Comprehensive Course Structure
The Psychology program at Ahmedabad University Ahmedabad is designed to provide a holistic education that combines foundational knowledge with specialized expertise. The curriculum spans four years and includes core courses, departmental electives, science electives, laboratory components, and research projects.
| Semester | Course Code | Course Title | Credit Structure (L-T-P-C) | Pre-requisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PSY101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 1 | MAT101 | Calculus and Analytical Geometry | 4-0-0-4 | - |
| 1 | BIO101 | Introduction to Biology | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 1 | PSY102 | Statistics for Behavioral Sciences | 3-0-0-3 | MAT101 |
| 1 | PSY103 | Biological Basis of Behavior | 3-0-0-3 | BIO101 |
| 1 | PSY104 | Cognitive Processes | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 2 | PSY201 | Developmental Psychology | 3-0-0-3 | PSY101 |
| 2 | PSY202 | Social Psychology | 3-0-0-3 | PSY101 |
| 2 | PSY203 | Abnormal Psychology | 3-0-0-3 | PSY101 |
| 2 | PSY204 | Research Methods | 3-0-0-3 | PSY102 |
| 2 | PSY205 | Laboratory in Psychology | 0-0-4-2 | - |
| 3 | PSY301 | Personality Theory | 3-0-0-3 | PSY201 |
| 3 | PSY302 | Clinical Psychology | 3-0-0-3 | PSY203 |
| 3 | PSY303 | Educational Psychology | 3-0-0-3 | PSY201 |
| 3 | PSY304 | Psychometrics | 3-0-0-3 | PSY102 |
| 3 | PSY305 | Advanced Statistical Analysis | 3-0-0-3 | PSY102 |
| 4 | PSY401 | Research Project I | 0-0-6-3 | PSY204 |
| 4 | PSY402 | Internship in Psychology | 0-0-8-3 | - |
| 4 | PSY403 | Capstone Project | 0-0-12-6 | PSY401 |
Detailed Departmental Elective Courses
Advanced departmental electives in the Psychology program are designed to provide specialized knowledge and practical skills relevant to contemporary challenges. These courses include:
- Behavioral Economics: This course explores how psychological principles influence economic decision-making, combining insights from economics, psychology, and neuroscience.
- Cognitive Neuroscience: An exploration of brain mechanisms underlying cognition, including neural correlates of attention, memory, language, and executive function.
- Psychology of Leadership: Focuses on leadership theories, styles, and psychological factors that shape effective leadership in organizational settings.
- Environmental Psychology: Investigates the relationship between people and their physical environments, including urban design, sustainability, and mental health outcomes.
- Forensic Psychology: Examines the application of psychological principles in legal contexts, covering topics like criminal profiling, eyewitness testimony, and rehabilitation programs.
- Child Development and Education: Studies developmental milestones, learning processes, and educational strategies tailored to different age groups and cultural contexts.
- Cross-Cultural Psychology: Explores how culture influences psychological processes and behaviors, including ethnocentrism, acculturation, and identity formation.
- Psychology of Well-being: Investigates the factors that contribute to happiness, resilience, and mental health, with applications in therapy and policy.
- Technology and Human Behavior: Analyzes how digital technologies affect social interaction, cognition, attention, and emotional regulation.
- Community Psychology: Focuses on applying psychological knowledge to address community-level issues such as poverty, violence, and public health.
Project-Based Learning Philosophy
The department emphasizes project-based learning as a cornerstone of experiential education. Students engage in mini-projects during their second year and complete a capstone thesis in their final year.
Mini-projects are structured around real-world problems identified by faculty mentors or industry partners. Students work in teams to formulate hypotheses, design studies, collect data, analyze results, and present findings. Evaluation criteria include methodological rigor, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills.
The final-year thesis is a substantial research endeavor that allows students to explore a topic of personal interest under the guidance of a faculty mentor. The project includes literature review, experimental design, data collection, statistical analysis, and academic writing. Students are encouraged to publish their work in peer-reviewed journals or present at conferences.
Project selection involves consultation with faculty advisors who help align student interests with research opportunities and career goals. Regular progress meetings ensure that students stay on track and receive timely feedback throughout the process.