Genesee Course Catalog

Official Course Information

Please select a Course Section from the List below or use the Search box on the right if you know the Title.

Psychology Courses:

PSY101 - General Psychology
Credits: 3 Catalog Description: Introduces the scientific study of human and animal behavior. Topics include basic methodology, motivation, emotion, learning, memory, human development, personality, psychological disorders, and therapy. Prerequisite: REA101 or having met the College's reading competency. Lecture: 3 hrs. Student Performance Outcomes: Upon successful completion of the course as documented by papers, exams, classroom or online discussion/activities, the student will be able to: Research Methodology 1. Compare and contrast a recently published popular press report of an empirical study in psychology with the original research article from a scholarly source by writing a 3-5 page APA-style paper. 2. Label correlational/descriptive and experimental examples of research, listing two strengths and two weaknesses of each of these research methods; and correctly identifying, from an example of an experiment, the independent and dependent variables. Neuroscience and Behavior 3. Identify a minimum of three parts of a neuron. 4. List each of the four lobes of the brain and list at least one function of each. Sensation and Perception 5. Identify examples of four Gestalt principles. Learning and Conditioning 6. Label examples of classical, operant, and observational/social learning and correctly identify examples of operant conditioning illustrating positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, or punishment; and examples of the CS, UCS, CR, and UCR within classical conditioning. Human Memory 7. Describe each of the key processes involved in memory and give an original example of each; list two reasons why forgetting occurs; and state three ways to improve memory. Cognition 8. List and explain at least two barriers to successful problem-solving and decision-making. Human Development 9. Give an example of one ability that emerges during each of the four stages of Piaget's stage theory of cognitive development; provide an example of how biological and environmental factors influence development; and using Erikson's theory, identify the general age/stage at which specific crises occur. Personality Theories 10. Describe the concept of personality; correctly identify two basic constructs within at least three of the major personality theories; and indicate at least two methods or techniques for measuring personality. Psychological Disorders 11. Discuss at least one difficulty in defining/identifying psychological disorders. 12. Label examples of an anxiety disorder, a mood disorder and schizophrenia. 13. Identify at least one biological explanation and one psychological explanation for the causes of psychological disorders. Therapy Models 14. Distinguish between clinical psychologists and psychiatrists with regard to their training and their orientation. 15. Differentiate among the therapeutic techniques of at least three of the major psychological models of therapy, and list at least three specific biologically-based therapies. *Student learning outcomes(SLOs) marked with an asterisk (SLO numbers 1 and 6) must be formally assessed as part of the College's Comprehensive Assessment Plan. All faculty teaching General Psychology must collect the required data assessing student performance on SLO's 1 and 6. This data must be compiled and submitted at the conclusion of the semester to Tim Tomczak (full-time Psychology faculty member). The data is then combined with data from all faculty who are teaching General Psychology and forwarded to the College Office of Assessment and Special Projects. Content Outline: I. Research Methodology II. Neuroscience and Behavior III. Sensation and Perception IV. Learning and Conditioning V. Human Memory VI. Cognition VII. Human Development VIII. Personality Theories IX. Psychological Disorders X. Therapy Models Other possible topics: Motivation and Emotion States of Consciousness History of Psychology Social Psychology Grading: Determined by individual instructor, but at least 50% of the course grade shall be determined by traditional closed-book testing. Effective Term: Spring 2009

PSY101 - General Psychology

Credits: 3

Catalog Description: Introduces the scientific study of human and animal behavior. Topics include basic methodology, motivation, emotion, learning, memory, human development, personality, psychological disorders, and therapy. Prerequisite: REA101 or having met the College's reading competency.

Lecture: 3 hrs.

Student Performance Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of the course as documented by papers, exams, classroom or online discussion/activities, the student will be able to:

Research Methodology
1. Compare and contrast a recently published popular press report of an empirical study in psychology with the original research article from a scholarly source by writing a 3-5 page APA-style paper*.
2. Label correlational/descriptive and experimental examples of research, listing two strengths and two weaknesses of each of these research methods; and correctly identifying, from an example of an experiment, the independent and dependent variables.

Neuroscience and Behavior
3. Identify a minimum of three parts of a neuron.
4. List each of the four lobes of the brain and list at least one function of each.

Sensation and Perception
5. Identify examples of four Gestalt principles.

Learning and Conditioning
6. Label examples of classical, operant, and observational/social learning and correctly identify examples of operant conditioning illustrating positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, or punishment; and examples of the CS, UCS, CR, and UCR within classical conditioning.*

Human Memory
7. Describe each of the key processes involved in memory and give an original example of each; list two reasons why forgetting occurs; and state three ways to improve memory.

Cognition
8. List and explain at least two barriers to successful problem-solving and decision-making.

Human Development
9. Give an example of one ability that emerges during each of the four stages of Piaget's stage theory
of cognitive development; provide an example of how biological and environmental factors influence
development; and using Erikson's theory, identify the general age/stage at which specific crises occur.

Personality Theories
10. Describe the concept of personality; correctly identify two basic constructs within at least three of the major personality theories; and indicate at least two methods or techniques for measuring personality.

Psychological Disorders
11. Discuss at least one difficulty in defining/identifying psychological disorders.
12. Label examples of an anxiety disorder, a mood disorder and schizophrenia.
13. Identify at least one biological explanation and one psychological explanation for the causes of psychological disorders.

Therapy Models
14. Distinguish between clinical psychologists and psychiatrists with regard to their training and their orientation.
15. Differentiate among the therapeutic techniques of at least three of the major psychological models of therapy, and list at least three specific biologically-based therapies.

*Student learning outcomes(SLOs) marked with an asterisk (SLO numbers 1 and 6) must be formally assessed as part of the College's Comprehensive Assessment Plan. All faculty teaching General Psychology must collect the required data assessing student performance on SLO's 1 and 6. This data must be compiled and submitted at the conclusion of the semester to Tim Tomczak (full-time Psychology faculty member). The data is then combined with data from all faculty who are teaching General Psychology and forwarded to the College Office of Assessment and Special Projects.

Content Outline:
I. Research Methodology
II. Neuroscience and Behavior
III. Sensation and Perception
IV. Learning and Conditioning
V. Human Memory
VI. Cognition
VII. Human Development
VIII. Personality Theories
IX. Psychological Disorders
X. Therapy Models
Other possible topics: Motivation and Emotion
States of Consciousness
History of Psychology
Social Psychology

Grading:
Determined by individual instructor, but at least 50% of the course grade shall be determined by traditional closed-book testing.

Effective Term: Spring 2009