Skip to Main Content Skip to bottom Skip to Chat, Email, Text
Back to Program

PSY/345

Sensation and Perception

3 credits

Total credits

5 weeks

Course length

Request info

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

View all programs

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: Upper Division

This course is designed to explore the five major human sensory systems (vision, hearing, smell, touch, and taste) and perceptual experiences related to these senses as they occur in the human brain. The course examines the anatomical, physiological, and neural connections that influence sensation and perception. Emphasis will be placed on theories and concepts of sensation and perception as a means of understanding human behavior.

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 the process of perception.
  • Describe the role of light receptors in vision.
  • Explain the progression of visual cortex processing.
  • Identify the biological factors that influence sensation and perception.

  • Explain the concept of spatial organization.
  • Evaluate the influence of visual perception on behavior.
  • Describe the role of attention in visual perception.

  • Describe the role of Gestalt principles in perceptual organization.
  • Differentiate between the theories related to perception of color.
  • Explain the concepts related to perception of motion, depth, and size.

  • Explain the perceptual process for hearing.
  • Identify the factors that contribute to auditory localization.
  • Identify the components of speech perception.
  • Describe the influence of auditory perception on behavior.

  • Identify the components of the cutaneous system.
  • Explain the role of the somatosensory cortex in the perception of pleasure and pain.
  • Explain the relationship between the perception of smell and taste.
  • Describe the connection between the chemical senses, emotional memories, and the brain.

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

Smiling enrollment representative

Start a conversation about your future with an enrollment representative today.

Call 844-937-8679
Start chatting

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.