This course provides an overview of the key concepts in psychology as well as the research methods used to investigate the psychological process underlying human behavior. The course includes an overview of psychology’s five course core domains while developing the skillsets needed for scientific reasoning and problem solving, thinking critically, understanding psychology processes and interpreting behavior. Through a highly integrated approach, domains and research will be explored through multiple lenses, with special attention to ethical considerations, cultural and social diversity, individual variance, and real-world applications.

This course will explore basic concepts and theories of human development with a focus on the nine major periods of life from prenatal development to death and dying. The nature of interactions between an individual’s biology and their environment will be examined by integrating information from a wide array of research studies. These studies consist of, but are not limited to, ground-breaking historic studies to recent studies of physical, neurological, and cognitive development.

This abnormal psychology course will explore basic concepts and theories related to abnormal psychology and how psychopathology is classified. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the history of abnormal psychology, the negative impact of stigma related to the diagnosis of mental health disorders, strategies for clinical assessment, the biopsychosocial model for explaining mental illness, as well as the classification, etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of the major disorders. Upon completion, students should be able to distinguish between normal and abnormal behavior patterns as well as demonstrate knowledge of etiology, epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders.