Department of Psychology
Faculty of Health
York University
ORIENTATION 2009
http://www.yorku.ca/psychology
Agenda for today:
– Who are we?
– Why are we here?
– Where are we located
– What should you expect to learn in
psychology?
– What can you do with a degree in
psychology?
– Summary of some Do’s and Don’ts
Who are we?
• Dept of Psychology Chair:
»Dr Suzanne MacDonald
– Director, Undergraduate Program:
»Dr. Susan Murtha,
– > 80 full-time faculty and > 50 contract faculty
Who are we, cont: > 80 full-time faculty
Adult Clinical Psychology : scientist-practitioner training model, Clinical
Psychologists engage in assessment, treatment, teaching, and research
Health psychology
• Heart disease & depression
• Pain perception
Psychological Assessment & Intervention
• Personality & Depressive mood disorders
• Boredom and depression
• Eating disorders and body image
• Anxiety disorders
• Autobiographical memory & emotion processes in Depression
• Process-outcome & qualitative research methods
• Culturally sensitive couples therapy
Neuropsychology
•
• Schizophrenia
• Rehabilitation
• Memory & aging & dementia
• Spatial ability
• Higher order cognition & memory
Who are we, cont: > 80 full-time faculty
Clinical/developmental: developmental approach to understanding
clinical issues in children, adolescents and families.
Clinical psychopathology and treatment approach
• trauma therapy
• pain assessment
• parenting
• attachment disorders
•The Impact of Child Maltreatment on Adolescent and Adult
Health Outcomes
Professional function
• neuropsychological assessment
• expert witness issues
• program evaluation
• Promoting relationships and eliminating violence
Diagnostic population
• Autism
• ADHD
• developmental & learning disabilities
• conduct disorders
Brain, Behaviour & Cognitive Sciences uses physiological and informationprocessing approaches to understanding behaviour, cognition and perception
Neurophysiology
Psychophysics & Action
Clinical Populations
Stroke
Migraine
Parkinson’s
Macular Degeneration
Alzheimer’s
Neuro-imaging
Animal behaviour
Computational Modeling
Space station,
Orientation in
Unusual environments NASA research
Face perception
Gait recognition
Who are we, cont: > 80 full-time faculty
Developmental Cognitive Processes : investigating
cognitive, social, emotional processes from infancy to
old age
• Social Processes in Infancy
• Neuropsychology
• Educational Applications
• Early identification of latent giftedness
• Bilingualism et cognitive functioning
• How parent-child relationships shape
children's social/emotional and brain
development. Milton and Ethel Harris
Research Initiative (MEHRI)
History and Theory of Psychology investigates historical topics in
psychology and in psychological theory.
Classics in the History of
Psychology web resource
http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/
The Journal of the history of
the Behavioural Sciences.
“THIS WEEK IN THE
HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY”,
PODCAST
Who are we, cont: > 80 full-time faculty
Social and Personality Psychology: social and cognitive processes
and personality, or the way in which people perceive, influence and relate
to others and themselves.
• Culture
• Forgiveness
• Health and coping
• Legal decision making
• Personality processes eg., perfectionism
• Stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination
• Driving rage
Who are we,
cont?
– Undergraduate program staff
Admin Assistants:
Donna Rosenfeld
Student
advisor:
Anita Helman
Valerie Thomas
Program
Secretaries:
Ling,
Jessica,
Lorraine
Why are we here?
Undergraduate studies staff provides:
 advice about your psychology degree requirements
– Specialized Honours BA/BSc (must apply)
– Honours BA/BSc (Double major, Major/minor)
– BA/BSc
 help with enrolling, when necessary
–
–
–
–
Book an appointment
Or Call 416 736 5117 or 416 736 5202
Or Email psyc@yorku.ca
or drop in
• During drop in advising hours (Wed/Fri: 9:15, Tue/Thur: 1:15)
• Hours of operation: 9:30-3:30, 4:30-6:30
– Or come during group advising times in the spring.
Why are we here, cont?
Undergraduate studies staff provides:
 Advice about where to seek non-academic
services
E.g.,
– Counselling and Development Centre (CDC)
• Tel: 416-736-5297
• Location: N110 Bennett Centre
• Or go to http://www.yorku.ca/cdc/lsp/ for info
on workshops & online resources on topics
such as time/stress management, exam
prep, study strategies, etc.
Where is the Psyc. dept. located?
Behavioral
Science
Building
(BSB)
Calumet
College
Campus Walk
• Undergraduate Office: Room 291/292 BSB
What should you expect to learn
in Psychology?
1000 level courses - Introductory Psychology 1010 6.0 covers breadth of topics in psychology
-details offered by 1010 course director - Dr. Myriam Mongrain
Introduction to
Psychology
(PSYC 1010G)
Prof.: Myriam Mongrain, Ph.D. C.
Psych.
Today!
• 1) Formal definition of Psychology
• 2) What’s your sign?
– Demonstration with Astrology
1) Formal Definition of
Psychology
• “Scientific study of behaviour and its causes.”
– Overt (directly observable) and covert behaviours
• Psychologists study:
–
–
–
–
How you act (behaviour/overt)
How you think (mental/covert)
How you feel (covert & overt)
How your brain and body respond (physiological/covert)
2) What’s your sign?
A. The
Homebody
C. The
Intellectual
Nurturing,
traditional,
emotional, shy, good
memory
Witty, intelligent,
restless, adaptive,
curious, wishy-washy
B. The Hedonist
Indulgent, creature of
comfort,
independent,
persistent, reliable
D. The
Perfectionist
Detail-oriented, hardworking, modest,
logical, critical
F. The Extravert
E. The Leader
Energetic, driven,
fearless, bossy, blunt
Ambitious, creative,
dramatic,
overbearing,
organized
2) What’s your sign?
G. The Introvert
Spiritual, private,
imaginative, easygoing, selfsacrificing
I. The
Philosopher
H. The Detective
Solution-focused,
intuitive, resourceful,
need for control
J. The
Humanitarian
Open-minded,
meaning-seeking,
argumentative, like to
explore
L. The Worker
Determined,
industrious, strive to
succeed, disciplined
Visionary, social,
unconventional, clever
K. The
Peacekeeper
Just, objective, enjoy
company, dislike
conflict
2) What’s your sign?
E – The Leader
B – The Hedonist
C – The Intellectual
A – The Homebody
F – The Extravert
D – The Perfectionist
K – The Peacekeeper
H – The Detective
I – The Philosopher
L – The Worker
J – The Humanitarian
G – The Introvert
Aries (March 21 – April 19)
Taurus (April 20 – May 20)
Gemini (May 21 – June 21)
Cancer (June 22 – July 22)
Leo (July 23 – August 22)
Virgo (August 23 – September 23)
Libra (September 23 – October 22)
Scorpio (October 23 – November 21)
Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21)
Capricorn (December 22 – January 19)
Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)
Pisces (February 19 – March 20)
What should you expect to learn in
Psychology, cont?
2000 - Stats, research methods, developmental,social,
personality, learning, perception, motivation, biological
basis of behaviour
3000 - Research methods, stats, abnormal, health,
cognition, animal behaviour, infancy, psychology of
women/family, evolution, educational….
What should you expect to learn, cont?
4000 - social, behaviour modification, research methods,
atypical development, neuropsychology, independent
research project….
When you graduate you should be able to:
 Describe behaviour
 Interpret and understand the causes of
behaviour
 Communicate this information
accurately and reliably
What can you do with an
undergraduate degree in psychology?
– a liberal arts or science education prepares
you for other professional degrees
Education
To become a
Clinical
psychologist
you need
Undergraduate BA or BSc
(4 yrs honours)
To become
any other
psychologists
BA or BSc
(4 yrs
honours)
Graduate
Master’s (2 yrs) Master’s (2
yrs)
PhD (6 yrs)
PhD (6 yrs)
And beyond
Registration in
province
(C.Psyc)
-Post-doctoral
fellowship
-Academia
What can you do with an undergraduate
degree in psychology, cont?
– General research, statistical, critical
reading/thinking/communication/interperso
nal skills are useful in many jobs
– Knowledge gained from specific psyc
courses supplement these skills
• E.g.,
Abnormal, counseling,
– Rehabilitation counselors (certificate program)
– Masters degree: Psychology specialist/associate
through education or social work grad programs
– Social services, child care worker, day care
supervisor, youth counsellor
What can you do with an undergraduate
degree in psychology, cont?
Developmental – Education/teaching
– working with youth or elderly
– Research assistant
Biological/Neural Basis of behavior
–
–
–
–
Research assistant
Drug companies
Technical writers
Medical school
What can you do with an undergraduate degree
in psychology, cont?
Social Psychology
– marketing
– Human resources and
management
– Business
– Research assistant
Summary of Do’s and Don’ts
• Do seek advice about degree
requirements at the end of first year
• Do know your prerequisites for all upper
level psyc courses.
– Includes a grade of C in Introductory Psyc (1010)
– Pick up the supplemental calendar for details!
• Don’t wait until your last year to figure
out your career goals