C-ID Descriptor
Introductory Psychology

English, one level below transfer (i.e., eligibility for English composition (C-ID ENGL 100)) and reading (a course with an exiting skill of ability to read a college level text)

1. Exploration of major theories, concepts, methods, and research findings in psychology.
2. Research methods, including the scientific approach, research design, the use of statistics, and ethics.
3. Major sub-disciplines in psychology including but not limited to: the biological bases of brain-behavior relationships, perception, cognition, learning, memory, emotion, motivation, development, personality, social psychology, psychological disorders, and therapeutic approaches, and applied psychology.

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate familiarity with the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, research methods, core empirical findings, and historic trends in psychology.
   1. Explain (including advantages and disadvantages) and compare major theoretical perspectives of psychology (e.g., behavioral, biological, cognitive, evolutionary, humanistic, psychodynamic and socio-cultural);
   2. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the following nine general domains: (1) biological bases of behavior and mental processes, (2) sensation and perception, (3) learning and memory (4) cognition, consciousness, (5) individual differences, psychometrics/measurement, personality, (6) social processes (including those related to socio-cultural and international dimensions), (7) developmental changes in behavior and mental processes that occur across the lifespan, (8) psychological disorders, and (9) emotion and motivation;
   3. Describe and demonstrate an understanding of applied areas of psychology (e.g., clinical, counseling, forensic, community, organizational, school, health);
   4. Draw the distinction between scientific and non-scientific methods of understanding and analysis.
2. Recognize and understand the impact of diversity on psychological research, theory and application, including (but not limited to): age, race, ethnicity, culture, gender, socio-economic status, disability, and sexual orientation.
3. Understand and apply psychological principles to personal experience and social and organizational settings.
4. Demonstrate critical thinking skills and information competence as applied to psychological topics.

May include:
Exams
Quizzes
Written Assignments
Projects

Myers, Exploring Psychology
Weiten, Themes and Variations in Psychology
Gazzaniga, Halpern, and Heatheron, Psychological Science
Feldman, Understanding Psychology
Wood, Wood, and Boyd, The World of Psychology