Overview

This course introduces the broad areas of biological bases of behaviour, sensation and perception, learning and memory, and variations in consciousness. Specific topics covered include the brain, sleep, drugs, altered states of consciousness, touch, taste, smell, hearing, seeing, attention, visual perception, emotion, Pavlovian conditioning, operant conditioning, memory, and hypnosis.

Outline

The course consists of five units of material. The units are composed of the following chapters in the main course text:

Evaluation

The final grade in PSYC 289 depends upon student performance on unit quizzes and on the final exam. Students must receive 60% on the final exam in order to pass the course. For a student who receives less than 60% on the final exam, the course grade will be equal to the final exam grade and that student will have failed the course.  Students are also required to achieve a course composite grade of at least "D" (50 per cent).  To receive credit in PSYC 289 you are also required to participate in research or to write a book report. Research participation and the book report are graded on a pass/fail basis.

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.

Course Materials

Textbook

Weiten, W. (2001). Psychology: Themes and Variations (5th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.

Other materials

The course materials include a student manual, study guide and a quiz package.