COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES - DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY

PSY 1113: ELEMENTS OF PSYCHOLOGY

Stephanie Capps Stern
WELCOME to PSY 1113! WHY INTRODUCTORY PSYCHOLOGY? The purpose of this course is to provide you with an overview of the major areas of study in the field of psychology. This course will introduce you to concepts and critical thinking skills that are used in psychology and that will help you learn to think like a psychologist. You will learn about major theoretical perspectives in psychology, research methods, and concepts from different content areas such as physiological psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology, and cognitive psychology. Understanding some of the major concepts in psychology should prove beneficial for understanding the mental processes and behavior of people, as well as providing a framework for future studies in this field. This course should help you to develop insights into understanding learning and memory, personality, stages of human development, stress and its effects, behavior in groups, and psychological disorders. Thus, the course will expose you to information that is not only interesting but also useful in “the real world.” HOW TO USE THIS COURSE This course is laid out in Modules. Most of your course information, content, links, and assignments can be found in the Modules tab in the left navigation. Take a look at the course schedule to see what Module you are in each week. Go to that Module and work through the content and the assignments. WHAT TO DO THE FIRST WEEK Syllabus and Course Schedule: Read through the syllabus and course schedule (found in the menu to the left under "syllabus") carefully and make sure you know when assignments are due. Mark the due dates down in your own calendar. Additionally, familiarize yourself with all the documents and resources available in Canvas. Know where to find what you need. McGraw-Hill Connect: Review how to use Connect and get registered (for more information click on the McGraw-Hill Connect Module on the Content page). TopHat: Register for TopHat and download the app on all devices you'll be using during class. Bookmark the page on your browser if you will be using a laptop. Chapter 1: Begin completing the readings, activities, and assignments for Chapter 1.	COURSE INFORMATION PROFESSOR: Stephanie Capps Stern OFFICE: Dale Hall Tower 723 OFFICE HOURS: Monday/Tuesday 1:30-2:30 ACTION TUTORING: Wednesdays 2:30pm-4:30pm EMAIL: stephanie.c.capps-1@ou.edu COURSE MODULES Chapter 1: What Is Psychology? Chapter 2: Psychology’s Scientific Method Chapter 3: Biological Foundations of Behavior Chapter 4: Sensation and Perception Chapter 5: States of Consciousness Chapter 6: Learning Chapter 7: Memory Chapter 9: Human Growth and Development Chapter 11: Gender, Sex, and Sexuality Chapter 12: Personality Chapter 13: Social Psychology Chapter 15: Psychological Disorders Chapter 16: Therapies