This Advanced Placement Psychology course is equivalent to a college-level introductory Psychology course. The rigor of this course is consistent with colleges and universities and will prepare students for the Advanced Placement exam in May. Upon successful completion of the exam, students may receive college credit and will be well-prepared for the advanced coursework. Additional details about this course from the College Board can be found here:
AP Psychology.
In this course, students will explore the five pillars of psychology:
- Biological Bases of Behavior
- Cognition
- Development and Learning
- Social Psychology
- Mental and Physical Health
Through five corresponding units of study, students will investigate a variety of subtopics including but not limited to, neuroscience, consciousness and sensation, perception, memory and intelligence, lifespan development and learning, attitude formation, attitude change and personality, and health psychology and treatment of psychological disorders.
AP Psychology is designed for dedicated and focused high school students who are interested in both social studies and science. This course provides an in-depth analysis of human behavior as we discover the underlying workings of sensation, cognition, emotions, and social influence. Students will participate in thought-provoking activities, engage in interactive discussions, and participate in exciting experiments. Through these experiences, we will gain valuable insight into the workings of our minds and build critical thinking skills essential for students’ journeys ahead. We will expand our understanding of human behavior and the latest scientific research that is shaping the field of psychology while developing scientific skills in content application, research methods and design, data interpretation, and argumentation.
The AP® curriculum stresses higher-order thinking skills within a rigorous academic context. Throughout the year in AP Psychology, students will refine skills in applying psychological theories and concepts to real-life situations. Students will be required to frequently memorize, comprehend, and apply psychological concepts. Students will gain confidence in research methods and design by conducting experiments, surveys, and case studies. By analyzing data from a variety of sources, students will regularly interpret data and gain deeper insights into human behavior. In addition, students will develop argumentation skills through structured discussions and essay writing, effectively articulating and defending viewpoints with evidence-based reasoning.
Students will be expected to enroll in My AP Classroom through their VHS Learning AP course and will be guided to complete review work in My AP Classroom throughout the year. My AP Classroom resources include AP Daily Videos and unit-based Personal Progress Checks, which include AP-style multiple-choice and free-response questions.
Students enrolled in VHS Learning Advanced Placement courses with a passing grade are expected to take the AP Exam. Students register for AP exams through their local school or testing site as “Exam Only” students. AP exam scores will be reported to VHS Learning through My AP Classroom; exam results will not affect the student’s VHS Learning grade or future enrollment in VHS Learning courses.
This AP course has a required summer assignment. The summer assignment is a review of prerequisite content and critical concepts students must be comfortable with before beginning the course. Students are expected to complete their summer assignment before the course begins and submit their work by the end of Week 1. Students who register on or after September 1 will receive an extension to complete the summer assignment by the end of Week 3.
In this AP-level course, students are expected to invest approximately 10 hours per week on their coursework.