First Year Psychology
AP Psychology 1-2/ACP Psychology P101&P102/ IB Psychology 1-2:
This course is designed to provide students with a one year, college level study in Psychology. The Psychology program will promote students awareness of and respect for the psychological diversity of human beings with reference to biological, social and cultural influences. Students will develop an understanding of the history of psychology in Europe and the United States, as well as psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each of the theoretical perspectives within psychology. Students will learn to analyze how each theory presents a different perspective in which to research, explain, and theorize in each area of psychology. The program will present the scientific methods psychologists use in their science and practice. Students will focus on six psychological perspectives: Cognitive, Learning, Psychoanalytic, Humanistic, Evolutionary and Biological. First semester will emphasize psychology as a biological science, while second semester will emphasis psychology as a social science.The first year of IB study will be integrated with the AP/ACP Psychology course. This class can be taken in the 11th or 12th grade year. This course is a pre-requisite for IB Psychology 3-4. IB students who are taking either the standard level exams or the higher level exams must take both years of Psychology.
Second-Year Psychology
IB Psychology 3-4:
The class will present an advanced level introduction to the methods psychologists use in their science and practice. This course emphasizes the following areas: Research Design, Cultural Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, and Social Psychology. Standard Level students will focus on three psychological perspectives: Cognitive, Learning and Biological. In addition Higher Level students will study the Humanistic perspective. Students will engage in an in-depth analysis of one (SL) and two (HL) optional subject areas, study research design, methods, statistics and ethical issues in psychological research and application. Standard Level students will complete a simple experiment for the internal assessment while Higher Level students will perform and experimental study for their internal assessment. The first year of IB study will be integrated with the AP Psychology course. Students wishing to earn either Standard Level or Higher Level Certificates must complete both years of Psychology. The class is open to students who successfully completed the AP/IB/ACP Psychology 1-2.
Advance College Project
Students have the option to take each semester for college credit from Indiana University through the Advance College Project. Students may earn 3 credits for each semester of Psychology for a total of 6 credits. Students apply for temporary acceptance to Indiana University. This option is open to 11th and 12th grade students. Students can transfer these grades to hundreds of colleges and universities. Those students going to Indiana University, IUPUI or any other branch of Indiana University will also transfer a grade. Additional information can be found at: acp.indiana.edu/index.php
Advanced Placement
Students have the opportunity to earn 3 credits by taking the Advanced Placement Exam for Psychology. Students must be enrolled in both semester to take the exam. Students must score a 4-5 on the exam in order to be accepted by most colleges and universities (although a few will accept a 3 on the AP Exam). Some colleges and universities may give college credits while others may give an exemption for the class.
International Baccalaureate
Students may earn college credit from the International Baccalaureate Organization by meeting the IBO requirements. There are two levels in which students may earn college credit.
1. Standard Level: Students will take two sets of essay exams and complete an internal assessment which consists of conducting and reporting on a simple experiment. Students scoring a 4 or above out of 7 will earn 3 credits at most colleges and universities.
2. Higher Level: Students will take three sets of essay exams and complete an internal assessment which consists of conducting and reporting on an experiment. Students scoring a 5 or above out of 7 may earn up to 5 credits at most colleges and universities. Students who earned 6 credits through the Advance College Project can earn an additional 5 credits by meeting the IB requirements. Information on this program can be obtained from the Lawrence North IB coordinator.