Introductory Psychology for Healthcare Professionals - PTHER 353

The Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine offers an undergraduate psychology course PTHER 353 Introductory Psychology for Healthcare Professionals, which introduces fundamental psychology concepts, theories, and research, emphasizing their relevance to healthcare and clinical practice.

Topics include sensation, perception, memory, stress and coping, social psychology in healthcare contexts, and psychological disorders. Designed for future healthcare professionals, the course highlights the practical application of psychological principles to improve therapeutic communication, support treatment adherence, understand responses to illness, and promote self-care and well-being among future healthcare providers.

Prerequisites: none

PTHER 353(*3) will be offered in the Fall 2026 and Winter 2027 terms.

This undergraduate psychology course qualifies as a pre-requisite for the MSc PT program.

Permission from the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine is not required to take PTHER 353. This course is open to all students registered at the University of Alberta. Students from outside the University of Alberta must apply to be registered as an open studies student to take the course.

Before Registering

Please be aware that there are a limited number of seats in this class. The Department cannot make exceptions for students looking to join a class that is already full.

This course is NOT the equivalent of PSYC 104/105 Introductory Psychology offered by the Department of Psychology, and will NOT necessarily be considered an approved pre-requisite for upper level psychology courses. Contact the Psychology Department if you have questions about Psychology prerequisites.

Learning anatomy requires time, discipline and consistency.

We ask that you reflect on whether the online format and study requirements are suited to your learning style or current life circumstances before registering for the course. Keep in mind the following:

  • The volume of work in PTHER 353 is high. We recommend students be able to dedicate a minimum of 8-10 hours per week to keep up with the volume.
  • The online course format requires a high degree of self-direction and discipline to complete the work without the structure and interaction of an in-person class.
  • We recommend you be able to set aside specific times each week to complete the work. Believing you can add this to or juggle around your other commitments is not advised. The course requires adequate time to study when you are not tired or distracted by other commitments.

Accessing PTHER 353

Once you've registered, here are the instructions for accessing PTHER 353:

  1. Go to the University of Alberta website and click on the Canvas icon found in the upper right hand corner.
  2. When it opens it will ask for your CCID and password.
  3. Once the information is put in you should see a link that says PTHER 353.
  4. Click on this link and you will be directed to Canvas files.

Course Format

PTHER 353 - Introductory Psychology for Healthcare Professionals is delivered online using Canvas, The University of Alberta's online learning platform. All content is delivered asynchronously meaning there is no requirement to be online at a specific class date and time. Students can complete the learning activities in a place and time of their choosing. Content is accessible twenty four (24) hours-a-day from any location with an internet connection.

Each week includes online lectures, a chapter reading, and practice quizzes. Students must complete each learning activity to progress in the course. Students are fully responsible for completing the learning activities.

Course Evaluation

The course evaluation consists of quizzes, assignments, a mid-term and final exam. All evaluations are completed online. The dates, times, locations and proctor instructions of quizzes and exams are outlined in the course outline or on the course Canvas page.

Exam Locations and Proctors

Final exams will occur during the formal exam weeks scheduled by the University of Alberta at the end of each academic term and are not generally included in statements regarding course dates and timelines.

Although this is an online course, students must be available to write the exam at the scheduled time. Students should not expect to write the exam at their own convenience.

In accordance with University Policy, requests to accommodate exam times for personal reasons such as work, weddings, vacations or travel are not acceptable; however, slight time accommodations due to time zone changes may be permitted at the discretion of the instructor. Please read the Academic Regulations for Examinations for more information on the University of Alberta's policy.

Required Textbook

None. Module readings will be posted on Canvas.