Introduction to Psychology
PSYC-40028
Gain an Introduction to Psychology
This undergraduate-level online course is designed to introduce students to the exciting field of psychology. Students explore a range of topics including cognition and language, sensation and perception, memory, personality, intelligence, health, stress, and coping, social psychology, and psychological disorders. Research methods, historical trends and theories, critical analysis used in contemporary psychology are also covered. The course is appropriate for students who have not taken a psychology course and those interested in a refresher.
This course is designed to make concepts and theories presented in psychology beneficial in everyday life, regardless of what your career and educational goals are. This course uses a combination of online lectures, videos, podcasts, and short news articles.
Goals and Objectives
- Understand human behavior and functioning from a psychological theory perspective and describe the usefulness of this approach to understanding individual and group behavior
- Know how to identify and describe the major theoretical approaches in historical and current psychological works. Critically analyze these approaches by listing their strengths and limitations
- Describe major influences on an individual’s psychological development across the lifespan. Including but not limited to: negative environmental conditions, internal drives, social influence, stress/coping mechanisms, and psychological disorders
- Explore and identify your values and ideas about human psychological development
Course Information
Course sessions
Section ID:
Class type:
This course is entirely web-based and to be completed asynchronously between the published course start and end dates. Synchronous attendance is NOT required.
You will have access to your online course on the published start date OR 1 business day after your enrollment is confirmed if you enroll on or after the published start date.
Textbooks:
Psychology 12th
by David G. Meyers and C. Nathan Dewall
ISBN / ASIN: 9781319050627
You may purchase textbooks via the UC San Diego Bookstore.
Policies:
- No refunds after: 1/20/2025
Schedule:
Instructor:
Kyle Caler
Kyle Caler received his BA in Philosophy at West Virginia Wesleyan, his MSW with a clinical focus at Temple University and his PhD in Social Work at Rutgers University. Kyle worked in the field of disability support services for 7 years in a variety of positions before returning to obtain his PhD. During this time, he gained experience developing behavioral supports and using CBT & DBT therapy techniques with this population. Kyle has been involved in studies exploring the civic engagement of individuals with serious mental illness and the discharge and community placement process of a closing psychiatric hospital. Kyle’s dissertation involves the intersection of Q methodology and Critical Realism to explore the decision-making process of direct support staff in group homes for people with disabilities. Kyle is currently an assistant professor at California State University- Sacramento where he teaches classes in social work practice and human behavior in the social environment.
Section ID:
Class type:
This course is entirely web-based and to be completed asynchronously between the published course start and end dates. Synchronous attendance is NOT required.
You will have access to your online course on the published start date OR 1 business day after your enrollment is confirmed if you enroll on or after the published start date.
Textbooks:
All course materials are included unless otherwise stated.
Policies:
- No refunds after: 4/7/2025
Schedule:
Instructor:
Kyle Caler
Kyle Caler received his BA in Philosophy at West Virginia Wesleyan, his MSW with a clinical focus at Temple University and his PhD in Social Work at Rutgers University. Kyle worked in the field of disability support services for 7 years in a variety of positions before returning to obtain his PhD. During this time, he gained experience developing behavioral supports and using CBT & DBT therapy techniques with this population. Kyle has been involved in studies exploring the civic engagement of individuals with serious mental illness and the discharge and community placement process of a closing psychiatric hospital. Kyle’s dissertation involves the intersection of Q methodology and Critical Realism to explore the decision-making process of direct support staff in group homes for people with disabilities. Kyle is currently an assistant professor at California State University- Sacramento where he teaches classes in social work practice and human behavior in the social environment.