COURSES

Course: PSYC 305: Topics in Psychology | Science of Work
Term: Winter 2024
Section: AS01
Instructor: Dr. Rodney Schmaltz

There has been volumes written on how to thrive in a work environment. Unfortunately, much of this advice is not based on empirically validated research. Drawing on the relevant literature from behavioral, cognitive, and social psychology, students in this seminar course will explore evidence-based approaches to maximize productivity, reduce stress, and exceed in a variety of industries. Topics covered include self-management, scheduling, work-life balance, leadership, and industrial-organization psychology.

Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in PSYC 212 and PSYC 241.

Permission Required: No

Course: PSYC 405: Special Topics in Psychology | Psychopharmacology in Zebrafish
Term: Winter 2024
Section: AS01
Instructor: Dr. Trevor Hamilton

Zebrafish have become a popular model organism used in behavioural neuroscience and psychopharmacology research. This course will examine how pharmacological substances alter behaviour in zebrafish. There will also be a focus on addiction and use of drugs to treat a variety of disorders/conditions with this animal model. Students will be expected to read and critically analyze scientific papers, discuss, critique, and present these papers in class, and synthesize their knowledge in a term paper.

Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in PSYC 212 and 275. Minimum grade of C- in at least one 300 level course (PSYC 375 is recommended).

Permission Required: Yes

How to Enrol: To obtain a permission number, please contact the Department Chair, Dr. Aimee Skye, at skyea2@macewan.ca

Course: PSYC 405: Special Topics in Psychology | Animal Communication
Term: Winter 2024
Section: AS02
Instructor: Dr. Shannon Digweed

This course provides an in-depth study of a specialized area or current issue in experimental psychology. The topic focuses on the various systems of animal communication. We will survey the diversity of communication systems found in animals and how they are tailored to a variety of social and ecological challenges that they face. This seminar course will explore how communication systems function, how they evolve and how they are organized mechanistically; including the psychological and cognitive mechanisms that cause communication. The goal is for students to appreciate the importance of integrating contributions from peer reviewed research sources across visual, acoustic and olfacotry communication within foraging, predator, mating and social contexts. This seminar course will emphasize class discussions stemming from a mix of classic papers, recent impirical studies, and popular articles that address core conceptual issues and provide detailed examples of phenomena in animal communication.

Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in PSYC 212 and one of PSYC 358, PSYC 373, or BIOL 371, and consent of the department.

Permission Required: Yes

How to Enrol: To obtain a permission number, please contact the Department Chair, Dr. Aimee Skye, at skyea2@macewan.ca

Course: PSYC 405: Special Topics in Psychology | Mental Health in 2SLGBTQ+ Populations
Term: Winter 2024
Section: AS03
Instructor: Dr. Laura Offrey

In this seminar course, students will explore the field of LGBT psychology and learn about emerging issues regarding mental health among 2SLGBTQ+ populations. Topics covered include: 1) the relationship between the LGBT community and the field of psychology, 2) the evolution of developmental theory related to LGBT populations, 3) efforts to make the field of psychology more trans-inclusive and affirmative, 4) the impact of the concept of intersectionality in better understanding LGBT individuals who have multiple stigmatized identities, and 5) advances in research and resultant recommendations for clinical practice. Students are expected to complete assigned readings prior to class and come prepared to participate in course activities including group discussions, class presentations, and the completion of a multicultural identity paper.

Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in PSYC 212 and at least one other 200-level PSYC course, and permission of the department.

Permission Required: Yes

How to Enrol: To obtain a permission number, please contact the Department Chair, Dr. Aimee Skye, at skyea2@macewan.ca

Course: PSYC 405: Special Topics in Psychology | Special Topics in Experimental Psychopathology
Term: Winter 2024
Section: AS04
Instructor: Dr. David Watson

The course is an examination of three topic areas in psychopathology: Emotion Regulation, Personality Disorders and The Self-Conscious Emotions.

Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in PSYC 212 and PSYC 339.

Permission Required: Yes

How to Enrol: To obtain a permission number, please contact the Department Chair, Dr. Aimee Skye, at skyea2@macewan.ca

Course: PSYC 405: Special Topics in Psychology | Introduction to Counselling Psychology
Term: Winter 2024
Section: AS05
Instructor: Kirsten Klingle

Are you interested in learning more about the practice of counselling psychology and how to promote positive mental health and wellbeing among others, including individuals, families and groups? Do you dream of one day working with people in a helping capacity? If you answered ‘yes’ to the above, this course was designed for you! Introduction to Counselling Psychology will teach you about the history, theory, practice, research, as well as areas of specialization within the field of counselling psychology. This senior-level seminar will offer didactic learning experiences and will invite you to think critically about the material, all the while enhancing personal reflexivity. Students will be asked to actively participate in discussions of the course text and other materials and will be assessed on several assignments, all of which are aimed at deepening your understanding and igniting your passion for psychology (warning: enthusiasm for psychology may increase as a result of taking this course).

Prerequisites: Minimum grades of C- in PSYC 212 and 6 credits of 300- or 400-level PSYC

Permission Required: Yes

How to Enrol: To obtain a permission number, please contact the Department Chair, Dr. Aimee Skye, at skyea2@macewan.ca

Course: PSYC 405: Special Topics in Psychology | The Psychology of Creativity
Term: Winter 2024
Section: AS06
Instructor: TBA

Researchers do not always agree on the definition of creativity. And yet, most agree that creativity exists. We will begin the course with a focus on the cognitive aspects of creativity. We will then move on to developmental, anthropological, forensic, historiometric, comparative, health, personality, intelligence, and organizational perspectives of creativity. For example, how does creativity change over our lifespan? Is there a dark side to creativity? What do companies and countries do to harness, or limit, creativity? This is a seminar course. Presentations and explorations about the various aspects of creativity will be done by you. Regular and active sharing of knowledge is part of the learning process. There will be both large group and small group discussions. Plus, you will be asked to put your creativity to work in developing either a game or a social enterprise.

Prerequisites: Minimum grades of C- in PSYC 212 and 6 credits of 300- or 400-level PSYC

Permission Required: Yes

How to Enrol: To obtain a permission number, please contact the Department Chair, Dr. Aimee Skye, at skyea2@macewan.ca

Course: PSYC 437: Topics in Forensic Psychology | Stalking and Criminal Harassment
Term: Winter 2024
Section: AS01
Instructor: Dr. Kris Peace

This seminar course will focus on examining the broad spectrum of definitions and behaviours associated with criminal harassment (stalking) including prevalence, forms, stalking myths, stalker typologies, risk factors associated with victimization and perpetration, as well as anti-stalking campaigns and reduction. Statistical, empirical, and legal case data will be integrated into the discussion of topics. The format of the class is a senior seminar. Research readings will be assigned throughout the term. Students will be expected to actively participate through in-class group work and discussions, social annotation, topic presentations, feedback, and an empirical research project.

Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in PSYC 212 and PSYC 337.

Permission Required: Yes

How to Enrol: To obtain a permission number, please complete the Google form emailed to majors from artsandscience@macewan.ca

Course: PSYC 437: Topics in Forensic Psychology | Violence Risk Assessment
Term: Winter 2024
Section: AS02
Instructor: Dr. Sandy Jung

In this course, students will learn about violence risk assessment. Risk and threat assessments are a core task for forensic professionals who work with offenders. The process and the use of assessment methods have been extensively researched in the field of forensic psychology. It is a necessary part of the criminal justice system and is essential in high stakes decision-making. This course will emphasize the use of empirical evidence to critique media reporting and myths about offenders. Students will learn about the research methods used to examine the validity of risk assessment measures, the types of methods used to carry out these assessments, challenges in risk assessment, and seminal research in the field of risk prediction. Research readings will be assigned throughout the course, and students are expected to participate through in-class discussions, small group work, and assignments. As this is an in-person seminar course, attendance will be taken and counted towards the participation grade.

Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in PSYC 212 and PSYC 337.

Permission Required: Yes

How to Enrol: To obtain a permission number, please complete the Google form emailed to majors from artsandscience@macewan.ca

Course: PSYC 467: Special Topics in Perception | The Cognitive Neuroscience of Eye Gaze
Term: Winter 2024
Section: AS01
Instructor: Dr. Michelle Jarick

Eye gaze is one of the richest forms of human communication. This course examines our perception of eye gaze and its effects on various aspects of social behaviours, cognitive processing and brain activity. This topic will be discussed using a combination of experimental methods, including behavioural/perceptual approaches and neuroimaging techniques. To facilitate this, students will be assigned readings that focus on eye gaze perception from a cognitive neuroscience perspective, conduct oral presentations on a topic of interest and have the opportunity to participate in eye gaze experiments that will be covered in class. Students will gain an in-depth understanding of the significance of the eye gaze perception and learn to critically think about the research area, plus have some hands-on experience with how experimental research is conducted in this field. At the end of this course, students will have a renewed vision of eye gaze from a scientific perspective.

Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in PSYC 212 and in either PSYC 267 or PSYC 275.

Permission Required: Yes

How to Enrol: To obtain a permission number, please complete the Google form emailed to majors from artsandscience@macewan.ca

Course: PSYC 305: Topics in Psychology | Animal Learning Field School
Term: Spring/Summer 2024
Section: AS01
Instructor: Dr. Lynne Honey

This course provides an introduction to applied learning and behaviour in a professional setting. While the principles of learning and behaviour are well-documented in laboratory environments, most applications of classical and operant conditioning take place in less-controlled settings with animals that exhibit unpredictable reactions, and have unknown histories. In this course, students will observe live training sessions with a variety of species. Students will also learn about and observe species-specific behaviours and traits, environmental enrichment procedures, and specific requirements for health and wellness for captive animals. The course includes one week residing on site at a wildlife rescue facility.

Prerequisites: Minimum grades of C- in PSYC 104 and PSYC 105 and consent of the department.

Permission Required: Yes

Course: PSYC 405: Special Topics in Psychology | Wrongful Convictions in Canada: Psycholegal Perspectives
Term: Spring/Summer 2024
Section: AS01
Instructor: Dr. Kristene Peace

This seminar course will focus on examining the causal factors associated with wrongful convictions, with an emphasis on psycholegal analysis of Canadian cases. We will review the impact of factors such as eyewitness identification errors, false confessions & guilty pleas, Mr. Big Stings and jailhouse informants, tunnel vision, discrimination, forensic science errors, prosecutorial bias & professional misconduct and cognitive biases. These will be applied to representative Canadian cases, such as Steven Truscott, Donald Marshall Jr., Thomas Sophonow and Guy Paul Morin. The format of the class is a senior seminar. Research readings will be assigned throughout the term. Students will be expected to actively participate in class activities such as group work and discussions, social annotation, reflections, presentations, feedback and/or an empirically based project.

Prerequisites: Consent of the department and minimum grades of C- in PSYC 212 and PSYC 337.

How to Enrol: To obtain a permission number, please complete the Google form emailed to majors from artsandscience@macewan.ca.

Course: PSYC 405: Special Topics in Psychology | How Psychology Informs Search and Rescue
Term: Spring/Summer 2024
Section: AS02
Instructor: Dr. Dean Verger

Think of the elderly person on a family trip who wanders away from the campsite. Or, the child who goes missing from a playground. Or the snowmobiler who may have been buried in an avalanche. Searches are organized in the mountains, on the plains, and even in urban centres. Time is a limited resource. In the past, people would walk or run around the area calling out the name of the missing or lost person. How searches are conducted has improved. But what effects arise on the searchers due to their efforts? What emotions do the searchers feel? We will look at both volunteer and professional search and rescue. We will also look at other emergency workers and the stresses under which they live. We will consider all of this from a psychological perspective.

Prerequisites: Consent of the department and minimum grades of C- in PSYC 212.

How to Enrol: To obtain a permission number, please complete the Google form emailed to majors from artsandscience@macewan.ca.

Course: PSYC 405: Special Topics in Psychology | Introduction to Counselling
Term: Spring/Summer 2024
Section: AS03
Instructor: Dr. Kirsten Klingle

Are you interested in learning more about the practice of counselling psychology and how to promote positive mental health and wellbeing among others, including individuals, families and groups? Do you dream of one day working with people in a helping capacity? If you answered ‘yes’ to the above, this course was designed for you! Introduction to Counselling Psychology will teach you about the history, theory, practice, research, as well as areas of specialization within the field of counselling psychology. This senior-level seminar will offer didactic learning experiences and will invite you to think critically about the material, all the while enhancing personal reflexivity. Students will be asked to actively participate in discussions of the course text and other materials and will be assessed on several assignments, all of which are aimed at deepening your understanding and igniting your passion for psychology (warning: enthusiasm for psychology may increase as a result of taking this course).

Prerequisites: Consent of the department and minimum grades of C- in PSYC 212 and at least six credits of 300- or 400-level PSYC courses.

How to Enrol: To obtain a permission number, please complete the Google form emailed to majors from artsandscience@macewan.ca.

Course: PSYC 305: Topics in Psychology | Science of Work
Term: Fall 2024
Section: AS01
Instructor: Rodney Schmaltz

There has been volumes written on how to thrive in a work environment. Unfortunately, much of this advice is not based on empirically validated research. Drawing on the relevant literature from behavioral, cognitive, and social psychology, students in this seminar course will explore evidence-based approaches to maximize productivity, reduce stress, and exceed in a variety of industries. Topics covered include self-management, scheduling, work-life balance, leadership, and industrial-organization psychology.

Prerequisites: Minimum grades of C- in PSYC 241

Permission Required: Yes

Course: PSYC 405: Special Topics in Psychology | The Psychology of Hearing
Term: Fall 2024
Section: AS01
Instructor: Tara Vongpaisal

Listening is a skill we do with remarkable ease. But making sense of sound involves a complex interplay between the sound source, the mechanics of our ears, and the brain structures that support our auditory system. In this course, student will gain a broad and unified understanding of the psychology of hearing that includes the basics of sound acoustics and physiology of the ear, the perception of simple and complex sounds such as speech and music, the development of hearing skills across the lifespan, and the causes and consequences of hearing loss. Practical components include the use of sound analysis software, AI processing of sound recordings, and in-class auditory demonstrations.

Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in at least one 300- or 400- level course in psychology or consent from the department.

Permission Required: Yes

Course: PSYC 405: Special Topics in Psychology | Pharm of Zebrafish
Term: Fall 2024
Section: AS02
Instructor: Trevor Hamilton

Zebrafish have become a popular model organism used in behavioural neuroscience and psychopharmacology research. This course will examine how pharmacological substances alter behaviour in zebrafish. There will also be a focus on addiction and use of drugs to treat a variety of disorders/conditions with this animal model. Students will be expected to read and critically analyze scientific papers, discuss, critique, and present these papers in class, and synthesize their knowledge in a term paper.

Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in PSYC 212 and 275. Minimum grade of C- in at least one 300 level course (PSYC 375 is recommended).

Permission Required: Yes

Course: PSYC 405: Special Topics in Psychology | Introduction to Paraphilias: The Psychology of Atypical Attractions
Term: Fall 2024
Section: AS03
Instructor: Carissa Augustyn

This course is designed to provide students with an overview of various atypical sexual attractions known as “paraphilias.” Examples of paraphilias include sexual attractions to children (pedophilia/hebephilia), animals (zoophilia), and inanimate objects or non-sexual body parts (fetishism). This senior-level seminar will invite students to think critically about various theoretical and applied issues related to paraphilias including distinguishing between sexuality that is “atypical” versus “disordered,” ethical considerations for labelling someone as having a paraphilic disorder, and the intersection between paraphilias and the law (i.e., sexual offending). Students will be expected to read assigned readings (journal articles and other relevant readings) and actively participate in class activities. Students will be evaluated on class presentations, written assignments, and participation in discussions. (Please note: this course may include discussion of potentially upsetting topics such as sexual assault and child sexual abuse).

Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in PSYC 212 and PSYC 339 and consent of the department.

Permission Required: Yes. Please look for an email from artsandscience@macewan.ca with instructions on how to get a permission number.

Course: PSYC 405: Special Topics in Psychology | The Psychology of Policing
Term: Fall 2024
Section: AS04
Instructor: Jennifer Short

Policing is a unique and demanding profession. This course will examine the psychological influences and demands of policing on the officers. This course will explore topics that include psychological recruit selection assessments, psychological demands on the job, officer mental health and resilience, and police culture. These topics will be explored through lectures, journal articles, and other assigned readings. Students will be expected to think critically about the concepts and actively engage in discussions.

Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in PSYC 212 and minimum grade of C- in at least one 300 level course.

Permission Required: Yes. Please look for an email from artsandscience@macewan.ca with instructions on how to get a permission number.

Course: PSYC 405: Topics in Social Psychology | Introduction to Counselling
Term: Fall 2024
Section: AS06
Instructor: Kirsten Klingle

Are you interested in learning more about the practice of counselling psychology and how to promote positive mental health and wellbeing among others, including individuals, families and groups? Do you dream of one day working with people in a helping capacity? If you answered ‘yes’ to the above, this course was designed for you! Introduction to Counselling Psychology will teach you about the history, theory, practice, research, as well as areas of specialization within the field of counselling psychology. This senior-level seminar will offer didactic learning experiences and will invite you to think critically about the material, all the while enhancing personal reflexivity. Students will be asked to actively participate in discussions of the course text and other materials and will be assessed on several assignments, all of which are aimed at deepening your understanding and igniting your passion for psychology (warning: enthusiasm for psychology may increase as a result of taking this course).

Prerequisites: Consent of the department and minimum grades of C- in PSYC 212 and at least six credits of 300- or 400-level PSYC courses.

Permission Required: Yes

Course: PSYC 405: Topics in Social Psychology | Testosterone, Sex, and Society: Fiction, Fact, and Finding Truth
Term: Fall 2024
Section: AS05
Instructor: Scott Semenyna

This course is intended as a broad introduction to the influence of biology and culture on sex differences in behavior, personality, cognition, and sexual orientation. This seminar style class will present opportunities to discuss contentious scientific findings regarding the impact of testosterone (T) on behavior, and the broader social context in which this science occurs. Emphasis will be placed on systematic research examining these questions, which may conflict with people’s everyday views and interpretations. The primary goal of this course is to enhance critical thinking and evidence-based reasoning in a seminar format. All students will be expected to participate in class discussions, take on the responsibility of presenting at least one of the assigned chapters or readings, and contribute positively to collegial discussion of the course material.

Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in PSYC 212, and at least six credits of 300- or 400- level PSYC courses.

Permission Required: Yes. Please look for an email from artsandscience@macewan.ca with instructions on how to get a permission number.

Course: PSYC 449: Topics in Social Psychology | Scientific Skepticism
Term: Fall 2024
Section: AS01
Instructor: Rodney Schmaltz

This course is designed to provide students with the skills needed to scientifically evaluate fringe science, the paranormal, and otherwise unorthodox claims about human behaviour. Examples of pseudoscience and questionable science will be drawn from traditional areas of psychology as well as popular culture and the media.

Prerequisites: Minimum grades of C- in PSYC 212 and PSYC 241.

Permission Required: No