PSY 101 Course Structure and Organization

Introductory Psychology at MCC (PSY 101) uses a custom MCC edition of the textbook Psychology: Themes and Variations by Wayne Weiten. This version is available at the MCC bookstore and incorporates many special aids for MCC students, including a study guide, a list of MCC learning objectives, practice tests, and indicators in the margins of the textbook where those objectives can be found. The book is packaged in a 3-ring binder, which means it cannot be sold back to the bookstore, but it is priced so that the cost of the book is less than what the final cost of the traditionally-bound book would be even after the traditionally-bound book is sold back. And the study guide is included for free.

We have divided the information in this book into ten units, and have identified 20 learning objectives for each unit. These learning objectives are defined in the custom package described above. Some units contain only one chapter, while some contain two or even three chapters. No matter how many pages are covered by a unit, they each have the same number of learning objectives: 20. Note that the sequence of topics and learning objectives does not just follow the text from page one until the end; follow the topics and pages that are defined in the lists of learning objectives.

Your mastery of the material in each unit is tested with multiple-choice tests. Each test has 20 questions (one on each of the 20 learning objectives). Most students will have three opportunities to take a unit test, each with different questions on the same 20 learning objectives. (Students taking the course at extension sites should talk to their instructors about which tests are available to them.) You may take one, two, or all three tests on each unit, and only the highest score you get is the one that counts. You should, of course, take all three, unless one is a perfect score. You can find more information about the tests through the Learning Center Tests & Grading Page.