Intro to Psychology vs Abnormal Psychology: which one first?

Not for UPI Study's course: the Abnormal Psychology syllabus lists no prerequisites. If you are new to psychology, Intro to Psychology first covers research methods, the brain and the main theories of personality, which Abnormal Psychology then applies to disorders. Check your own program's requirements too.

Its last two chapters: Psychological Disorders (anxiety, mood disorders, schizophrenia, personality disorders and more) and Therapy and Treatment. Abnormal Psychology spends all 25 of its chapters on disorders, how they are assessed and how they are treated.

Introduction to Psychology (Psychology 110): ACE ID UPIS-0006, 3 semester hours. Abnormal Psychology (Psychology 180) is NCCRS only. NCCRS recommends both for 3 semester hours in Psychology in the lower division category.

Introduction to Psychology (Psychology 110) introduces psychology: research, the brain, senses, learning, memory, development, personality, social behavior, disorders and therapy. Abnormal Psychology (Psychology 180) covers psychological disorders, their causes, symptoms and treatment, from anxiety and mood disorders to psychosis, plus therapy and law.

Introduction to Psychology: NCCRS recommends 3 semester hours, lower division, in Psychology among other subjects; ACE recommends 3 (ACE ID UPIS-0006). Abnormal Psychology: NCCRS recommends 3 semester hours, lower division, in Psychology among other subjects.

Both are recommended in the same subjects: Psychology. Your college decides which requirement each one fills.

Introduction to Psychology: 16 chapters and 68 instructional hours. Abnormal Psychology: 25 chapters and 64.5 instructional hours. Both are self-paced, so you finish as fast or as slow as you want.

Introduction to Psychology: 100 multiple-choice questions, 50% of the grade. Abnormal Psychology: 100 multiple-choice questions, 25% of the grade.

Introduction to Psychology: Spielman, Rose M., et al. Psychology 2e. OpenStax, 2020. Abnormal Psychology: Comer, Ronald, and Jonathan Comer. Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology. 10th ed., Worth Publishers, 2022 (optional).

Psychology of Personality. In the “Start in psychology” order on the Psychology and social science courses page, it follows Abnormal Psychology. Your program may set its own order.

Yes: the Introduction to Psychology syllabus opens after a free sign-in. It lists all 16 chapters, the grading and the credit recommendation, so you can send it to your registrar.

No. Open-book is fine for the Introduction to Psychology quizzes and assignment, but the final is proctored: lightly, with no camera, once you are at 70% or more, and fully otherwise.

ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities. Search your school in Find My College and ask your registrar which courses Psychology 110 and Psychology 180 would count as. It helps to name the subject: NCCRS recommends Introduction to Psychology in Psychology and Abnormal Psychology in Psychology.