UNDERGRADUATE REGULATIONS & SYLLABUSES 2013 - 2014 THE FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES LEVEL: I SEMESTER: II COURSE CODE: PSYC 1009 COURSE TITLE: RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY CREDITS: 3 PREREQUISITES: NONE DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE: BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course introduces the firstyear psychology undergraduate student to science as a philosophy, and psychology as a branch of science. Research methods unique to psychology and the ethical implications of studying human behaviour will be covered. The content to be covered in the course includes conducting literature review and evaluation of psychological research, understanding psychological measures and designing ethical psychological studies, and communicating research findings to others.
LEVEL: I SEMESTER: I COURSE CODE: PSYC 1001 (PSYC 1003) COURSE TITLE: INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY CREDITS: 3 PREREQUISITES: NONE DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE: BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES COURSE DESCRIPTION: The concepts and practice of psychology are becoming increasingly important in our society. This course allows students to gain an understanding of basic principles in psychology. It also illustrates some basic techniques of measuring human behaviour. An attempt will also be made to indicate where psychological principles could play an effective part in understanding and solving certain problems. The course is organised into seven sections. An attempt will also be made to use a multi-disciplinary approach through illustrations. The theme of humanistic psychology will be used alongside the Freudian and Behaviouristic approaches to explore whether human beings have the inherent nature to transcend the environment or to remain always at the mercy of environmental forces. Among the topic areas dealt with in this course are: sensation and perception, learning, motivation, memory, emotions, intelligence, personality, development and research methods.
LEVEL: II SEMESTER: II COURSE CODE: PSYC 2002 COURSE TITLE: ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY CREDITS: 3 PREREQUISITES: PSYC 1001 (PSYC 1003) OR PSYC 1004 DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE: BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course will include an examination of the causes, classification, and treatment of abnormal behaviour. We will examine topics such as reactions to stress and adjustment disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, sexual disorders and deviations, disorders of mood and behavioural disorders of adolescence and childhood. Methods of assessment, including psychological testing, and various approaches to treatment will also be considered.
This course is a prerequisite for all other second and third year LEVEL: I SEMESTER: II COURSE CODE: PSYC 1004 COURSE TITLE: INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY CREDITS: 3 PREREQUISITES: NONE DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE: BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course seeks to introduce students to the field of Social Psychology as the scientific study of how people think about, influence, and relate to one another while introducing its scope of study and its methodology. This course intends to give students an appreciation for the combined analysis of psychological and sociological perspectives in studying human behaviour. Social Psychology will, therefore, be constructed as an interactionist discipline. Students will be exposed to numerous social psychological concepts, particularly in the light of empirical research, including primary and secondary socialization and its consequences in relationships; self and personality development; attitude formation and measurement; persuasion; conformity, compliance, obedience and deviance; group behaviour; interpersonal relations; impression formation, aggression and altruistic behaviour. Each topic will be covered in sufficient depth for students to be able to appreciate classical social psychological concepts and findings. Students will also develop a keen appreciation for social psychology as a tool for national, as well as personal development.
LEVEL: II SEMESTER: II COURSE CODE: PSYC 2003 COURSE TITLE: PHYSIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY CREDITS: 3 PREREQUISITES: PSYC 1001 (PSYC 1003) OR PSYC 1004 DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE: BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES COURSE DESCRIPTION: Physiological psychology reflects the biological processes underlying human behaviour. This course introduces students to the neurology, endocrinology (hormonal) and psycho-pharmacological bases of behaviour and considers their influence in perception, motivation and emotion, sleep and learning and memory.
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