PHILIPPINE ENGINEERING AND AGRO-INDUSTRIAL COLLEGE, INC.
College of Arts, Science and Education
Social Work Department
Course Syllabus for General Psychology
(Psych 111)
I. General Information
Credits : 3 units
Academic Term : 1st Trimester, AY 2024-2025
Degree Program : BS Social Work
Pre-requisites : None
Instructor : Jamal R. Pandapatan
II. Course Description
This general education course introduces students to fundamental concepts and
theories that aid in understanding human behavior. It will explore essential topics across
various subfields, including biopsychology, developmental psychology, personality
psychology, learning psychology, cognitive psychology, and social psychology. This course
will lean towards the usage of psychological perspectives in the social work profession.
III. Course Objectives
At the end of this course, students are expected to:
1. Apply psychological theories and concepts to analyze and understand human
behavior within the context of social work.
2. Cultivate an understanding of the ethical considerations involved in applying
psychological theories to social work which ensures responsible and compassionate
practice.
3. Recognize and appreciate how observed human behavior aligns with or deviates from
psychological theories.
4. Develop a strategy to enhance understanding and communication about behavior
among individuals.
IV. Course Outline
The following are critically examined to ensure that the coverage of this course focuses
on its utilization in the social work profession.
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I. Nature of Psychology
a. Definition and Goals of Psychology
b. Historical and Modern Approaches to Psychology
c. Psychological Research
II. Neurological Basis of Behavior
a. The Nervous System
b. Structures of the Brain and their Functions
c. Endocrine System
III. Personality
a. Theoretical Perspectives of Personality
b. Freud’s Psychodynamic Theory
c. Trait Theory and Five-Factor Model
d. Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory
e. Rogers’ and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
IV. Human Development
a. Piaget’s Cognitive Development Theory
b. Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory
c. Kohlberg’s Moral Development Theory
d. Erikson’s Psychosocial Development Theory
V. Learning
a. Nature of Learning
b. Pavlov’s Classical Conditioning
c. Skinner’s Operant Conditioning
VI. Memory
a. Memory Systems
b. Processes of Memory
c. Stages of Memory
d. Forgetting
VII. Thinking and Intelligence
a. Nature of Cognition
b. Concepts and Categories
c. Problem-solving and Decision-making
d. Theories of Intelligences
e. Measurement of Intelligence
VIII. Social Psychology
a. Social Cognition
b. Social Influence
c. Social Interaction
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V. Course Requirements
To pass this course, students must meet the following requirements. The instructor
shall have the prerogative to make changes if deemed necessary.
Quizzes. Following the discussion of each topic in the course outline, a 30-item
quiz will be administered to evaluate students' understanding. Quizzes
will take place during scheduled dates only. Make-up quizzes will be
offered only if students provide a letter with a valid and acceptable
reason for their absence.
Oral Recitations. In-between discussion, students will be called upon to articulate their
understanding of key concepts, theories, and topics covered in the
course. This format encourages the development of critical thinking
and communication skills, as students must clearly and confidently
express their insights and analyses. Unable to respond to the question
will not result in any deduction of grades.
Major Examination. This course will include only two examinations: a midterm and a final.
Both exams will be comprehensive, with the midterm covering topics
from sections I-IV of the course outline, and the final covering sections
I-VIII. The exams will consist of multiple-choice questions and essay
responses.
Final Requirement. As the final requirement for this course, the whole class shall work
together to create a booklet that features the profiles, key facts, and
contributions of the notable figures discussed throughout the
semester. Students must individually have their own copy of the
booklet, while the instructor should receive only a digital PDF version.
VI. Grading System
To ensure fairness, students’ grades will be determined based on summative
assessments which includes the requirements outlined in item V of this syllabus.
a. Attendance - 10%
b. Quizzes and Oral Recitation - 20%
c. Examinations - 30%
d. Final Requirements - 40%
TOTAL - 100%
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VII. Book References
Rathus, S.A. (2018). Psych: Introductory Psychology (5th Edition). Cengage Learning: Boston.
ISBN: 9781305662704.
Rathus, S.A. (2020). Psych: Introductory Psychology (6th Edition). Cengage Learning: Boston.
ISBN: 9780357041215.
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