods with children, perception, memory, language, problem solving, academic

skills, intelligence, and social perception. Prerequisite: Psychology 2213 and 3351. PSYC 5110 Honours Seminar I (3 credits) 3 hours seminar Psychology 5110 is a weekly seminar course for students in the honours stream. The seminar will provide students with a variety of practical, technical, and intellectual skills that are central to scientific research and to the development of their honours thesis. Emphasis will be placed on students ability to think critically and independently. Prerequisite: Psychology 4413. Note: This course is restricted to students in the final year of their program who are officially accepted and enrolled in the Psychology Honours Program. PSYC 5120 Honours Seminar II (3 credits) 3 hours seminar Psychology 5120 is a weekly seminar course for students in the Honours stream. The seminar will provide students with the opportunity to conduct research in their area of interest, gather data, analyze and present findings, and develop a written thesis. Some projects may be non-empirical or theoretical, in which case certain steps (e.g. gathering data) may be modified accordingly. The honours thesis project is conducted under the direct guidance of a faculty supervisor from the Department of Psychology. Prerequisite: Psychology 4412 and Psychology 5110. Note: this course is restricted to students in the final year of their program who are officially accepted and enrolled in the Psychology Honours Program. PSYC 3199, 4199 Directed Readings Subject to the approval of the department chair. In order to establish a more flexible approach by which students may pursue and receive credit in areas of study, which are of particular interest to them, a category of courses entitled Directed Readings has been established. The credit value may vary between 1 and 4 credits. The actual value will be determined by the instructor and the chair of the department concerned. However, no more than one course, not to exceed 4 credits, of directed readings can be used for graduation purposes. The objectives agreed upon will be filed in the Office of the Registrar and will be made available to any institution requesting them for evaluation purposes. Arrangements for directed readings must be completed within three weeks of the first day of classes.

Psychology Department Contact Information Main Office EA 3040B Administrative Assistant: Tara Grams 403-440-6467 tgrams@mtroyal.ca Department Chair: Evelyn Field 403-440-6426 efield@mtroyal.ca EA 3042 Full-Time Faculty: Karen Atkinson-Leadbeater 403-440-8442 katkinsonleadbeater@mtroyal.ca EA 3066 Dave Cann 403-440-8541 dcann@mtroyal.ca EA 3049 Tony Chaston 403-440-6654 achaston@mtroyal.ca EA 3073 Mitch Clark 403-440-6984 mclark@mtroyal.ca EA 3056A Malinda Desjarlais 403-440-8441 mdesjarlais@mtroyal.ca EA 3053 Cass Foursha-Stevenson 403-440-8829 cfourshastevenson@mtroyal.ca EA 3065 Naomi Grant 403-440-8837 ngrant@mtroyal.ca EA 3071 Tru Kwong 403-440-8537 tkwong@mtroyal.ca EA 3055 April McGrath 403-440-8443 amcgrath@mtroyal.ca EA 3080 Bev McLeod 403-440-8502 bmcleod@mtroyal.ca EA 3072 Alain Morin 403-440-7069 amorin@mtroyal.ca EA 3067 Douglas Murdoch 403-440-8536 dmurdoch@mtroyal.ca EA 3059 Nancy Ogden 403-440-8991 nogden@mtroyal.ca EA 3052 Verna Raab 403-440-6781 vraab@mtroyal.ca EA 3074 Carrie Scherzer 403-440-7098 cscherzer@mtroyal.ca EA 3064 James Taylor 403-440-6016 jctaylor@mtroyal.ca EA 3078 Cheryl Techentin 403-440-8535 ctechentin@mtroyal.ca EA 3045 Bob Uttl 403-440-8539 buttl@mtroyal.ca EA 3061 Anne Vernon 403-440-6427 avernon@mtroyal.ca EA 3056B Lee Wertzler 403-440-8503 lwertzler@mtroyal.ca EA 3069 Cover images from Creative Commons (creativecommons.org) Handbook compiled by Dr. April McGrath & Dr. Carrie Scherzer September 2012 Updated August 2013