PSY 205: Foundations of Human Behavior

PSY 205
Foundations of Human Behavior
(3 credits)
Class Size: 10-25

Faculty: Meredith Martin, Associate Teaching Professor, Syracuse University
Administrative Contact: Sean Conrey, Associate Director, Project Advance

Course Catalog Description

Fundamental principles of mental life and human behavior. Significance of psychology in human relationships and self-understanding.

Course Overview

Psychology 205 is an introductory psychology course offered by Syracuse University’s psychology department. It is an innovative course which provides instruction in the fundamental topics in psychology in addition to providing a degree of freedom for students to pursue individual topics of interest.

The primary goals of the course include providing students with information regarding major areas of psychology such as learning, memory, cognition, development, personality, and social psychology. Students will learn the basic principles, concepts, and research findings in psychology and will become acquainted with psychological research methods and procedures while attempting to conduct and document research.

Students will be presented with opportunities to discuss current topics, events, real-life experiences, and applications of psychological theories and research. Furthermore, students will learn the organizational and study skills important to succeed in college courses while also developing their oral and written communication of psychological knowledge.

Students read college-level textbooks and complete study guide assignments. Other components of the course include teacher lectures, class discussions, Syracuse University course lectures on the World Wide Web, online textbook links, research reviews and/or research projects, objective exams, essay exams, SU faculty visits, and teacher-generated learning projects.

The text for the course is Wayne Weiten’s Psychology Themes and Variation, 11th ed. (Wadsworth) and its supplements: a study guide, webpage, other media, and practice tests.

The areas covered by the book include the following:

  • Research and Behavioral Science Development
  • Biological Basis of the Brain and Intelligence
  • Consciousness, Motivation, and Emotion
  • Sensation and Perception
  • Personality
  • Learning and Psychological Disorders
  • Memory, Cognition/Thinking and Social Psychology
  • Language Development

Pre- / Co-requisites

N/A

Course Objectives

  1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of theoretical perspectives in psychology, research methods used to test hypotheses, and key terms, concepts, and principles associated with major topics in psychology.
  2. Students will learn to access, critically read, and evaluate in writing, a journal article of a psychological study.
  3. Students will complete at least 10 pages of written work, and will receive written and oral feedback on both psychological content and technical aspects of writing.
  4. Students will learn how to conduct psychological research.
  5. Students will critically evaluate issues presented in class and the text.
  6. Students will analyze psychological issues using multicultural perspectives.

Laboratory

N/A

Required Materials

Weiten, W. (2016). Psychology: Themes & Variations (11th edition). Cengage Learning.
ISBN 9781305498204 (Cengage, 800-354-9706

Optional:

Study Guide, 11th edition
ISBN 9781337292177

  1. Instructor’s Resource Manual Online
  2. Power Lecture CD with Testing Online
  3. Test Bank Online

Instructor Recommendations

N/A