I. General Information
1. Course Title:
General Psychology
2. Course Prefix & Number:
PSYC 2421
3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:
Credits: 4
Lecture Hours: 4
Lab Hours: 0
4. Course Description:
This class presents a general introduction to psychology as a biosocial science. This survey course will familiarize the student with the basic principles of psychology, show how psychologists employ the scientific method, and equip the beginning student of psychology with a working vocabulary of psychological terminology and critical thinking skills. Areas to be covered include research, the nervous system, learning, personality, memory, psychological disorders and therapy.
5. Placement Tests Required:
6. Prerequisite Courses:
PSYC 2421 - General Psychology
There are no prerequisites for this course.
7. Other Prerequisites
9. Co-requisite Courses:
PSYC 2421 - General Psychology
There are no corequisites for this course.
II. Transfer and Articulation
1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:
|
Name of Institution
|
Course Number and Title
|
Credits
|
|
Minneapolis Community & Tech College
|
PSYC 1110 General Psychology
|
4
|
|
Bemidji State University
|
PSYC 1100 Introductory Psychology
|
4
|
3. Prior Learning - the following prior learning methods are acceptable for this course:
CLEP
III. Course Purpose
Program-Applicable Courses – This course is required for the following program(s):
|
Name of Program(s)
|
Program Type
|
|
Associate Degree Nursing
|
AAS
|
MN Transfer Curriculum (General Education) Courses - This course fulfills the following goal area(s) of the MN Transfer Curriculum:
- Goal 2 – Critical Thinking
- Goal 5 – History and the Social and Behavioral Sciences
IV. Learning Outcomes
1. College-Wide Outcomes
| College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies |
Students will be able to: |
| Demonstrate reading and listening skills |
Students will read assigned material and listen to instructor and classmates during lecture and class discussions |
| Apply abstract ideas to concrete situations |
Students will apply psychological theories to understand human behavior |
2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of
the course:
| Expected Outcome |
MnTC Goal Area |
| Identify & apply alternative explanatory systems of theories |
5 |
| Identify & communicate alternative explanations for contemporary social issues |
5 |
| Define psychology as the science that studies behavior and mental processes and the profession that applies the science |
5 |
| Explain how psychology meets the criteria of science |
5 |
| Describe behavior and mental processes empirically, including operational definitions |
5 |
| Distinguish behavior from inferences about behavior |
5 |
| Describe the key eras of the major schools of thought in the history of psychology |
5 |
|
Identify the overarching themes of psychology |
5 |
| Identify & explain basic concepts, theories and research represented in general content domains |
5 |
| Identify broad career opportunities associated with psychology at the bachelor’s master’s and doctoral levels |
5 |
| Describe the basic characteristics of the scientific method in psychology |
5 |
| Describe the various general research methods, including advantages & disadvantages of use |
5 |
| Distinguish the nature of designs that permit causal inferences from those that do not |
5 |
| Define correlation |
5 |
| Explain the difference between correlation & causation |
5 |
| Define hypothesis, variables, & operational definitions |
5 |
| Describe random sampling & assignment |
5 |
| Define validity |
5 |
| Identify variations in behavior related to sociocultural differences |
5 |
| Describe the differences between descriptive and inferential statistical analysis |
5 |
| Discern differences between personal views and scientific evidence in understanding behavior |
2 |
| Identify argument based largely on anecdotal evidence and personal experience |
2 |
| Identify claims arising from myths, stereotypes, common fallacies and poorly supported assertions regarding behavior |
2 |
| Summarize general criteria of abnormality |
2 |
| Explain the elements and importance of effective testing |
2 |
| Identify major and emerging applied areas in psychology |
2 |
| Define skepticism and its role in psychological sciences |
2 |
| Define tolerance of ambiguity and explain its role in psychological science |
2 |
| Describe some elements of the ethical code |
2 |
V. Topical Outline
Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.
1. Lecture Sessions
- What is Psychology?
- History of Psychology
- What Psychologists Do
- Critical Thinking
- How Psychologists do Research
- Descriptive Research
- Experimental Research
- Statistics
- Ethics
- Genes, Evolution & Environment
- Evolutionary Psychology
- Behavioral Genetics
- The Brain: Source of Mind & Self
- The Nervous System
- Communication in the Nervous System
- The Brain
- Body Rhythms & Mental States
- Biological Rhythms
- Sleep
- Dreams
- Hypnosis
- Psychoactive Drugs
- Learning & Conditioning
- Classical Conditioning
- Operant Conditioning
- Social-Cognitive Learning Theories
- Behavior in Social & Cultural Context
- Roles & Rules
- Social Cognition
- Groups
- Memory
- Models of Memory
- Biology of Memory
- Remembering
- Forgetting
- Theories of Personality
- Psychodynamic Theories
- Trait Theories
- Genetic Influences
- Environmental Influences
- Inner Experience
- Psychological Disorders
- Diagnosis
- Anxiety Disorders
- Mood Disorders
- Personality Disorders
- Drug Abuse & Addiction
- Schizophrenia
- Approaches To Treatment & Therapy
- Biological Treatments
- Schools of Psychotherapy
- Evaluating Psychotherapy
2. Laboratory/Studio Sessions
I. General Information
1. Course Title:
General Psychology
2. Course Prefix & Number:
PSYC 2421
3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:
Credits: 4
Lecture Hours: 4
Lab Hours: 0
4. Course Description:
This class presents a general introduction to psychology as a biosocial science. This survey course will familiarize the student with the basic principles of psychology, show how psychologists employ the scientific method, and equip the beginning student of psychology with a working vocabulary of psychological terminology and critical thinking skills. Areas to be covered include research, the nervous system, learning, personality, memory, psychological disorders and therapy.
5. Placement Tests Required:
6. Prerequisite Courses:
PSYC 2421 - General Psychology
There are no prerequisites for this course.
7. Other Prerequisites
9. Co-requisite Courses:
PSYC 2421 - General Psychology
There are no corequisites for this course.
II. Transfer and Articulation
1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:
|
Name of Institution
|
Course Number and Title
|
Credits
|
|
Minneapolis Community & Tech College
|
PSYC 1110 General Psychology
|
4
|
|
Bemidji State University
|
PSYC 1100 Introductory Psychology
|
4
|
3. Prior Learning - the following prior learning methods are acceptable for this course:
CLEP
III. Course Purpose
1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course is required for the following program(s):
|
Name of Program(s)
|
Program Type
|
|
Associate Degree Nursing
|
AAS
|
2. MN Transfer Curriculum (General Education) Courses - This course fulfills the following goal area(s) of the MN Transfer Curriculum:
- Goal 2 – Critical Thinking
- Goal 5 – History and the Social and Behavioral Sciences
IV. Learning Outcomes
1. College-Wide Outcomes
| College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies |
Students will be able to: |
| Demonstrate reading and listening skills |
Students will read assigned material and listen to instructor and classmates during lecture and class discussions |
| Apply abstract ideas to concrete situations |
Students will apply psychological theories to understand human behavior |
2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of
the course:
| Expected Outcome |
MnTC Goal Area |
| Identify & apply alternative explanatory systems of theories |
5 |
| Identify & communicate alternative explanations for contemporary social issues |
5 |
| Define psychology as the science that studies behavior and mental processes and the profession that applies the science |
5 |
| Explain how psychology meets the criteria of science |
5 |
| Describe behavior and mental processes empirically, including operational definitions |
5 |
| Distinguish behavior from inferences about behavior |
5 |
| Describe the key eras of the major schools of thought in the history of psychology |
5 |
|
Identify the overarching themes of psychology |
5 |
| Identify & explain basic concepts, theories and research represented in general content domains |
5 |
| Identify broad career opportunities associated with psychology at the bachelor’s master’s and doctoral levels |
5 |
| Describe the basic characteristics of the scientific method in psychology |
5 |
| Describe the various general research methods, including advantages & disadvantages of use |
5 |
| Distinguish the nature of designs that permit causal inferences from those that do not |
5 |
| Define correlation |
5 |
| Explain the difference between correlation & causation |
5 |
| Define hypothesis, variables, & operational definitions |
5 |
| Describe random sampling & assignment |
5 |
| Define validity |
5 |
| Identify variations in behavior related to sociocultural differences |
5 |
| Describe the differences between descriptive and inferential statistical analysis |
5 |
| Discern differences between personal views and scientific evidence in understanding behavior |
2 |
| Identify argument based largely on anecdotal evidence and personal experience |
2 |
| Identify claims arising from myths, stereotypes, common fallacies and poorly supported assertions regarding behavior |
2 |
| Summarize general criteria of abnormality |
2 |
| Explain the elements and importance of effective testing |
2 |
| Identify major and emerging applied areas in psychology |
2 |
| Define skepticism and its role in psychological sciences |
2 |
| Define tolerance of ambiguity and explain its role in psychological science |
2 |
| Describe some elements of the ethical code |
2 |
V. Topical Outline
Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.
1. Lecture Sessions
- What is Psychology?
- History of Psychology
- What Psychologists Do
- Critical Thinking
- How Psychologists do Research
- Descriptive Research
- Experimental Research
- Statistics
- Ethics
- Genes, Evolution & Environment
- Evolutionary Psychology
- Behavioral Genetics
- The Brain: Source of Mind & Self
- The Nervous System
- Communication in the Nervous System
- The Brain
- Body Rhythms & Mental States
- Biological Rhythms
- Sleep
- Dreams
- Hypnosis
- Psychoactive Drugs
- Learning & Conditioning
- Classical Conditioning
- Operant Conditioning
- Social-Cognitive Learning Theories
- Behavior in Social & Cultural Context
- Roles & Rules
- Social Cognition
- Groups
- Memory
- Models of Memory
- Biology of Memory
- Remembering
- Forgetting
- Theories of Personality
- Psychodynamic Theories
- Trait Theories
- Genetic Influences
- Environmental Influences
- Inner Experience
- Psychological Disorders
- Diagnosis
- Anxiety Disorders
- Mood Disorders
- Personality Disorders
- Drug Abuse & Addiction
- Schizophrenia
- Approaches To Treatment & Therapy
- Biological Treatments
- Schools of Psychotherapy
- Evaluating Psychotherapy
2. Laboratory/Studio Sessions