2020-2021 Catalog 
    
    Mar 29, 2024  
2020-2021 Catalog [PREVIOUS CATALOG YEAR]

PSY 101 - Introductory Psychology

PSY 1101.
Description: Introduction to psychology through such topics as the scientific method in psychology, survey of different fields in psychology, heredity and environment, intelligence, emotions, motivation, nervous system, and learning processes.

Prerequisites: Reading Proficiency.

Credits: 3
Lecture: 3
Course Content:
  1. Psychology--definition and history of the discipline
  2. Psychology as a science--methods and techniques of psychology
  3. Learning, memory, and intelligence
  4. Developmental psychology
  5. Physiological psychology
  6. Motivation and emotion
  7. Personality development and assessment
  8. Abnormal psychology--including therapeutic techniques
  9. Social psychology

Learning Outcomes:
  1. Compare and contrast various theoretical approaches which have suggested explanations of human and animal behavior.
  2. Examine, compare and critically analyze both historical and current trends in psychological theory and research.
  3. Identify scientific methodology including observation, correlation, and experimentation. Emphasis will be placed on understanding how these methods can be used to test hypotheses concerning behavior, thought, and feelings.
  4. Analyze and critically evaluate research methods and conclusions. An awareness of both the value and limitations of various methods is necessary to achieve this goal.
  5. Develop and test hypotheses using appropriate scientific methodology.
  6. Examine and critically analyze various psychological perspectives relating to development, interpersonal relations, motivation, personality, and adjustment.
  7. Describe and explain multiple causation, with an emphasis on environmental, biological, cognitive, developmental, and social/cultural determinants.
  8. Analyze, compare, and evaluate various models for mental disorder and approaches to treatment.
  9. Describe how psychological concepts relate to self awareness and everyday experience.

Required Assessment:
  1. Demonstrate thoughtful and precise writing skills by completing at least 1500 words of monitored writing.