Personality Theory is an intensive five‑week summer program designed for motivated students who want a strong foundation in how psychologists understand personality—the patterns of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that shape human experience. Because of the accelerated pace, students should be prepared for a disciplined and steady weekly workload, including online class meetings, substantial reading, applied case‑study work, and integrative writing.
The course introduces major theoretical schools in personality psychology and examines how each contributes to our understanding of development, identity, well‑being, and clinical practice. We will explore psychodynamic and psychoanalytic models, behavioral and cognitive‑behavioral approaches, humanistic psychology, lifespan and developmental perspectives, and contemporary ideas emerging from clinical and applied research.
Learning activities include text and seminar discussions, film analysis, theoretical assessments, and collaborative case studies. Students will practice comparing models of personality, applying theory to case material, and developing critical thinking skills essential for advanced work in psychology.
This program is particularly valuable for students interested in human services, the Behavioral Health Support Specialist credential, or future graduate study in Clinical or Counseling Psychology. It provides clear preparation through consistent engagement with theoretical material, weekly 3‑hour online class sessions, 8 hours of asynchronous learning, and approximately 12 additional hours per week devoted to reading, writing, and case analysis.
Students must have reliable internet access and the ability to work with digital course materials in an online learning management system. By the end of the course, students will gain a strong conceptual map of the field of personality theory and a deeper understanding of how personality develops, changes, and informs applied psychological work.
Anticipated Credit Equivalencies:
4 - Psychology: Theories of Personality
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Academic Details
psychology, social services