Notations in bold italics refer to National Standards alignment.

My IB classes meet on an A/B alternating block schedule.  I meet with students for 90 minutes either two or three times per week.  Here is my syllabus for the students in the second year of psychology (Psychology HL):

First Six Weeks:  Research Methods
Week 1
Internal Assessment Details
Research Methods Review 1A-3
Surveys and Interviews 1A-3.3
Types, Strengths and Limitations
Creating, Conducting, Analyzing a Survey 1A-3.3

Week 2
Evaluating the Survey experience
Presenting results – graphing data IA-4.1
Naturalistic Observation   IA-3.3
Types, Strengths and Limitations IA-3.3
Planning a group observation

Week 3
Discussion of Observation Project
Evaluation of the observation experience
Case Studies IA-3.3
Types, Strengths and Limitations IA-3.3
Correlations and non-experimental research IA-4.3
Quasi-experiments IA-3.1

Week 4
The Experiment revisited IA-3.1
Exam:  Research Methods

Week 5
Internal Assessment Topics chosen
Components of Internal Assessment
Introduction and Consent Forms IA-5
Psychological Perspective Refresher IA-1.1
Research and methodology by perspectives IA-1.1

Week 6
Internal Assessment Group Planning
Methods Section Review
Finalizing experiment procedure IA-3.1

Second Six Weeks:  Humanistic Perspective:  Assumption #1
Week 1
Practice Experiment run throughs
Final preparations for experiment
Origins of the Humanistic Perspective IA-1.1
Carl Rogers and the Self  IA-6

Week 2
Experiment Week
Abraham Maslow and Hierarchy of Needs IA-1.1, IA-6

Week 3
Frankl’s Logotherapy IA-1.1, IA-6
Existentialism
Internal Assessment Data Collection – group work
Review Results and Discussion sections

Week 4: 
Results sheet for complete debriefing
Exam:  Humanism and Existentialism

Week 5
Humanism and Positive Psychology IA-1.1, IA-6
Origins of Positive Psychology
Positive Subjective Well-being
Happiness and Faith

Week 6
Optimism
Quiz on well-being, happiness, faith
Flow and microflow experiences

Third Six Weeks
Week 1
Hope and Health IA-6.4
Ingredients of Hope
Friendship VC-3.7
Function and features of friendship VC-3.7
Exam:  Humanism

Week 2
Perspectives Revisited IA-1, IA-6
Origins, Assumptions, Philosophy, Methods, Researchers
Internal Assessment – final consultation

Week 3
The Psychodynamic Perspective IIIB-2.1, 2.2
Psychoanalysis and Sigmund Freud IVB-1
Thanksgiving Holidays

Week 4
Freud and Personality IIIB-2.1, 2.2
Psychosexual Stages of Development IIIA-3.1
Defense Mechanisms

Week 5
Projective Tests IIB-3
Finding the Unconscious IVD-1.2
Evaluating Freud and Psychoanalysis
The Neo-Freudians:  Adler, Jung, Horney, Erikson
Exam – Psychodynamic perspective

Week 6
Final Exams Week
Review for Final Exams

Fourth Six Weeks:  Abnormal Psychology – Option #2
Week 1
What is abnormal? VA-3.1
Classification Systems and criticisms VA-3.1
Early views on abnormal behavior
Culture Bound Syndromes
Sociocultural issues and mental illness VA-4.1
Etiology of Disorders – overview VA-1.4

Week 2
Anxiety Disorders VA-3.1
Generalized Anxiety, Panic Disorder, Phobic Disorder, PTSD, OCD VA-3.1
Etiology of Anxiety Disorders VA-1.4
Mood Disorders VA-3.1
Depression, Dysthymia, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Post-partum VA-3.1Depression
Etiology of Mood Disorders VA-1.4

Week 3
Schizophrenia VA-3.1
Types of Schizophrenia
Etiology of Schizophrenia VA-1.4

Week 4
Dissociative Disorders VA-3.1
Somatoform Disorders VA-3.1<br /> Personality Disorders VA-3.1<br>
Week 5
Exam on Abnormal Psychology
Planning for the Psychology Fair
Evaluation and preparation

Week 6
Treatment of Mental Illness VB-1
Early Treatment of the Mentally Ill
Treatment in other parts of the world VA-4.1
Fifth Six Weeks:  Treatment of Mental Illness VB-1(all)

Week 1
Biomedical Treatments
Psychopharmacology, psychosurgery, shock treatment
Evaluation of biomedical treatments

Week 2
Behavioral Treatments
Connection with conditioning and social learning
Evaluation of Behavioral treatments

Week 3
Preparations for the Psychology Fair
Psychology Fair debriefing and suggestions for next year

Week 4
Cognitive Treatments
Evaluation of Cognitive Treatments

Week 5
Humanistic Treatments
Client-centered therapy
Group and Family therapy
Evaluation of Humanistic Treatments

Week 6
Evaluation of Psychoanalytic Treatment
Therapy skits – overview
Group work and development

Sixth Six Weeks
Week 1 VB-1
Therapy Skits
What is the best type of therapy?
Evaluation of therapy
Treatment of Minority Groups
Levels of treatment
Use of folk remedies
Cultural Competency and treatment

Week 2
Exam – Treatment and Mental Illness
Review:  The Biological Perspective

Week 3
Review:  The Behavioral Perspective
Review:  The Cognitive Perspective
Review: The Humanistic Perspective

Week 4
Review: The Psychodynamic Perspective
Review: Social Psychology

Week 5
IB Exams
Review for Exams in class
 
Week 6
Final Exams Week
Review for Final Exams