Psychology

The course list identifies approved courses that MacEwan University may offer. Not all courses will be offered every year and some courses are restricted to particular programs. Contact an advisor in your program for information on course availability.  

2018/19

Psychology

Research Participation

For students of PSYC 104 and PSYC 105, the opportunity to participate in a psychology research study is an exciting hands-on way to learn about psychological principles and methods of research. As part of your course work, you will be able to serve as a participant in both on-line and in-person research studies being conducted by faculty and upper-level students from the Department of Psychology.

• Download Research Participation Instructions
• Sign-up for an account on the MacEwan Psychology Research website at: http://grantmacewan.sona-systems.com

If you have any questions or need help, please contact:

Research Participation Coordinator
psychologyresearch@macewan.ca

Please include your full name and use your MacEwan University student email address for any communications.

2018/19

Psychology

The course list identifies approved courses that MacEwan University may offer. Not all courses will be offered every year and some courses are restricted to particular programs. Contact an advisor in your program for information on course availability.

2018/19

Psychology

The course list identifies approved courses that MacEwan University may offer. Not all courses will be offered every year and some courses are restricted to particular programs. Contact an advisor in your program for information on course availability.

2018/19

Psychology

The course list identifies approved courses that MacEwan University may offer. Not all courses will be offered every year and some courses are restricted to particular programs. Contact an advisor in your program for information on course availability.

Permission of the department

Where permission is required to enrol, you will need to email the Chair of the Psychology Department with your student ID number and the specific term and section number for the class you wish to take. In your email, you must indicate how you meet the course prerequisites.

Contact the chair

Spring 2018 (May 1-June 22)

PSYC 405 (OP01) | Special Topics in Psychology

Topic: Rehabilitation Psychology

Per the American Psychological Association, Division 22, “Rehabilitation Psychology is a specialty area within psychology that focuses on the study and application of psychological knowledge and skills on behalf of individuals with disabilities and chronic health conditions in order to maximize health and welfare, independence and choice, functional abilities, and social role participation across the lifespan.” This course explores the impact of physical illness and disability on psychological functioning and the role of the psychologist in an interdisciplinary rehabilitation team setting. Topics include rehabilitation for people with neurological conditions, such as traumatic brain injuries, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord injuries, physical traumas, burns, and chronic pain. Students will learn skills related to assessment and clinical interventions in a rehabilitation context, as well as explore emerging topics for rehabilitation psychology, such as vocational rehabilitation and the application of positive psychology to rehabilitation. This seminar course emphasizes class discussions, includes case studies, and reviews relevant research that evaluates evidence about the effectiveness of rehabilitation. There is a focus on clinical application throughout the course.

Prerequisites: Permission of department (recommended for 3rd and 4th year Psychology majors).

Instructor: Dr. Annette Colangelo

Summer 2018 (July 3 – August 23)

PSYC 405 (OP11) | Special Topics in Psychology

Topic: Media Psychology

This seminar class will be an in-depth exploration of the many ways the media we consume affect the way we think, feel, and behave. Topics include media addiction, advertising, specific media content (e.g., sex, drugs, violence, education, prosocial behaviour), immersion into media, and public policy regarding media.

Prerequisites: Permission of department (minimum of PSYC 212 and PSYC 355 or equivalent).

Instructor: Dr. Courtney Plante

Fall 2018

PSYC 405 (AS01): Special Topics in Psychology

Topic: Psychology of Hearing

Instructor: Dr. 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 and participation in auditory demonstrations.

Prerequisites: Permission of the department and minimum of C- in PSYC 267.

PSYC 405 (AS02): Special Topics in Psychology

Topic: Emotional Disorder Mechanisms

Instructor: Dr. Alex Penney

This seminar will be an in-depth exploration of selected factors that cause and maintain emotional disorders (e.g., generalized anxiety disorder, depression, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, etc.). These mechanisms of change will include factors such as: intolerance of uncertainty, metacognitive beliefs, anxiety sensitivity, fear of negative evaluation, thought-action fusion, and so on. In-class discussion will focus on original research articles that explore the nature of these mechanisms of change. Students will also be introduced to how these mechanisms are measured, and the cognitive-behavioural techniques that target these mechanisms. Students will be expected to attend all classes, and find and read relevant research as assigned by the instructor. Students will also lead and contribute to in-class discussion, acquire measurement tools, and demonstrate the application of therapeutic techniques. Additional topics that may be covered include classification systems of, and transdiagnostic models of, emotional disorders.

Prerequisites: Permission of department and minimum grade of C- in PSYC 339.

PSYC 405 (AS03): Special Topics in Psychology

Topic: Stress

Instructor: Dr. Michele Moscicki

Have you ever wondered… Why some people seem to get very stressed about things while other people don’t? What physical effects stress can have on the body? What psychological effects stress can have on the mind? How to cope effectively with stressors? If so, this is the class for you! Throughout the course of the semester we will discuss the effects of stress on the physiology of the body and the psychology of the mind. We will also discuss the beneficial effects of stress, how personality is related to subjective feelings of stress, different methods of coping with stressors that you can incorporate into your everyday life, and much, much more!

Prerequisites: Permission of the department. Priority will be given to PSYC majors and minors in 3rd or 4th year.

PSYC 449 (AS01): Topics in Social Psychology

Topic: Pseudoscience and Scientific Skepticism

Instructor: Dr. 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 grade of C- in PSYC 212 and PSYC 241.

Winter 2019

PSYC 405 (AS01): Special Topics in Psychology

Topic: Behavioural Self-Management

Instructor: Dr. Russ Powell

Historical approaches to issues of “self-control” and self-management are briefly surveyed as well as recent cognitive approaches. These are contrasted with behavioural approaches which strongly emphasize environmental influences on behaviour. Basic strategies and tactics of behaviour self-management are explored as well as the application of self-management to specific areas of concern. Students are expected to systematically design and implement a self-management project as part of the course requirements.

Prerequisites: Permission of department and minimum grade of C- in PSYC 281. Priority will be given to students who have also completed PSYC 385.

PSYC 405 (AS02): Special Topics in Psychology

Topic: Animal Communication

Instructor: Dr. Shannon Digweed

This 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 olfactory communication within foraging, predator, mating and social contexts. This seminar course will emphasize class discussions stemming from a mix of classic papers, recent empirical studies, and popular articles that address core conceptual issues and provide detailed examples of phenomena in animal communication.

Prerequisites: Permission of department and minimum of C- in PSYC 358 or equivalent.

PSYC 405 (AS03): Special Topics in Psychology

Topic: Effects of Residential Schools

Instructor: Dr. Rick Enns

Psychologists and other helping professionals have offered support to former students of Canada’s Indian residential school system and their family members. Although many have benefitted from these efforts there are concerns that clinical practices may be poorly informed at best or represent a troubling extension of western and colonial notions at worst. Against the backdrop of residential schools across western Canada, this course will examine classical and contemporary writings in psychology and the social sciences to examine identified proximal and long-term effects of forced removal and cultural genocide; and using postcolonial theory and a critical psychology lens, students will be encouraged to examine the therapeutic community’s efforts to respond to these effects. Critical and postcolonial writings will be examined to identify promising and culturally congruent responses.

Prerequisites: Permission of the department. Priority will be given to PSYC majors and minors who have completed at least 90 credits.

PSYC 437 (AS01): Topics in Forensic Psychology

Topic: Psychopathy

Instructor: Dr. Kristine Peace

This seminar course will focus on basic and applied aspects of psychopathy both as a disorder and as a personality style. We will review issues pertaining to defining and assessing psychopathy, as well as the implications of these traits in all aspects of life from everyday functioning to criminal behaviour. Students will learn skills pertaining to the assessment and study of psychopathy, and explore empirical data on specific topic areas (e.g., biological/genetic models, cognitive processing, emotional deficits, types of violence, child/adolescent psychopathy). This seminar course emphasizes class discussions, topic reviews, integration of empirical data/resources, case studies, and development of research designs concerning the study of psychopathic traits. Further, students will present on a topic area in a mini-lecture format to enhance skills associated with integrating and communicating information.

Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in PSYC 337

Field Placement in Clinical Psychology

The Field Placement in Clinical Psychology (PSYC 439) is designed for Psychology Majors who are entering the 3rd or 4th year of their studies.

Why enrol in the Field Placement in Clinical Psychology?

• Students who are hoping to establish careers in the practice of psychology will benefit from the opportunity to participate in and observe the activities of registered psychologists in psychology-related settings. Students are provided relevant practical experience in an agency or organization.

• Students who are intending to pursue graduate studies will benefit from the opportunity to develop and apply psychological knowledge and/or research skills in psychology-related settings.

• Participation in this program enhances CVs and resumes and may provide students with valuable contacts and professional references. Students are given the opportunity to develop their CV and job interview skills.

Requirements:

A complete course description and course prerequisites are listed under PSYC 439. Applicants must be declared as a Psychology Major or enrolled in the Honours Psychology program.

How to apply:

Submit a Field Placement in Clinical Psychology Application Form by the deadline. A cutoff date for applications will be announced in your classes.

• Winter semester: March

• Fall semester: November

Attach the following documents to your application:

1. One typed, single-spaced page that responds to the following questions:

• Explain why you want to enrol in the Field Placement in Clinical Psychology.

• What benefit would this course be to you?

• What benefit would you be to an organization or agency to which you might be assigned (e.g. skills, abilities, previous experience)?

2. Your resumé with 3 references listed.

3. A signed Personal Information Disclosure Request and Consent form (page 2 of the application).

Course time commitment and expectations:

• Students will spend approximately 120 hours (i.e., 8 hours per week) working with this 
organization from September through December (Fall term) or January through April (Winter term). They will also be expected to attend one seminar each month (4 seminars in total), in which academic work (e.g. lectures, discussions, presentations) will be required. These seminars range from 2 to 4 hours.

• Applications are reviewed in March for enrolment in the Fall term, and in October for enrolment in the Winter term.

• If you are conditionally selected, an interview will be arranged with the field supervisor. A final decision will be made within two months of the application deadline.

Given that the selection process may take up to 4-6 weeks months, it is important for students to fully enrol in regular program courses for the Fall and Winter terms. If selected for a field placement, it is the responsibility of the student to withdraw from one of their other courses to make room for their enrolment in PSYC 439.

Please note, if accepted into this program, students must submit the following information to the Field Placement Coordinator before the first day of classes:

1. a current criminal record check which demonstrates no criminal history and includes the Vulnerability Sector Clearance

2. an updated immunization record which must include the rubella vaccine.

For more information:

Contact
Dr. Lori Harper, Clinical Field Placement Coordinator
Room 6-329, City Centre Campus
780-497-5320 • psychologyplacement@macewan.ca

 

Normally, students will apply to the Honours program at the end of their second year.

Requirements

• You have completed a minimum of 45 credits including 6 credits in senior-level psychology courses
• You have completed PSYC 212 and STAT 151 or 161 prior to applying to the Honours program
• You have completed at least 24 credits in the past 12 months
• You have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (all courses) and a minimum GPA of 3.3 on your senior-level psychology courses.
• You have declared psychology as your major in either the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science program.
  

Recommended but not required:

• You have completed STAT 252.

Please note: Not all students who meet the minimum criteria will be accepted into the program. Because the Honours program is an intensive course of study, involving a significant amount of one-on-one interaction with a faculty supervisor and access to departmental resources, we will only accept a limited number of students into the program. Acceptance is based on academic performance, GPA, course experience, and also on the availability of a suitable supervisor. Decisions made by the Department of Psychology regarding acceptance to this program are not subject to appeal.

Meeting with the Honours Advisor will help to answer your questions – and provide specific advice about course planning, application requirements, expectations, possible ‘fits’ for potential supervisors, and information about the program and our faculty.

Email the Honours Advisor to book an appointment.

Aside from the formal requirements for acceptance into an honours degree, you must find a faculty member within the Department of Psychology who is willing to take you on as an honours student. Meeting with various faculty members helps you to get an idea of what types of research faculty members are involved in and who you might be interested in working with.

Well in advance of the application deadline, you should investigate the research and scholarly interests of various faculty members. You should then contact several faculty members to discuss the possibility of working together on an Honours project. You are much more likely to be selected for the program if you begin discussing potential projects with at least one faculty member prior to applying to the program. Even if faculty members state that they are willing to consider your application, however, they might not commit to supervising particular students until after all applications have been reviewed by all participating Psychology faculty.

Applications to the Psychology Honours Program can be obtained by emailing the honours advisor after the beginning of March. The deadline for application is mid-April each year, and the specific date will be on the application form. All applications are to be submitted by email to the honours advisor. The application includes your contact information, a checklist of preferred research areas, and a one-page statement of interest that outlines why you want to be an honours student.

You will be contacted in mid-June with a decision regarding your application.

Faculty members meet around mid-May to discuss all new honours applicants and to review your forms. All applicants will be notified whether they are accepted into the program or not. Supervisor assignments will be communicated at the same time.

Once accepted to the Honours program you must take 30 credits per year. If, in the final year of study, you require fewer than 30 credits to complete all degree requirements, then you are not obligated to take more courses than necessary for completion. If credits are earned at an institution other than MacEwan, it is your responsibility to ensure that all transcripts are forwarded to MacEwan University in a timely manner.

You must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 and a GPA of 3.3 on psychology courses (200-level and above). These averages refer to the average across all courses that apply to your degree, not minimum levels in each course.

Should you fail to meet these GPA requirements, you will be notified by the program and the Office of the University Registrar will be advised to change your program status to BA or B.Sc. Undeclared within 15 days. If you are in ‘Good Standing’ and wish to remain in the your current program, please consult with an Academic Advisor in Program Services and the Discipline Advisor to determine the required courses to complete your program of study.

You must have an Honours Supervisor to complete the Honours program. There are several reasons why you might be left without a supervisor:

1. The supervisor may be ill or otherwise unable to continue supervision
2. The supervisor may decide to cease supervision of a student who does not perform up to their standards, or who is a poor match (in terms of, for example, research interests or working styles).
3. You may decide to cease working with a supervisor who is not providing appropriate supervision or is a poor match.

In each of these situations, the supervisory relationship will be terminated. The student then has two options:

1. Find another willing supervisor.
2. Leave the honours program and complete the regular BA program.

Please note that the neither the Department of Psychology nor the Honours Advisor is responsible for finding a supervisor for you. The Honours Advisor should be consulted, and will assist you in this situation, but cannot guarantee that you will be assigned to a new supervisor.

You must consult with the Honours Advisor regarding course selection and registration. The Honours Advisor will check your schedule prior to the drop/add deadline each semester and will approve the schedule, or recommend changes that must occur before that deadline. It is your responsibility to register appropriately, according to the approved schedule or recommendations of the Honours Advisor. If you make changes to the approved schedule without consulting the Honours Advisor, you may jeopardize your standing in the program, or eligibility to graduate on time. Please note that any courses taken outside of MacEwan University must be approved by both Program Services and the Honours Advisor, and a Visiting Student Letter of Permission must be completed prior to registration for any outside courses that are to be counted toward the degree.

You cannot registered in the thesis course (PSYC 490) without the express approval your supervisor.

Your progress will be evaluated at the end of third year. Once you have completed PSYC 312 and STAT 252, you will be re-evaluated for your progress and suitability for the program. At this time, if you are underperforming, you may be asked to leave the honours program.