PY113A - GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY – 3 credits
Iowa Lakes Community College

PREREQUISITES: None

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
A survey course which provides an introduction to the study of psychology with emphasis on the history of psychology, learning,      personality, behavior, motivation, perception, and social      psychology as well as other areas.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon successful completion of this course the student will be able to

1. explain psychology as a scientific discipline.

2. describe the different perspectives from which psychologists examine behavior and mental processes.

3. identify psychology's important subfields.

4. describe the important characteristics of the scientific approach and show how it promotes critical thinking.

5. explain and describe how psychology contributes to our understanding of the broad range of human behavior and mental processes.

COURSE OUTLINE:

1 – Introduction: Thinking Critically with Psychology
2 – Biology and Behavior
3 – The Developing Person
4 – Sensation and Perception
5 – States of Consciousness
6 – Learning
7 – Memory
8 – Thinking, Language, and Intelligence
9 – Motivation
10 – Emotions, Stress, and Health
11 – Personality
12 – Psychological Disorders
13 – Therapy
14 – Social Psychology