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:
- Understand the historical basis of Psychology.
- Understand how Psychology is studied as a Science, including key ethical aspects associated with psychological experimentation.
- Appreciate the biological underpinnings that contribute to psychology.
- Know basic anatomy of our sensory systems and be able to apply this knowledge to the notion that that sensation leads to perception.
- Know how psychology explores and explains different levels of consciousness.
- Understand and appreciate the relationships between learning and memory and be able to apply them to language and cognition.
- Explain how psychologists describe and define intelligence.
- Describe the developmental time course over a lifetime.
- Understand the difference between moods and emotion and be able to apply this knowledge to the understanding of stress, coping, health, and motivation.
- Explain how health influences psychological well-being.
- Know that humans are social, interactive, thinking beings and be able to apply this knowledge to descriptions of social behavior.
- Know the basics of psychological disorders and courses or action for treatment of disorders.
General Education Outcomes (GEOs)
Please check the applicable GEOs for this course, if any, by outcomes at GEO Discipline Search.
Course Activities and Grading
Assignments | Points | Weight |
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.
Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020). Psychology 2e. Houston, Texas: OpenStax. Retrieved from https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction
Course Schedule
Week | SLOs | Readings and Exercises | Assignments |
1 | 1, 2 | Week 1: The History and Science of Psychology
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2 | 3, 4 | Week 2: The Body, The Brain and The Mind
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3 | 4,6 | Week 3: Learning about Learning and Remembering Memories
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4 | 5,7 | Week 4: Thinking, Intelligence, and Consciousness (& Midterm)
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Midterm Exam | |||
5 | 8,9 | Week 5: Psychology Across The Lifespan, Work Life Included
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6 | 9, 10 | Week 6: Emotion, Motivation, Stress & Health
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7 | 11 | Week 7: Social & Personality Psychology
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8 | 12 | Week 8: Psychological Disorders & Treatments (& Final Exam)
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Final Exam | |||
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.