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Bachelor's degree programme in psychology. 3-year programme - 180 credits (ECTS)
1. Program organizer
Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Science, University of Tromsø
2. Language of instruction
Norwegian
3. Application deadline: 15. April
4. Qualification awarded
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
5. Programme description
Psychology is the study of people and animals with a view to explaining behavior and experiences using scientific theories and methods. The program provides a broad introduction to the core fields of psychology, the history of psychology and scientific methods. The core fields comprise biological psychology, cognitive psychology, social psychology, personality psychology, and developmental psychology. In addition, the program will provide an introduction to certain applied areas such as work psychology and organizational psychology, health psychology, pedagogical psychology, aviation psychology, consumer psychology, cross-cultural psychology, etc.
The program provides students with insight into methods for examining and testing psychological issues, and students should to some extent be able to assess research results independently. Students should also have thorough knowledge of the most important theories and findings within the various core disciplines and be able to discuss these critically. Students should also have knowledge of how psychology can be used in such areas as preventive health care, in organizations and businesses, and in aviation.
6. Qualifications
The program qualifies students for admission into the master’s program in psychology.
A Bachelor’s degree in psychology qualifies graduates to teach psychology in the Norwegian high school (videregående skole). The degree also qualifies graduates for a wide range of jobs in health and social services, and in business, e.g. paralegal research, consulting services, administration, preventive health care, and teaching.
A psychology Bachelor’s degree does not qualify graduates for clinical work as a psychologist. Only the program of professional studies in psychology provides such qualifications.
Completion of the first two semesters of the bachelor’s program qualifies students for admission to the program of professional studies in psychology.
7. Program organization
Bachelor’s students in psychology must complete Ex.phil, Ex.fac, and an introductory psychology course during their first semester. Each of these courses gives 10 credits (studiepoeng). In addition, students must have a minimum of 90 credits of courses with a specialization in psychology. Some courses are compulsory, while others are electives. All courses will not be offered every semester. The selection of courses on offer will be decided by demand and/or the capacity of the department. Compulsory courses are PSY-1001, PSY-1002, 3 of the courses PSY-1003 to PSY-1007, and PSY-2001 and PSY-2002. For some of the compulsory courses students will be given a choice between two options. PSY-1000 is compulsory but not a specialization course and thus not counted toward the Bachelor’s degree in psychology.
Students who plan to teach in the Norwegian high school must take 60 credits (studiepoeng) in another field taught in the Norwegian high school (videregående skole) as well as the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (praktisk pedagogisk seminar).
Students wishing to go into teaching are recommended to include a minor of 60 credits in another subject taught in the Norwegian high school. The program will then qualify graduates to teach (give undervisningskompetanse in) two school subjects. After completing their Bachelor’s degree, students must take the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (praktisk pedagogisk seminar).
As a main rule courses are to be taught throughout the whole semester, so that students follow several courses at the same time.
8. Student exchange
As part of their Bachelor’s degree in psychology students can spend one or two semesters abroad. We recommend that students be well into their studies in Tromsø before going abroad. The fifth semester of the bachelor’s program in psychology can be spent studying at a foreign university, or the fourth and fifth semesters, if the student is spending a whole year abroad. Studies abroad must be approved in advance as part of the student’s major in the Bachelor’s degree. Students who do not have a stay abroad as part of their program, can choose from among the electives offered by the Department of Psychology or take a minor at another department or faculty.
The Department of Psychology has exchange agreements with the following foreign institutions of higher education:
ERASMUS:
University of Wales, Swansea
University of Liège, Belgium
Universidad de Granada, Spain
NORDPLUS:
At the moment there are no arrangements for study abroad via Nordplus. Students who would like to study in a Nordic country can do so through the NORDLYS-program.
9. Learning approaches and assessment
Learning and teaching methods will vary from course to course in the various psychological disciplines. We will use lectures, seminars, tutorials, lab sessions, student presentations, research practice, etc.
Assessment will also vary, from traditional written exams, oral exams, essays and practical tests to self-assessment using the internet, presentations, and more. Some courses will have continuous assessment. Others might use so-called “peer assessment,” i.e., students evaluating and commenting on each other’s written work. Such written assessment may be a required component of the student’s portfolio.
Topics from other disciplines (minor subjects) will also be taught and assessed using a variety of methods, such as lectures, seminars, study groups, essays, student portfolio assessment and exams.
Retake examinations will be treated separately in individual course plans.
The grading scale has five divisions from A to E for pass grades and F for failure. The grades Pass/Fail can also be used.
10. Proposed) degree plan
Option A:
| Sem. |
10 credits |
10 credits |
10 credits |
| 1st |
Ex.Phil |
Ex.Fac |
PSY-1000 |
| 2nd |
PSY-1001 |
PSY-1002
| | 3rd |
Minor |
PSY-1003 to 1007 |
PSY-1003 to 1007 |
| 4th |
Minor |
PSY-1003 to 1007 |
PSY-1003 to 1007 |
| 5th |
Abroad/elective/
minor |
Abroad/elective/
minor |
Abroad/elective/
minor |
| 6th |
PSY-2001 |
PSY-2002 |
Option B: (Teacher's option)
| Sem. |
10 credits |
10 credits |
10 credits |
| 1st |
Ex.Phil |
Ex.Fac |
PSY-1000 |
| 2nd |
PSY-1001 |
PSY-1002
| | 3rd |
Minor |
PSY-1003 to 1007 |
PSY-1003 to 1007 |
| 4th |
PSY-1003 to 1007 |
Minor |
Minor |
| 5th |
Abroad/minor |
Abroad/minor |
Abroad/minor |
| 6th |
PSY-2001 |
PSY-2002 |
11. Catalogue of compulsory and elective courses for students majoring in psychology
The following list contains compulsory and elective courses with a special emphasis in psychology offered by the Department of Psychology as part of the bachelor program. The courses offered at any time will vary depending on demand and capacity at the department. Please note that some courses are offered either in the fall only or in the spring only.
11.1 Compulsory courses:
PSY-1000 Phenomenon-based psychology (10 credits)
Prerequisites: minimum requirements for entrance to higher education in Norway (generell studiekompetanse)
Duration: 19 weeks (fall)/21 weeks (spring)
Learning approaches: Lectures and seminars (problem-based)
Exam: 2 essays and written exam. Overall grade: A-E
Required reading: Approximately 500 pages.
PSY-1000 takes as its starting point familiar phenomena or situations we experience in our everyday lives. Examples include synesthesia (cross-connection of senses) or reward. The aim of the course is to show how such phenomena can be explained and understood using psychological theory and empirical data. The course aims to provide students with insight into how the same phenomenon can be seen from different theoretical perspectives, and how to decide which theory offers the best explanation of the phenomenon in question.
PSY-1001 Introduction to general psychology and the history of psychology (20 credits)
Prerequisites: None
Duration: 19 weeks (fall)/21 weeks (spring)
Learning approaches: Lectures and seminars, problem-based independent study
Assessment: Tests conducted through the internet and written exam. Overall grade: A-E
Required reading: Approximately 1100 pages.
PSY-1001 provides a first introduction to psychology as a science, i.e., issues of the field, theories and research findings and historical background. The course will thus include some of the major contributions of psychology to the understanding of human beings, but also to the understanding of behavior in other organisms. PSY-1001 will also provide the academic and historical background to the psychological research being carried out today.
PSY-1002 Methods and statistics in psychology I (10 credits)
Prerequisites: None
Duration: 19 weeks (fall)/21 weeks (spring)
Learning approaches: Lectures, seminars, and problem-solving
Assessment: Compulsory paper and written exam. Overall grade: A-E
Required reading: Approximately 400 pages.
This course provides an introduction to methods and statistics. The purpose is to explain the methods used in studying psychological issues and how to analyze data from psychological studies. The course introduces students to measuring or charting psychological variables and the criteria such measuring methods should meet. The course will also provide an introduction to various designs (experimental and correlational) and some elementary statistical methods.
PSY-1003 Cognitive psychology (10 credits)
Prerequisites: Completion of PSY-1001 and PSY-1002
Duration: 21 weeks (spring)
Learning approaches: Lectures, tutorials, problem-based learning
Assessment: Two compulsory papers, internet tests, written exam. Overall grade: A-E
Required reading: Approximately 500 pages.
The objective of the course is to provide students with knowledge of central topics and research results in cognitive psychology. Examples of such topics are memory, perception, language, problem-solving, cognition, and learning. The course will also provide the basics of the methods used within cognitive psychology.
PSY-1004 Biological psychology (10 credits)
Prerequisites: Completion of PSY-1001 and PSY-1002
Duration: 19 weeks (fall)
Learning approaches: Lectures, lab tutorials, problem-solving
Assessment: Project assignment. Overall grade: A-E
Required reading: Approximately 400 pages.
The objective of the course is to introduce students to central methods, issues and research findings in biological psychology. Examples of topics are perception, learning, emotions, and cognitive functioning. The topics will be treated on the basis of physiological psychology, psychophysiology, neuro-psychology, and clinical neuro-psychology.
PSY-1005 Social psychology (10 credits)
Prerequisites: Completion of PSY-1001 and PSY-1002
Duration: 19 weeks (fall)
Learning approaches: Lectures, tutorials, research practice, and problem-based learning
Assessment: Oral presentation and written exam. Grade: credit/no credit and A-E
Required reading: Approximately 600 pages.
Social psychology deals with the individual’s relation to others and how social and cultural factors shape individuals. Central topics in the course will be attitudes and attitude change, attribution, social influence, social thought and factors influencing the self-image.
PSY-1006 Personality psychology (10 credits)
Prerequisites: Completion of PSY-1001, PSY-1002, PSY-1003 and PSY-1004
Duration: 21 weeks (spring)
Learning approaches: Lectures and problem-based learning
Assessment: Essay and written exam. Grade: A-E
Required reading: Approximately 500 pages.
The course introduces students to various models for understanding the concept of personality and also deals with some abnormal psychology. The course will address central approaches such as trait theory, psychodynamic theory, theories of learning, and cognitive and humanistic approaches.
PSY-1007 Developmental psychology (10 credits)
Prerequisites: Completion of PSY-1001 and PSY-1002
Duration: 21 weeks (spring)
Learning approaches: Lectures, student presentations, and problem-based learning
Assessment: Presentation and essay. Grade: credit/no credit and A-E
Required reading: Approximately 500 pages.
This course provides an overview of human development through childhood, youth and adulthood. Students will be introduced to central theories and findings in normal developmental psychology, involving physical, emotional and social development. The importance of heredity and environment in development will also be treated.
PSY-2001 Methods and statistics in psychology II (10 credits)
Prerequisites: Completion of PSY-1001 and PSY-1002
Duration: 19 weeks (fall)/21 weeks (spring)
Learning approaches: Lectures, problem-solving seminar, research practice
Assessment: Project and written exam. Grade: credit/no credit and A-E
Required reading: 450-500 pages.
This course is builds on of topics treated in PSY-1002, and offers in-depth study of topics relating to measurement and choice of research design. Students are also given a brief introduction to qualitative methods and inferential statistics. Issues in research ethics will also be emphasized.
PSY-2002 Bachelor thesis (20 credits)
Prerequisites: Completion of PSY-1001 to PSY-1007 and PSY-2001
Duration: 19 weeks (fall)/21 weeks (spring)
Learning approaches: Counseling, study groups and thesis seminar
Assessment: Thesis. Grade: A-E
Required reading: Material of student’s own choice. Approximately 500 pages.
The thesis should be a research report on a topic chosen by the student. The thesis may be an empirical research project or a critical review of literature on a central topic in psychology. The topic of the thesis must be approved by the Department of Psychology, which will also appoint a supervisor.
11.2 Elective courses:
The Department of Psychology offers at least two elective courses each semester. The courses on offer will be announced in the university catalogue (studiekatalogen). Courses will be offered on the basis of demand and capacity at the department.
PSY-2010 Work and organizational psychology (10 credits)
Prerequisites: Completion of PSY-1000, PSY-1002 and PSY-1005
Duration: 19 weeks (fall)/21 weeks (spring)
Learning approaches: Tutorials, study groups and problem-based learning
Assessment: 3 essays, continuous assessment. Overall grade: A-E
Required reading: Approximately 600 pages.
The course provides an introduction to central topics within work psychology and organizational psychology, including working conditions and stress, leadership, the importance of gender in organizations, and personnel selection. The course will address central theories and trends within these research areas.
PSY-2011 Health psychology (10 credits)
Prerequisites: Completion of PSY-1000, PSY-1001, PSY-1002, and PSY-1005
Duration: 19 weeks (fall)/21 weeks (spring)
Learning approaches: Lectures, research practice, and problem-based learning
Assessment: Student presentation and essays. Grade: credit/no credit and A-E
Required reading: Approximately 500 pages.
The course gives an overview of how psychological theory and empirical data can contribute to an understanding of health and illness. We will consider how individual and environmental factors contribute to promoting health and preventing illness and injury. Topics include quality of life, life style, sexual habits, alcohol and substance use, and prevention of eating disorders.
PSY-2012 Pedagogical psychology (10 credits)
Prerequisites: Completion of PSY-1000, PSY-1001, PSY-1002, and PSY-1007
Duration: 19 weeks (fall)/21 weeks (spring)
Learning approaches: Tutorials, lectures, and study groups
Assessment: Essay and oral exam.
Required reading: Approximately 600 pages.
Students will be introduced to central topics in pedagogical psychology, such as social and emotional problems, specific learning difficulties, language and speech problems, and general learning difficulties/mental disabilities. The course provides an introduction to charting methods, choosing methods in relation to goals, and deciding on a course of action.
PSY-2013 Aviation psychology (10 credits)
Prerequisites: Completion of PSY-1000, PSY-1001, PSY-1002, PSY-1003 and PSY-1006
Duration: 19 weeks (fall)/21 weeks (spring)
Learning approaches: Lectures, research practice, and problem-based learning
Assessment: Essay and written exam.
Required reading: Approximately 400 pages.
The course provides an overview of the ways in which psychological theory and empirical data can be used to increase aviation safety. Central topics include selection, cooperation in the cockpit, unruly passengers and terrorism, and interaction between people and advanced technology.
PSY-2014 Consumer psychology (10 credits)
Prerequisites: Completion of PSY-1000, PSY-1001, PSY-1002, and PSY-1005
Duration: 19 weeks (fall)/21 weeks (spring)
Learning approaches: Research practice, tutorials, and problem-based learning
Assessment: Project. Grade: credit/no credit
Required reading: Approximately 500 pages.
Description to be provided later.
PSY-2015 Cross-cultural psychology (10 credits)
Prerequisites: Completion of PSY-1000, PSY-1001, PSY-1002, and PSY-1005
Duration: 19 weeks (fall)/21 weeks (spring)
Learning approaches: Student presentations and lectures.
Assessment: Student presentation and essay. Grade: credit/no credit and A-E
Required reading: Approximately 600 pages.
This course will provide an introduction to basic cross-cultural psychology, but will also deal with sociological and anthropological terminology and perspectives on society. Relevant topics include the connection between social structure and social functioning, cultural values and the positions and roles of individual members of society, including gender relations. Psychological topics related to immigration will also be dealt with.
PSY-2016 Sexology (10 credits)
Prerequisites: Completion of PSY-1000, PSY-1001, PSY-1002, or two semesters of study at Bachelor’s level at the Faculty of Social Science/ Faculty of Medicine/ University College Tromsø (health/teacher’s training)
Duration: 21 weeks (spring)
Learning approaches: Lectures and seminars
Assessment: 4-hr written exam. Grade: credit/no credit and A-E
Required reading: Approximately 600 pages.
The course provides an introduction to sexology, focusing in particular on psychological and social aspects of human sexuality and sexual behavior, and the preventive use of sexological knowledge to promote sexual health. The list of lecturers will include Thore Langfeldt (TL), Dagfinn Sørensen (DS), Elsa Almås (EA), Esben Ester Pirelli Benestad (EEPB), Phillip Skau (PS), Hans Petter Fundingsrud (HPF) and Bente Træen (BT).
PSY-2017 Language psychology (10 credits)
Prerequisites: Completion of PSY-1000, PSY-1001, PSY-1002, and PSY-1003
Duration: 19 weeks (fall)
Learning approaches: Lectures and problem-based learning
Assessment: Grade: A-E
Required reading: Approximately 600 pages.
Human language ability: Are we born with this ability, or is it an unavoidable consequence of our general cognitive abilities? This course also examines language development in children: The processes and structures involved in word production, recognition of spoken words, spelling, reading, and grammatical and affective prosody. The question of language comprehension: What inferences do we make, and why? Why is memory selective? The issue of the relationship between words and thought. Reading is a skill; like other skills reading has to be automated, that is, carried out without conscious attention to decoding. Some children never reach this stage. The course will also deal with the question of why some children have difficulties reading and writing.
12. Additional information
Each course has its own specific course description which provides more detailed information on each topic. These course descriptions also include itemized reading lists/lists of recommended literature.
13. Admission requirement
University admission certification.
14. Programme coordinator
The Programme Board.
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