AP® Psychology
Course Summary
Cultivate an understanding of the systematic and scientific study of human behavior and mental processes through inquiry-based investigations. Students explore the biological bases of behavior, sensation and perception, learning and cognition, motivation, and other psychology concepts. Learn about developmental and social psychology, psychological testing, individual differences, and treatment of abnormal behavior. This course prepares students for the AP® Psychology exam.
Course Prerequisite(s):
None. However, students should be able to read a college-level textbook, write grammatically correct sentences, analyze images, think critically, and write evidence-based essays.
Curriculum
This is a 2-semester course. We do not recommend taking both semesters simultaneously.
Unit 1: Introduction to Psychology
- Introduction to Psychology
- Science Practices in Psychology
Unit 2: Biological Bases of Behavior - Neuroscience
- The Nervous System
- The Neuron and Neural Firing
- The Human Brain
Unit 3: Biological Bases of Behavior - Consciousness and Sensation
- Psychoactive Drugs and Consciousness
- Sleep and Consciousness
- What is Sensation?
- Visual Sensory System
- Auditory Sensory System
- Chemical and Movement Sensory Systems
Unit 4: Cognition - Cognition and Perception
- Perception
- Cognitive Tasks
Unit 5: Cognition - Cognition and Memory
- Memory
- Intelligence and Achievement
Unit 6: Development and Learning - Lifespan Development
- Human Development
- Cognitive and Social Development
Unit 7: Language Development and Learning
- Communication and Language Development
- What is Learning?
- Classical Conditioning
- Operant Conditioning
- Cognitive and Social Learning
Unit 8: Social Psychology
- Introduction to Social Psychology
- Group Dynamics
- Prosocial Behavior
Unit 9: Biological Bases of Behavior - Consciousness and Sensation
- Personality Defined and Measured
- Theories of Personality
Unit 10: Motivation and Emotion
- What is Motivation?
- Emotion
Unit 11: Health Psychology
- Stress
Unit 12: Psychological Disorders
- Introduction to Abnormal Behavior
- Psychological Disorders
Unit 13: Treatment of Psychological Disorders
- Psychotherapy
- Approaches to Psychotherapy
- Biomedical Therapy