10/31/2025 10:33:06 AM	PSYCH 1A Course Outline as of Fall 2020	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  PSYCH 1A	Title:  GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY
Full Title:  General Psychology
Last Reviewed:10/28/2024

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	0		4 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:

Scientific study of human behavior; emotions, thinking, heredity, environment, learning, intelligence, and human diversity.  

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

Scientific study of human behavior; emotions, thinking, heredity, environment, learning, intelligence, and human diversity.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:	Fall 2025
Area:	D L4 D	Social and Behavioral Sciences Social and Behavioral Sciences Social and Behavioral Sciences
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	D	Social Science		Fall 2010
	D9	Psychology
	D	Social Science		Fall 1991	Fall 2010
	D1	Anthropology and Archeology
	D4	Gender Studies
	D9	Psychology
	D	Social Science		Fall 1981	Fall 1991
	D1	Anthropology and Archeology
	D4	Gender Studies
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	4	Social and Behavioral Science		Fall 1981
	4I	Psychology
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
UC Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
C-ID:
CID Descriptor: PSY 110	Introductory Psychology	SRJC Equivalent Course(s): PSYCC1000

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1.  Use major psychological theoretical perspectives to explain human behavior.

2.  Identify the major scientific research methods, and use the critical thinking process to assess research materials and methods.

 

Objectives:

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1.   Define psychology; outline its historical roots; identify what psychologists do;

       and apply the critical thinking process to psychological phenomena and research

       outcomes.

2.   Describe and apply with examples the various psychological research methods used

       to study behavior; include description of case studies, naturalistic and laboratory

        observations, correlational studies, surveys and tests, the experimental method,

        and longitudinal and cross-sectional studies.

3.   Diagram the structure of the brain and its neuron cells; include descriptions of hemispheric

       specialization, location of important structures and their functions, and male/female

       differences.

4.   Discriminate among the following body rhythms and mental states: circadian rhythm and the

      sleep cycle, infradian rhythm and the premenstrual cycle, and ultradian rhythm and the

       stages of dream.

5.   Analyze the processes of sensation and perception and relate how abilities, beliefs,

       and emotions can affect sensory perception.

6.   Summarize the principles of classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and social-

      cognitive learning and apply these principles when explaining the origins of phobias,

      fetishes, and aggression.

7.   Determine how societal roles and rules, authority figures, and group opinions and behaviors

       affect an individual's opinions, actions, and emotions; generate a plan on how to decrease

       stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination.

8.   Distinguish among the different theories of intelligence, including Sternberg's Triarchic

       Theory of Intelligence and Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligence.

9.   Discuss how the body, the mind, and culture influence the experience and display of

       emotions; assess the components of stress and describe how to cope and

       manage stressful events.

10. Compare and contrast the following theories of personalities: biological (genes and heredity),

       environmental (parents, peers, situations), cultural (values and traits), psychodynamic

       (unconscious conflicts and desires), and humanistic (present inner self).

11. Analyze and describe the following categories of psychological disorder: anxiety disorders,

       mood disorders, eating disorders, personality disorders, dissociative disorders and

       schizophrenia.

12. Apply the following treatment strategies and therapeutic styles to their appropriate

       psychological  disorders:  lobotomy, Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), antianxiety, antidepressant, antipsychotic,

       psychodynamic,  cognitive-behavioral, behavioral, humanistic, group, and family.

Topics and Scope

I.     Introduction to Psychological Theories

II.    Psychology Research Methods

III.   Evolution, Genes, and Behavior

IV.   Neurons, Hormones, and the Brain

V.    Body Rhythms and Mental States

VI.   Sensation and Perception

VII.  Learning and Conditioning

VIII. Behavior in Social and Cultural Context

IX.   Thinking and Intelligence

X.    Memory

XI.   Emotion

XII.  Motivation

XIII. Theories of Personality

XIV. Development over the Life Span

XV.  Health, Stress, and Coping

XVI. Psychological Disorders

Assignments:

1. Read approximately 35 pages per week

2. Writing assignment that may include research, experiential, response,

     or project for a minimum of 1,250 words

3. Quizzes, exams, and a final

4. Oral presentation and/or group project may be assigned

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 30 - 60%
Research, experiential, response, or project paper
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 0 - 0%
None
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 40 - 60%
Quizzes, Exams, and a Final
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 10%
Oral presentation and/or group project

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Psychology. 5th ed. Ciccarelli, Saundra and White, Nolan. Pearson. 2017

 

Understanding Psychology. 13th ed. Feldman, Robert S. McGraw-Hill. 2017

 

Discovering  Psychology. 8th ed. Hockenbury, Sandra and Nolan, Susan. Worth. 2019

 

Diversity in Psychology, Psychology in Diversity: Psychology for the 21st Century. Kremer, Ju¨rgen Werner. Kendall-Hunt. 2017

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