A science-driven psychology degree integrating human behaviour, cognition, emotion, research, neuroscience, ethics, and applied professional learning.
Program Overview
The Bachelor of Science in Psychology (BScPSY) provides students with a strong scientific understanding of human behaviour, cognition, and emotion through empirical research and theoretical analysis. The program emphasizes critical thinking, data interpretation, research methodology, and evidence-based inquiry, while fostering ethical awareness, effective communication, and interpersonal competence. This four-year undergraduate degree comprises 129 credit hours and combines theoretical knowledge, research training, and experiential learning to prepare students for advanced study and diverse professional pathways.
Graduates are prepared for opportunities in healthcare organizations, educational settings, community programs, research environments, and corporate sectors. The program also provides a strong foundation for postgraduate studies in areas such as clinical, counselling, neuroscience, cognitive, educational, organizational, and related fields of psychology.
Benefits
Scientific Foundation in Psychology: Students develop a strong understanding of major psychological principles and theories related to human behaviour, cognition, emotion, personality, development, perception, and abnormal psychology.
Brain, Behaviour, and Neuroscience Focus: Courses in biopsychology, neuropsychology, neuroimaging and brain mapping, drugs and behaviour, and computational psychology in neuroscience connect psychological science with biological and technological perspectives.
Research and Data Skills: The curriculum builds competence in statistics, research design, psychological measurement and testing, psychometrics, experimental psychology, and cognitive and behavioural neuroscience research.
Evidence-Based and Applied Learning: Students learn to interpret research critically and apply psychological knowledge to real-world personal, social, educational, health, and organizational challenges.
Clinical and Counselling Foundations: Academic coursework in clinical psychology, psychotherapy, counselling and interventions, health psychology, and behaviour modification provides foundational knowledge for advanced graduate study and professional specialization.
Technology and AI Integration: Students engage with modern technological tools, including AI, and study computational psychology and psychoinformatics through the program curriculum and elective options.
Internship and Workplace Exposure: A 3-credit internship provides structured exposure to professional environments such as research, education, human resources, community and social services, administration, and organizational psychology settings.
Research Capstone: The 6-credit Graduation Project enables students to apply research methods, scientific reasoning, analysis, and communication skills in an extended capstone experience across the final year.
Ethics, Cultural Sensitivity, Leadership, and Entrepreneurship: The program develops ethical judgment, data privacy awareness, cultural sensitivity, teamwork, leadership, adaptability, innovation, and entrepreneurial competencies for professional and societal contexts.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Psychology may pursue entry-level and support roles across neuroscience, cognitive science, research, education, community, healthcare-related, organizational, and corporate settings. Examples include:
- Behavioural Support Specialist
- Psychology or Behavioural Research Assistant
- Program Coordinator
- Community and Social Services Program Assistant
- Educational or Student Support Roles
- Organizational Psychology Support Roles
The degree also provides a strong academic foundation for postgraduate study in clinical, counselling, neuroscience, behavioural and related psychology fields.
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR) of the UAE awarded the program accreditation on June 19, 2026.
The Bachelor of Science in Psychology program prepares graduates to:
Goal 1: Build a strong scientific understanding of psychological theories and research, enabling critical analysis of human behaviour, cognition, and emotion in diverse contexts.
Goal 2: Develop skills in designing, conducting, and interpreting research using quantitative and qualitative methods ethically and accurately.
Goal 3: Apply psychological knowledge alongside interdisciplinary perspectives to solve individual, social, and cultural challenges in health, education, and communities.
Goal 4: Equip students with critical thinking, communication, ethical judgment, and cultural awareness for advanced study or professional practice in psychology.
Upon successful completion of the BScPSY program, graduates will be able to:
PLO 1: Demonstrate understanding of advanced psychological principles, major theories, historical development, and contemporary issues in psychology related to human behaviour, cognition, and emotion.
PLO 2: Apply advanced research methods, statistical analysis, and technological tools, including AI, to design, conduct, and interpret ethical empirical research.
PLO 3: Critically analyze quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research for effective application in psychology and evidence-based problem-solving.
PLO 4: Integrate psychological knowledge with innovative, entrepreneurial, and sustainable approaches to address personal, professional, and societal challenges.
PLO 5: Communicate psychological ideas and research findings effectively in oral, written, and digital formats for diverse audiences.
PLO 6: Apply ethical standards, data privacy, social responsibility, and cultural sensitivity in research and professional practice.
PLO 7: Develop lifelong learning, leadership, effective teamwork, adaptability, and entrepreneurial competencies to advance professional and societal goals.
The Bachelor of Science in Psychology is offered at the CUD campus in a full-time, regular study mode. The program is completed in eight semesters (four academic years), with a maximum completion period of eight academic years.
The Bachelor of Science in Psychology shall be awarded upon fulfilment of the following requirements:
- Successful completion of 129 credit hours.
- Achievement of a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Completion of at least 50% of the total program credit hours at CUD.
- Completion of the Internship and Graduation Project while actively enrolled at CUD.
Program Structure
The structure of the Bachelor of Science in Psychology program is as follows:
| Requirements | Compulsory Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Core Courses | 117 Cr. Hrs. |
| Electives | 3 Cr. Hrs. |
| Practical Experience and Projects | 9 Cr. Hrs. |
| Total | 129 Cr. Hrs. |
| Course | Course Title | Pre/Co-requisite | Cr. Hrs. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Courses - 24 Cr. Hrs. | |||
| PSY 101 | Psychology I | None | 3 |
| PSY 102 | Psychology II | PSY 101 | 3 |
| BIO 101 | Biology I | None | 3 |
| BIO 202 | Biology II | BIO 101 | 3 |
| SHS 103 | Chemistry | None | 3 |
| SCI 210 | Modern Physics | None | 3 |
| PSY 250 | Biopsychology | PSY 102 | 3 |
| SHS 303 | Principles of Medical Biochemistry | SHS 103 | 3 |
| Psychology and Social Science - 57 Cr. Hrs. | |||
| PSY 120 | Behavioural and Environmental Psychology | PSY 102 (Co-requisite) | 3 |
| PSY 212 | Introduction to Cognitive Psychology | PSY 102 | 3 |
| PSY 222 | Perception | PSY 212 | 3 |
| PSY 223 | Developmental Psychology | PSY 212 | 3 |
| PSY 224 | Abnormal Psychology | PSY 102 | 3 |
| PSY 230 | Personality | PSY 102 | 3 |
| PSY 310 | Neuropsychology | PSY 212, PSY 250 | 3 |
| PSY 312 | Clinical Psychology | PSY 212 | 3 |
| PSY 314 | Principles of Neuroimaging and Brain Mapping | PSY 250 | 3 |
| PSY 316 | Clinical Practice and Hospital Safety | Co-req PSY 312 | 3 |
| PSY 322 | Psychotherapy | PSY 224, PSY 312 | 3 |
| PSY 323 | Psychology of Exceptional Children, Youth and Adults | PSY 223, PSY 224 | 3 |
| PSY 324 | Psychological Counselling and Interventions | PSY 312 | 3 |
| PSY 410 | Drugs and Behaviour | PSY 310, PSY 312 | 3 |
| PSY 412 | Experimental Psychology | PSY 221 | 3 |
| PSY 413 | Health Psychology | PSY 224, PSY 250 | 3 |
| PSY 416 | Computational Psychology in Neuroscience | PSY 314 | 3 |
| PSY 420 | Applications of Human Behaviour Modification | PSY 230 | 3 |
| PSY 422 | Psychometrics | Completion of 78 Cr. Hrs. | 3 |
| Research Method - 12 Cr. Hrs. | |||
| MTH 105 | Introduction to Statistics | None | 3 |
| PSY 211 | Research Methods: Design and Statistics | MTH 105 | 3 |
| PSY 221 | Psychological Measurement and Testing | PSY 211 | 3 |
| PSY 421 | Cognitive and Behavioural Neuroscience Research | PSY 211, PSY 212 | 3 |
| Professional Studies and General Education - 24 Cr. Hrs. | |||
| LNG 171 | English I | None | 3 |
| LNG 172 | English II | LNG 171 | 3 |
| GED 102 | AI in Modern Life | None | 3 |
| GED 190 | Emirati Studies | None | 3 |
| GED 255 | Critical Thinking and Problem Solving | LNG 172 | 3 |
| ENT 141 | Fundamentals of Innovation and Entrepreneurship 1 | None | 2 |
| ENT 142 | Fundamentals of Innovation and Entrepreneurship 2 | ENT 141 | 1 |
| ENT 241 | Entrepreneurship 1 | ENT 142 | 2 |
| ENT 242 | Entrepreneurship 2 | ENT 241 | 1 |
| Humanities Elective Courses - select one course (3 Cr. Hrs.) | |||
| GED 103 | Head Anatomy Sculpture | None | 3 |
| GED 106 | Smart Decisions: Data Literacy and Visualization | None | 3 |
| GED 110 | Modern Art Appreciation | None | 3 |
| GED 111 | Music Appreciation and Communication | None | 3 |
| GED 191 | Islamic Studies | None | 3 |
| GED 196 | Communication Skills in Arabic | None | 3 |
| GED 205 | Psychology in Everyday Life | LNG 172 | 3 |
| GED 324 | Ethical Reasoning for Today’s World | LNG 172 | 3 |
| GED 330 | Introduction to Canadian Studies | None | 3 |
| Course | Course Title | Pre/Co-requisite | Cr. Hrs. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elective Courses - select one course (3 Cr. Hrs.) | |||
| PSY 401 | Infant Clinical Psychology | PSY 312 | 3 |
| PSY 402 | Sports and Motivational Psychology | PSY 413 | 3 |
| PSY 403 | Psychoinformatics | PSY 416 | 3 |
| Course | Course Title | Pre/Co-requisite | Cr. Hrs. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Practical Experience and Project - 9 Cr. Hrs. | |||
| PSY 400 | Internship | Completion of 81 Cr. Hrs. | 3 |
| PSY 450 | Graduation Project | Completion of 81 Cr. Hrs. and PSY 211 | 6 |