What does first-year Psychology involve?
There are two first-year papers, PSYC 111 Brain and Behaviour (semester 1) and PSYC 112 Human Thought and Behaviour (semester 2).
These papers have lecture and laboratory components and cover a wide range of topics such as:
Biopsychology – how do sleep, hormone levels, and drugs affect our behaviour?
Perception – what do our senses tell our brains?
Neuropsychology – how do our brains work?
Learning – how do our experiences influence our behaviour?
Development – why do our abilities and behaviours change with age?
Social psychology – how do people affect one another?
Abnormal psychology – when do we decide that behaviour is “abnormal”, and what causes such problems?
Cognition – how do we remember things, solve problems, and use language?
If I major in Psychology what other subjects might I consider?
That depends on your interests and strengths. Here are a few examples, but there are many other possibilities.
Student A takes Biology, Chemistry and Anatomy because they are interested in neuroscience.
Student B takes Marketing, Management and/or Human Resource Management because they want to work in business or industry.
Student C takes Mathematics and Computer Science because they are fascinated by artificial intelligence.
Student D is interested in issues of social change, so they add Politics, Philosophy and Economics to their degree.
Background required
Any University of Otago student can take first-year papers in Psychology. Secondary school English, biology and statistics are useful but not essential.
