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2025-2026 / PSYC5866-1

Theoretical and methodological foundations of the psychological sciences

Duration

30h Th

Number of credits

 Bachelor in ancient and modern languages and literatures5 crédits 
 Bachelor in ancient languages and literatures : classics5 crédits 
 Bachelor in information and communication5 crédits 
 Bachelor in modern languages and literatures : German, Dutch and English5 crédits 
 Bachelor in history of art and archaeology : general5 crédits 
 Bachelor in history5 crédits 
 Bachelor in modern languages and literatures : general5 crédits 
 Bachelor in history of art and archaeology : musicology5 crédits 
 Bachelor in ancient languages and literatures : Oriental studies (Registrations are closed)5 crédits 
 Bachelor in philosophy5 crédits 
 Bachelor in French and Romance languages and literatures : general5 crédits 
 Bachelor in psychology and education : speech and language therapy3 crédits 
 Bachelor in psychology and education : general3 crédits 

Lecturer

André Ferrara

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

Objects and methods of psychology; brief historical overview; psychological questions presented through several major psychological perspectives: biological, behavioral, cognitive, systemic and humanistic. General overview of psychology.

Topics covered:

  • Psychology : definition and research methods.
  • Psychology : major theoretical approaches. 
  • Nervous system.
  • Sensation and perception.
  • Consciousness states.
  • Learning.
  • Memory.
  • Intelligence and thinking.
  • Motivation
  • Stress.
  • Psychological disorders.
  • Psychotherapy.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

Students will be expected to:

  • acquire basic concepts and major theories in psychology, including biological, behavioral, cognitive, humanistic, and systemic approaches;
  • become familiar with the main types of research in psychology, notably descriptive, correlational, and experimental studies;
  • understand the various psychological disciplines through different themes and grasp the methods and approaches characteristic of different types of psychologists;
  • develop critical thinking skills by appreciating the complexity of psychological questions and the need to address them from multiple perspectives;
  • understand why key concepts such as personality, learning, memory, motivation, and psychological disorders are studied from various theoretical approaches.


 
 
 

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Ex cathedra.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face.

Course materials and recommended or required readings

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus


Further information:

Required manual: Huffman, Dowdell & Sanderson (2024). Introduction à la psychologie. De Boeck. 
 
PDF files. Content and illustrations complementary to the textbook will be provided through PDF files associated to face-to-face sessions.

Both the required manual and the PDF files of the oral course are part of the matter to be studied.

 
 
 

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire )


Further information:

A multiple-choice practice test will be available once Chapter 4 (States of Consciousness) has been covered.

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

In general, all communications will go through eCampus. You will also find the PDF files associated with the face-to-face sessions.

Contacts

Ferrara André (04/366.22.32 - a.ferrara@uliege.be)

Association of one or more MOOCs