MASTER COURSE OUTLINE
Big Bend Community College
Date: March 2008
DEPT: PSYC&
NO:
100
(Formerly: PSY 101)
COURSE TITLE: General Psychology
CIP Code:
Intent Code:
SIS Code:
42.0101
11
N/A
Distribution Desig: Social Science
CREDITS:
5
Total Contact Hours Per Qtr: 55
Lecture Hours Per Qtr:
55
Lab Hours Per Qtr:
Other Hours Per Qtr:
PREPARED BY: Linda J. Thimot, M.A.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: A broad survey course designed to study human behavior with
reference to biology, learning, motivation, emotion, perception, intelligence, human
development, mental processes, personality, abnormal behavior, and research. Strongly
recommend placement in MPC 095 or higher and placement in ENGL 099 or higher.
PREREQUISITE/COREQUISITE: None
TEXT: Exploring Psychology, 6th edition (In Modules), New York: Worth, Myers, D.G. (2005)
COURSE GOALS: The goals of this course are to: introduce psychology as a science, art, and
profession; investigate various theories of behavior; and to seek application to life processes.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
1.
Define psychology and explain why empiricism is important to psychology as a science.
2.
Discuss key components of the history of psychology, name significant individuals and
the schools of thought with which they were associated as psychology evolved as a
science.
3.
Describe the scientific method and know the various methods of research used in
psychological science.
4.
Identify the major divisions in the nervous system; name the major structures of the brain
and the function of each; relate specific brain structures to behavior; label the parts of the
neuron and describe the process of neural communication.
5.
Identify and know the function of the basic structures of the eye and ear; name the two
theories of color vision.
6.
Understand the difference between sensation and perception; describe the steps involved
in the perceptual process and some of the Gestalt organizing principles/laws related to
this process.
7.
Describe the processes and stages of classical conditioning; describe operant
conditioning, the differences between reinforcement and punishment, and what negative
and positive mean in this context; discuss social learning theory and how it relates to the
original behavioral/learning theories.
8.
Describe the theories of information processing and ways to improve memory.
9.
Discuss the strategies of problem-solving and the obstacles to this process.
10.
Discuss development from the following theorists' perspectives: Freud, Erikson, and
Piaget.
11.
Discussion attachment and parenting-styles theory and how they interact.
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12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
Identify the major assumptions of psychodynamic, behavioral, biological, social-cultural,
and cognitive perspectives of psychology
Name and describe the various types of biological and environmental influences and how
these two basic factors interact.
Understand the relationship between stress and illness: describe the "fight or flight"
response; name several strategies for coping with stress.
Describe the major or common types of psychological disorders and their treatments.
Discuss the concepts of social norms
Define cultural; discuss its affect on gender, stereotypes, and prejudice.
Course Content:
Introduction and the Major Perspectives
Research Methods and Statistics
The Brain and the Nervous System & Behavior
Nature and Nurture
Lifespan Development
Sensation & Perception
Learning
Memory
Personality: major personality theorists and theories
Psychological Disorders
Treatment and Therapy
Social Psychology and Cultural Context
Optimization (real life application)
EVALUATION METHODS/GRADING PROCEDURES: Students will be evaluated on the
combination of the following factors: exams, a comprehensive final, written assignments, and
participation.
PLANNED TEACHING METHODS/LEARNING STRATEGIES:
X Lecture
Laboratory
Supervised Clinical
X Small Group Discussion
X Audiovisual
Individualized Instruction
Special Project/Paper
X Other (List)
Interactive study
Sessions and group work
Division Chair Approval