PSYCHOLOGY 1000
Basic Concepts of Psychology
The subject matter and methods of psychology with emphasis on the neurological, comparative, cognitive and social foundations of behaviour.
Basic research methods and descriptive and inferential statistics used in psychology.
Prerequisite: A previous course (3.0 credit hours) in Psychology.
Note: Credit will not be granted for Psychology 2030 if Psychology 3010 was taken prior to 1997/1998. Credit is not allowed for Psychology 2030 and Sociology 2130.
Thinking, remembering, talking, problem solving, seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling and tasting as cognitive and perceptual processes.
Prerequisite: A previous course (3.0 credit hours) in Psychology.
Theories and research on brain function and its relation to behaviour in humans and other animals.
Prerequisite: Psychology 1000 or Biology 1010.
The concepts developed in the fields of comparative psychology, ethology, behavioural ecology, and evolutionary biology are presented and related to our understanding of the evolution of psychological mechanisms.
Prerequisite: Psychology 1000 or Biology 1020.
Basic concepts of social psychology including socialization, social influence, group dynamics, attitudes and impression formation.
Prerequisite: A previous course (3.0 credit hours) in Psychology.
Prerequisite: A previous course (3.0 credit hours) in Psychology. Additional prerequisites and recommended backgrounds will be specified for individual offerings.
Biological and learned bases of the growth and development of human behaviour, including motor abilities, motivation, perception, language and intelligence.
Prerequisite: Any two 2000-level courses (6.0 credit hours) in Psychology.
Current theories of adult development and aging; the effects of aging on sensation and perception, learning, personality and social adjustment.
Prerequisite: Any two 2000-level courses (6.0 credit hours) in Psychology.
Recommended background: Psychology 2030 and 3110.
Contemporary research, theory and controversy in the area of basic cognitive processes.
Prerequisite: Any two 2000-level courses (6.0 credit hours) in Psychology.
Recommended background: Psychology 2030 and 2320.
Offerings will focus on processes involved in thinking and perceiving. Specific offerings may include examination of the processes involved in memory, language, consciousness and vision.
Prerequisite: Any two 2000-level courses (6.0 credit hours) in Psychology.
Recommended background: Psychology 2320.
This course will explore how individuals make sense of themselves and the people around them. We will study classic and contemporary social cognition research to examine how people process information about their social world.
Prerequisite: Any two 2000-level courses (6.0 credit hours) in Psychology.
Recommended background: Psychology 2030 and 2800.
Advanced discussion of research design and data analysis with emphasis on sophisticated research designs, high-level statistical computer packages and current controversies in the area.
Prerequisite: Any two 2000-level courses (6.0 credit hours) in Psychology.
Recommended background: Psychology 2030.
Traditional application of descriptive and inferential statistical techniques of behavioural analyses with an emphasis on hands-on analysis of data. Topics include: univariate and multivariate testing, correlation and prediction and frequency analysis.
Prerequisite: Any two 2000-level courses (6.0 credit hours) in Psychology.
Recommended background: Psychology 2030.
Approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of various forms of mental illness.
Prerequisite: Any two 2000-level courses (6.0 credit hours) in Psychology.
Recommended background: An additional 2000-level course (3.0 credit hours) in Psychology.
This course will explore how hormones, external environmental signals and the nervous system interact to produce complex behaviour.
Prerequisite: Any two 2000-level courses (6.0 credit hours) in Psychology.
Recommended background: Psychology 2700.
This course will explore the interaction between the cellular and molecular effects of psychotropic drugs on brain function, and the resulting effects on behaviour.
Prerequisite: Any two 2000-level courses (6.0 credit hours) in Psychology.
Recommended background: Psychology 2600.
An exploration of some of the myths, controversies and realities surrounding mental health and illness in the 21st Century. Specific topics will include critiques of the modern psychiatric establishment and the biological model of mental illness, gender issues, the 'psychiatric survivor' movement, first nations' issues, self-help groups, children's issues, senior's issues, the role of modern pharmaceutical companies in the mental health system, and the lived experience of mental health and illness.
Prerequisite: Any one 2000-level course in either Psychology or Health Sciences, or third-year standing (a minimum of 60.0 credit hours).
Note: Credit is not allowed for Psychology 3570/Health Sciences 3570 and Health Sciences 3850 (Topics in Contemporary Mental Health Issues).
The basic principles of brain structure and function.
Prerequisite: Psychology 2600 or Biology 2000.
An introduction to the techniques and methods used in modern neuroscience research.
Prerequisite: Any two 2000-level courses (6.0 credit hours) in Psychology.
Recommended background: Psychology 2600 or Biology 2000.
Note: Students who wish to pursue graduate studies in neuroscience should take Psychology 3605.
Theories and research on human brain function and the diagnosis of brain damage in humans. Study of brain asymmetry and effect of neurological disorders on complex psychological functions such as language, perception, memory and personality.
Prerequisite: Any two 2000-level courses (6.0 credit hours) in Psychology.
Recommended background: Psychology 2600.
A detailed examination of the functional organization of the mammalian brain. Although the majority of the lecture material covered will focus on the human brain, the functional anatomy of other mammals will be examined in the lab component. Students are expected to have an introductory-level understanding of the brain.
Prerequisite: Any two 2000-level courses (6.0 credit hours) in Psychology.
Recommended background: Psychology 2600.
Note: Credit is not allowed for Psychology 3615 and Psychology 3850 (Neuroanatomy).
Molecular and morphological bases of experience-induced changes in the brain.
Prerequisite: Any two 2000-level courses (6.0 credit hours) in Psychology.
Recommended background: Psychology 2600.
Offerings will focus on the relationship between the structure and the function of the nervous system. Specific offerings may include the cellular basis of nervous system disorders, the biological basis of behaviour, and the neural substrates of cognitive processes.
Prerequisite: Any two 2000-level courses (6.0 credit hours) in Psychology.
Recommended background: Psychology 2600.
Topics include methods of experimental control, between and within subject designs and analyses, small-n designs and ethical concerns in the use of animals for research. Emphasis on the performance of laboratory and field studies, reading and writing of research reports and data interpretation. Participation in all-day field trips on three weekends is required.
Prerequisite: Any two 2000-level courses (6.0 credit hours) in Psychology.
Recommended background: Psychology 2030 and 2700.
This course will examine how understanding the function and evolutionary origins of behaviour can enhance our understanding of the organization and function of the brain. Emphasis will be placed on problems, such as finding food and avoiding predators, finding mates, and communicating with social partners, that have shaped the relationship between brains and behaviour.
Prerequisite: Psychology 2700 or Biology 2000.
Basic principles underlying behavioural changes resulting from experience in all animals, including humans.Topics include: classical and operant conditioning, biological constraints on learning and artificial intelligence.
Prerequisite: Any two 2000-level courses (6.0 credit hours) in Psychology.
Examines reproductive behaviour in primates, including humans, from the perspective of the theory of sexual selection.
Prerequisite: Any two 2000-level courses (6.0 credit hours) in Psychology.
Recommended background: Psychology 2700.
Comparative analysis of the behaviour of human and nonhuman primates and its psychological foundations.
Prerequisite: Any two 2000-level courses (6.0 credit hours) in Psychology.
Recommended background: Psychology 2700.
Selected topics in the theory and practice of comparative psychology will be discussed.
Prerequisite: Any two 2000-level courses (6.0 credit hours) in Psychology.
Recommended background: Psychology 2700.
Offerings will focus on the interaction of the person and the environment. Specific offerings may include the psychology of attitudes, social comparison, health psychology and the psychology of the self.
Prerequisite: Any two 2000-level courses (6.0 credit hours) in Psychology.
Recommended background: Psychology 2800.
A critical examination of Western Culture's binary construction of sex and gender through such topics as the medical/clinical management of intersexuality, cross-dressing, trans-sexuality and transgenderism. The existence of 'third' sexes and genders in non-Western cultures will also be discussed.
Prerequisite: Any two 2000-level courses (6.0 credit hours) in Psychology.
Note: Credit is not allowed for Psychology 3845 and Psychology 3850 (Sex and Gender).
Prequisites and recommended backgrounds will be specified for individual offerings.
Advanced seminar in cognition and perception. Offerings will focus on processes involved in thinking and perceiving. Specific offerings may include examination of the processes involved in memory, language, consciousness and vision.
Prerequisite: Any two 3000-level courses (6.0 credit hours) in Psychology.
Recommended background: Psychology 2030 and a 3000-level course (3.0 credit hours) in Cognition or Perception (Psychology 3320, 3325, 3330).
This course will critically evaluate alternative hypotheses for language evolution. The emphasis will be on the biological foundations of language and relevant social and psychological abilities.
Prerequisites: Psychology 3740 and one other 3000-level course (3.0 credit hours) in Psychology.
Recommended background: Psychology 2700 and one of Psychology 2320 or 2600.
Note: Credit is not allowed for Psychology 4350 (3350) and Psychology 3000 (Evolution of Language).
Offerings will focus on issues and concepts involved in psychological abnormality through evaluation of specific disorder categories.
Prerequisite: Any two 3000-level courses (6.0 credit hours) in Psychology.
Recommended background: Psychology 3500.
Advanced seminars in Neuroscience. Offerings will focus on the relationship between the structure and the function of the nervous system. Specific offerings may include the cellular basis of nervous system disorders, the biological basis of behaviour, and the neural substrates of cognitive processes.
Prerequisite: Any two 3000-level courses (6.0 credit hours) in Psychology.
Recommended background: A 3000-level course (3.0 credit hours) in Neuroscience (Psychology 3525 (3650), 3535 (3650), 3600, 3605, 3610, 3640, 3680).
Seminar discussion of contentious work in animal behaviour. Individual research projects of participants will also be presented and discussed.
Prerequisite: Any two 3000-level courses (6.0 credit hours) in Psychology.
Recommended background: Psychology 3700.
Advanced seminars in social psychology. Offerings will focus on the interaction of the person and the environment. Specific offerings may include the psychology of attitudes, social comparison, health psychology and the psychology of the self.
Prerequisite: Any two 3000-level courses (6.0 credit hours) in Psychology.
Recommended background: Psychology 2030 and a 3000-level course (3.0 credit hours) in Social Psychology (Psychology 3330 or 3835).
This is a challenging, work-intensive, research-oriented course in which students will conduct empirical research, report orally on the work, and submit a report in the form an undergraduate thesis which will be made publicly available.
Prerequisites: Fourth-year standing (a minimum of 90.0 credit hours) with a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher.
A minimum GPA of 3.50 in the last 20 courses.
Completion of an Independent Study or an Applied Study in Psychology.
Application to the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience.
Recommended background: Psychology 3400.
Note: See Part 7 - Arts and Science, Sections 4.c., 5.c. and 6.c., pp. 84-87.
GRADUATE COURSES
PSYCHOLOGY 5020
Contemporary Problems in Brain Behaviour and Cognitive Science
In-depth study of specific topics in, approaches to and contemporary research in psychology and neuroscience. Discussion of preparation of talks and research posters. Includes seminars on various contemporary problems in brain, behaviour and cognitive science by staff, invited speakers and graduate students.
Prerequisite: Admission to the M.Sc. program.
In-depth study of selected topics in cortical organization and function.
Prerequisite: Admission to the M.Sc. or Ph.D. Program.
Recommended background: B.Sc.
In-depth study of specific topics in, approaches to and contemporary research in psychology and neuroscience. Discussion of preparation of talks and research posters as well as preparation for comprehensive examinations. Includes seminars on various contemporary problems in brain, behaviour and cognitive science by staff, invited speakers and graduate students.
Prerequisite: Admission to the Ph.D. program.