PSYC 289 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
Unit 1: The Evolution of Psychology: From Speculation to Science
Unit 2: The Research Enterprise in Psychology
Unit 3: The Biological Bases of Behaviour
Unit 4: Sensation and Perception
Unit 5: Variations in Consciousness
Unit 6: Learning
Unit 7: Memory
Unit 8: Language and Thought
Evaluation
To receive credit for PSYC 289, you must complete eight quizzes, participate in a research project, and pass a final examination. You must achieve a composite course grade of at least D (50 percent) and a grade of at least 60 per cent on the final examination. The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:
Activity
Weight
Eight Graded Quizzes (5% each)
40%
Research Participation
Fail/Pass
Final Exam
60%
Total
100%
The final examination for this course must be taken online with an AU-approved exam invigilator at an approved invigilation centre. It is your responsibility to ensure your chosen invigilation centre can accommodate online exams. For a list of invigilators who can accommodate online exams, visit the Exam Invigilation Network.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.
Materials
Weiten, W., & McCann, D. (2013). Psychology: Themes and variations (Third Canadian ed.). Toronto: Thomson Education Ltd. (eText)
The Challenge for Credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.
Full information about Challenge for Credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Evaluation
To receive credit for the PSYC 289 challenge registration, you must write the examination alone, worth 100% of your final grade, and you must achieve a grade of at least C- (60 percent) or more on the examination.
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized-study counterparts.
Opened in Revision 6, January 9, 2015
Updated October 5, 2021, by Student & Academic Services