INTRODUCTION
GCU has the unique distinction of starting MA classes in Psychology in 1926, making it the second institute after the University of Clacutta, to launch a Postgraduate Programme at that time. The MA Psychology Programme was launched jointly with the Department of Psychology of Forman Christian College (FCC) Lahore.
For a long period of time, the discipline of Psychology remained a part of Philosophy and classes were held jointly till 1961. In 1962, the Department of Psychology was established as an independent Department under the Chairmanship of Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ajmal, a renowned Psychologist, teacher, scholar and mentor.

Mission Statment
The mission statement of the department is to produce knowledgeable, self aware, thoughtful, responsible and well adjusted individuals who are responsive to the needs of rapidly changing social world. To achieve these objectives, the Department of Psychology GCU endeavors to enhance the understanding of students about social, environmental and cultural factors relevant to mental health and also enable them apply this knowledge in their own lives for better adjustment and learning.
Facilities
Departmental Publications
a. Research journal
The Department of Psychology is publishing an HEC recognized research journal namely “Pakistan Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology” (PJSCP) which provides a forum for dissemination of findings related to social and clinical areas of psychology. In addition to other fields, the journal aims to enhance the understanding of social, environmental and cultural factors in the etiology and outcomes of mental health problems as they affect individuals and society. This is biannual publication which is also indexed in the American Psychological Association’s database PsycINFO.
b. GCU PsycABSTRACT
GCU PsycABSTRACT is another publication of Department of Psychology. Its purpose is to provide abstracts of research theses undertaken and completed at the department, articles by faculty and students published in professional journals, articles presented in conferences/ seminars and brief reviews of books authored/ edited by faculty at the department.
c. Newsletter
The Department of Psychology is also publishing PsyNews on biannual basis.
Seminars/Workshops/Conferences
The department offers its students ample opportunities to interact with the international scientific community. The students and faculty members are encouraged to participate and attend the seminars/workshops and listen to the guest speakers (national and international) for meaningful exposure. The department organizes national and international conference every year.
Academic/ Professional Links
The PhD and MPhil faculty of the department has international exposures, diverse specializations and research interests. The department has links with numerous hospitals and organizations for academic and research purposes. Apart from that, two international links with University of Birmingham and University of Warwick had been established for capacity building and research development along with many research links with University of Vienna, University of Connecticut and University of ULM Germany.
Future Prospects
Students who graduate with BSc (Hons) in Psychology have a number of job options. Their consumption in different fields is very quick. They can work at hospital as clinical psychologists and educational institutes as teachers. They are also hired by the Armed Forces of Pakistan, the Federal and the Punjab Public Service Commissions. Psychologists are also in demand at human rights’ organizations and NGOs.
The Clinical Psychology Unit
The Clinical Psychology Unit, GC University Lahore was set up in 2005 in order to develop a comprehensive training program for professional Clinical Psychologists in Pakistan and expand the role of Clinical Psychology to deal with a wide range of problems of the individual as well as the community at large. More information can be by
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At present, the Department offers:
- BSc (Hons.)
- MSc (Evening Programme)
- MS in Industrial/ Organizational Psychology
- Clinical Psychology Unit
- MPhil
- PhD
MS in Industrial/ Organizational Psychology
The Department of Psychology is now introducing MS in Industrial/Organizational psychology for the first time in Pakistan. Pakistan has seen considerable growth in a wide range of industry and financial institutions. At the moment there are over a hundred multinational companies invested in Pakistan and even more are entering every year despite the security environment and energy crisis.
Psychologists are needed wherever there is the human factor. There is a great need for psychologists in the industry, to help in product design, effective marketing, ensuring productivity, enhancing motivation, providing counseling and support, and conflict resolution. The program in I/O Psychology will be a two year professional training program with an emphasis on hands on experience. A strength of the program would be the involvement of industry.
Business leaders, managers and employees from all tiers of management will be involved in the delivery of this course, making it truly an interactive and market driven program. The program will have 36 credits over the two years with 6 credits each given to research dissertation and internship. Assessment would vary from course to course but in general a continuous assessment paradigm will be followed.
- Minimum 16 years of education in Psychology or Business Management from a HEC Recognized Institute.
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- Experimental Research
- Qualitative Research
- Emotion Recognition
- Positive Psychology
- Emotional Intelligence
- Child Psychopathalogy
Following courses have been constituted in the department
-
-
B.Sc (Hons.) Psychology
-
Psychology as an Allied Subject
-
M.Sc (Evening Programme)
-
MS in Industrial/ Organizational Psychology
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M.Phil Psychology
- PhD Psychology
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Year – 1 |
||
Semester – I |
||
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
PSY – 1101 | Introduction to Psychology (F) |
3 |
Semester – II |
||
PSY – 1201 | Theories of Personality (F) |
3 |
Year – 2 |
||
Semester – III |
||
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
PSY – 2102 | Principles of Learning (F) |
3 |
Semester – IV |
||
PSY – 2203 | Sensation and Perception: Introduction (F) |
3 |
PSY – 3101 | Neuroscience & Behavior (F) |
3 |
Year – 3 | ||
Semester – V | ||
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
PSY-2201 | Cognitive Psychology (M) |
3 |
PSY-2202 | Social Psychology (F) |
3 |
PSY-3102 | Statistics in Psychology (M) |
3 |
PSY-3102P | Statistics in Psychology (SPSS) (M) |
1 |
PSY-3103 | Research Methods (F) |
3 |
PSY-3105 | Psychological Assessment (M) |
3 |
PSY-3105P | Psychological Assessment (M) |
1 |
Semester – VI | ||
PSY-3104 | Abnormal Psychology (M) |
3 |
PSY-3104P | Abnormal Psychology (M) |
1 |
PSY-4202 | Positive Psychology (M) |
3 |
PSY-3203 | Developmental Psychology (M) |
3 |
PSY-3203P | Developmental Psychology (M) |
1 |
PSY-4106 | Organizational Behavior (M) |
3 |
PSY-4201 | Neuroscience & Psychopathology (M) |
3 |
Year – 4 |
||
Semester – VII |
||
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
PSY – 3204 |
Clinical Psychology (M) |
3 |
PSY – 4109 |
Culture and Gender Studies |
3 |
Elective-I |
3 |
|
Elective-II |
3 |
|
PSY – 4299 | Research Project (M) |
3 |
Semester – VIII |
||
PSY – 4206 | Educational Psychology in Practice (M) |
3 |
PSY – 4103 | Counseling Psychology (M) |
3 |
Elective-III |
3 |
|
Elective-IV |
3 |
|
PSY – 4299 | Research Project (M) |
3 |
-
4 Credit Hours must include Lab Work/Practical
-
Total No. of Credit Hours (For Major) = 79
-
Total No. of Courses (For Major) = 24
-
In Year I & II the courses will only be of 3 Credit Hours but it can be divided as 2+1 if the course requires Lab Work/Practical
Elective Courses | ||
Semester – VII | ||
Module A for Elective-I & II | ||
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
PSY-4105 | Forensic Psychology |
3 |
PSY-4104 | Psycholinguistics |
3 |
PSY-4107 | Health Psychology |
3 |
PSY-4108 | Qualitative Research |
3 |
PSY-4110 | Sports Psychology |
3 |
PSY-4207 | Human Resource Management |
3 |
Semester – VIII | ||
Module B for Elective- III & IV | ||
PSY-3201 | Experimental Design and Data Analysis |
3 |
PSY-4203 | Music Psychology |
3 |
PSY-4204 | Indigenous Perspective in Psychology |
3 |
PSY-4205 | Innovation & Entrepreneurship in Psychology |
3 |
PSY-4208 | School Psychology |
3 |
-
-
In each of the Semester VII & VIII, two elective courses will have to be opted.
- Students will have to choose 4 total courses (two in Semester VII & two in Semester VIII) out of the 11 given above such that two courses are selected from each Module.
-
Year – 1 |
||
Semester – I |
||
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
PSY – 1101 | Introduction to Psychology (F) |
3 |
Semester – II |
||
PSY – 1201 | Theories of Personality (F) |
3 |
Year – 2 |
||
Semester – III |
||
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
PSY – 2102 | Principles of Learning (F) |
3 |
Semester – IV |
||
PSY – 2203 | Sensation and Perception: Introduction (F) |
3 |
PSY – 3101 | Neuroscience & Behavior (F) |
3 |
Year – 3 | ||
Semester – V | ||
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
PSY-2201 | Cognitive Psychology (M) |
3 |
PSY-2202 | Social Psychology (F) |
3 |
PSY-3102 | Statistics in Psychology (M) |
3 |
PSY-3102P | Statistics in Psychology (SPSS) (M) |
1 |
PSY-3103 | Research Methods (F) |
3 |
PSY-3105 | Psychological Assessment (M) |
3 |
PSY-3105P | Psychological Assessment (M) |
1 |
Semester – VI | ||
PSY-3104 | Abnormal Psychology (M) |
3 |
PSY-3104P | Abnormal Psychology (M) |
1 |
PSY-4202 | Positive Psychology (M) |
3 |
PSY-3203 | Developmental Psychology (M) |
3 |
PSY-3203P | Developmental Psychology (M) |
1 |
PSY-4106 | Organizational Behavior (M) |
3 |
PSY-4201 | Neuroscience & Psychopathology (M) |
3 |
Year – 4 |
||
Semester – VII |
||
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
PSY – 3204 |
Clinical Psychology (M) |
3 |
PSY – 4109 |
Culture and Gender Studies |
3 |
Elective-I |
3 |
|
Elective-II |
3 |
|
PSY – 4299 | Research Project (M) |
3 |
Semester – VIII |
||
PSY – 4206 | Educational Psychology in Practice (M) |
3 |
PSY – 4103 | Counseling Psychology (M) |
3 |
Elective-III |
3 |
|
Elective-IV |
3 |
|
PSY – 4299 | Research Project (M) |
3 |
-
4 Credit Hours must include Lab Work/Practical
-
Total No. of Credit Hours (For Major) = 79
-
Total No. of Courses (For Major) = 24
-
In Year I & II the courses will only be of 3 Credit Hours but it can be divided as 2+1 if the course requires Lab Work/Practical
Elective Courses | ||
Semester – VII | ||
Module A for Elective-I & II | ||
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
PSY-4105 | Forensic Psychology |
3 |
PSY-4104 | Psycholinguistics |
3 |
PSY-4107 | Health Psychology |
3 |
PSY-4108 | Qualitative Research |
3 |
PSY-4110 | Sports Psychology |
3 |
PSY-4207 | Human Resource Management |
3 |
Semester – VIII | ||
Module B for Elective- III & IV | ||
PSY-3201 | Experimental Design and Data Analysis |
3 |
PSY-4203 | Music Psychology |
3 |
PSY-4204 | Indigenous Perspective in Psychology |
3 |
PSY-4205 | Innovation & Entrepreneurship in Psychology |
3 |
PSY-4208 | School Psychology |
3 |
-
-
In each of the Semester VII & VIII, two elective courses will have to be opted.
- Students will have to choose 4 total courses (two in Semester VII & two in Semester VIII) out of the 11 given above such that two courses are selected from each Module.
-
In each of the Semester VII & VIII, two elective courses will have to be opted. Student will have to choose 4 total courses (two in Semester VII & two in Semester VIII) out of the 11 given above such that two courses are selected from each Module MSc in Psychology program is designed to cater students who have done BA/BSc (two-year degree). The program intends to provide a thorough study of all major offshoots of Psychology with a special emphasis on developing research skills in students. In year II the students will be required to produce an original research dissertation in any area of psychology. The overall objective of the Program is a rich exposure to all areas and topics in Psychology so as to increase their chances of recruitment in diverse professional settings. |
||
Year – 1 |
||
Semester – I |
||
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
PSY-301 | Positive Psychology | 3 |
PSY-302 | Theories of Personality | 3 |
PSY-303 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
PSY-303P | Abnormal Psychology Lab | 1 |
PSY-304 | Cognitive Psychology | 3 |
PSY-305 | Social Psychology | 3 |
PSY-305P | Experimentation in Social Psychology | 1 |
Semester – II |
||
PSY-351 | Quantitative Research Methods | 3 |
PSY-352 | Statistics In Psychology | 3 |
PSY-353 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
PSY-353P | Developmental Psychology | 1 |
PSY-354 | Neuropsychology | 3 |
PSY-355 | Health Psychology | 3 |
Year – II |
||
Semester – III |
||
PSY-401 | Qualitative Research Methods | 3 |
PSY-402 | Statistical Analysis on Computer | 3 |
PSY-403 | Psychological Testing | 3 |
PSY-403 | Psychological Testing | 1 |
PSY-404 | Psychology of Gender, Culture and Religion | 3 |
PSY-405 | Clinical Psychology | 3 |
PSY-499 | *Thesis | 3 |
* Students will start the thesis in Semester III and it will be continued through Semester IV |
Year-1 |
||
Semester I |
||
Course Code. |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
IOPSY-7101 | Introduction to Industrial/Organizational Behavior |
3 |
IOPSY-7102 | Organizational Culture & Development |
3 |
IOPSY-7103 | Consumer Behavior & Marketing |
3 |
IOPSY-7104 | Psychological Assessment in Organizations |
3 |
Semester II |
||
IOPSY-7202 | Leadership |
3 |
IOPSY-7203 | Human Resource Management |
3 |
IOPSY-7204 | Research Method and Data Analysis | 3 |
IOPSY-7205 | Statistics and Data Analysis | 3 |
Year-2 | ||
Semester III & IV |
||
IOPSY-7301 | Organizational Conflicts and Management | 3 |
IOPSY-7302 | Seminars in I/O Psyhcology | Non Credit |
IOPSY-7498 | Internship | 3 |
IOPSY-7499 | Research Dissertation | 6 |
40% Marks will be dedicated to the P work in each course. Internship is base on hand-on experience in industry supervision. it is non credited but internship report will be evaluated for three credits. The external supervisors feed back will be essential component for evalution. |
Dr. Muhammad Mussaffa Butt
Course Coordinator
Assistant Professor
Email: mussaffa@gcu.edu.pk
Year – 1 | ||
Semester – I |
||
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
PSY – 7101 | Research Methods |
3 |
PSY – 7102 | Seminar -I (Seminar in Qualitative Research) |
3 |
PSY – 7108 | Perspectives in Psychology |
3 |
Optional Courses: The students will Select one from the following four options |
||
PSY – 7104 | Industrial/Organizational Psychology I:
Organizational Behavior |
3 |
PSY – 7105 | Educational Psychology I |
3 |
PSY – 7106 | Clinical Psychology I: Psychology and Assessment |
3 |
PSY – 7107 | Counseling Psychology I |
3 |
PSY – 7109 | Forensic Psychology |
3 |
PSY – 7110 | Social Psychology |
3 |
Semester – II |
||
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
PSY – 7201 | Psychological Assessment |
3 |
PSY – 7203P | Seminar -II (Statistical Analysis on Computer) |
3 |
PSY – 7208 | Statistics in Psychology |
3 |
Optional Courses: The students will study paper II of the area selected in Semester I |
||
PSY – 7204 | Industrial/Organizational Psychology II: Human Resource Management |
3 |
PSY – 7205 | Educational Psychology II |
3 |
PSY – 7206 | Clinical Psychology II: Therapeutic Interventions |
3 |
PSY – 7207 | Counseling Psychology II |
3 |
Year – 2 | ||
Semester III & IV | ||
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
PSY – 7499 | Thesis |
12 |
* Optional Courses (Subject to the availability of the faculty)
Semester – I |
||
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
PSY – 8101 | Research Foundation Course |
3 |
PSY – 8102 | Seminar on Core Areas of Psychology |
3 |
PSY – 8103 | Seminar on Research Methods |
3 |
Semester – II |
||
PSY – 8201 | Teaching in Psychology |
3 |
PSY – 8202 | Research Instrument Development |
3 |
PSY – 8203 | Advanced Statistics on Computer |
3 |
PSY – 8204 | Qualitative Research |
3 |
PSY – 8205 | Psychological Testing |
3 |
Faculty

Dr. Syeda Salma Hasan,
M.Sc., PhD (PU)
Designation:
Chairperson

Dr. Syeda Shahida Batool,
M.Sc., PhD (PU) Post Doctorate, University of Sussex (UK)
Designation:
Professor

Dr. Iffat Batool,
M.Phil, PhD (QAU)
Post Doctorate, University of Wisconsin(U.S.A)
Designation:
Associate Professor

Dr. Amina Hanif Tarar,
M.Phil (PU), PhD (GCUL)
Designation:
Assistant Professor

Dr. Muhammad Mussaffa Butt
PhD (GCUL), M.Phil (GCUL), LLB(BZU)
Designation:
Assistant Professor

Dr. Nasreen Akhtar,
MPhil, PhD (GCUL)
Designation:
Assistant Professor

Samra Tanveer,
MPhil (PU))
Designation:
Lecturer