PSY6711 GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY
3 Credit Hours
Student Level:
This course is open to students on the college level in either Freshman or Sophomore year.
Catalog Description:
PSY6711 - General Psychology (3 hrs.)
[KRSN PSY1010]
A general introduction to the scientific study of human behavior as it applies to daily living. The scope of this course includes history, basic theories, biological bases of behavior, development, cognitive processes, individual awareness, motivation, emotion, personal adjustment and social psychology.
Course Classification:
Lecture
Prerequisites:
None
Controlling Purpose:
This course is designed to help the student understand as our world grows more complex, each individual has an increasing need to know both himself/herself and the world around him/her better. General Psychology is offered as an initial step in aiding each student to identify and become aware of variables that affect his/her own behavior and the behavior of others. The knowledge gained from General Psychology, when applied in individual lives, will allow the learner to become a more productive member of society. This course also will provide a broad foundation of fundamental principles for the learner to build upon through additional courses in the Psychology field.
Learner Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course, the learner completing this General Psychology course will:
- Gain an appreciation of the scientific methods of Psychology
- Gain a readiness to apply those methods in his/her life
- Develop skill in evaluating popular accounts of Psychology
- Gain an understanding of the variables involved in behavior and how those variables are utilized in affecting behavior
- Gain an understanding of the major methods and tools used in the psychology fieldThrough this understanding, when applied in the situation, the individuals will function in society in a more efficient manner. Also, a greater attitude or understanding of self and others will be gained to be utilized throughout life
- Gain a broad-based foundation of fundamental principles in the Psychology field from which to build upon with additional courses in the field
Core Outcomes:
The learning outcomes and competencies detailed in this course outline or syllabus meet or exceed the learning outcomes and competencies specified by the Kansas Core Outcomes Groups project for this course as approved by the Kansas Board of Regents.
Units Outcomes and Criterion Based Evaluation Key for Core Content:
The following outline defines the minimum core content not including the final examination period. Instructors may add other material as time allows.
UNIT 1: PERSONAL MANAGEMENT SKILL
Outcomes: Upon Completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully…
- Attends class on a regular and timely basis
- Written work displays material discussed in class in a clear, concise manner with few grammatical errors
- Oral participation in class reflects clear, concise, thought out views
- Completion of assignment is on or before due date
- Interpersonal skills reflect the ability to work with large and small groups to reach a common goal
UNIT 2: THE SCIENCE OF PSYCHOLOGY
Outcomes: Upon Completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully…
- Understand psychology as a discipline
- Know the goals of psychology
- Be familiar with research methods used by psychologists
- Trace the development and growth of psychology as a science
- Understand the importance of human diversity in psychology
UNIT 3: THE BIOLOGICAL BASIS OF BEHAVIOR
Outcomes: Upon Completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully…
- Identify the structure and functions of neurons
- Be familiar with the central and peripheral nervous system
- Know the characteristics of the endocrine system
- Understand behavior genetics
UNIT 4: LEARNING
Outcomes: Upon Completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully…
- Understand the nature of the sensory processes
- Differentiate between sensory information and perceptual processes
UNIT 5: STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS
Outcomes: Upon Completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully…
- Recognize both natural and artificial variations in consciousness
- Be able to explain how drugs alter consciousness
UNIT 6: LEARNING
Outcomes: Upon Completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully…
- Know what psychologists mean by learning
- Be able to recognize examples of both classical and operant conditioning
- Recognize the processes involved in cognitive learning
- Describe how learning through observation occurs
UNIT 7: MEMORY
Outcomes: Upon Completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully…
- Be able to explain the characteristics of the sensory registers
- Understand what is meant by both short and long term memory, their characteristics, & the information they contain
- Be aware of special topics in memory
- Describe what psychologists know about the biological foundations of memory
UNIT 8: COGNITION AND MENTAL ABILITIES
Outcomes: Upon Completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully…
- Be able to identify the building blocks of thought
- Utilize problem - solving methods in classroom activities
- Identify the two types of decision making
- Explain what psychologists mean by reliability and validity
- Be able to discuss the determinants of intelligence
- Know the extremes of intelligence
- Understand what is meant by creativity, how it is assessed and how it is related to intelligence
UNIT 9: MOTIVATION AND EMOTION
Outcomes: Upon Completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully…
- Be familiar with the different perspectives of motivation
- Know the primary drives
- Differentiate between stimulus motives and learned motives
- Describe how motives can be viewed as a hierarchy
- Recognize the basic emotions, how they’re expressed, and the effect on gender on emotional expression
UNIT 10: LIFE SPAN DEVELOPMENT
Outcomes: Upon Completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully…
- Trace the processes of development across the life-span (from the prenatal period until death)
UNIT 11: PERSONALITY
Outcomes: Upon Completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully…+
- Understand various theories of personality
- Understand how psychologists from different areas view the consistency of personality
- Be familiar with the ways in which personality is accessed
UNIT 12: STRESS AND HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY
Outcomes: Upon Completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully…
- Know the sources of stress
- Understand how to cope with stress
- Recognize the effect of stress on health
UNIT 13: PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS
Outcomes: Upon Completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully…
- Distinguish the characteristics that constitute abnormal behavior
- Be able to identify the types of disorders
- Describe gender differences in abnormal behavior
UNIT 14: THERAPIES
Outcomes: Upon Completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully…
- Differentiate between the various types of therapies
- Be familiar with trends in institutionalization and deinstitutionalization
- Summarize gender differences in illness & treatment
UNIT 15: SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
Outcomes: Upon Completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully…
- Understand the concept of social cognition
- Describe the components and sources of attitudes
- Explain how behavior is influenced by society
- Demonstrate knowledge of social action & its effects
UNIT 16: SERVICE LEARNING
Outcomes: Upon Completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully…
- Participate in the community as a productive citizen through service learning.
- Develop an understanding of psychological issues in other’s lives through participation in the community
- Explain, through reflection, how service learning is related to concepts learned in the classroom; reflection logs, written papers, class presentations
- Student must complete no less than 5 hours of service for the semester. Additionally, all service projects must be approved through ACES. Instructors will work with ACES to track student hours. Service learning will count for no less than 15% of the final course grade
Textbook:
Contact Bookstore for current textbook.
Materials/Equipment Required:
None
Attendance Policy:
Students should adhere to the attendance policy outlined by the instructor in the course syllabus.
Grading Policy:
The grading policy will be outlined by the instructor in the course syllabus.
Maximum class size:
Based on classroom occupancy
Course Time Frame:
The U.S. Department of Education, Higher Learning Commission, and the Kansas Board of Regents define credit hour and have specific regulations that the college must follow when developing, teaching, and assessing the educational aspects of the college. A credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally-established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester hour of credit or an equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time. The number of semester hours of credit allowed for each distance education or blended hybrid courses shall be assigned by the college based on the amount of time needed to achieve the same course outcomes in a purely face-to-face format.
Refer to the following policies:
402.00 Academic Code of Conduct
263.00 Student Appeal of Course Grades
403.00 Student Code of Conduct
Disability Services Program:
Cowley College, in recognition of state and federal laws, will accommodate a student with a documented disability. If a student has a disability which may impact work in this class which requires accommodations, contact the Disability Services Coordinator.
DISCLAIMER: THIS INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. FOR THE OFFICIAL COURSE PROCEDURE CONTACT ACADEMIC AFFAIRS.
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