Comprehensive Course Structure
The Psychology program at Lords University Alwar spans eight semesters and offers a balanced mix of core subjects, departmental electives, science electives, and laboratory sessions to provide students with a holistic educational experience.
| Semester | Course Code | Course Title | Credit Structure (L-T-P-C) | Pre-requisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PSY101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 1 | PSY102 | Research Methods in Psychology | 2-0-0-2 | - |
| 1 | MAT101 | Statistics for Behavioral Sciences | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 1 | BIO101 | Biology of the Human Brain | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 1 | LIT101 | Psychology and Society | 2-0-0-2 | - |
| 1 | PSY103 | Lab: Introduction to Psychology | 0-0-3-1 | - |
| 2 | PSY201 | Biological Psychology | 3-0-0-3 | PSY101 |
| 2 | PSY202 | Learning and Memory | 3-0-0-3 | PSY101 |
| 2 | PSY203 | Cognitive Processes | 3-0-0-3 | PSY101 |
| 2 | PSY204 | Social Psychology | 3-0-0-3 | PSY101 |
| 2 | MAT201 | Advanced Statistics for Psychology | 3-0-0-3 | MAT101 |
| 2 | PSY205 | Lab: Cognitive Psychology | 0-0-3-1 | PSY203 |
| 3 | PSY301 | Developmental Psychology | 3-0-0-3 | PSY101 |
| 3 | PSY302 | Personality Theory | 3-0-0-3 | PSY101 |
| 3 | PSY303 | Psychopathology | 3-0-0-3 | PSY101 |
| 3 | PSY304 | Industrial Psychology | 3-0-0-3 | PSY201 |
| 3 | PSY305 | Lab: Clinical Psychology | 0-0-3-1 | PSY303 |
| 4 | PSY401 | Health Psychology | 3-0-0-3 | PSY303 |
| 4 | PSY402 | Neuropsychology | 3-0-0-3 | PSY201 |
| 4 | PSY403 | Research Design and Analysis | 3-0-0-3 | MAT201 |
| 4 | PSY404 | Forensic Psychology | 3-0-0-3 | PSY303 |
| 4 | PSY405 | Lab: Research Methodology | 0-0-3-1 | PSY202 |
| 5 | PSY501 | Advanced Cognitive Psychology | 3-0-0-3 | PSY203 |
| 5 | PSY502 | Qualitative Research Methods | 3-0-0-3 | PSY202 |
| 5 | PSY503 | Psychological Assessment | 3-0-0-3 | PSY303 |
| 5 | PSY504 | Ethics in Psychology | 2-0-0-2 | PSY101 |
| 5 | PSY505 | Lab: Psychological Assessment | 0-0-3-1 | PSY503 |
| 6 | PSY601 | Thesis Proposal and Research Design | 2-0-0-2 | PSY501 |
| 6 | PSY602 | Advanced Topics in Social Psychology | 3-0-0-3 | PSY204 |
| 6 | PSY603 | Behavioral Economics | 3-0-0-3 | MAT201 |
| 6 | PSY604 | Lab: Advanced Research Techniques | 0-0-3-1 | PSY501 |
| 7 | PSY701 | Final Year Thesis Project | 0-0-6-6 | PSY601 |
| 7 | PSY702 | Internship in Psychology | 0-0-0-3 | - |
| 8 | PSY801 | Advanced Practicum | 0-0-6-6 | PSY701 |
| 8 | PSY802 | Capstone Presentation | 0-0-0-3 | - |
Advanced Departmental Elective Courses
Departmental electives allow students to explore specialized areas within psychology and tailor their education to match their interests and career goals.
1. Advanced Cognitive Psychology
This course delves into the intricate processes of human cognition, including perception, memory, problem-solving, decision-making, and reasoning. Students will examine current theories and research in cognitive psychology, focusing on both classical and modern approaches. The course includes laboratory sessions involving EEG and eye-tracking technologies to observe real-time cognitive functions.
2. Qualitative Research Methods
This course introduces students to qualitative data collection techniques used in psychological research, such as interviews, focus groups, ethnography, and narrative analysis. Emphasis is placed on ethical considerations and interpretive frameworks that guide the analysis of non-numerical data.
3. Psychological Assessment
This course covers the principles and practices of psychological assessment, including intelligence tests, personality inventories, neuropsychological assessments, and clinical interviews. Students learn to administer, score, and interpret various psychological instruments and understand their applications in different contexts.
4. Ethics in Psychology
This course examines ethical principles and guidelines that govern psychological research and practice. It covers topics such as informed consent, confidentiality, conflict of interest, animal experimentation, and cultural sensitivity in research and therapy settings.
5. Behavioral Economics
This interdisciplinary course bridges psychology and economics to understand how cognitive biases and emotional factors influence decision-making behavior. Students will explore concepts like loss aversion, anchoring bias, and prospect theory through case studies and simulations.
6. Positive Psychology
This course explores the science of happiness, well-being, and human flourishing. Students will study interventions that promote optimism, resilience, gratitude, and life satisfaction while examining empirical evidence supporting these approaches in clinical and organizational settings.
7. Cross-Cultural Psychology
This course investigates how cultural factors influence psychological processes and behavior. It compares different cultural perspectives on mental health, personality, cognition, and social interaction, preparing students to work effectively with diverse populations.
8. Educational Psychology
This course explores the psychological principles underlying learning and teaching. Topics include motivation, memory, intelligence, classroom management, and special education needs. Students will apply these concepts in designing effective educational interventions.
9. Health Psychology
This course examines how psychological factors affect physical health and illness. It covers stress management, coping mechanisms, chronic disease, behavioral change interventions, and the role of psychology in public health programs.
10. Forensic Psychology
This course explores the application of psychology in legal contexts, including criminal behavior analysis, witness testimony, jury decision-making, and correctional psychology. Students will engage with case studies and ethical dilemmas inherent in forensic settings.
Project-Based Learning Philosophy
Our department strongly believes in project-based learning as a means to develop critical thinking, collaboration, and practical skills among students. Projects are designed to mirror real-world challenges faced by psychologists and researchers.
The structure of our project-based learning includes:
- Mini-projects: Conducted during the first two years, these projects focus on applying basic research methods to explore simple psychological phenomena.
- Mid-term Research Projects: Involving data collection and analysis, these projects are completed in the third year, providing students with hands-on experience in conducting original research.
- Final-Year Thesis/Capstone Project: The culminating project where students conduct an independent study under faculty supervision, resulting in a published paper or presentation at a conference.
Evaluation criteria for projects include:
- Research Design and Methodology
- Data Collection and Analysis
- Critical Thinking and Interpretation
- Presentation Skills
- Collaboration and Communication
- Adherence to Ethical Guidelines
Students select their projects in consultation with faculty mentors based on their interests, available resources, and career aspirations. Faculty members play a crucial role as advisors, guiding students throughout the research process and helping them refine their ideas.