Advanced Placement Psychology
Course #5224
Syllabus
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Instructor:
E-Mail:
Telephone:
High School Credit:
College Credit:
Textbook:
Teacher Resources:
Mrs. Kimberly Davidson
KDavidson@ISD12.org
763-792-5257
.5 credit
Must pass AP Psychology exam in May
Myers, David G. Psychology, 9th ed. New York, NY. Worth Publishers, 2010.
Hock, Roger R. Forty Studies that Changed Psychology: Explorations into the History of
Psychological Research, 5th ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 2005.
In my experience, most students come to a course with all the expectancy of a first date. They hope that the match is an
excellent one. At a minimum, they hope that their time will not be wasted. If they are lucky, the enthusiasm of the professor
can open new doors and the students can extract from the course larger life lessons that even the content can purvey.
-Jane Halonen, The Teaching of Psychology
Most people are overconfident about what they can complete or accomplish in any given day. However, most people
underestimate how much they could accomplish in a week, month, or year. Small, regular, and systematic steps can lead to very
comprehensive and complete results.
-David B. Myers, The Pursuit of Happiness
Course Description
The purpose of the Advanced Placement course in Psychology is to introduce students to the systematic and
scientific study of behavior and mental processes of human beings and animals. Psychology attempts to identify
biological, social, and environmental factors which help to describe, explain, predict, and control behavior.
Course Objectives
Students in this course will:
Understand the historical and contemporary psychological perspectives.
Examine the methods psychologist use in their science and practice.
Develop an understanding of social interaction.
Explore the brain and nervous system impact on behavior and mental processes.
Analyze major theories of sensation, perception, learning, memory, motivation, and emotion.
Explore the life span of human development.
Examine the development of personality.
Analyze psychological disorders and current treatment methods.
Course Requirements
Daily Work
Preparation for the AP exam requires an intense time schedule and significant outside work will be required.
This course will require approximately 50 pages of text and supplemental readings per week. This course will also
present a large amount of new terminology and assignments will be given to help you apply the terminology
appropriately. Optimal benefit and performance in this course can be achieved only by fulfilling every reading
and application assignment. It is expected that students will carry out their obligations.
Small Projects
There will be various small projects assigned throughout the semester to help in the comprehension of the
material and to build interest in the field of psychology. The projects may include, but are not limited to the
creation of creative models, presentations, book reports, and written analysis of psychological studies.
Examinations
Psychology will introduce many new terms to your vocabulary. Therefore, there will be a vocabulary quiz for
every chapter that we cover. There will also be approximately thirteen unit exams and four cumulative exams
throughout the semester. The quizzes and exams will include multiple choice, matching, fill in the blank, short
answer and free response questions. Often there is not enough time to cover all of the material in class.
Therefore, there will be questions on the exams that are in your reading, but may not be covered in class. It is
expected that you will be present on examination days. An absence(s) on the preceding day(s) does not
constitute a change in date. Students are expected to look ahead, be aware of the due dates, and take the
necessary measures to be prepared for class each day. Unusual, lengthy, and/or emergency absences should be
brought to the attention of the instructor.
Grading
Grades describe levels of achievement. This course will mirror the expectations of an introductory psychology
class at a university. Therefore, no late work will be accepted and there will not be opportunities for extra credit.
A
B
C
D
F
Achievement outstanding relative to the level necessary to meet course requirements
Achievement significantly above to the level necessary to meet course requirements
Achievement meeting the basic course requirements in every respect
Achievement worthy of credit even though it does not fully meet the basic course requirements in every
respect
Performance failing to meet the basic course requirements
100 – 93 = A
92 – 90 = A89 – 87 = B+
86 – 83 = B
82 – 80 = B79 – 77 = C+
76 – 73 = C
72 – 70 = C69 – 67 = D+
66 – 63 = D
62 – 60 = DBelow 60 = F
Grading of tests, quizzes, and assignments is determined on a percentage basis of total points possible. The
percentage system is as follows:
Daily work
Tests and Quizzes
10%
50%
Small Projects
Cumulative Exams
30%
10%
Attendance
This is a college course. Class attendance is critical for your success. When illness or school activities require
your absence, please check with me before or after school to find out what you have missed. Attendance is
expected on examination days. Unexcused absences and tardies will result in grade reductions. Please refer to the
Centennial Student Handbook for further information.
Course Outline (subject to change)
Weeks 1-2:
Read Prologue and Chapter 1 of Psychology by Myers; supplement materials
I. What is Psychology?
A. Why Study Psychology?
B. Contemporary Psychology
II. Thinking Critically With Psychological Science
A. The Need for Psychological Science
B. How do Psychologists Ask and Answer Questions?
C. Statistical Reasoning in Everyday Life
D. Frequently Asked Questions about Psychology
Vocabulary Quizzes (2) - Prologue and Chapter 1
Exam – Prologue and Chapter 1
Week 3:
Read Chapter 16 of Psychology by Myers; supplement materials
III. Social Psychology
A. Social Thinking
B. Social Influence
C. Social Relations
Vocabulary Quiz – Chapter 16
Exam – Chapter 16
Weeks 4-5
Read Chapter 2 of Psychology by Myers; supplement materials
IV. The Biology of the Mind
A. Neural Communication
B. The Nervous System
C. The Endocrine System
D. The Brain
Vocabulary Quizzes (2) – Chapter 2
Exam – Chapter 2
Cumulative Exam I
Week 6:
Read Chapter 3 of Psychology by Myers; supplement materials
V. Consciousness and the Two-Track Mind
A. The Brain and Consciousness
B. Sleep and Dreams
C. Hypnosis
D. Drugs and Consciousness
E. Near Death Experiences
Vocabulary Quiz – Chapter 3
Exam – Chapter 3
Weeks 7-8:
Read Chapter 4 and 5 of Psychology by Myers; supplement materials
VI. Nature, Nurture, and Human Diversity
A. Behavior Genetics: Predicting Individual Differences
B. Evolutionary Psychology: Understanding Human Nature
C. Parents and Peers
D. Cultural Influences
E. Gender Development
F. Reflections on Nature and Nurture
VII. Developing Through the Life Span
A. Prenatal Development and the Newborn
B. Infancy and Childhood
C. Adolescence
D. Adulthood
E. Reflections of Two Major Developmental Issues
Vocabulary Quizzes (3) – Chapters 4 & 5
Exam – Chapters 4 & 5
Week 9:
Read Chapter 6 of Psychology by Myers; supplement materials
VIII. Sensation and Perception
A. Sensing the World: Some Basic Principles
B. Vision
C. Hearing
D. Other Important Senses
E. Perceptual Organization
F. Perceptual Interpretation
G. Is There Extrasensory Perception?
Vocabulary Quizzes (2) – Chapter 6
Exam – Chapter 6
Cumulative Exam II
Course Outline Part II (subject to change)
Weeks 1-2:
Read Chapter 7 of Psychology by Myers; supplement materials
IX. Learning
A. How Do We Learn?
B. Classical Conditioning
C. Operant Conditioning
D. Learning by Observation
Read Chapter 8 of Psychology by Myers; supplement materials
X. Memory
A. The Phenomenon of Memory
B. Studying Memory: Information-Processing Models
C. Encoding: Getting Information In
D. Storage: Retaining Information
E. Retrieval: Getting Information Out
F. Forgetting
G. Memory Construction
H. Improving Memory
Vocabulary Quizzes (3) – Chapter 7 & 8
Exam – Chapter 7 & 8
Week 3:
Read Chapter 9 & 10 of Psychology by Myers; supplement materials
XI. Thinking and Language
A. Thinking
B. Language
D. Thinking and Language
E. Animal Thinking and Language
XII. Intelligence
A. What Is Intelligence
B. Assessing Intelligence
C. The Dynamics of Intelligence
D. Genetic and Environmental Influences on Intelligence
Vocabulary Quizzes (2) – Chapter 9 & 10
Exam – Chapters 9 & 10
Weeks 4-5 :
Read Chapters 11 and 12 of Psychology by Myers; supplement materials
XIII. Motivation and Work
A. Motivational Concepts
B. Hunger
C. Sexual Motivation
D. The Need to Belong
E. Motivation at Work
XIV. Emotions, Stress, and Health
A. Theories of Emotion
B. Embodied Emotion
C. Expressed Emotion
D. Experienced Emotion
E. Stress and Health
F. Promoting Health
Vocabulary Quizzes (2) – Chapters 11 & 12
Exam – Chapters 11 & 12
Cumulative Exam III
Week 6:
Read Chapter 13 of Psychology by Myers; supplement materials
XV. Personality
A. The Psychoanalytic Perspective
B. The Humanistic Perspective
C. The Trait Perspective
D. The Social-Cognitive Perspective
E. Exploring the Self
Vocabulary Quiz – Chapter 13
Exam – Chapter 13
Weeks 7-9:
Read Chapter 14 of Psychology by Myers; supplement materials
XVI. Psychological Disorders
A. Perspectives on Psychological Disorders
B. Anxiety Disorders
C. Somatoform Disorders
D. Dissociative Disorders
E. Mood Disorders
F. Schizophrenia
G. Personality Disorders
H. Rates of Psychological Disorders
Vocabulary Quiz – Chapter 14
Read Chapter 15 of Psychology by Myers; supplement materials
XVII. Therapy
A. The Psychological Therapies
B. Evaluating Psychotherapies
C. The Biomedical Therapies
D. Preventing Psychological Disorders
Vocabulary Quiz – Chapter 15
Exam – Chapters 14 & 15
Cumulative Exam IV
**Review for AP Exam
Advanced Placement Psychology
Course Syllabus
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To the Parents of AP Psychology Students:
This Advanced Placement course is one of the more challenging offerings at Centennial High School. It can also
be the most rewarding class in a student’s career. Please read the entire syllabus to make sure that you and your
child understand what is required for this course. If you have any further questions regarding the course
expectations, please contact me at 763-792-5257 or KDavidson@ISD12.org .
Sincerely,
Kimberly Davidson
I understand and agree to the expectations listed in the enclosed syllabus.
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