Bachelor of Arts (AB) in Psychology 

Bachelor of Arts (AB) in Psychology

Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of our undergraduate programs in psychology are expected to be:

• Capable of committed engagement in mental health initiatives
• Ethically and socially responsible in psychological research and practice
• Globally competent in the current and emerging field of professional psychology

Total units of the AB-PSM
147 Academic units
9 Non-academic units

MAJOR AND ELECTIVE SUBJECTS

Experimental Psychology (Lecture)
Major
3 units
This lecture course introduces the student to the use of scientific method in psychological inquiry.  The course covers the philosophical bases, concepts, methodology, and ethical principles of experimentation.  Both the historical development of the experimental tradition and the current experimental methodological approaches will be examined. Because experimentation has been extensively utilized in cognitive and social psychology, examples of experimental research will be drawn from these fields to illustrate the essential components of the experimental approach.

Experimental Psychology (Laboratory)
Major
2 units
Experimental Psychology (Laboratory) is designed to supplement learning in Experimental Psychology (Lecture). This course allows the students to apply the principles, concepts, and procedures of experimentation in a series of hands-on exercises corresponding to various stages of experimentation. Students will be guided in the design, implementation, analysis and write up of experiments in different areas of psychology.

Theories of Personality
Major
3 units
This course introduces the students to the study of personality through the lenses of different perspectives (psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive, humanistic/phenomenological/existential, trait, biological and evolutionary). It includes a critical examination of the various theories and issues in the study of personality. Culture will be discussed through a Filipino approach to personality. An underlying goal of the course is to facilitate an understanding of one’s self and others through the application of personality theories.

Cognitive Psychology
Major
3 units
This is a course on how human psychology can be imagined as an intricate system of procedures that handles information about ourselves and our world. Students will be guided in understanding how even the simplest elements can lead to very complex behavior. There will be opportunities to learn about the techniques used by cognitive psychologists and the class will examine how our interaction with information shapes our daily lives.

Abnormal Psychology
Major
3 units 
This course introduces students to the nature, causes, and interventions of psychological disorders.  The students are expected to be familiar with the nomenclature and classifications of mental disorders, primarily using the DSM-5. Indigenous concepts of abnormality, and ethical considerations will also be discussed.

Psychological Measurement 1 (Lecture)
Major
2 units
This lecture course will introduce students to psychological measurement, its history, key principles, application, and scientific properties. The course will also involve discussions about ethics in psychological measurement. The course will also include a discussion of how psychological tests are used in educational, industrial, and clinical settings. At the end of the course, students are expected to have a clear understanding of the key concepts specific to psychological measurement and the ethical guidelines and considerations one should be aware of when using psychological tests in various settings and with different populations. Psychological Measurement (Lecture) has a laboratory component, which is Psychological Measurement (Laboratory). Students are required to take Psychological Measurement (Lecture) and Psychological Measurement (Laboratory) on the same academic term so as to strengthen their knowledge base and skill set in psychological measurement.

Psychological Measurement 1 (Laboratory)
Major
1 unit
This is the laboratory component of Psychological Measurement (Lecture). This course provides hands-on application of the basic concepts and principles in psychological testing and scaling methods.  It includes the selection, administration, scoring and interpretation of selected psychological tests in individual and group settings. This course will also provide them an experience on writing a psychological report. Students are required to take Psychological Measurement (Lecture) and Psychological Measurement (Laboratory) on the same academic term so as to strengthen their knowledge base and skill set in psychological measurement.

Sikolohiyang Pilipino
Major
3 units
Ang Sikolohiyang Pilipino ay tinaguriang pag-aaral ng kaganapang sikolohikal na sumasalamin sa kultural na karanasan ng mga Pilipino. Magiging mahalaga sa pag-aaral ng Sikolohiyang Pilipino ang mga katutubong konsepto sa Kapilipinuhan. Ang kulturang Pilipino ang siyang magiging daan sa pagtuklas ng mga kaalamang ito sa pamamagitan ng paggamit ng wikang Filipino. Papaksain sa pag-aaral ng Sikolohiyang Pilipino ang mga metodong naangkop sa pagtuklas ng mga kaalaman at kaisipang Pilipino.

Biological Psychology
Major
3 units
The course is designed to familiarize the student with the biological approach in the study of human behavior. Biopsychology covers human behavior and the machinery that makes this possible (i.e. the nervous system, glands, muscles, and other organs of the body). Topics will include the structure and function of the nervous system including the sensory system and the biological basis of learning, emotions, hunger, sex, sleep and addiction.

Psychological Measurement 2 (Lecture)
Major
2 units
This course (Psychological Measurement 2, Lecture) is the second course of psychological measurement which focuses on the development of psychological measures and scales. The course details the steps in various phases of test development starting with the search for a test’s content domain, through item writing, item review, and preliminary try-outs, through the test reliability and validity investigations, into the development of norm, for use in the interpretation of test scores. A major output of the course is the construction of a psychological test. A minor output is a reliability and validity study on an existing locally developed test or translation of a foreign-made test and the accompanying translation equivalence study.

Psychological Measurement 2 (Laboratory)
Major
1 unit
This course (Psychological Measurement 2, Laboratory) is the laboratory component of Psychological Measurement 2. This course provides students exposure and hands-on practice on various clinical assessment methods, such as clinical interview and observation, and psychological tests. The course gives the students opportunities for administering, scoring and interpreting some of the commonly used psychological tests in the Philippines and for putting together test findings into a psychological report. Moreover, the course instills the values of competency, honesty and confidentiality in using the assessment methods.

Social Psychology
Major
3 units
This course enables students to explore and test research ideas in social psychology; and to use varied social psychological frameworks in addressing relevant micro and macro social issues. The course covers an overview of classical and contemporary theories, concepts, and methods on how people think about, influence, and relate to each other. The course will also involve applying social psychology theories, concepts, and methods in improving the plight of individuals who are marginalized and disadvantaged from society (e.g. persons with disabilities, indigenous people, specify groups).

Field Methods in Psychology
Major
5 units
This course will introduce students to quantitative and qualitative methods to research. Specifically, the course will cover data collection methods such as surveys, focus group discussions, and interviews. Classic and contemporary studies will be discussed as means of presenting students with exemplars of good psychological research. Through the course readings, students obtain a clear understanding of the ontological and epistemological ideas that form the bases for the conduct of quantitative and qualitative researches.

The course will allow students to focus on a topic of their interest and review published studies on this topic. The students will be made to complete a literature review on a topic of their interest.

The final course output should conform to the publication and ethical standards of the American Psychological Association.

Methods of Psychological Research
Major
3 units
Methods of Psychological Research will equip students with skills to conceptualize, plan, execute, present, and evaluate a research study. Throughout the duration of the course, students will be engaging in collaborative interactions with their group mates to develop a research the conforms to the policies and standards stipulated in the most recent edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.

 Lecture-discussions will focus on the following topics: (1) the role of the literature review in conceptualizing empirical research, (2) research conceptualization for quantitative research and qualitative research, (3) scientific writing style, (4) planning for data collection; data collection and management, (5) writing results and discussion (i.e. accounting for nonsignificant findings), (6) current research issues and trends (i.e. controversy regarding null hypothesis testing, replication crisis in psychology), and (7) important ethical standards and guidelines for writing, data collection, analysis and interpretation, and data management.

 By the end of the course, students are expected to complete an empirical research or a literature review that conforms to the rudiments set by the American Psychological Association (APA; refer to the 6th edition of the APA publication manual).

Clinical Psychology
Major
3 units
Clinical Psychology is a major course that deals with the nature, scope, approaches, and other concerns of the contemporary clinical psychological profession, and the roles, functions, and ethical considerations involved in the practice of the field as situated in the local context and the law. The course also discusses the various approaches and methods in the prevention and intervention of psychological problems and disorders.

The student will be trained to analyze cases from the perspective of different clinical models in conceptualizing a case, and to develop skills in clinical interviewing. Furthermore, clinical specializations (community psychology, health psychology, neuropsychology, forensic psychology, and clinical child psychology) will be discussed to provide various approaches in psychological intervention for different populations and settings.

Industrial / Organizational Psychology 1
Major
3 units
This course provides students an overview of psychological concepts, theories, and research findings for effective human interactions in the workplace. The human resource wheel is discussed starting with human resource planning (which includes the recruitment, selection and placement of employees) and the information systems that govern its operation. In particular, job analysis and design are major tasks that support said planning. Other topics covered in this course include performance evaluation with compensation and benefits, then training and development.

Developmental Psychology
Major
3 units
Developmental Psychology introduces students to the scientific study of human behavior and mental processes through the different psychological perspectives, theories, concepts, and methods by which psychologists study, explain, and predict psychological phenomena. Students will be trained to develop a theoretical orientation to understand human behavior through empirical observation of psychological phenomena and the discussion of issues relevant to the topics covered.

Industrial / Organizational / Psychology 2
Major
3 units
This course provides students with an overview of the application of psychology to work environments, specifically professional organizations. Various organizational theories are discussed so that students are then trained in the rudiments of organizational diagnosis and development. There is also a critical exposure to the different trends affecting organizations today that include applications in engagement, leadership, inclusion, and international human resource management, among others.

Seminar in Psychology 1
Sport Psychology
Elective
3 units
Sport Psychology examines the application of the psychological theories, concepts, and principles to sports and exercise. It discusses the psychological, physical, emotional, sociocultural, cognitive, and moral factors that influence sports performance. An overview of different psychological interventions will be provided.

Internship in Psychology
Major
3 units
This course provides students with relevant work experience where they can apply psychology principles. Students complete 200 hours of work in their respective job sites. An on-site supervisor serves as the learner’s mentor on the how-to’s of the job, including observation of norms and implicit behavior ethics. A faculty adviser facilitates the learning experience and provides opportunity for critical reflection. Towards the end of the course, students develop a project that integrates promotion of mental health and their internship experience.

Thesis in Psychology 1
Major
1.5 units
Thesis in Psychology 1 an undergraduate course on thesis proposal writing in psychology. Students majoring in psychology are grouped in study teams and write a research plan under the tutelage of a faculty as their mentor, who supervises the writing and endorses the proposed study to another faculty as reader, for its evaluation. The written plan of research is reviewed and critiqued by the reader. The team of student researchers and, their mentor and reader discuss the planned research project. The students’ study team then would proceed to writing the thesis in psychology upon the acceptance of the mentor of their revisions and with the final approval of the reader of the research project. In this course, students will collaborate to develop and design a psychological study plan using either qualitative or quantitative research approaches or, mixed methods in finding solutions to their research problems.

Seminar in Psychology 2
Positive Psychology
Elective
3 units
Positive Psychology will introduce students to the emerging field of positive psychology. Positive psychology the is scientific study of what goes right in life, from birth to death and at all stops in between. It aims to improve quality of life and prevent pathologies and focuses on human strengths and things that make life most worth living. For the past several years, psychology was devoted mainly on studying mental illness and how to treat patients. The positive psychology movement reminds us that psychology is also dedicated to promoting human strengths and virtues and that its goal is not merely to treat but also prevent illness. The course will evaluate empirical studies on happiness and other positive concepts and students will learn primarily from classroom discussions

Thesis in Psychology 2
Major
1.5 units
Thesis in Psychology 2 is the second half of the undergraduate course in writing a thesis in psychology. Study teams will implement the research plan presented to the faculty of the Department of Psychology through their mentor, who supervised the writing and their reader, who critiqued their thesis. The student researchers will put to application the concepts, theories, and methods they have learned in their psychology major courses in finding solutions to research problems by doing a scientific study. In Thesis in Psychology 1, the students conceptualized and developed a research proposal on a topic in psychology. In Thesis in Psychology 2, students still under the supervision of their mentor and guidance of their reader, will implement the research plan by generating evidence, analyzing and writing about their arguments using the collected data, and presenting their findings and conclusions of the study.

Seminar in Psychology 2
Positive Psychology
Elective
3 units
This course is designed to enable students to recognize and differentiate between health-promoting behaviors, health-compromising behaviors, and health-seeking behaviors. Knowing the definitions and differences between these different behaviors would help the student develop the following final output: research proposal for a community-based project on community health. Other topics that will be discussed in this course include: the contributions of psychology to the maintenance, enhancement, and promotion of health; prevention of illness; identification of health risk factors; improvement of the healthcare system, the shaping of public opinion regarding health, and the role of the community in promoting and maintaining the health of its members.