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PSYCH/635

Psychology of Learning

3 credits

Total credits

6 weeks

Course length

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Take this course on its own, or as part of a degree or certificate program.

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Please Note: Attendance and participation are mandatory in all University courses, and specific requirements may differ by course. If attendance requirements are not met, a student may be removed from the course. Please review the Course Attendance Policy in the Catalog for more information.

University of Phoenix reserves the right to modify courses. While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative.

Course level: Graduate

This course examines major theories of learning, covering topics such as classical conditioning, operant conditioning, shaping and chaining, reinforcement schedules, punishment, one-trial learning, and cognitive and social processes in learning. Students will examine research from animal and human studies, emphasizing basic and complex models of acquired behavior, motivation, and memory.

Please Note: Attendance and participation are mandatory in all University courses, and specific requirements may differ by course. If attendance requirements are not met, a student may be removed from the course. Please review the Course Attendance Policy in the Catalog for more information.

University of Phoenix reserves the right to modify courses. While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative.

What you'll learn

Course skills and outcomes

  • Explain how the primary functions of theory relate to the study of learning.
  • Evaluate research methods that are used to study the process of learning.
  • Investigate tools and techniques for measuring learning.
  • Apply relevant ethical principles to the conduct of research on human and nonhuman participants.
  • Interpret the critical issues for learning theory.

  • Evaluate the process of learning from the perspectives of behaviorism, social cognitive, information processing, and constructivism.
  • Evaluate the relative effectiveness of each learning theory.
  • Use the three theories of learning to explain the processes of classical conditioning and operant conditioning, supporting each usage with relevant evidence in animal and human psychological research.
  • Explain how professionals apply knowledge of learning to real-world problems and issues.

  • Examine the role of memory in learning, as described in behaviorist, social cognitive, information processing, and constructivist theories.
  • Assess the role of memory as described in each learning theory.
  • Evaluate shaping and chaining, reinforcement schedules, and one-trial learning, supporting each evaluation with evidence from relevant human and animal research.
  • Generate examples of how professionals in the field of psychology help individuals maximize memory.

  • Evaluate the role of motivation in learning, as described in behaviorist, social cognitive, information processing, and constructivist theories.
  • For each of the four major theories, discuss the role and the relative importance of motivation in the learning process.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of punishment as a tool to increase motivation.
  • Critically evaluate common motivational techniques in terms of ethical principles and professional codes of ethics.
  • Explain how professionals apply knowledge of motivation to real-world problems and issues.

  • Describe the transfer process as it relates to learning in general.
  • Analyze specific factors in the transfer process using behaviorist, social cognitive, information processing, and constructivist theories.
  • Propose research-based strategies for applying the transfer process in learning to real-world problems and issues.

  • Create an ethical plan for self-regulation of learning, as described in behaviorist, social cognitive, information processing, and constructivist theories.
  • Critique the relative effectiveness of each self-regulation theory.
  • Design a research proposal to measure self-regulation of learning as explained by each of the four learning theories, developing each plan from a sound basis in theory and human and animal research.
  • Generate strategies for applying self-regulation methods to real-life problems and situations in the field of psychology.

Why UOPX

Why take courses at University of Phoenix

Accreditation that matters

We’ve been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org) for more than 40 years.

Real-world instructors

Learn from instructors who bring an average of 25 years of working experience to the classroom.

Affordable and potentially reimbursable

Our tuition and fees are competitive and fixed. Also, check to see if your employer will cover you for this course.

Next Steps

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Transfer Credits

Credit Transfer

Need to transfer credits to another college or university?

Before you enroll in a course, check with your school of choice to make sure they will accept our transfer credits and to understand any requirements or limitations. Then you can complete your course, and request your official transcript be sent to your school. That’s it!

How to request your transcripts

Transferability of credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm whether or not credits earned at University of Phoenix will be accepted by another institution of the student’s choice. If you have a question contact us at (866) 354-1800.

The University of Phoenix reserves the right to modify courses. Although our continuing teacher education courses are accepted by some state agencies in the United States toward teacher certifications and endorsements, this may not be the case in all states or foreign jurisdictions. If you plan to use courses for certification or endorsement, please check with your own state agency and your school district for applicability. Continuing teacher education courses are not eligible to apply to degree programs at University of Phoenix. These courses are not eligible for federal financial aid. Transferability of credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm whether or not credits earned at University of Phoenix will be accepted by another institution of the student’s choice. While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative. If you have a question contact us at (866) 354-1800.