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Website: www.speranza.co.in

Date: 01-05-2021

To,
Department of Psychology,
Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College,
Ujire-574240

Subject: Review on Syllabus of Bachelor’s Degree in Pscyhology

Respected Sir/Madam,

Please find the reviewed syllabus of Bachelor’s Degree in Pscyhology, attached

herewith for your reference. The suggestions for each subject have been highlighted (in blue) for
the necessary action. Kindly note that the suggestions have been given as per my academic and
clinical experience. Kindly revert back for any clarifications. 

Yours Sincerely,

Dr Ramandeep Kaur,
Director,
Speranza Inspiring Communication,
Mangalore

I SEMESTER
 FOUNDATIONS OF BEHAVIOUR I
Course I - BASPYC131

Units Comments Suggestions

UNIT -1: Psychology and its A good way to introduce the It is important for a first year
perspectives course to a first year student. student to know the following
Special emphasis to be given about Psychology:-
to how Psychologists are 1. Types of Psychology
extremely important to (Abnormal, developmental,
children and adults with forensic etc.)
abnormal behaviours. Also, 2. History of Psychology (For
how they can help make the Eg: Wilhelm Wundt being
society a better place for the father of Psychology;
individuals with psychological influencial thinkers of
difficulties, through their Psychology like Sigmund
intervention plans. Freud, Jean Piaget etc.)
3. Career in Psychology and
how this can help in
making decisions regarding
fields to choose in future
Thus, these topics can be
added for a detailed
understanding of the subject.
UNIT -2: Biological Basis of The unit clearly describes the Special emphasis can be given
Behavior neuroanatomical and to “Neurochemistry and
neurophysiological correlates behaviour in humans”.
of a human behaviour. Considering the fact that
neurotransmitters can have a
major effect on human
behaviors, students will learn
to pay heed to this fact when
dealing with clinical
population
UNIT -3: Sensation, The concept of sensation and However, these concepts are
Perception, Attention perception seems to be really taught to other professionals as
good for a Psychologist to well (Speech pathologist,
understand various occupational therapist etc).
Psychological population. Unlike these professionals, a
Thus understanding of this Psychologist must understand
seems to be crucial. these concepts deeper and also
focus on how these can affect
A special emphasis to attention human behaviour. Thus,
and perception is extremely addition of following topics
 important to understand the can be done
concept better. 1. Sensation versus
perception
2. Top down and bottom
up processes of
perception

In addition, among the five

senses mentioned in syllabus,
two more senses (Vestibular
and Proprioceptive) can be
added. These sense are
extremely important to
understand behavioural issues
in children with Autism, SPD
etc.
UNIT -4: Emotion and Extremely important topic to The chapter can include some
Motivation help students understand practical classes on students
emotions and motivational carrying out motivational
drives, and what influence speeches in order to help
these have on another understand how these drives
individual’s mind influence people. In future,
these will be extremely
important to deal with adult
populations like depression,
anxiety etc.
Skill component This area is extremely important to give basic knowledge on
how to develop specific professional skills. However, in the
syllabus the students seem to be interacting with each other in
the class, rather than nurturing their skill in outside world. This
area can be improvised as below:-
1. Develop a schedule for observing any behavior and,
conduct the observation. Imply this to 5 normals in
your own community
2. Develop a neat diagram of neuron, mention its parts.
Link them with daily life functioning. Understanding
the structure and functions of brain which are
responsible for behaviour and emotions. EG:
Amygdala, hypothalamus etc. Students can also be
taught in practical, how emotional downstairs
brain and rational upstairs brain functions.
3. Leaning about achievement motivation by collecting
the biodata of highly achieved individuals. This can
be improvised by making students perform
 motivational talks in front of the group in order to
help a fresher of first year nurture his social skills,
thereby making them better orators in future.

II SEMESTER
FOUNDATIONS OF BEHAVIOUR II
Course II - BASPYC 181
 Units Comments Suggestions
UNIT -1: Memory and Important lesson to understand Information Processing Model
Learning Information Processing in can be incoorperated while
humans teaching

Practical implications can be

UNIT -2: Higher cognitive
processes
UNIT -3: Personality
included. Eg:-
1. Using mnemonics to
aid students in
retaining information
2. Chunking of a large
information to
memorise better
The chapter provides good Additional concepts can be
understanding of how a person added to make students
thinks and uses his cognition understand important
in different areas of life. The cognitive processes like
chapter looks complete in 1. Cause effect
itself but a few points may be relationships
considered while teaching 2. Decision making:
students Cognitive and affective
3. Analogical reasoning
Looks complete in itself -Nil-

UNIT-4: Intelligence Looks good and needs no -Nil-

Skill component
change
As mentioned in previous section, this area should focus on
encouraging students to apply the learnt skills to an outside
environment, rather than own classmates. It is obvious that they
cannot be given case exposure at this point. However, they
should be encouraged to at least go out to normal population and
carry out IQ tests, enquire pleasant/unpleasant life experiences
of 5 neighbours/roomates, conduct telephonic/online interviews
with 3 strangers to carry out personality checks.

III SEMESTER
LIFE SPAN DEVELOPMENT - I
Course III - BASPYC231
 Units Comments Suggestions
UNIT -1: Introduction and Seems to be a detailed Unit to Consaguinity and other
Foundation to Life Span learn life span development factors causing complications
can be added
Development

UNIT -2: Pre-natal Good emphasis on pre-natal The heading says “Pre-natal
Development development development” though the
content talks of peri-natal
and post-natal areas also.
This seems to be ambiguous
and can be changed for
clarity. In addition, there are
various
complications/factors that
influence life span
development, post-natal.
Hope the Unit focusses on
the same in detail.

UNIT-3: Infancy, Babyhood Content looks good but the The following areas need
and Childhood heading can be more focus:-
professional. 1. Social development is
Can be relabelled as very important area in
“Early Childhood, Middle human development.
childhood Late Childhood Thus, this can be added.
etc.” similar to the headings 2. Play and its importance
provided for Adulthood in the
next section.
UNIT-4: Emotional The content seems to be Additional focus can be given
Development and disorders complete to the emotional well-being of
parents/care-takers of the
of childhood
children with problems. This
will really help students
understand the need for
counselling and providing
emotional support to
caregivers.
Skill Components The real aim of a Psychologist is to understand the emotional
well-being of a person and then help them cope-up with this
better, Thus, It will be a good time to allow students to do some
small independent projects like:
1. Interviewing parents on what emotional changes they
underwent after the birth of the child
 2. Interviewing mothers of twins on how they feel the twins
differ from each other or have similar characteristics
3. Assisting therapists/psychologists in different clinical
set-ups in taking case histories or gathering other
information from clients.

IV SEMESTER
LIFE SPAN DEVELOPMENT -II
Course IV BASPYC281

Units Comments Suggestions

UNIT -1: Puberty and The chapter stays incomplete It is very important to add
Adolescence without focus on Sexual Sexual Health Education to
Health and how a child this, including concepts like
transitions from childhood to maintaining hygiene of
puberty. private parts and becoming
independent overall
UNIT -2: Early Adulthood Informative and complete -Nil-
UNIT 3: Middle Adulthood Looks good -Needs no changes-
UNIT -4: Late Adulthood Complete in itself -Nil-
Skill component Rather than group discussions within the classmates, students
should be made to go to various centers to meet adolescents and
thus gather valuable information. Similarly, exposure can be
given with marriage counsellors, school counsellors etc. A visit
to old age home and performing a small information filing by
interviewing individuals belonging to late adulthood will help
understand theory better.

V SEMESTER
SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
Course V BASPYC331

Units Comments Suggestions

UNIT I: Introduction and Extremely important topic to The following can be
close Relationship understand importance of a focussed:
social psychologist in India 1. Uses of Social psychology
 2. Effect of this in
interpersonal relationships
3. Scope of Social
psychology
4. Concepts like “what it
takes to be a social
psychologist, how we
perceive ourselves in
relation to the world” etc.
UNIT II: Prosocial Behavior Looks complete Special emphasis should be
put on dealing with these
concepts in practical life,
rather than focusing only on
theories.
UNIT III: Attitude and Good content Complexities of prejudice can
Prejudice be added
UNIT IV: Aggression Chapter looks complete -Nil-
Skill Component Conducting surveys seems to be a good way of exposing
students to practical concepts of the subjects. Along with role
play and group discussions, clinical exposure should be
encouraged. Interactions with guest lecturers for such topics
seems to be good idea.

V SEMESTER
ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY
Course VI BASPYC332

Units Comments Suggestions

UNIT-I: Introduction A detailed understanding of Apart from psychology, this
each childhood disorder is should include understanding
extremely important in all the areas, namely speech
characteristics, occupational

UNIT –II Anxiety based and
Somatoform disorders
UNIT –III Schizophrenia
and Delusional Disorder
UNIT –IV Personality and
Mood Disorders
Skill Component
Units
UNIT -I : Introduction to
health psychology and health
behaviour
UNIT -II Health enhancing
and compromising
skills, sensory issues etc.
among various disorders
Good understanding of anxiety Detailed understanding of
disorders some early signs and red flags
to detect these problems early,
is required
- Such disorders are vast. Thus,
some assignments on reading
and summarizing various case
histories etc. would help
students learn the variety of
signs that can be shown by
individuals with Schizophrenia
and Delusional disorder
Looks good -Nil-
Most of the sections in skill component include
Assignment/video lectures/group discussion/student seminars,
these will surely improve personality of a student. But will not
enhance their knowledge in practical aspects of each topic. The
syllabus should really improvise on this area.
VI SEMESTER
HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY
Course VII BASPYC 381
Comments Suggestions
- -Nil-
Good Content Check for typing errors (Unit
II types as III)
behaviour
UNIT -III: Stress and life Focusses majorly on alcohol, Other stress related issues can
style diseases drugs etc. but misses out on be included like post-partum
various other stress factors stress etc.
which are important
UNIT-4 Coping strategies Content looks good Uniformity of text should be
checked. Like Roman
numerals being used in some
places followed by numerals.
Skill Component Case analysis being added is a good addition to learn the skill

VI SEMESTER
INDUSTRIAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
Course VIII BASPYC382

Units Comments Suggestions

UNIT-I: Introduction Most of the units look Areas like Job Satisfaction
UNIT-II: Leadership in complete and motivation can be
Organization elaborated more by reviewing
UNIT-III Motivation and some real-life case histories.
Also, some motivational
Job Satisfaction
UNIT-IV Consumer talkers can be invited to the
Psychology classrooms for children to
learn the skill of motivational
speech. This would really help
them inspire people in their
profession, in future.
Skill component Leadership training workshops and job satisfaction survery
remain the main source of skill development. More of such
practical assignments can be planned

Dr Ramandeep Kaur,
Director,
Speranza Inspiring Communication,
Mangalore