Introduction to psychology (BPS110)


Course description for study year 2024-2025. Please note that changes may occur.

Facts

Course code

BPS110

Version

1

Credits (ECTS)

10

Semester tution start

Autumn

Number of semesters

1

Exam semester

Autumn

Language of instruction

Norwegian

Content

This course provides an introduction to various key concepts and perspectives from the different disciplines within psychology. The main topics in the course are development, biology and brain; behaviour, learning and memory; emotions and motivation; personality, social thinking and behaviour; and disorders and mental illness. Through various forms of teaching, the students will learn about the basic disciplines, topics, methods and scientific foundations of psychology.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

On successful completion of this course, students will

  • have knowledge of different psychological perspectives
  • have knowledge of various key concepts and methodological approaches within the different perspectives
  • have knowledge of central topics such as nature vs. nurture, the brain and behaviour, sensing and perception, conscious vs. subconscious, different types of learning, different forms of memory, language and thinking, intelligence, motivation and emotions, developments through the course of life, social thinking and social behaviour, personality, health psychology, disorders and mental illness

Skills

On successful completion of this course, students will

  • be able to apply and discuss different psychological perspectives on behaviour, including being able to distinguish between different intrapersonal and interpersonal models to explain behaviours
  • be able to demonstrate and discuss the distinction between scientific empirical psychology and general knowledge
  • be able to distinguish between different psychological schools of thought, especially with regard to differences in content, focus and methods

General competencies

On successful completion of this course, students will

  • be able to explain and discuss the differences between different psychological perspectives and topics
  • be able to explain what distinguishes psychology as a discipline and psychological methods

Required prerequisite knowledge

None

Exam

multiple choice test and semester assignment

Form of assessment Weight Duration Marks Aid
multiple choice test 2/5 2 Hours Letter grades None permitted
Semester assignment 3/5 Letter grades

Extent of term paper: 2,500 words (+/-10%) including table of contents, source references and bibliography. Reference style: APA 7th. The topic for the assignment is defined by the course supervisor.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.

Coursework requirements

Attendance at seminar

All of the compulsory activities must be approved in order for the student to be eligible for examination. Approval/non-approval of compulsory activities is announced on Studentweb, normally no later than 7 days before the examination. Students who lack approval of one or more compulsory activities will be withdrawn from the examination.

Compulsary activities:

  • Seminars: Preparation for, attendance and participation in five seminars. Students who have less than 75% attendance at the seminars lose the right to take the examination, regardless of the reason.

Course teacher(s)

Course coordinator:

Alberto Danilo Garcia

Study Program Director:

Muriel Marisa Katharina Bruchhage

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
Exchange programme at Faculty of Social Sciences

Literature

The syllabus can be found in Leganto