Bachelor of Science in Psychology

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Psychology
Bachelor of Science Degree

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Program Contact
Jillian Pandor
Department Chair, Assistant Professor of English Writing
Offered within the
Department of Liberal Arts
Psychology Talks  


Accredited by the UAE Ministry of Education

A degree that opens up a world of exciting career opportunities in a market that is in dire need for specialists in the field of mental health and well-being.

Overview

The B.S. in Psychology at RIT Dubai offers students a degree that opens up a world of exciting career opportunities in a market that is in dire need for specialists in the field of human behavior, as well as other related fields. Highly qualified scholars will ensure providing the highest level of education and delivering the guidance and knowledge to students using highly equipped classrooms and laboratories. Graduates should be able to apply the four main goals in Psychology to describe, explain, predict and change behavior

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Mission Statement

The B.S. in Psychology is committed to increasing student awareness on the importance of human behavior and its many diverse applications. The B.S. in Psychology aims to broaden student understanding in this multifaceted discipline by offering a diverse selection of course offerings and track specializations. Faculty within the B.S. in Psychology are scholars with a mission to enhance and convey knowledge related to the nature of psychological processes; to advance student skills necessary for their related disciplines; and to provide the competence necessary for their respective chosen career fields whether in Industry, services and government organizations or to pursue graduate school.

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Program Educational Objectives

The program educational objectives of the B.S. in Psychology are broad statements that describe what graduates are expected to attain within a few years of graduation. These are based on the needs of the program’s constituencies. The Psychology faculty, in conjunction with its constituents, have established the following program educational objectives:

  • PEO 1: Demonstrate ability to apply areas of psychology to benefit organizations, institutions, and society at large.
  • PEO 2: Succeed in advancing the field or related fields through research and innovation either professionally or through graduate studies.
  • PEO 3: Advance their career by successfully demonstrating strong presentation skills and ability to gain new knowledge.

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of key historical material, central theories, and empirical practice, with sensitivity to ethical concerns.
  2. Examine and contrast ideas from different topics in Psychology.
  3. Develop a hypothesis driven research project including a thorough review of relevant literature.
  4. Formulate both short papers and longer research reports.
  5. Explain topics in Psychology through oral presentations.
  6. Compare and contrast individual behavior and identify how group or organization membership can affect behavior.
  7. Identify basic quantitative methods to measure group and individual differences, and be able to describe a sample.
  8. Construct the results of their research succinctly in verbal/signed, visual, and written form to a general audience.
  9. Apply knowledge obtained to real-world applications in a psychology-related field.

Curriculum

Typical Course Sequence

Total Credit Hours - 124

Course Sem. Cr. Hrs.
First Year
PSYC-101
Introduction to Psychology
Introduction to the field of psychology. Provides a survey of basic concepts, theories, and research methods. Topics include: thinking critically with psychological science; neuroscience and behavior; sensation and perception; learning; memory; thinking, language, and intelligence; motivation and emotion; personality; psychological disorders and therapy; and social psychology.
 3
STAT-145
Introduction to Statistics I
This course introduces statistical methods of extracting meaning from data, and basic inferential statistics. Topics covered include data and data integrity, exploratory data analysis, data visualization, numeric summary measures, the normal distribution, sampling distributions, confidence intervals, and hypothesis testing. The emphasis of the course is on statistical thinking rather than computation. Statistical software is used.
 3
YOPS-10
RIT 365: RIT Connections
RIT 365 students participate in experiential learning opportunities designed to launch them into their career at RIT, support them in making multiple and varied connections across the university, and immerse them in processes of competency development. Students will plan for and reflect on their first-year experiences, receive feedback, and develop a personal plan for future action in order to develop foundational self-awareness and recognize broad-based professional competencies.
 0
PSYC-221
Psychological Disorders
This course will serve as an introduction to the study of psychopathology and mental illness. The course examines the major categories of mental disorder not only from the descriptive point of view, but also in terms of the major theoretical explanations of the causes of disorder. The major treatment modalities also are covered.
 3
PSYC-236
Personality
This course is intended for students who are interested in learning the history and current status of personality theories. Students will learn the strengths and weaknesses of the major personality theories, as well as how to assess, research and apply these theories. As much as possible, application to real life situations will be discussed.
 3
STAT-146
Introduction to Statistics II
This course is an elementary introduction to the topics of regression and analysis of variance. The statistical software package Minitab will be used to reinforce these techniques. The focus of this course is on business applications. This is a general introductory statistics course and is intended for a broad range of programs.
 4
General Education - Elective 1 3
General Education - Artistic Perspective 3
Open Elective 1 3
General Education - First Year Writing (WI) 3
General Education - Ethical Perspective 3
Second Year
PSYC-250
Research Methods I
This course will serve as an introduction to research methods in psychology, with the goal of understanding research design, analysis and writing. Topics include examining the variety of methods used in psychology research, understanding research ethics, developing empirical hypotheses, designing experiments, understanding statistical concepts, interpreting results, and writing research and review papers in APA style. This is a required course for all psychology majors, and is restricted to students in the psychology program.
 3
PSYC-241
Health Psychology
A majority of serious diseases today are caused by or exacerbated by behavior and many are preventable. This course provides an introduction to the role of behavior in health. Students will learn about the role of psychology in studying and promoting good health behaviors. Topics include the impact of stress and coping on health, psychological variables related to chronic disease, drug addiction, promoting healthy behavior (e.g. exercise, diet, sleep, sexual health), positive psychology, pain management, critical thinking about health product and alternative medicine claims, and research approaches in health psychology. Students who might elect to take this course include students majoring in related fields who wish to learn more about health behavior (e.g. healthcare technology), students majoring, minoring, or immersing in Psychology, and students looking for a Liberal Arts Elective.
 3
PSYC-225
Social Psychology
This course explores topics related to behaviors and mental processes of individuals in social situations. Topics include: methodology, social perception, social cognition, the self, attitudes, prejudice, attraction, social influence, pro-social behavior, aggression, and behavior in groups. Course activities include lecture, class demonstrations, and assignments.
 3
BIOL-101
General Biology I
This course serves as an introduction to cellular, molecular, and evolutionary biology. Topics will include: a study of the basic principles of modern cellular biology, including cell structure and function; the chemical basis and functions of life, including enzyme systems and gene expression; and the origin of life and evolutionary patterns of organism development on Earth.
 3
BIOL-103
General Biology I Lab
This course provides laboratory work to complement the lecture material of General Biology I. The experiments are designed to illustrate concepts of basic cellular and molecular biology, develop laboratory skills and techniques for microscopy, and improve ability to make, record and interpret observations.
 1
PSYC-251
Research Methods II
This course will serve as an advanced research methods course in psychology, and will build on the foundational knowledge presented in Research Methods I. Topics and tasks for this course include designing single and multi-factor experiments, interpreting correlational research, completing statistical analyses appropriate to design, completing and analyzing an IRB application, understanding observational and survey research, and presenting results in APA style. This is a required course for all psychology majors, and is restricted to students in the psychology program.
 3
PSYC-222
Biopsychology
Introduction to the field of behavioral neuroscience, the study of neurobiological basis of cognition and behavior. Topics include neuroanatomy and physiology, localization of function, brain injury, research methods in behavioral neuroscience, and biological basis of language, memory, emotion, conscious states, and sexual behavior, with an evolutionary perspective.
 3
BIOL-102
General Biology II
This course serves as an introduction to animal and plant anatomy and physiology, in addition to the fundamentals of ecology. Topics will include: animal development; animal body systems; plant development; unique plant systems; Earth's terrestrial and aquatic environments; population and community ecology; animal behavior; and conservation biology.
 3
BIOL-104
General Biology II Lab
This course provides laboratory work to complement the material of General Biology II. The experiments are designed to illustrate concepts of animal and plant anatomy and physiology, develop laboratory skills and techniques for experimenting with live organisms, and improve ability to make, record, and interpret observations.
 1
General Education - Global Perspective 3
General Education - Social Perspective 3
General Education - Elective 2 3
Third Year
PSYC-234/235
Industrial and Organizational Psychology/Learning and Behavior
Industrial and organizational (I/O) psychology: A branch of applied psychology that is concerned with efficient management of an industrial labor force and especially with problems encountered by workers in a mechanized environment. Specific areas include job analysis, defining and measuring job performance, performance appraisal, tests, employment interviews, employee selection and training, and human factors. This course covers the basic principles of the above areas as well as applications of current research in I/O psychology. Learning Behavior: This course covers topics in learning such as non-associative learning, classical conditioning, instrumental conditioning, stimulus control of behavior, reinforcement, generalization and discrimination, and observational learning. Topics on learning and behavior in non-human animals may also be covered.
 3
PSYC-411
Psychopharmacology
This course is intended for students in the biopsychology track. A comprehensive introduction to psychoactive drugs. Topics include pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, synaptic transmission, drugs of abuse and drugs used in the treatment of mental disorders, and the behavioral and cognitive effects of these drugs. Students will be expected to be able to write at an upper level using APA format.
 3
PSYC-301
Junior Seminar in Psychology
This professional development course is intended for students in the psychology major to prepare for their careers. Topics include identifying career interests and values, learning how to effectively search for co-ops and jobs, preparing a resume and CV, identifying appropriate graduate programs, preparing graduate school applications, interview skills, and professional communication. Students will use career-planning resources such as the Psychology Career Center on campus and the Psychology Career Center community site on myCourses. This course is required for students majoring in Psychology.
 1
PSYC-412
Biological Bases of Mental Disorders
This course is intended for students in the biopsychology track. This course covers the biological underpinnings of psychiatric mental disorders such as anxiety disorders, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, and developmental disorders. Topics will include neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, genetics and biologically based treatments of mental disorders. Students will learn about biologically based research methods used to study mental disorders and to think critically about research findings in the field. Students will be expected to be able to write at an upper level using APA format.
 3
PSYC-420
Clinical Psychology
This course is intended for students in the clinical track. This course is designed to provide a broad overview of the field of clinical psychology, including the way in which it is similar to and different from other mental health disciplines (psychiatry, social work, school psychology). The course will cover the basic foundations of clinical psychology, training models and graduate programs, clinical assessment, clinical interventions, and subspecialties in clinical psychology (e.g., neuropsychology, child clinical).
 3
PSYC-498
Psychology Internship
Internship in Psychology. This is for 350 hours of supervised unpaid work off campus with non-profits, public service groups, the zoo, or similar organizations. Each Internship experience must be approved by the department of psychology prior to starting.
 0
PSYC-499
Psychology Co-op
Psychology Co-op
 0
PSYC-550
Undergraduate Research Experience
Practicum open to psychology students. Gives the student first-hand experience in the field of psychology working on research that matches the student's career objectives. Students are closely supervised by a faculty member, developing relevant skills and learning how to do research first-hand. May count for the equivalent of the psychology co-op experience with prior approval and sufficient time commitment. (3rd or 4th year status). Prerequisites PSYC-101, -250, -251. Credit 0 (F, S, Su)
 0
General Education- Immersion 1 3
General Education - Elective 3 3
General Education - Elective 4 3
General Education - Immersion 2 3
General Education - Immersion 3 3
General Education - Elective 5 3
Fourth Year
PSYC-501
Senior Capstone Proposal
This course is intended for students in the psychology major to develop experimental research expertise and put into practice some of what is learned in Research Methods I and II. Students will explore topics of interest for further research in psychology. They will develop one research idea that could either form the basis for a senior project in psychology or is a valid test of a research idea. Students will be supervised by the course instructor as they develop a research question, conduct a literature review, write the introduction, and examine questions about control, validity and reliability. This course will culminate in a research proposal. Students going on to Senior Project in Psychology can use this as a proposal course and must find their faculty adviser for senior project before they finish this course. Students who are not planning for Senior Project will practice writing a proposal and the related skills required to critically examine an advanced topic in Psychology.
 3
PSYC-422
Psychotherapy
This course is intended for students in the clinical track. Students will learn the strengths and weaknesses of the major therapeutic approaches. They will learn the efficacy of these approaches. They will learn the theoretical and research bases for the approaches. As much as possible, application to real life situations will be discussed. Part of the clinical track for the psychology degree program.
 3
PSYC-502/510
Seminar in Psychology/Senior Project
Seminar in Psychology: This course is intended for students in the psychology major to integrate material covered in earlier courses and examine broad topics in Psychology. The specific topics covered will vary from semester to semester. This course is an opportunity for faculty and students to examine issues that transcend sub-disciplines in psychology. Students will read original research and examine influential theories relevant to the topic. Senior Project: This course is intended for students in the psychology major to demonstrate experimental research expertise, while being guided by faculty advisors. The topic to be studied is up to the student, who must find a faculty advisor before signing up for the course. Students will be supervised by the advisor as they conduct their literature review, develop the research question or hypothesis, develop the study methodology and materials, construct all necessary IRB materials, run subjects, and analyze the results of their study. This course will culminate in an APA style paper and poster presentation reporting the results of the research. Because Senior Project is the culmination of a student’s scientific research learning experience in the psychology major, it is expected that the project will be somewhat novel, will extend the theoretical understanding of their previous work (or of the previous work of another researcher), and go well beyond any similar projects that they might have done in any of their previous courses.
 3
General Education - Elective 6 3
Open Elective 2 3
Open Elective 3 3
General Education - Elective 7 3
General Education - Elective 8 3
Open Elective 4 3
Open Elective 5 3

 

Please see New General Education Curriculum–Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) for more information. (WI) Refers to a writing intensive course within the major.

 

Tracks

Students at RIT Dubai will study in explore the following interdisciplinary tracks:

- Clinical Psychology

- Biopsychology

 

These tracks represent popular fields of research and practice in, as well as application of Psychology, to create a career-focused program. Students thus receive an education that provides a strong foundation for employment in related fields or pursuing further education through graduate school.

 

Click here for the program flow chart

 

To graduate, students need to complete all the requirements as listed in the curriculum graduation policy

Faculty

Advisory Board

Dr. Tharwat El Sakran
 

Mr. Rajeev Budhiraja
 

Mr. David Konstan
 

Mr. Assem Alshibi
 

Ms. Altinay Saeed
 

Mr. James Lafferty
 

Mr. Matthew Tompkins
 

H.E. Hussain Al Atoli
 

Ms. Razmin Shah
 

Mr. Sami Al-Mufleh
 

Website last updated: November 21, 2024