AP Psychology Course Overview and Policies

Vocabulary terms and definitions based on the AP Psychology course syllabus, covering unit topics, grading policies, and classroom procedures.

Psychology

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Unit 1: Scientific Foundations of Psychology

A unit covering the history, perspectives of psychology, and the scientific method.

Unit 2: Biological Bases of Behavior

A unit covering the brain, nervous system, endocrine system, genetics, and states of consciousness including sleep and drugs.

Unit 3: Sensation & Perception

A unit focused on processing images, sounds, tastes, and touch.

Unit 4: Learning

A unit focused on associations, conditioning, and behavior training.

Unit 5: Cognition

A unit covering memory, thinking, language, problem solving, and intelligence.

Unit 6: Development

A unit focused on reproduction/sex, gender formation, sexual orientation, and lifespan milestones.

Unit 7: Motivation, Emotion, & Personality

A unit covering motivators, emotional expression, theories of personality, and assessment of personality.

Unit 8: Clinical Psychology

A unit covering psychological disorders and treatments.

Unit 9: Social Psychology

A unit focused on conformity, norms, racism, discrimination, implicit bias, and culture.

Course Textbook

Psychology (3rd ed.) by DeWall, Nathan C. & David G. Myers (2018).

Formative Assessments

Includes homework, projects, graded class work, and journals, making up $35\%$ of the final grade.

Summative Unit Tests

Timed assessments modeled after the AP Exam that cover several modules and make up $45\%$ of the final grade.

Semester Final

Cumulative, timed exams including multiple choice and essay questions, making up $20\%$ of the final grade.

Note Criteria

To use notes during assessments, they must be in one bound notebook, $100\%$ original (created by the student), and $100\%$ handwritten.

Truant

A student who is absent from class without a valid excuse or leaves class without the teacher’s permission.

Academic Dishonesty Consequences

A zero on the work for the first event, and a drop from the class with loss of credit for a second event.

Missed Tests Policy

Any test missed due to an absence must be made up within two weeks of it being assigned.

SMUSD AI Principles

Efficiency, Empathy, and Empowerment.

Recording Policy

Recording a teacher (video and/or audio) without express written permission is unlawful per California Education Code.

Cell Phone 1st Offense

Device is confiscated and must be picked up after school in the AP Office.

Cell Phone 2nd Offense

Parent must pick up the device after or before school in the AP Office.

Cell Phone 3rd Offense

Parent picks up the device and the student receives a Saturday School assignment.