Course Syllabus

AP Psychology Syllabus

AP Psychology introduces students to the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Students explore major psychological concepts, theories, research methods, and applications across biological, cognitive, developmental, social, personality, and mental health topics.

Course Title

AP Psychology

Course Format

Online AP Psychology instruction through PsychInstructor

Course Length

Full academic-year course
Recommended pacing: approximately 30 weeks

Course Description

This course is designed for high school, homeschool, and online learners preparing for AP Psychology coursework and the AP Psychology Exam. Students will complete structured lessons, vocabulary review, practice questions, assignments, quizzes, and AP-style exam preparation activities.

Course Goals

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

Explain major psychological concepts, theories, and perspectives.
Apply psychological terminology to real-world examples.
Analyze research methods, ethical issues, and psychological data.
Interpret charts, graphs, tables, and research summaries.
Develop evidence-based written responses using psychological concepts.
Prepare for the AP Psychology Exam through structured review and practice.

Course Materials

Students will use course materials provided through PsychInstructor and Google Classroom.

Lesson slides
Vocabulary review activities
Practice questions
Unit quizzes
Application activities
FRQ-style practice
AP exam review materials
Supplemental readings or resources

Students may also be encouraged to use College Board AP Classroom resources when available through an AP-approved school or testing arrangement.

Prerequisites

There are no required prerequisites for AP Psychology. Students should be prepared to read college-level material, learn academic vocabulary, and write clear responses using psychological terminology.

Course Expectations

Students are expected to:

Complete lessons in the assigned order.
Review vocabulary regularly.
Submit assignments by the assigned due dates when enrolled in a guided or live program.
Complete quizzes and review activities.
Participate respectfully in any live or written course discussions.
Practice AP-style multiple-choice and free-response questions.
Communicate when they need help or clarification.

Late Work Policy

Students should complete assignments according to the pacing expectations of their enrolled program. Late work may be accepted in guided programs when students communicate in advance or when flexible pacing has been arranged.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to complete their own work. Students may use notes, lessons, and approved resources to study, but submitted assignments, quizzes, and written responses should reflect the student’s own understanding.

AI tools, online summaries, or answer websites should not be used to replace student work. When outside help is used for studying, students should still be able to explain concepts in their own words.

AP Exam Information

The AP Psychology Exam is administered separately through the College Board and participating schools. PsychInstructor is not an AP testing site. Students and families are responsible for arranging AP Exam registration through a local school or approved testing location.

The AP Psychology Exam includes:

Multiple-choice questions
Free-response questions
Research analysis
Evidence-based writing
Application of psychological concepts

Course Units and Pacing

Unit 0 — Introduction to Psychology and Research Foundations

Recommended pacing: 2 weeks

Students are introduced to psychology as the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. This unit also introduces major psychological perspectives, research methods, ethics, and the role of evidence in psychological science.

What psychology studies
Behavior and mental processes
Major psychological perspectives
Scientific method
Research methods
Ethics in psychological research
Culture and sociohistorical influences
Empiricism and evidence-based thinking

Unit 1 — Biological Bases of Behavior

Recommended pacing: 6 weeks

Students examine the biological foundations of behavior, including heredity, the nervous system, neural communication, brain structure, sleep, consciousness, and sensation.

Interaction of heredity and environment
Behavior genetics
Evolutionary psychology
Nervous system organization
Central and peripheral nervous systems
Neurons and neural firing
Neurotransmitters
Brain structures and functions
Hemispheric specialization
Sleep and consciousness
Psychoactive drugs
Sensation

Unit 2 — Cognition

Recommended pacing: 7 weeks

Students study how humans receive, process, store, and use information. This unit includes perception, learning, memory, thinking, problem solving, language, and intelligence.

Perception
Attention
Learning
Classical conditioning
Operant conditioning
Observational learning
Memory processes
Encoding, storage, and retrieval
Forgetting
Thinking and problem solving
Decision-making
Language
Intelligence and testing

Unit 3 — Development and Learning

Recommended pacing: 5 weeks

Students explore human development across the lifespan, including physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development. This unit also connects developmental theory to learning, motivation, emotion, and stress.

Prenatal development
Infancy and childhood
Cognitive development
Attachment
Parenting styles
Adolescence
Adulthood and aging
Motivation
Emotion
Stress and coping
Developmental influences on behavior

Unit 4 — Social Psychology and Personality

Recommended pacing: 5 weeks

Students examine how individuals think about, influence, and relate to others. This unit also explores personality theories and the ways psychologists understand individual differences.

Social cognition
Attribution
Attitudes and persuasion
Conformity
Obedience
Group behavior
Prejudice and discrimination
Interpersonal attraction
Aggression and helping behavior
Personality theories
Trait theory
Psychodynamic theory
Humanistic approaches
Social-cognitive perspectives

Unit 5 — Mental and Physical Health

Recommended pacing: 5 weeks

Students study psychological disorders, approaches to treatment, health psychology, stress, and factors that influence mental and physical well-being.

Defining psychological disorders
Anxiety disorders
Depressive and bipolar disorders
Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders
Trauma-related disorders
Schizophrenia spectrum disorders
Personality disorders
Psychological treatment
Biomedical treatment
Health psychology
Stress and illness
Positive psychology
Biopsychosocial approaches to health

AP Exam Preparation

AP exam preparation is built throughout the course. Students will practice:

AP-style multiple-choice questions
Vocabulary application
Concept explanation
Research method analysis
Data interpretation
Article Analysis Question practice
Evidence-Based Question practice
Timed review activities

Near the end of the course, students should complete cumulative review activities and practice exam-style questions to prepare for the AP Psychology Exam.

Student Support

Depending on the enrolled program, support may include:

Instructor feedback
Assignment grading
Progress guidance
Live instruction
1-on-1 tutoring
AP exam preparation
Help with difficult concepts
Study planning and organization support

Parent/Guardian Role

Parents or guardians may monitor student progress, assignment completion, communication habits, and pacing, especially for homeschool students or students new to online learning.

PsychInstructor provides structured coursework and academic support, but families remain responsible for ensuring the course meets their homeschool, school, or transcript requirements.

Credit and Transcript Note

This course may be listed as AP Psychology or Psychology on a homeschool transcript depending on the student’s academic plan, course completion, and AP Exam intentions. Families should confirm local homeschool documentation requirements and AP Exam registration procedures.

Disclaimer

PsychInstructor provides AP Psychology instruction and academic support. PsychInstructor is not an accredited school and does not administer AP Exams. AP Exam registration, testing-site arrangements, and official score reporting are handled separately through the College Board and participating schools.