PSYC 379 is designed to introduce students to the field of social psychology, the scientific study of how our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours influence, and are influenced by other people in social situations. The course covers basic theories, concepts, and research about individual processes (e.g., attitude change), interpersonal processes (e.g., aggression), and group processes (e.g., intergroup relations).
Outline
Unit 1: Introduction
Unit 2: Doing Psychological Research
Unit 3: The Social Self
Unit 4: Perceiving Persons
Unit 5: Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination
Unit 6: Attitudes
Unit 7: Social Influence
Unit 8: Group Processes
Unit 9: Attraction and Close Relationships
Unit 10: Helping Others
Unit 11: Aggression
Evaluation
To receive credit for PSYC 379, you must complete course quizzes, a project, and an examination. You must achieve a composite course grade of at least D (50 percent) and a grade of at least 50 percent on the final examination. The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:
Activity
Weight
4 Quizzes (5% each)
20%
Course Project
40%
Final Exam
40%
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
Kassin, S., Fein, S., Marcus, H. R., & Burke, T. (2013). Social Psychology (2nd Canadian ed.). Toronto, ON: Nelson Education. (eText)
The course materials include an assignment booklet, a student manual, and a study guide on the Moodle course website.
Challenge for Credit
Overview
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 379 challenge registration, you must score at least 50 percent on the exam and obtain a composite mark of at least D (50 percent) to pass. If you fail the exam, your exam mark will become the final grade for the challenge.
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 7, January 2, 2013
Updated October 5, 2021, by Student & Academic Services