Fall 2026 – Foundations of Psychology: Theory, Practice, and Worldviews

Course Information

This is a 3-credit course that carries the academic commitment, workload, and tuition associated with university-level study. Please review the course details and tuition information carefully before registering. If completed with a passing grade, the credits may be eligible towards a future degree or certificate program.

Course Description

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the fundamental principles of modern psychology while uniquely situating these concepts within an Islamic framework. Students explore the human experience by bridging the gap between contemporary clinical science and spiritual tradition.

The curriculum begins with an investigation into the scientific method to understand how researchers construct and validate psychological theories. Students examine the biological foundations of behavior, analyzing how the brain influences memory, sensation, and emotion. Students also consider the major psychological schools of thought, including psychoanalytic, behavioral, humanistic, and cognitive theories.

A central feature of the course is its integrative approach. As students study traditional subfields such as life span development, personality, and social psychology, they concurrently engage with Islamic concepts of the self (nafs), consciousness, and moral intelligence. This dual lens allows for a deeper exploration of how faith and science dialogue to explain human behavior.

This course offers a holistic understanding of the mind, behavior, and the spiritual dimensions of the human persona.

Course Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Understand how the scientific method informs psychological theories.
•  Demonstrate an understanding of the various subfields of psychology, including cognitive psychology, life span development, personality psychology, social psychology, and therapy and how and when they intersect with Islamic concepts.
• Analyze the major psychological theories, including psychoanalytic, behavioral, humanistic, and cognitive theories, remembering the contributions of notable theorists.
• Distinguish the brain’s influence on both everyday cognitive processes like learning, memory, sensation and perception, thinking, motivation, and emotion, and the biological influences of psychological disorders.
• Classify basic categories of psychological disorders, while demonstrating a general understanding of the differences between them .
• Evaluate the effectiveness of various therapeutic interventions.

Course Prerequisites

Course Materials

Students are responsible for purchasing all required textbooks before the start of class.
Ribāṭ textbooks are available at the Rabata Bookshop

Registration Information

Questions?
Contact registration@rabata.org

Attendance Policy

Students are expected to attend all scheduled class sessions and participate actively in their learning. Consistent attendance supports academic success and helps maintain a collaborative classroom environment. If an absence is unavoidable, students are responsible for communicating with their instructor, reviewing missed material, and completing any assigned work.

Technology Requirements

To ensure a successful online learning experience, all students must have regular access to a personal computer and reliable high-speed internet. Courses at Ribāṭ University are delivered through Canvas and may include video lectures, interactive discussions, digital readings, and multimedia assignments.
Students are responsible for maintaining the technology needed to participate fully.

Minimum Technical Requirements

Technology Skills

Additional Notes and Technical Support

• Students are expected to check course announcements and email regularly.
• Technical support is available for login issues, course access, and basic troubleshooting.