AP Psychology 

On-Line for 2010-2011 School Year

We have two sections, a highly interactive website-based section taught by Bonnie Gonzalez and a less interactive email-based section taught by Gary Welton.


Section 1

Teacher: Bonnie Gonzalez

Email: gonzo123@dejazzd.com

Registration:  Email me for an application or if you have questions about the class.

Text required: e-text: Exploring Psychology by David Myers (Seventh Edition), or paper text 7th edition, Exploring Psychology by David Myers. New York: Worth Publishers. (The PA Homeschoolers online store sells Exploring Pschology 7th edition for just $59.95 which is $4.92 lower than Amazon.com's price.)

Class fees: $410.00.   Cost of the required text is additional

Admission Requirements:  Student must be a homeschooling high school student.  High school biology is suggested, but not required.

Tech Requirements: A good computer with antivirus protection and reliable internet access. High speed internet is suggested but not required.

Who should apply: This is a highly interactive class where students are required to participate in weekly discussions regarding web research into a variety of topics of interest in the many fields of psychology. In addition outside reading from a variety of sources (websites, magazines and books) will be required. Students will be given a supportive, yet challenging learning environment with many opportunities to enhance their understanding of psychological concepts. Lectures in both Word and MP3 format will be provided for downloading to explain and enhance the subject matter. In addition to tests and quizzes, students will be required to design and perform a research study, write a personality profile and develop a clinical treatment plan.

This class will cover the basics in psychology including the topics of neuroscience, the nature and nurture of development, sensation and perception, the methods of learning, memory, intelligence, motivation and emotion, and a study of personality and psychological disorders.

Since my experience is highly weighted in the field of personality and psychological disorders and the treatment of those disorders, we will be giving special attention to these areas in our class assignments and online discussions.

Students in this class will also be encouraged to participate on our very lively website where they can discuss topics in psychology, post reviews of articles and books, respond to each others essays, and discuss various psychological assessment tools.

Instructor Qualifications: I have 30 years of experience as a counselor in the fields of individual, marriage and family counseling where I have had the opportunity not only to explain behaviors, but also to instruct individuals in developing new and more productive behaviors. I also have experience teaching Introductory and Child Psychology at a local community college, as well as instructional experience with this online AP Psychology class. I have an M.ED. in Counseling Psychology and B.A. in Psychology both from Temple University. Over the past 13 years, I have home-schooled my own three children and have spent 8 years teaching in a homeschool co-op.

Click here to read class reviews from past participants about Bonnie Gonzalez's section of this class.


Section 2

Professor:  Dr. Gary L. Welton

Serving Homeschoolers Since 1996

 

Academic Year:  2010-2011

 

E-Mail:  glwelton@gcc.edu

 

Telephone:

   Home:  (814) 786-9575

   Office:  (724) 458-3374

 

Mail:  464 Centertown Road

   Grove City, PA   16127

 

 

1.  ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS (no exceptions)

 

            A.  The student must be a homeschooling high school student in 10th, 11th or 12th grade.

 

            B.  The student must have completed a high school level biology course.

 

            C.  The student’s academic performance must be average or above average, as substantiated by standardized test scores.

 

 

2.  INSTRUCTOR QUALIFICATIONS

 

            My Ph.D. is in the field of Social and Organizational Psychology.  I have 24 years of full-time teaching experience at the college and university level, including 19 years in my current job at Grove City College.  I have taught this particular course for homeschooling high school students for 14 years, working with approximately 235 students. I supported my wife in the homeschooling of my two boys from K through 12.

 

 

3.  REGISTRATION PROCESS

 

            Completed registration by August 1 is encouraged.  There will be no additional registrations after August 31 (no exceptions).  To register for the course you should take the following steps:

 

            A. Request a registration form from the instructor.

 

            B. Submit the completed registration form, providing all information and indicating that all admission requirements have been satisfied. Standardized test score information is required, but official documentation of standardized test scores is not required.

 

            C. Wait for formal acceptance into the course.

 

            D. Send payment by check, money order, or credit card to PA Homeschoolers. Registration after August 31 will not be permitted.

 

 

4.  COURSE FEE

 

            The instructor’s fee for the course is $370.  Course registration is not confirmed until payment of this registration fee.

 

            All payments are to be made through PA Homeschoolers, by check, money order, or credit card.

 

            You should expect to spend an additional $70 to $90 on the textbook and study guide.

 

 

5.  DESCRIPTION

 

            Psychology, a discipline in the social and behavioral sciences, is the study of mental processes and behavior.  An introductory psychology course is usually included in a college's general education requirements.  It is becoming common for high schools to offer a semester or year-long course as an elective.

 

            Because psychology involves people studying themselves, it is a most subjective science.  Perhaps more so than in any other field, one's assumptions about human nature influence one's perspective on this subject.  I approach psychology from a conservative position.  My conservative Christian beliefs impact my view of psychological theory.  Nevertheless, I am not offering a course in “Christian Psychology” for two reasons.  First, there is little agreement on what such a term means, as different Christians have unique perspectives on the discipline.  Second, such a course may be of marginal help in passing the AP exam.  Instead, I am proposing a course that would cover the traditional content, but from a conservative perspective.

 

            Topics will include the brain (biological roots of behavior), human development, learning and cognition, sensation and perception, motivation and emotion, personality, disorders, therapy, and social behavior.  Students find most chapters to be interesting and involving.  Students with a motivation to learn and achieve will have little difficulty with this material.

 

 

6.  TEXTBOOK

 

Myers, David G. (published 2010, copyrighted 2011).  Exploring Psychology, 8th edition. New York: Worth.

 

Click here to read class reviews from past participants about Gary Welton's section of this class.


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