Preparing For An Intro To Psychology Course

By Scott Winy


One of the more popular courses for students that are earning a humanities related degree is Introduction to Psychology. This may be because many people are drawn to learning about how the mind works and how we as individuals become who we are. It may also be because psychology is often at the core of many other humanities majors, such as sociology and anthropology. Regardless, should you decide to take and Introduction to Psychology course here is what you can expect.

In general, those in the fields of Psychology or Social and Behavioral Sciences take Human Growth and Development college courses. For most online Human Growth and Development college courses the only prerequisite is that the student is able to read and write on a level that is appropriate for college coursework.

One major focus in an Introduction to Psychology course is the theories of past psychologists. You may have heard of Sigmund Freud? Well, this is one person you will most likely learn about. His theories about dream therapy and family relationships were quite influential in the psychology field.

Another topic that you encounter in an Introduction to Psychology course is human development. Many psychologists focus on the development of the brain throughout the human life cycle. In fact, you will find psychologists who are experts in each phase of human life, including early development, adolescence and geriatric psychology-the study of behavior of humans in the later years of their lives.

Online Human Growth and Development college courses have similar objectives to those of their traditional counterparts. Through these courses, students attempt to gain understanding of human development over the life span, which has three major developmental stages: child, adolescent and adult.

As you learn about these topics, the goal of your instructor is to give you a broad understanding of the study of psychology. That is why most Introduction to Psychology courses have common goals or educational objectives. Understanding how psychology applies to everyday situations, being aware of the effects of mental well-being on physical health, and grasping the importance of psychology as a science and profession are among these.

To meet these objectives, courses may require textbooks, videos, and visits to campus. The methods used in online college courses to determine attendance, participation and overall grade differs from those of traditional classroom courses.

Attendance for an online class may be determined by correspondence, which includes e-mail and online participation of discussion topics rather than actual classroom attendance. Similar to traditional classroom college courses, lack of participation can lead to a failing grade. To take any online college course, a student should: 1. be proficient in using a computer; 2. have the ability to navigate the internet; 3. be proficient in using e-mail; 4. be familiar with word processing software; and 5. in most cases, be familiar with WebCT.




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