Introduction to Psychology

Course Overview

Intro to Psychology Class Online | Summer 2020

What does it mean to think like a psychologist? In Introduction to Psychology, students explore three central psychological perspectives in order to develop a multi-faceted understanding of what thinking like a psychologist encompasses:

• The behavioral
• The cognitive
• The sociocultural
  

The additional question of “How do psychologists put what they know into practice?” informs study of the research methods in psychology, the ethics surrounding them, and the application of those methods to practice.

Real World Application: Understanding Psychology Day-to-Day

During the first five units of this psychology high school class, students gather essential information that they apply during a group project on the unique characteristics of adolescent psychology. Students similarly envision a case study on depression, which enables application of understandings from the first five units. The course concludes with a unit on positive psychology, which features current positive psychology research on living mentally healthy lives. Throughout the course, students collaborate on a variety of activities and assessments, which often enable learning psychology through understanding each other’s unique perspectives while building their research and critical thinking skills in service of comprehending the complex field of psychology.

NCAA-approved course

UC-approved course

Course Outline

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Competencies

• Apply Psychological Research
• Curate and create content relevant to real-world issues
• Organize your time and tasks to learn independently
• Collaborate with people who don't share your location
• Apply Psychology to Real World Settings
• Analyze human behavior