Overview

The Psychology Program at LAU is a thriving and dynamic field of study, ranking as the third-largest program within the School of Arts and Sciences. Since its establishment in 2013, the program has attracted faculty members from diverse academic and professional backgrounds, enriching the learning environment and research opportunities for students.  The program offers students diverse elective courses and on strengthening their scientific literacy and research skills. Our undergraduate program is the first to offer students the possibility to be involved in the community, in line with the departmental mission.

Mission

The BA in Psychology prepares students to pursue careers in a variety of fields, including human resources, school settings, entry-level mental health facilities, entry-level research positions, and humanitarian and community agencies, graduating students with a foundational grounding in ethical scientific psychology in diverse subfields.

Program Educational Objectives

Graduates of the BA in Psychology program shall be able to:

1. Demonstrate a broad knowledge of psychological concepts, theories, and empirical findings and apply them for the well-being of individuals and the society.
2. Abide by ethical principles when researching and practicing psychology.
3. Collaborate with colleagues and professionals in the research and practice fields of psychology.
4. Demonstrate critical thinking and communicate effectively when researching and practicing psychology

Student Learning Outcomes

At the completion of this program, students are able to:

1. Examine major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical approaches in psychology.
2. Demonstrate competence in research skills including research design and data analysis and interpretation.
3. Apply critical thinking to the study of psychological concepts, theories, and findings, individually and in groups.
4. Use psychological principles to understand individual functioning, societies, and cultures.
5. Use APA guidelines to communicate psychological knowledge orally and in writing.
6. Comply with established ethical guidelines of the profession of psychology, as well as research.
7. Analyze and present psychological concepts using information technology. 

Curriculum

A total of 92 credits are required to graduate, distributed as follows:

• Program Core Requirements (25 credits)
• Psychology Electives (18 credits)
• LAS Core Courses (6 credits)
• LAS Electives (24 credits)
• Computer Skills (1 credit)
• Free Electives (18 credits)

Program Core Requirements (25 credits)

• PSY201 Introduction to Psychology (3 cr.)
• PSY234 Development across the Life Span (3 cr.)
• PSY303 Introduction to Neuroscience (3 cr.)
• PSY361 Research Methods (3 cr.)
• PSY425 Abnormal Psychology (3 cr.)
• PSY466 Counseling Theories (3 cr. )
• PSY491 Internship (1 cr.)
• PSY499P Capstone Project (3 cr.) or PSY499R Undergraduate Research (3 cr.)
• STA302 Introduction to Statistics in Social Sciences (3 cr.)

Psychology Electives (Choose 18 credits)

• PSY202  Child Psychology (3 cr.)
• PSY267  Cultural Psychology (3 cr.)
• PSY302 Health Psychology (3 cr.)
• PSY304 Psychology of Youth (3 cr.)
• PSY311 Exceptional Child (3 cr.)
• PSY320 Theories of Personality (3 cr.)
• PSY322 Mind and Behavior (3 cr.)
• PSY323 Social Psychology (3 cr.)
• PSY324 Theories of Learning(3 cr. )
• PSY326  Psychological Assessment (3 cr.)
• PSY335  Organizational Psychology (3 cr.)
• PSY498 Topics in Psychology (3 cr.) 

LAS Core Courses (6 credits)

• ENG202 Advanced Academic English (3 cr.)
• COM203 Art of Public Communication (3 cr.)

LAS Electives (24 credits)

Computer Skills (1 credit)

• CSC201 Computer Applications (1 cr.)

Free Electives (18 credits)

Recommended Study Plan (Beirut)

Year One

Fall (16 credits)

• PSY201  Introduction to Psychology
• PSY202 Child Psychology OR LAS
• STA302  Introduction to Statistics in Social Sciences
• CSC201 Computer Applications
• LAS
• Free Elective

Spring (15 credits)

• PSY234 Development Across the Life Span
• 1 Psychology Elective
• LAS
• LAS
• Free Elective

Year Two

Fall (15 credits)

• PSY303 Introduction to Neuroscience
• 2 Psychology Electives OR 1 Psychology Elective and 1 LAS
• LAS
• Free Elective

Spring (15 credits)

• PSY361 Research Methods
• 2 Psychology Electives
• LAS
• Free Elective

Year Three

Fall (15 credits)

• PSY425 Abnormal Psychology
• 1 Psychology Elective
• LAS
• LAS
• Free Elective

Spring (16 credits)

• PSY466 Counseling Psychology
• PSY491 Internship
• PSY499P Capstone Project (3 cr.) or PSY499R Undergraduate Research (3 cr.)
• LAS
• LAS
• Free Elective

Recommended Study Plan (Byblos)

Year One

Fall (16 credits)

• PSY201  Introduction to Psychology
• STA302  Introduction to Statistics in Social Sciences
• CSC201 Computer Applications
• LAS
• LAS
• Free Elective

Spring (15 credits)

• PSY234 Development Across the Life Span
• 1 Psychology Elective
• LAS
• LAS
• Free Elective

Year Two

Fall (15 credits)

• PSY303 Introduction to Neuroscience
• PSY361 Research Methods
• 1 Psychology Elective and 1 LAS
• LAS
• Free Elective

Spring (15 credits)

• PSY425 Abnormal Psychology
• 1 Psychology Elective
• LAS
• LAS
• Free Elective

Year Three

Fall (15 credits)

• 3 Psychology Electives
• LAS
• Free Elective

Spring (16 credits)

• PSY466 Counseling Psychology
• PSY491 Internship
• PSY499P Capstone Project (3 cr.) or PSY499R Undergraduate Research (3 cr.)
• LAS
• LAS
• Free Elective

Extracurricular Activities

The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology encourages students to get involved in a large variety of extracurricular activities, including the Psychology Lecture Series, Neuroscience Student Movement, Psychology Club, Summer Research Circle, volunteer placement in the community, and SPSS workshops, among other activities.