Introduction to psychology and history of psychology (BPS110)


Course description for study year 2025-2026. Please note that changes may occur.

Facts

Course code

BPS110

Version

2

Credits (ECTS)

10

Semester tution start

Autumn

Number of semesters

1

Exam semester

Autumn

Language of instruction

Norwegian

Offered by
Time table

View course schedule

Content

This course provides an introduction to psychology with two modules, which deal with the historical development of modern psychology and a general introduction to the basic components of psychology.

Module 1: Introduction to psychology

This module introduces various central concepts and perspectives within the various disciplines of psychology.The main themes in the course are development, biology and the brain, behaviour, learning and memory, emotions and motivation, personality, social thinking and behaviour, as well as deviations and psychological disorders.

Module 2: History of psychology

This module provides an introduction to central elements of different directions within the field of psychology, which include functionalism, behaviourism, psychoanalysis, gestalt psychology, the cognitive revolution, humanism and relativism. The focus is placed on how these directions differ from each other and how they are connected.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

On successful completion of this course, students will

  • have a broad knowledge of classic issues in psychology and its historical development from 1879 to the present day
  • explain different perspectives within psychology as a scientific field
  • have a broad knowledge of the main areas of psychology, their similarities and differences

Skills

On successful completion of this course, students will

  • be able to reflect on limited important historical developments within psychology as a discipline and science
  • be able to discuss different psychological perspectives on behavior and development
  • be able to discuss key characteristics of the main areas of psychology

General competencies

On successful completion of this course, students will

  • be able to convey and discuss central perspectives and themes within modern psychology
  • be able to convey how psychology has developed historically

Required prerequisite knowledge

None

Exam

Form of assessment Weight Duration Marks Aid
Multiple choice 1/1 Letter grades

Multiple Choice Test.Students who have not passed either the ordinary or the new and postponed exam, are referred to the next ordinary exam. Students must take the exam according to any new and revised course description for the course but may choose not to attend seminars and lectures.

Course teacher(s)

Course coordinator:

Alberto Danilo Garcia

Study Program Director:

Muriel Marisa Katharina Bruchhage

Course teacher:

Cato Horpestad Slettvold

Method of work

The teaching consists of lectures and seminars.

  • Students are expected to prepare for lectures by reading relevant literature. The recommended reading is indicated in the lecture plan.
  • In seminars, the different theoretical topics and methods are presented using a variety of different learning activities. The learning activities used in seminars will generally be focused on reading and writing academic texts, both in groups and individually.

The language of instruction is Norwegian, but lectures and seminars in English may occur.

Open for

Admission to Single Courses at the Faculty of Social Sciences

Course assessment

There must be an early dialogue between the course supervisor, the student union representative and the students. The purpose is feedback from the students for changes and adjustments in the course for the current semester.In addition, a digital course evaluation must be carried out at least every three years. Its purpose is to gather the students experiences with the course.

Literature

Search for literature in Leganto