AP Pscyhology

The AP Psychology course is designed to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals. Students are exposed to the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each of the major subfields within psychology. They also learn about the ethics and methods psychologists use in their science and practice. The course objectives are geared to prepare students for the Advanced Placement Test in Psychology given by the College Board in the spring. (See Dual Enrollment section for details)

Credits

1 Social Studies & Humanities

NCAA

Dual Enrollment Available

Grades

10-12

School Competencies
  • Global and Local Citizenship (Awareness - Foundational)
  • Self-Reflection and Advocacy (Awareness - Foundational)
  • Self-Expression (Communication - Foundational)
  • Writing (Communication - Foundational)
  • Critical Thinking (Problem Solving & Analysis - Foundational)
  • Interpretation (Problem Solving & Analysis - Foundational)
  • Logical Processing (Problem Solving & Analysis - Foundational)
  • Empathy (Wellness - Foundational)
  • Executive Functioning (Wellness - Foundational)
  • Self-Directed Learning (Wellness  - Foundational)
  • Advocate for Others (Awareness - Advanced)
  • Critical Observation (Awareness - Advanced)
  • Self-Awareness (Awareness - Advanced)
  • Social & Scientific Analysis (Awareness - Advanced)
  • Authentic Scientific Inquiry (Problem Solving & Analysis - Advanced)
  • Cognitive Flexibility (Problem Solving & Analysis - Advanced)
Course Competencies
  • Unit 1: Scientific Foundations of Psychology - You’ll learn about the basis of psychological theory as the study of human and animal behavior and mental processes and learn how psychologists design and conduct research.
  • Unit 2: Biological Bases of Behavior - You’ll study behaviors and mental processes from a biological perspective and explore the effects of the interaction between human biology and our environment
  • Unit 3: Sensation and Perception - You’ll examine how humans perceive and process the world around them via their senses and convert those observations into perceptions that influence how we think and behave.
  • Unit 4: Learning - You’ll learn about the field of psychology that studies how humans and other animals learn as well as how learning changes over a lifetime.
  • Unit 5: Cognitive Psychology - You’ll examine the complex nature of how memory, intelligence, and other mental processes impact human behavior.
  • Unit 6: Developmental Psychology - You’ll study how physical and social changes over humans’ lifespans can influence behavior and mental processes from a variety of perspectives.
  • Unit 7: Motivation, Emotion, and Personality - You’ll study personality through the lens of behavior and mental processes and how they interact to produce an individual’s personality.
  • Unit 8: Clinical Psychology - You’ll learn how psychologists evaluate, study, and treat a range of psychological disorders.
  • Unit 9: Social Psychology - You’ll examine how humans interact in groups and social situations, as well as how others can affect an individual’s behavior and mental processes.