PSY 101: Psychology

Course Description

This course will focus on an introduction to psychology across a variety of sub-disciplines, including clinical, neuropsychological, developmental, cognitive, biological, and experimental. The course will focus on how psychology began with a philosophical perspective and how it has developed into a multidisciplinary science. (3 credits)

Prerequisite

  • None

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Upon completion of the course, the students will be able to:

  1. Understand the historical basis of Psychology.
  2. Understand how Psychology is studied as a Science, including key ethical aspects associated with psychological experimentation.
  3. Appreciate the biological underpinnings that contribute to psychology.
  4. Know basic anatomy of our sensory systems and be able to apply this knowledge to the notion that that sensation leads to perception.
  5. Know how psychology explores and explains different levels of consciousness.
  6. Understand and appreciate the relationships between learning and memory and be able to apply them to language and cognition.
  7. Explain how psychologists describe and define intelligence.
  8. Describe the developmental time course over a lifetime.
  9. Understand the difference between moods and emotion and be able to apply this knowledge to the understanding of stress, coping, health, and motivation.
  10. Explain how health influences psychological well-being.
  11. Know that humans are social, interactive, thinking beings and be able to apply this knowledge to descriptions of social behavior.
  12. Know the basics of psychological disorders and courses or action for treatment of disorders.

Course Activities and Grading

AssignmentsPointsWeight

Discussions (60 pts per week; 8 weeks)

480

32%

Written Assignments (40 pts per week; 8 weeks)

320

21%

Quizzes (50 pts per week; 8 weeks)

400

27%

Midterm Exam (Week 4)

150

10%

Final Exam (Week 8)

150

10%

Total

1,500

100%

Required Textbooks

This course uses Open Educational Resources (OER). OER are openly licensed, educational resources that can be used for teaching, learning and research. OER may consist of a variety of resources such as textbooks, videos and software that are no cost for students.

Course Schedule

Week

SLOs

Readings and Exercises

Assignments

1

1, 2

Week 1: The History and Science of Psychology

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 1
    • Chapter 2
    • Week 1 Lecture
  • Week 1 Discussion Question 1
  • Week 1 Discussion Question 2
  • Week 1 Written Assignment
  • Week 1 Quiz

2

3, 4

Week 2: The Body, The Brain and The Mind

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 3
    • Chapter 5
    • Week 2 Lecture
  • Week 2 Discussion Question 1
  • Week 2 Discussion Question 2
  • Week 2 Written Assignment
  • Week 2 Quiz

3

4,6

Week 3: Learning about Learning and Remembering Memories

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 6
    • Chapter 8
    • Week 3 Lecture
  • Week 3 Discussion Question 1
  • Week 3 Discussion Question 2
  • Week 3 Written Assignment
  • Week 3 Quiz

4

5,7

Week 4: Thinking, Intelligence, and Consciousness (& Midterm)

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 4
    • Chapter 7
    • Week 4 Lecture
  • Week 4 Discussion Question 1
  • Week 4 Discussion Question 2
  • Week 4 Written Assignment
  • Week 4 Quiz
  • Complete Midterm Exam

Midterm Exam
Chapters 1-8
SLOs 1-7

5

8,9

Week 5: Psychology Across The Lifespan, Work Life Included

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 9
    • Week 5 Lecture
  • Week 5 Discussion Question 1
  • Week 5 Discussion Question 2
  • Week 5 Written Assignment
  • Week 5 Quiz

6

9, 10

Week 6: Emotion, Motivation, Stress & Health

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 10
    • Chapter 14
    • Week 6 Lecture
  • Week 6 Discussion Question 1
  • Weekt 6 Discussion Question 2
  • Week 6 Written Assignment
  • Week 6 Quiz

7

11

Week 7: Social & Personality Psychology

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 11
    • Chapter 12
    • Week 7 Lecture
  • Week 7 Discussion Question 1
  • Week 7 Discussion Question 2
  • Week 7 Written Assignment
  • Week 7 Quiz

8

12

Week 8: Psychological Disorders & Treatments (& Final Exam)

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 15
    • Chapter 16
    • Week 8 Lecture
  • Week 8 Discussion Question 1
  • Week 8 Discussion Question 2
  • Week 8 Written Assignment
  • Week 8 Quiz
  • Complete Final Exam
  • Complete COSC Course Evaluation

Final Exam
Chapters 9-16
SLOs 7-12

COSC Accessibility Statement

Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.

COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources

Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.