Course goals and learning outcomes support the Foundational Component Areas defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Course goals are linked to the respective Core Curriculum Competencies: Critical Thinking Skills, Communication Skills, Empirical and Quantitative Skills, and Social Responsibility. Specific competencies are identified in designated course goals and learning outcomes.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

Describe the historical influences and early schools of thought that shaped the field of psychology by
1. identifying the theorists that contributed to early schools of psychology;
2. identifying the major theoretical approaches that formed the schools of psychology.
Identify various research methods and their characteristics used in the scientific study of psychology by
1. identifying the fundamentals of the scientific paradigm;
2. identifying basic research methods;
3. identifying basic statistical measures;
4. identifying ethical research standards;
5. listing goals of psychology.
Describe accepted approaches and standards in the psychological assessment and evaluation.
Describe some of the prominent perspectives and approaches used in the study of psychology by
1. identifying psychological theorists and their ideas;
2. naming psychological schools;
3. defining psychological fields;
4. using terminology unique to the study of psychology.
Identify factors in physiological and psychological processes involved in human behavior by
1. explaining neurological functions and structure;
2. describing the nervous system divisions;
3. describing endocrine system functions;
4. describing brain structure and function.
Analyze the role of sensation and perception in the discipline by
1. demonstrating awareness of sensation and perception terms;
2. describing sense types;
3. explaining sensation and perception theories.
Identify consciousness altered state terms by
1. defining consciousness altered state terms;
2. explaining altered state cycles;
3. describing the neurobiology of altered states.
Analyze factors involved in classical, operant, and observational learning theories by
1. applying specified learning terms;
2. using learning concepts related to theories;
3. applying learning theories.
Identify cognition, intelligence theories, and language development by
1. identifying memory systems;
2. describing memory techniques;
3. naming factors in retrieval failure;
4. listing ways to improve memory;
5. defining intelligence terms;
6. listing intelligence theories;
7. describing types of intelligence tests;
8. identifying problem solving strategies;
9. describing language development;
10. identifying language theories.
Identify developmental theories and areas associated with development (physical, social, mental, and emotional) by
1. listing developmental terms;
2. describing developmental theories;
3. outlining the developmental stages.
Demonstrate an understanding of motivation theories and emotion terms by
Demonstrate awareness of personality theories, abnormal behavior, and names given to behavior in accordance with the current diagnostic and statistical manual by
1. defining stress and stress factors;
2. giving examples of adaptive and maladaptive stress coping strategies;
3. defining personality and terms associated with personality;
4. explaining personality theories;
5. giving examples of personality assessment methods;
6. defining abnormal behavior;
7. identifying models of abnormal behavior;
8. summarizing classifications of abnormal behavior.
Analyze psychological treatments, methods for mental wellness, and social psychology by
1. outlining treatment terms;
2. distinguishing different schools of psychotherapy;
3. describing biological therapies;
4. differentiating social psychological terms;
5. understanding group dynamics.
Communication Skills: Communicate effectively orally, visually, and/or in writing the basic theoretical perspectives of psychology by
1. providing basic definitions of psychological fields;
2. applying major theoretical perspectives to current events;
3. utilizing each theory as a means of understanding the pervasiveness of psychological concepts and theories in our homes and businesses;
4. differentiating between each theoretical perspective.
Empirical and Quantitative Skills: Use empirical and quantitative skills to manipulate and analyze data within the confines of traditionally accepted methodological approaches by
1. differentiating approaches to data collection, including case studies, surveys, traditional experiments, and correlations;
2. identifying statistical methods in research design, using the normal curve as the basis for examples;
3. describing the major research designs, including quantitative vs. qualitative;
4. explaining the difference between dependent and independent variables and correlation vs. causality.
Critical Thinking Skills: Describe, evaluate, synthesize, and perform inquiry and analysis on the empirical findings of various subfields of psychology by
1. differentiating between the learning theories of classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and observational learning, and explaining the difference in application;
2. examining intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and applying the concepts to work/life balance;
3. viewing the mental health system from the major theoretical positions, identifying problem areas, and formulating potential solutions;
4. becoming an active consumer of information by critiquing psychological studies in the news, while critically assessing valid, peer-reviewed studies;
5. understanding human development as a lifelong process and recognizing that change occurs throughout the lifespan.
Social Responsibility: Demonstrate social responsibility by
1. demonstrating an ability to consider, discuss, and reflect upon the application of the course material to various aspects of life;
2. understanding the impact one individual can make in any environment, in both positive and negative ways;
3. discussing clubs on campus that can provide hands-on experience in nonprofit and for-profit businesses related to psychology.

PSYC 2301

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PSYC 2301 - General Psychology