SANTA BARBARA CITY COLLEGE

ASSOCIATE DEGREE CREDIT COURSE OUTLINE

 

 

Department:            Psychology

Subject Area and Course Number:    Psychology 100

Course Title:           General Psychology

Discipline: Psychology

Units:             3

Repeatability:       None

Catalog Course Description:  Psychology is the study of behavior and mental processes, and the factors that affect them.  A survey of psychology as a science and as a foundation for further studies in psychology.  Theories and research pertaining to the biological bases of behavior; human development, emotions, learning, cognition, intelligence, motivation, personality, social influences on behavior, mental disorders, and psychotherapy also covered.

Description for Schedule of Classes:   Survey of psychology as a science.  Biological bases of behavior; development, learning, memory, cognition, intelligence, motivation, emotions, personality, social psychology, mental disorders, and psychotherapy also covered.

Lecture Hours per Week:     3.3

Laboratory Hours per Week:          None

Plus Hours:             None

Prerequisites:       None

Co-requisites:                     None

Skills Advisories:            English 110 or English 110H, or English 110GB

Course Advisories:        None

Limitation on Enrollment:    None

Course Objectives: By the end of the course, the successful student will be able to:

1.          Identify, describe, and apply basic principles of psychology to human behavior.

2.          Describe the central concepts and key methods of science and their application to the conduct and/or interpretation of psychological research.

3.          Demonstrate critical thinking skills in analyzing psychological accounts from multiple psychological perspectives.

4.          Compare, contrast and apply psychological theories and research findings to practical settings:  therapeutic and educational interventions, work, family, and interpersonal contexts.

5.          Apply basic principles of psychology to increase students' personal success and academic lives.

 

Course Content and Scope:  The core curriculum consists of 13 topics that all instructors cover. In addition, five topics are optional, depending on students' choice or instructors' preferences.  Topics marked with an asterisk (*) are optional.

      1.       Brief History of Psychology and Emerging Perspectives

      2.       Research Methods Used in Psychology and the Social/Behavioral Sciences

      3.       Biological Roots of Behavior

      4.       The Developing Person Through the Life Span

   *5.       Sensation and Perception

   *6.       States of Consciousness

      7.       Learning:  Classical Conditioning, Operant Conditioning, and Social-Learning Theory

      8.       Memory

      9.       Thinking, Language, Intelligence, and Decision Making

   10.       Motivation

   11.       Emotion

   12.       Personality Theories

   13.       Abnormal Behavior and Psychological Disorders

   14.       Psychotherapy

*15.       Stress and Health

   16.       Sociocultural Influences on Behavior

*17.       Industrial/Organizational Psychology (Organizational Behavior)

*18.       Strategies for Effective Learning

 

Methods of Instruction:  Lecture, class discussion and demonstrations are the primary methods of instruction.  Videos, computer simulations, in-class activities, etc. are used to illustrate many of the principles discussed.

 

Strategies for Delivering Content and Activities for On-Line Courses:

1.          Course materials distributed and assignments received using the World Wide Web.

2.          Use of textbooks with multimedia ancillary resources (e.g., CD-ROMs).

3.          Use of publisher Web sites for content, demonstrations, activities and assessment.

4.          Lecture presentations distributed electronically.

5.          Communication with instructor and other students electronically (e.g., e-mail), by phone, or in person.

6.          Group meetings via electronic conferencing.

7.          Use of bulletin board for instructors and students to post items for discussion and review.

8.          On-Line testing.

 

Required Assignments:

1.          Text readings:  Students are required to read assigned text chapters.  In addition, outside readings in psychology-related journals are required.

2.          Writing assignments:  Papers, written assignments, and/or written answers to questions asked in class are required.

 

Additionally, for On-Line courses:

1.          Completion of computer simulations and demonstrations using CD-ROMs or publisher Web sites.

2.          Internet searching of relevant psychology topics.

 

Method of Evaluation:

1.           A combination of exams (objective and essay) and short quizzes will be distributed throughout the semester.

2.           Graded writing assignments

3.           A comprehensive final exam.

4.           Class attendance and participation are considered.

 

Appropriate Texts and Supplies:

Current textbooks are illustrated by the following examples:

Carpenter, S. & Huffman, K.  (2007). Visualizing psychology. New Jersey: Wiley

Myers, David G. (2008). Exploring Psychology in Modules (7th ed.). New York: Worth.

Myers, D. (2008). Exploring Psychology (7th ed.), New York: Worth.

Tavris, D. and Wade, C. (2001). Psychology in Perspective (3rd ed.). New York: Prentice-Hall.

Feldman, Robert S. (2008). Essentials of Understanding Psychology (7th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill

Weiten, W. (2000). Psychology: Themes and Variations (7th ed.), Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

Bernstein, D.A., Penner, L.A., Clarke-Stewart, A., & Roy, E.J. (2008).  Psychology (8th ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Gerrig, R.J. & Zimbardo, P.G. (2009). Psychology and Life: Discovering Psychology Edition. (16th ed.). NY: Addison-Wesley-Longman.

Wade, C, & Tavris, C. (2009). Invitation to Psychology (4th ed.). Boston: Pearson.

Huffman, K. (2007). Psychology in Action (8th ed.). Hoboken, N.J: Wiley.

 

 

CO/mej

July 2001/Update texts May 2008

FRC (6/3/08 gb)