Psychology
8 courses · Napa Valley College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Classes: Fall 2026 · Spring 2027
PSYC-C1000 Introduction to Psychology
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 hours lecture; 54 hours total
- 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).
- Transfers to
- UC, CSU
This course provides a general introduction to the field of psychology. Topics covered include research methods, neuropsychology, sensation and perception, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, personality, social psychology, and clinical psychology. Formerly known as PSYC 120.
PSYC-123 Social Psychology
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 hours lecture; 54 hours total
- Advisory
- Completion of ENGL-90 with a minimum grade of C.
- Transfers to
- UC, CSU
This course considers individual human behavior in relation to the social environment. The power of the situation, other individuals, and the social group will be examined. Topics may include: aggression, prejudice and stereotypes, interpersonal attraction, attitudes and attitude change, conformity, group dynamics, gender roles, cultural norms, and social cognition.
PSYC-124 Psychology of Adjustment
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 hours lecture; 54 hours total
- Advisory
- Completion of ENGL-90 with a minimum grade of C.
- Transfers to
- UC, CSU
This course addresses several major topics in the field of psychology with an emphasis on personal application. Topics covered include personality theory, stress and coping, the self, social cognition and influence, communication, attraction, gender and sexuality, human development, psychological disorders, and psychotherapy.
PSYC-125 Human Development
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 hours lecture; 54 hours total
- Advisory
- Completion of PSYC-C1000 with a minimum grade of C.
- Transfers to
- UC, CSU
This course provides an overview, from a psychological perspective, of human development from conception through death, including biological and environmental influences. Theories and research of physical, cognitive, personality, and social development are examined, as well as attention to developmental problems.
PSYC-126 Abnormal Psychology
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 hours lecture; 54 hours total
- Prerequisite
- Completion of PSYC-C1000 with a minimum grade of C.
- Transfers to
- UC, CSU
An introduction to the concepts of abnormal and maladaptive behavior. Models of diagnosis, classification and treatment are discussed in depth. A discussion of major psychological disorders and study of the different perspectives on their causation, development and treatment.
PSYC-128 Cross-Cultural Psychology
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 hours lecture; 54 hours total
- Advisory
- Completion of PSYC-C1000 with a minimum grade of C.
- Transfers to
- UC, CSU
This course will address the way cultural contexts influence human behavior and mental processes. The focus will be on culture, broadly-defined, including concepts such as gender, race, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, and socioeconomic status, and examining the role of culture in psychological theories and research relevant to cognition, emotion, motivation, personality, and developmental processes. The course will enable the student to acquire an understanding of research methods in cross-cultural psychology, an awareness of current research and theories in the field, and a better comprehension of the way cultural contexts affect everyday life experiences.
PSYC-175 Theories of Personality
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 hours lecture; 54 hours total
- Prerequisite
- Completion of PSYC-C1000 with a minimum grade of C.
- Transfers to
- UC, CSU
The study of personality examines the sources of our similarities and our differences. This course will cover several major perspectives on personality including psychodynamic, behavioral, phenomenological, social-cognitive, and biological/evolutionary theories. An emphasis will be placed on integrating these theories and relating them to everyday life.
PSYC-220 Research Methods in Psychology
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 hours lecture; 54 hours total
- Prerequisite
- Completion of PSYC-C1000 and STAT-C1000 with a minimum grade of C.
- Advisory
- Completion of ENGL-C1000 or ENGL-120B with a minimum grade of C or appropriate placement.
- Transfers to
- UC, CSU
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 disciplines and subdisciplines in psychology.