Suggested Syllabus for Introduction to Psychology

We’ve had lots of requests for a syllabus for Introduction to Psychology, so here it is!

One of 7Sisters’ most popular courses is our Introduction to Psychology from a Christian Perspective (click here for an excerpt from the text). Teens like our homeschool psychology etext because it is:

• User-friendly
• Interesting
• No-busywork that insults or bores teens
• Level-able: It is adaptable to many interests from average homeschool high schoolers who just want a fun elective course, to college-prep teens who need a rigorous, honors-level social science credit for their homeschool transcript.

We’ve had a number of requests to provide a syllabus for Introduction to Psychology from a Christian Perspective. We’ve been hesitant about that for a long time because we firmly believe that there’s not ONE right way to homeschool high school…including what should be included in a syllabus.

On the other hand, a SUGGESTED syllabus gives homeschooling moms a jumping off point. So, here is a syllabus that I’ve used when teaching Psychology in our homeschool co-op and group classes. If you go to the 7Sisters ebookstore, you can download as PDF of this syllabus for free.

For teens who want to use a course description, click the following link:

• Course description for Introduction to Psychology

Syllabus for Introduction to Psychology from a Christian Perspective 2020 edition

Welcome to Psychology!

This one-semester course is my favorite subject (I work as a counselor, so it should be). I hope it will be a favorite for you, too.

Text

Text: Introduction to Psychology from a Christian Perspective, 7SistersHomeschool.com

Optional Supplemental Material: Lesson Plans for Introduction to Psychology from a Christian Perspective, 7SistersHomeschool.com (These are additional activities and videos that add richness to the study for individual teens or co-ops.) Note: This text can be used to accompany our online, self-paced Psychology course.

Purpose of the course

This homeschool high school Psychology course is designed to give teens a life-skills course that introduces them to the concepts needed for an introductory understanding of the subject. The course covers the topics needed for a half-credit of Social Science for the homeschool transcript at an average high school level. There are instructions for leveling up to a college-prep or rigorous honors-level credit. This leveling up is presented to the teen as meaningful choices of reading, study or activities that give them the right to name this as a powerful honors-level credit.

Topics covered in Introduction to Psychology from a Christian Perspective

The topics covered in the sixteen chapters of this high school Psychology text include :

• Chapter One: The Brain and How it Works
• Chapter Two: Perception
• Chapter Three: Genetics
• Chapter Four: Learning
• Chapter Five: History of Psychology, Ancient to Pre-Modern Times
• Chapter Six: Psychology into Modern Times
• Chapter Seven: Communication
• Chapter Eight: Needs and Motivation
• Chapter Nine: Looking at Personality & Theory
• Chapter Ten: Sleep & Dreams
• Chapter Eleven: Abnormal Psychology
• Chapter Twelve: Crisis Intervention
• Chapter Thirteen: Psychological Testing
• Chapter Fourteen: Christian Counseling
• Chapter Fifteen: Understanding Research and Statistics
• Chapter Sixteen: Careers in Psychology

This text includes:

• tests
• answer key

Be sure to give the tests and answer key to your parent or co-op teacher.

There are also instructions on how to make the course ½ credit average high school level, 1 full credit average high school level, or ½ credit college prep, advanced or honors levels.

Take a look at the introduction to your textbook. It has information to help you determine which level you would like to achieve (high school, college prep, advanced, honors). You will do this work after the course ends, during the winter, but it is good to have it in mind during the semester. I will consult with you on ways to “level-up”.

Grading Scale (adjust to your needs):

• Attendance 10% (if in co-op or group class)
• Class Participation 40% (For co-op:this includes passing around homework,- so you must keep homework current to get a good participation grade. For individual: this includes attitude and timeliness of assignments)
• Assignments 50% (must be neatly written and stapled-if text is printed out, or neatly typed in the editable text; and handed in according to syllabus)
• Papers (if leveling up, must be neatly done, stapled together, and handed in according to syllabus)

Due Dates for Projects (to Level Up from Average to College Prep, Advanced or Honors. Add dates):

Test Dates (add dates):

• • Chapter One: The Brain and How it Works
  • Chapter Two: Perception
  • Chapter Three: Genetics
  • Chapter Four: Learning
  • Chapter Five: History of Psychology, Ancient to Pre-Modern Times
  • Chapter Six: Psychology into Modern Times
  • Chapter Seven: Communication
  • Chapter Eight: Needs and Motivation
  • Chapter Nine: Looking at Personality & Theory
  • Chapter Ten: Sleep & Dreams
  • Chapter Eleven: Abnormal Psychology
  • Chapter Twelve: Crisis Intervention
  • Chapter Thirteen: Psychological Testing
  • Chapter Fourteen: Christian Counseling
  • Chapter Fifteen: Understanding Research and Statistics
  • Chapter Sixteen: Careers in Psychology

Weekly assignments:

Week 1: Chapter One: The Brain and How it Works

Homework: Read Introduction and Chapter 1. Answer questions and complete test.

Week 2: Chapter Two: Perception

Homework: Read Chapter 2. Answer questions and complete test.

Week 3: Chapter Three: Genetics

Homework: Read Chapter 3:  Answer questions at end of chapter and complete test.

Week 4: Chapter Four: Learning

Homework: Read Chapter 4. Answer questions at end of chapter and complete test.

Week 5: Chapter Five: History of Psychology- Ancient to Pre-modern Times

Homework: Read Chapter 5. Answer questions at end of chapter and complete test.

Week 6: Chapter Six: History of Psychology into Modern Times

Homework: Read Chapter 6. Answer questions at end of chapter and complete test.

Week 7: Chapter Seven: Communication

Homework: Read Chapter 7. Answer questions at end of chapter and complete test.

Week 8: Chapter Eight: Needs and Motivation

Homework: Read Chapter 8. Answer questions at end of chapter and complete test.

Week 9: Chapter Nine: Looking at Personality & Theory

Homework: Read Chapter 9. Answer questions at end of chapter and complete test.

Week 10: Chapter Ten: Sleep & Dreams

Homework: Read Chapter 10. Answer questions at end of chapter and complete test.

Week 11: Chapter Eleven: Abnormal Psychology

Homework: Read Chapter 11. Answer questions at end of chapter and complete test.

Week 12: Chapter Twelve: Crisis Intervention

Homework: Read Chapter 12. Answer questions at end of chapter and complete test.

Week 13: Chapter Thirteen: Psychological Testing

Homework: Read Chapter 13. Answer questions at end of chapter and complete test.

Week 14: Chapter Fourteen: Christian Counseling

Homework: Read Chapter 14. Answer questions at end of chapter and complete test.

Week 15: Chapter Fifteen: Understanding Research and Statistics

Homework: Read Chapter 15. Answer questions at end of chapter and complete test.

Week 16: Chapter Sixteen: Careers in Psychology

Homework: Read Chapter 16. Answer questions at end of chapter and complete test.

NOTE: You can extend this course to a full credit, simply follow the directions included in the introduction to the text. You can also level up to a full honors credit by following these directions.

Be sure to adapt this syllabus to your homeschool high schoolers’ needs. Everyone is different!