Psychology curriculum

A psychology sequence covering research methods, biology, sensation, learning, cognition, development, personality, disorders, and social psychology.

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High school psychology / AP Psychology / intro college

Psychology curriculum

A psychology sequence covering research methods, biology, sensation, learning, cognition, development, personality, disorders, and social psychology.

Pacing

8 units, 20-30 weeks self-paced

Units

8 unit sequence

Practice

16 checked answers

Support

Self-paced or tutor-guided

Outcomes

Explain behavior and mental processes using evidence-based concepts.
Read psychology research with attention to methods and limits.
Apply psychological ideas ethically to learning, development, and social life.

Unit sequence

Built for independent progress first, then tutor support where the student gets stuck.

01
Science of psychology
- Compare major perspectives and research methods.
- Identify variables, ethics, sampling, and bias.
Practice: Critique a popular psychology claim using research-method vocabulary.
Original practice checks
Answer in PeerTutor, then use the explanation or bring the miss to a tutor.
2 checked answers
Unit readiness
Which target best matches the Psychology unit "Science of psychology"?
Identify variables, ethics, sampling, and bias.Connect biology to behavior without oversimplifying.Compare major perspectives and research methods.Explain neurons, neurotransmitters, brain systems, genetics, and evolution.
Practice artifact
Which practice artifact should you produce for "Science of psychology" before asking a tutor for help?
Critique a popular psychology claim using research-method vocabulary.Skip the unit and start a new subject.Memorize vocabulary without checking any examples.Watch videos without writing or solving anything.
02
Biological bases
- Explain neurons, neurotransmitters, brain systems, genetics, and evolution.
- Connect biology to behavior without oversimplifying.
Practice: Map a behavior to nervous-system structures and explain uncertainty.
Original practice checks
Answer in PeerTutor, then use the explanation or bring the miss to a tutor.
2 checked answers
Unit readiness
Which target best matches the Psychology unit "Biological bases"?
Identify variables, ethics, sampling, and bias.Compare major perspectives and research methods.Explain neurons, neurotransmitters, brain systems, genetics, and evolution.Connect biology to behavior without oversimplifying.
Practice artifact
Which practice artifact should you produce for "Biological bases" before asking a tutor for help?
Memorize vocabulary without checking any examples.Watch videos without writing or solving anything.Map a behavior to nervous-system structures and explain uncertainty.Skip the unit and start a new subject.
03
Sensation, perception, and consciousness
- Distinguish sensation from perception.
- Explain attention, sleep, drugs, and altered states.
Practice: Analyze a perception illusion with bottom-up and top-down processing.
Original practice checks
Answer in PeerTutor, then use the explanation or bring the miss to a tutor.
2 checked answers
Unit readiness
Which target best matches the Psychology unit "Sensation, perception, and consciousness"?
Distinguish sensation from perception.Identify variables, ethics, sampling, and bias.Compare major perspectives and research methods.Explain neurons, neurotransmitters, brain systems, genetics, and evolution.
Practice artifact
Which practice artifact should you produce for "Sensation, perception, and consciousness" before asking a tutor for help?
Watch videos without writing or solving anything.Memorize vocabulary without checking any examples.Analyze a perception illusion with bottom-up and top-down processing.Skip the unit and start a new subject.
04
Learning
- Use classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and observational learning.
- Apply reinforcement and punishment precisely.
Practice: Design a behavior-change plan and identify ethical risks.
Original practice checks
Answer in PeerTutor, then use the explanation or bring the miss to a tutor.
2 checked answers
Unit readiness
Which target best matches the Psychology unit "Learning"?
Identify variables, ethics, sampling, and bias.Compare major perspectives and research methods.Apply reinforcement and punishment precisely.Explain neurons, neurotransmitters, brain systems, genetics, and evolution.
Practice artifact
Which practice artifact should you produce for "Learning" before asking a tutor for help?
Watch videos without writing or solving anything.Memorize vocabulary without checking any examples.Design a behavior-change plan and identify ethical risks.Skip the unit and start a new subject.
05
Memory, thinking, and intelligence
- Explain encoding, storage, retrieval, forgetting, language, problem-solving, and intelligence testing.
- Recognize cognitive biases.
Practice: Build a study plan based on memory research.
Original practice checks
Answer in PeerTutor, then use the explanation or bring the miss to a tutor.
2 checked answers
Unit readiness
Which target best matches the Psychology unit "Memory, thinking, and intelligence"?
Compare major perspectives and research methods.Identify variables, ethics, sampling, and bias.Explain encoding, storage, retrieval, forgetting, language, problem-solving, and intelligence testing.Explain neurons, neurotransmitters, brain systems, genetics, and evolution.
Practice artifact
Which practice artifact should you produce for "Memory, thinking, and intelligence" before asking a tutor for help?
Memorize vocabulary without checking any examples.Skip the unit and start a new subject.Build a study plan based on memory research.Watch videos without writing or solving anything.
06
Development and personality
- Compare developmental theories and life-span changes.
- Explain trait, psychodynamic, humanistic, and social-cognitive personality views.
Practice: Apply two theories to the same developmental scenario.
Original practice checks
Answer in PeerTutor, then use the explanation or bring the miss to a tutor.
2 checked answers
Unit readiness
Which target best matches the Psychology unit "Development and personality"?
Explain neurons, neurotransmitters, brain systems, genetics, and evolution.Explain trait, psychodynamic, humanistic, and social-cognitive personality views.Compare major perspectives and research methods.Identify variables, ethics, sampling, and bias.
Practice artifact
Which practice artifact should you produce for "Development and personality" before asking a tutor for help?
Skip the unit and start a new subject.Apply two theories to the same developmental scenario.Watch videos without writing or solving anything.Memorize vocabulary without checking any examples.
07
Disorders and treatment
- Use diagnostic categories carefully.
- Compare therapeutic approaches and evidence.
Practice: Analyze a case vignette without stigmatizing language.
Original practice checks
Answer in PeerTutor, then use the explanation or bring the miss to a tutor.
2 checked answers
Unit readiness
Which target best matches the Psychology unit "Disorders and treatment"?
Compare major perspectives and research methods.Identify variables, ethics, sampling, and bias.Use diagnostic categories carefully.Explain neurons, neurotransmitters, brain systems, genetics, and evolution.
Practice artifact
Which practice artifact should you produce for "Disorders and treatment" before asking a tutor for help?
Analyze a case vignette without stigmatizing language.Skip the unit and start a new subject.Watch videos without writing or solving anything.Memorize vocabulary without checking any examples.
08
Social psychology and capstone
- Explain conformity, obedience, attitudes, prejudice, attraction, aggression, and prosocial behavior.
- Apply psychology to a real-world problem.
Practice: Complete a final evidence-based explanation of one behavior.
Original practice checks
Answer in PeerTutor, then use the explanation or bring the miss to a tutor.
2 checked answers
Unit readiness
Which target best matches the Psychology unit "Social psychology and capstone"?
Apply psychology to a real-world problem.Explain neurons, neurotransmitters, brain systems, genetics, and evolution.Compare major perspectives and research methods.Identify variables, ethics, sampling, and bias.
Practice artifact
Which practice artifact should you produce for "Social psychology and capstone" before asking a tutor for help?
Watch videos without writing or solving anything.Skip the unit and start a new subject.Memorize vocabulary without checking any examples.Complete a final evidence-based explanation of one behavior.