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Third Year Psychology Courses

PSYC 300 (SS) : Behaviour Disorders
PSYC 302 (SS): Infancy
PSYC 303 (SC): Tests and Measurement
PSYC 306 (SC) : Principles of Animal Behaviour
PSYC 308 (SS): Social Psychology
PSYC 310 (SS): Clinical Psychology
PSYC 314 (SS): Health Psychology
PSYC 315 (SS): Childhood and Adolescence
PSYC 319: Experimental Design and Quantitative Methods
PSYC 320 (SS): Theories of Personality 1
PSYC 321 (SS): Theories of Personality 2
PSYC 322 (SS): Adulthood and Aging
PSYC 323 (SC): Principles of Conditioning
PSYC 336 (SS): The Psychology of Language 1
PSYC 337 (SS): The Psychology of Language 2
PSYC 340 (SS): Introduction to Psychology and the Law
PSYC 341 (SS): Forensic Psychology
PSYC 351 (SC): Sensation & Perception 1
PSYC 352 (SC): Sensation & Perception 2
PSYC 354 (SC): Cognition 1
PSYC 355 (SC): Cognition 2
PSYC 357 (SC): Physiology of Motivation & Emotion
PSYC 358 (SC): Physiology of Learning & Memory



PSYC 3000

PSYC 3000

Behaviour Disorders (SS) (3,0,0)(3,0,0) 6 credits

Detailed scientific overview of abnormal behaviour, including discussions of history, definitions and characterizations. Emphasis on interaction between psychological and biological factors involved in etiology, maintenance and treatment of psychopathology. This course qualifies as a prerequisite for PSYC 3100.

Prerequisite: PSYC 1110/1210 or Instructor's written consent

PSYC 3020

PSYC 3020

Infancy (SS) (3,0,0) 3 credits

Human development during infancy. Cognition, perception, motor, social, emotional needs, brain development and their interactions from birth until the emergence of language.

Prerequisite: PSYC 1110/1210 or Instructor's written consent

PSYC 3030

PSYC 3030

Psychological Testing (SS) (3,0,0) 3 credits

Theory and practice of mental measurement, including test reliability and validity, uses, administration, scoring, and interpretation.

Prerequisite: PSYC 1110/1210 or Instructor's written consent

PSYC 3060

PSYC 3060

Principles of Animal Behaviour (SC) (3,0,0)(3,0,0) 6 credits

An examination of animal behaviour from the perspective of evolutionary theory. Among the topics covered are: an introduction to the theory of evolution and behavioural genetics; social systems as ecological adaptations; mating and parental strategies; learning, instincts, and evolution; and the evolution of human behaviour. Credit will be given for only one of BIOL 3100 or PSYC 3060.

Prerequisite: PSYC 1110/1210 or Instructor's written consent. PSYC 2110 or 2210 recommended.

PSYC 3080

PSYC 3080

Social Psychology (SS) (3,0,0)(3,0,0) 6 credits

Theory and research of individual social behaviour; social motivation; attitudes; group interaction; socialization; racial prejudice; and related topics are examined in this course.

Prerequisite: PSYC 1110/1210 or Instructor's written consent

PSYC 3100

PSYC 3100

Clinical Psychology (SS) (3,0,0)(3,0,0) 6 credits

The purpose of this course is to provide you with a comprehensive overview of clinical psychology. The topics to be covered include the role of personality theory in clinical psychology, an overview of descriptive psychopathology, a consideration of issues in diagnosis and classification of disorders, an examination of the techniques used in assessment of intellectual and personality functioning, and a review of various approaches to therapeutic intervention. Areas of clinical psychology research will be discussed, as will issues of professionalism, and models of training. Instructor will attempt to give a sense of what it means to be a “Clinical Psychologist” today, of recent developments in clinical psychology, and of future directions in the field.

Prerequisite: One of PSYC 2120, PSYC 2160, PSYC 3000

PSYC 3140

PSYC 3140

Health Psychology (SS) (3,0,0) 3 credits

A critical survey of the basic research findings and theory on the relation between psychological factors (including behaviour, emotion, cognitive, personality and interpersonal relationships) and health. Topics include health-related behaviours such as smoking and drug use, the effects of stressful events on health, methods of coping with stress, the impact of chronic illness on the family, and social support systems.

Prerequisite: PSYC 1110/1210 or Instructor's written consent

PSYC 3150

PSYC 3150

Childhood and Adolescence (SS) (3,0,0) 3 credits

Human development from the preschool period through adolescence.

Prerequisite: PSYC 1110/1210 or Instructor's written consent.

PSYC 3190

PSYC 3190

Experimental Design and Quantitative Methods (2,0,1)(2,0,1) 6 credits

This course provides an integrated presentation of the methods, principles, and ethics of psychological research and explores the statistical techniques utilized for the analysis of these data. Instruction in the formal reporting of psychological studies is also covered.

Prerequisite: PSYC 1110/1210, PSYC 2100 and PSYC 2110

Corequisite: PSYC 2110

Note: Students who have credits for PSYC 3170 (Research Methods and Design) and PSYC 3180 (Analysis of Behavioral Data) will not receive additional credit for this course.

PSYC 3200

PSYC 3200

Theories of Personality 1 (SS) (3,0,0) 3 credits

This course examines psychoanalytic and dispositional theories on the development of personality. Included are research findings, applications, and limitations with respect to the two approaches.

Prerequisite: PSYC 1110/1210

Note: Students with PSYC 3050 may not take this course for credit

PSYC 3210

PSYC 3210

Theories of Personality 2 (SS) (3,0,0) 3 credits

This course examines environmental and representational theories on the development of personality. Included are research findings, applications, and limitations with respect to the two approaches.

Prerequisite: PSYC 1110/1210

Note: Students with PSYC 3050 may not take this course for credit

PSYC 3220

PSYC 3220

Adulthood and Aging (SS) (3,0,0) 3 credits

Human development during adulthood through old age. Provides a background in basic issues, theories, and psychological research regarding adulthood and the aging process.

Prerequisite: PSYC 1110/1210 or Instructor's written consent.

Note: This course is equivalent to UVic PSYC 333B

PSYC 3230

PSYC 3230

Principles of Conditioning (3,0,0) 3 credits

This course will cover the procedures and processes involved in Classical (Pavlovian) and Operant (instrumental) conditioning. Research findings from animal studies will comprise a majority of the material.

Prerequisite: PSYC 1110, PSYC 1210, or permission of the instructor

PSYC 3360

PSYC 3360

The Psychology of Language 1 (SS) (3,0,0) 3 credits

The fundamental psychological abilities underlying human language. Representative topics include animal versus human communication, language processing, lexical representation, and principles of on-line conversation.

Prerequisite: PSYC 1110/1210 or Instructor's written consent. PSYC 2210 recommended.

PSYC 3370

PSYC 3370

The Psychology of Language 2 (SS) (3,0,0) 3 credits

The psychological foundations of human language capability. Representative topics include: the relation between language and thought, deriving psychological principles from language universals; and the psychology of literacy, dyslexia, multilingualism and natural language processing.

Prerequisite: PSYC 3360 or Instructor's written consent

PSYC 3400

PSYC 3400

Introduction to Psychology and the Law (3,0,0) 3 credits

This course will provide an overview of the area of psychology and the law. Applications of psychological theories and research to the legal system will be examined. Topics covered include: the legal system, police investigations, jury decision-making, eyewitness identification and testimony, expert evidence, and sentencing

Prerequisite: PSYC 1110 and PSYC 1210

PSYC 3410

PSYC 3410

Forensic Psychology (3,0,0) 3 credits

This course will examine the application of clinical psychology (assessment and intervention) to the field of forensics. Topics covered include: fitness to stand trial, Not Criminally Responsible By Reason of Mental Disorder (NCRMD), psychopathy, risk assessment and the prediction of dangerousness, Dangerous Offender/Long Term Offender assessments, criminal profiling, parental capacity assessments, assessment and treatment of special populations, and professional responsibilities and ethical issues.

Prerequisite: PSYC 1110 and PSYC 1210, and one of PSYC 2160, PSYC 3000 or PSYC 3100

PSYC 3510

PSYC 3510

Sensation and Perception 1 - Visual Processes (3,0,0) 3 credits

This course will describe the basic research findings and models for visual sensation and perception. Topics will include the perception of brightness, contrast, colour, objects, depth, size, and movement, in addition to discussing the physiological mechanisms of the visual system.

Prerequisite: PSYC 1110/1210 or permission of the instructor

Note: Students who have credits for PSYC 3130 may not receive additional credit for this course

PSYC 3520

PSYC 3520

Sensation and Perception 2 (3,0,0) 3 credits

This course will describe the basic research findings and models for auditory, somatosensory, olfactory, and gustatory sensation and perception.

Prerequisite: PSYC 1110/1210 or permission of the instructor

Note: Students who have credits for PSYC 3130 may not receive additional credit for this course.

PSYC 3540

PSYC 3540

Cognition 1: Attention and Memory (3,0,0) 3 credits

This course describes the research findings and models of attention and memory, both past and present. Topics will include basic attentional processes and models, short-term/working memory, long-term processes, semantic/episodic distinctions, physiology of memory, and false memory.

Prerequisite: PSYC 1110/1210 or permission of the instructor

Note: Students who have credit for PSYC 3090 may not receive additional credit for this course

PSYC 3550

PSYC 3550

Cognition 2: Language and Thought (3,0,0) 3 credits

This course will present the research findings and models for various aspects of language and thought. Topics will include language processing, reasoning, decision-making, problem-solving, and the theoretical nature of consciousness.

Prerequisite: PSYC 1110/1210 or permission of the instructor

Note: Students who have credits for PSYC 3090 may not receive credit for this course

PSYC 3570

PSYC 3570

Physiology of Motivation and Emotion (3,0,0) 3 credits

This course will provide a detailed presentation of the concepts of motivation and emotion, emphasizing neural and endocrine mechanisms. Discussed will be the interplay of human and animal research in understanding temperature regulation, hunger and thirst, sleep and biological rhythms, exploration and curiosity, reproductive and parental behaviour, substance abuse, aggression, stress, positive and negative emotions, and feelings. Interaction between physiology and external influences will be noted, as well as the distinction between causal and functional explanations.

Prerequisite: PSYC 1110 and 1210 or permission of the instructor. PSYC 2040 recommended

Note: Students who have credits for PSYC 3040 may not receive additional credit for this course

PSYC 3580

PSYC 3580

Physiology of Learning and Memory (3,0,0) 3 credits

This course will provide detailed presentation of the different types of learning and memory, emphasizing neural mechanisms. Discussed will be the interplay of human and animal research (including that with invertebrates) in understanding synaptic plasticity involving long-term potentiation and depression, perceptual learning, classical and instrumental conditioning, and relational learning. Learning disabilities, memory impairment, and recovery from brain injury will also be covered.

Prerequisite: PSYC 1110 and 1210 or permission of the instructor. PSYC 2040 recommended.

Note: Students who have credits for PSYC 3040 may not receive additional credit for this course