# Psychology (PSYC) courses

Porterville College · 2026-2027 Catalog · 7 courses

Source: https://reg-prod.ec.kccd.edu/StudentRegistrationSsb/ssb/term/termSelection?mode=courseSearch

"Offered" lists sections in this catalog year's class schedules: Summer 2026, Fall 2026, Spring 2027.

### PSYC P101A — Introduction to Psychology

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** 54 lecture hours
- **Advisory:** Eligibility for college-level writing (C-ID ENGL 100) and reading (a course with an existing skill of ability to read a college level text).
- **C-ID:** PSY 110
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Summer 2026, 1 section (/c/porterville-college/schedule/summer-2026/psyc.md); Fall 2026, 6 sections (/c/porterville-college/schedule/fall-2026/psyc.md); Spring 2027, 5 sections (/c/porterville-college/schedule/spring-2027/psyc.md)
- General education: PC-Area 4; CalGETC-4
- Degree applicable

This course is an introduction to psychology, which is the study of the mind and behavior. Students focus on theories and concepts of biological, cognitive, developmental, environmental, social, and cultural influences; their applications; and their research foundations.This course is also offered online or as a hybrid course.

### PSYC P110 — Abnormal Psychology

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** Total lecture 54 hours
- **C-ID:** PSY 120
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/porterville-college/schedule/fall-2026/psyc.md)
- General education: PC-Area 4; CSU-D; IGETC-4
- Degree applicable

This course provides an overview of the causes, symptoms and treatments of psychological disorders based on the biological, cognitive, and behavioral theoretical perspectives. Focus is on the description, classification and assessment of anxiety disorders, mood disorders, substance abuse and addiction, eating disorders, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, personality disorders, and sexual disorders. It incorporates use of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th ed., (DSM-5), and discussions of legal issues pertaining to civil and criminal commitment.

### PSYC P126 — Lifespan Human Development

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** 54 lecture hours
- **C-ID:** ENGL 100, PSY 180
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Spring 2027, 1 section (/c/porterville-college/schedule/spring-2027/psyc.md)
- General education: PC-Area 4; CSU-D9; CSU-E; IGETC-4
- Degree applicable

Advisories/Recommendations English, one level below transfer (i.e., eligibility for English composition ()) and reading (a course with an exiting skill of ability to read a college level text). Total lecture 54 hours. Surveys the developmental process from conception to death, with an emphasis on the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial changes of the normal individual. Students will apply the major theoretical perspectives of psychology to human development, and analyze research findings utilizing various research methods. Approved for pass/no pass grading option.

### PSYC P133 — Psychology of Personal and Social Adjustment

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** 54 lecture hours
- **C-ID:** ENGL 100, PSY 115
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/porterville-college/schedule/fall-2026/psyc.md); Spring 2027, 1 section (/c/porterville-college/schedule/spring-2027/psyc.md)
- General education: PC-Area 4; Cal-GETC-Area 4
- Degree applicable

Advisories/Recommendations English, one level below transfer (i.e., eligibility for English composition ()) and reading (a course with an exiting skill of ability to read a college level text). Total lecture 54 hours. This course is designed with an applied focus for students interested in how psychology is used in everyday life and is related to other social sciences. The course surveys different psychological perspectives and theoretical foundations and how these are applied across a person's life, taking into account the influence of factors such as culture, gender, ethnicity, historical cohort, and socio-economic status. A broad understanding of how scientists, clinicians, and practitioners study and apply psychology is emphasized.

### PSYC P140 — Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology

- **Units:** 4
- **Hours:** Total lecture 54 hours, total lab 54 hours
- **Prerequisite:** PSYC C1000 General Psychology and STAT C1000 Elementary Probability and Statistics with a C or better.
- **C-ID:** PSY 200
- **Transfers to:** CSU
- **Offered:** not on the Summer 2026, Fall 2026, Spring 2027 schedules
- Degree applicable

This course surveys various psychological research methods with an emphasis on research design, experimental procedures, descriptive methods, instrumentation, and the collection, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of research data. Research design and methodology will be examined through a review of research in a variety of the subdisciplines of psychology. In laboratory sessions students will conduct experimental and non-experimental research in a variety of areas of psychology. Actual data collected from research conducted during laboratory sessions will be analyzed with statistical software.

### PSYC P150 — Introduction to Biological Psychology

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** Total lecture 54 hours
- **Prerequisite:** PSYC C1000.
- **C-ID:** PSY 150
- **Transfers to:** CSU
- **Offered:** not on the Summer 2026, Fall 2026, Spring 2027 schedules
- Degree applicable

This course introduces the scientific study of the biological bases of behavior and its fundamental role in the neurosciences. Physiological, hormonal, and neurochemical mechanisms, and brain-behavior relationships underlying the psychological phenomena of sensation, perception, regulatory processes, emotion, learning, memory, and psychological disorders will be addressed. The course also notes historical scientific contributions and current research principles for studying brain-behavior relationships and mental processes. Ethical standards for human and animal research are discussed in the context of both invasive and non-invasive experimental research.

### PSYC P223 — Child Psychology

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** Total lecture 54 hours
- **C-ID:** CDEV 100
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** not on the Summer 2026, Fall 2026, Spring 2027 schedules
- General education: PC-Area 4
- Degree applicable

Examination of the major developmental milestones for children, both typical and atypical, from conception through adolescence in the areas of physical, psychosocial, and cognitive development, emphasizing interactions between maturational processes and environmental factors. While studying developmental theory and investigative research methodologies, students will observe children, evaluate individual differences and analyze characteristics of development at various stages. Course is also offered online.