Psychology Undergraduate Programme

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General Information

The Department of Military Psychology and Leadership serves two purposes.

1. first, the degree programme in psychology, with a focus on military applications, provides a university level education that will meet the needs of those enrolled in a B.A. (Honours) Psychology or a B.A. Psychology, as well as students taking psychology courses out of interest in the discipline.
2. second, the department offers a suite of courses under the core curriculum providing the foundation of military leadership, ethics, and military professionalism.

The department of military psychology and leadership has three primary objectives:

1. to provide a theory-based understanding of human behaviour and mental processes;
2. to teach critical thinking and the scientific method as they apply to psychology; and
3. to show students how to apply their knowledge of psychology in their day-to-day lives as well as throughout their military careers, regardless of their military occupations occupations and positions within the organization.

The programme focuses on the application of psychology in particular and behavioural science in general, to the military environment (workplaces, military operations). Thus, the content of the programme examines topics in the general domains of military psychology; personnel psychology; leadership and ethics; basic experimental psychology; and special topics. A psychology degree from the Royal Military College of Canada provides an excellent grounding for professional development, including graduate level studies, and represents an exceptional way to develop the leadership abilities of graduates. Nationally, RMC offers the only undergraduate psychology programme with a focus on military applications, which makes it a unique degree in Canada.

Core Curriculum Courses

The military psychology and leadership department recognize the need to provide leadership education, raise social consciousness and positively impact the psychological, philosophical and moral development of students. To achieve these goals, the department offers mandatory courses as part of the core curriculum required by students. The focus and scope of each are described below.

100-level courses

PSE103: Introduction to Human Psychology and PSE105: Social Psychology.

Meeting the increasingly unique and complex challenges of an officer in the Canadian Forces requires a combination of conceptual, technical, interpersonal, and professional skills which were not required only a short while ago. To prepare officers for their future leadership responsibilities, the psychology programme promotes an appreciation of human behaviour by providing introductory courses for arts, science and engineering students that focus on basic psychological phenomena such as learning, perception, memory, personality and emotion. Beyond self-awareness, an officer must be able to determine the appropriate type and degree of influence required for effective leadership of individuals and groups. Students examine human behaviour in organizational and social contexts by studying such topics as values, attitudes, obedience, aggression, racial and gender relations, and prejudice.

300-level course

PSE301: Organizational Behaviour and Leadership

An important element of successful leadership is an officer's ability to diagnose organizational performance, adapt effective leadership approaches to various situations, and convey the appropriate leadership style to followers. This course has been designed to help students understand leadership theory, human motivation, power and politics, organizational culture, and managing resistance to change.

400-level course

PSE401: Military Professionalism and Ethics

An officer's ability to function will be greatly impaired if his/her leadership is perceived to lack integrity. Thus, the department focuses on the necessity for personal integrity, the importance of human dignity, and the need to reflect continually on one's own values and professional conduct in fourth year. The department reinforces these concepts by readings and discussions centred on the function of ethics in social and organizational life, ethical theories and decision criteria which distinguish between right and wrong, the impact of situational factors on ethical behaviour, the nature of military professionalism and ethical obligations, specific codes of conduct extant in war, and value conflicts and moral dilemmas inherent in military service.

Programme Eligibility

• Students successfully completing their first year in arts are eligible for entry into the programme leading to a B.A. (Honours) Psychology, a B.A. Psychology, or a Minor in Psychology. Students are normally admitted to these programmes after the first year with permission of the department head.
• Students normally apply for B.A. (Honours) Psychology at the beginning of the third year. Students in B.A. (Honours) Psychology are required to complete a thesis in the fourth year.

Physical Conditioning and Second Language Courses

• ATE101: Foundations of Fitness, Health and Sports
• ATE301: Unarmed Combatives, Military Skills and Individual Sports
• LCF100 : Compétence de base – partie I
• LCF200 : Compétence de base – partie II
• LCF301 : Compétence intermédiaire – partie I
• LCF302 : Compétence intermédiaire – partie II
• LCF400 : Compétence intermédiaire - partie III

B.A. (Honours) Psychology

Of the 40 credits required for the B.A. (Honours) Psychology, including the core courses for arts programmes. A minimum of 20 credits must be from psychology, as approved by the department, including:

Mandatory courses

The following 14 credits are mandatory:

• PSE103: Introduction to Human Psychology
• PSE105: Social Psychology
• PSE211: Research Methodology in Psychology
• PSE213: Statistics for the Behavioural Sciences
• PSE236: Cognition and Learning
• PSE240: Personality
• PSE301: Organizational Leadership and Behaviour
• PSE312: Applied Military Psychology
• PSE350: Advanced Research Methods
• PSE352: Advanced Statistical Analysis for the Behavioural Sciences
• PSE401: Military Professionalism and Ethics
• PSE424: Thesis (2 credits)
• PSE454: Advanced Leadership

Optional courses

6 credits chosen from the following: ^{Note 1}

• BAE326: Human Resources Management
• PSE302: Brain and Behaviour
• PSE310: Origins of Psychology
• PSE324: Cross-Cultural Psychology
• PSE328: Group Dynamics
• PSE330: Introduction to Abnormal Psychology
• PSE332: Introduction to Interviewing and Counselling
• PSE334: Introduction to Human Sexuality
• PSE342: Emotion and motivation
• PSE344: Sensation and Perception
• PSE345: The Psychological Science of Fear
• PSE346: Persuasion and Influence
• PSE347: Positive Psychology
• PSE348: Psychology of Creativity and Innovation
• PSE349: Music and Psychological Science
• PSE360: Human Development through the Lifespan
• PSE370: Recruitment and Selection
• PSE380: Psychology and Philosophy of Religious Conflicts
• PSE394: Special Topics in Psychology
• PSE410: Psychology, Morality, and Ethics
• PSE415: Psychological Assessment
• PSE422: Laboratory on the Psychology of Environmental Sustainability
• PSE426: Advanced Cognitive Psychology
• PSE430: Stress
• PSE440: Forensic Psychology
• PSE444: Sports Psychology
• PSE450: Advanced Social Psychology
• PSE451: Survival Psychology
• PSE462: Human Factors in Applied Military Science
• PSE464: Directed Studies in Psychology
• PSE465: Directed Studies in Leadership
• PSE470: Evolutionary Psychology
• PSE482: Peace and Conflict Psychology
• PSE484: The Psychology of Gender in the Military
• PSE493: Directed Research in Psychology
• PSE494: Advanced Special Topics in Psychology

B.A. Psychology

Of the 40 credits required for B.A. Psychology, including the core courses for arts programmes. A minimum of 16 credits must be from psychology, as approved by the department, including:

Mandatory courses

The following 10 credits are mandatory:

• PSE103: Introduction to Human Psychology
• PSE105: Social Psychology
• PSE211: Research Methodology in Psychology
• PSE213: Statistics for the Behavioural Sciences
• PSE236: Cognition and Learning
• PSE240: Personality
• PSE301: Organizational Leadership and Behaviour
• PSE312: Applied Military Psychology
• PSE401: Military Professionalism and Ethics
• PSE454: Advanced Leadership

Optional courses

6 credits chosen from the following: ^{Note 2}

• BAE326: Human Resources Management
• PSE302: Brain and Behaviour
• PSE310: Origins of Psychology
• PSE324: Cross-Cultural Psychology
• PSE328: Group Dynamics
• PSE330: Introduction to Abnormal Psychology
• PSE332: Introduction to Interviewing and Counselling
• PSE334: Introduction to Human Sexuality
• PSE342: Emotion and motivation
• PSE344: Sensation and Perception
• PSE345: The Psychological Science of Fear
• PSE346: Persuasion and Influence
• PSE347: Positive Psychology
• PSE348: Psychology of Creativity and Innovation
• PSE349: Music and Psychological Science
• PSE350: Advanced Research Methods ^{Note 3}
• PSE352: Advanced Statistical Analysis for the Behavioural Sciences
• PSE360: Human Development through the Lifespan
• PSE370: Recruitment and Selection
• PSE380: Psychology and Philosophy of Religious Conflicts
• PSE394: Special Topics in Psychology
• PSE410: Psychology, Morality, and Ethics
• PSE415: Psychological Assessment
• PSE422: Laboratory on the Psychology of Environmental Sustainability
• PSE426: Advanced Cognitive Psychology
• PSE430: Stress
• PSE440: Forensic Psychology
• PSE444: Sports Psychology
• PSE450: Advanced Social Psychology
• PSE451: Survival Psychology
• PSE462: Human Factors in Applied Military Science
• PSE464: Directed Studies in Psychology ^{Note 3}
• PSE465: Directed Studies in Leadership ^{Note 3}
• PSE470: Evolutionary Psychology
• PSE482: Peace and Conflict Psychology
• PSE484: The Psychology of Gender in the Military
• PSE493: Directed Research in Psychology
• PSE494: Advanced Special Topics in Psychology

Programme Outline Tables

The following tables are examples of a typical outline, by year, of a B.A. (Honours) Psychology programme of study or a B.A. Psychology programme of study that would cover the required courses.

B.A. (Honours) Psychology

B.A. Psychology

Double Major or Combined Major

• Double Majors with other arts programmes are possible. Students who choose to follow a double major in psychology and one other arts programmes are required to follow the core courses for arts programmes.
• Combined Majors with science programmes are possible. Students who choose to follow a combined major in the sciences and psychology are considered science students, and as such are required to follow the core courses for science programmes. Please consult one of the department's undergraduate advisors for details.

Concentration in Psychology

• A concentration in psychology consists of a minimum of 12 credits in psychology approved by the department, including the core courses for arts programmes. Of these 12 credits in psychology, a minimum of 6 credits must be at the 300 or 400 level.
• Students who select the concentration in psychology are required to take the following courses or their equivalent from a recognized university:

Mandatory courses

The following 5 credits are mandatory:

• PSE103: Introduction to Human Psychology
• PSE301: Organizational Leadership and Behaviour
• PSE312: Applied Military Psychology
• PSE401: Military Professionalism and Ethics
• PSE454: Advanced Leadership

Optional courses

1 credit chosen from the following:

• BAE242: Quantitative Methods I
• PSE211: Research Methodology in Psychology
• PSE213: Statistics for the Behavioural Sciences

6 credits chosen from:

• Any Psychology course offered, or approved by the department.

Minor in Psychology

Students taking a minor in Psychology must complete a minimum of 8 credits in psychology, including the core courses for arts programmes.

Mandatory courses

The following 3 credits are mandatory:

• PSE103: Introduction to Human Psychology
• PSE301: Organizational Leadership and Behaviour
• PSE401: Military Professionalism and Ethics

Optional courses

5 credits chosen from:

• Any Psychology course offered, or approved by the department, including (one from BAE242, or ECE242 not both) and BAE326.