Course Syllabus Welcome to Introduction to Psychology aka General Psychology! I am pleased that you have decided to take this course. You will receive an overview of the major fields and issues in Psychology, which will also prepare you for more advanced courses in this most fascinating subject. Although you will find Psych 1 to be challenging, you may find the material to be of enormous value, not just as a student, but throughout your life because the information and techniques offered in this course can give you a new way to look at your self. A good solid effort on your part is needed. Make a commitment! You should also consider that Psychology deals with PEOPLE. Since you definitely qualify, your participation in class is highly encouraged. You will get much more from this course if you do. This is an academic class and your consistent attendance is expected. If your absences should exceed four class hours, you may be dropped depending on how quickly you accrue them. Poor attendance can also result in a loss of points. You may obtain an excused absence only if you speak with me on the first day of your return. It is your responsibility to keep ahead of reading assignments and to know about exams even if you are absent. You might want to obtain the phone number of at least one of your classmates in order to find out what you missed in case you are absent. You will improve your chances of success in this class if you read the chapter in advance of the lecture. This is how your grade is established (%'s are approximate). Chapter Quizzes 160 pts (49%) Stressay 10 pts ( 3%) Term Paper 80 pts (24%) Final Exam 80 pts (24%) Everything you do is converted to points. Your letter grade is based on percentage of 330* possible points: A=86% (284 pts) B=76% (251 pts) C=66% (218 pts) D=56% (185 pts) F=<56% (<185 pts) (*subject to change) Quizzes are based almost entirely on material in your textbook, Psychology: Modules for Active Learning, 11th Edition, by Coon & Mitterer. See below for more text info. You can expect about ten of them. Most questions will be covered in class lectures, but you are responsible for the material in the chapter. Quizzes are objective and multiple choice except one non-droppable ten point ‘stressay'. You'll need to bring a (#882) scantron, a pencil and a pen for each quiz and for your final. Get your text today! Quizzes cannot be made up. Please do not request a make-up. I realize that something may come up that prevents you from getting to class on a quiz day. You will need to speak with me (in advance, if possible, or the next class day at the latest) if you wish to obtain an excused absence for that particular quiz. You may be asked to provide documentation. Unexcused quiz absences may lower your grade. Excused quiz absences do not lower your grade because you will have fewer possible points. A maximum of two excused quiz absences are possible. Your lowest score will be dropped. Yes, all students are required to submit a term paper. Your paper MUST BE TYPEWRITTEN and DOUBLE SPACED. The subject is ...you! Several psychological tests will be given to you over the course of the semester and you will be asked to write about the results comparing them with your own view of yourself. We will be spending considerable time in class discussing what is expected on your paper. The minimum length is five pages not including title page. Do not include a table of contents. Your paper is due three weeks before your final exam. Please see the final exam schedule in the college class schedule for this semester. Late papers (submitted after the end of class on the due date) will not be accepted. Your final exam will be cumulative, includes all chapters covered during the term, and will be multiple choice. .Schedule Chapter Introduction, The Five Schools, the "Big Picture" 1 pp. 14-40 Research Methods 1 pp. 41-55 Learning and Conditioning 6 Biopsychology 2 Memory 7 Stress Management and Health 11 omit Psychological Defense, pp. 475-477 Motivation and Emotion 9 omit pp. 408-410 The Lifespan and Human Development 3 omit pp. 111-112, 118-121 Intelligence 8 pp. 328-339 Personality 10 plus Psychological Defense, pp. 475-477 Abnormal Psychology 12 A word on class conduct. You have a responsibility to help keep the learning environment as conducive to learning as possible. That means you must always turn off your cell phones before each class starts. It also means that you do not have conversations with others at any time. It is not fair to other students when you do talk to people around you. It isn't fair to your instructor either because it is very distracting. If you do talk, the error of your ways will immediately be pointed out to you. Ringing cell phones are worse because the whole class just stops. If your cell goes off you will have to leave class for the day. Here are some important other items: I really want you to succeed in this class. If you are having any problem of any kind that you think is affecting your performance, in particular, attendance, talk to me. Communication is extremely important and I support your efforts. - Take advantage of my office hours. You can come by to discuss psychology, your progress in class, or just about anything else that concerns you. Office hours are posted on my door (CE-236) and will also be announced in class. My office telephone number is 310 287-4229. Feel free to leave a message. I'll be happy to return your call if necessary, but if a message will suffice, please leave one. My email address is leejeff@wlac.edu
- Please consider your classmates. I take a dim view of anyone who distracts either my students or me! This was already said but it is worth repeating.
- Talking to other students during a lecture or while another student is speaking is rude and is not acceptable behavior. Leaving during the middle of a class is equally disruptive; if you have to leave early, please let me know.
- Anyone can be late on occasion. However, habitual tardiness will not be tolerated and can reduce your grade.
- Cell Phones and Pagers have absolutely no place in the classroom. If yours goes off, you will be asked to leave for the day. I know that you already read this but it is worth repeating.
- In a block class (one meeting per week) leaving at the break will be considered an absence. To avoid that, if you do have to leave early, please let me know.
- All written work submitted must be typed. Multiple pages must be numbered and stapled.
- Printer or computer problems do not constitute a valid excuse for late papers.
- Assignments may not be submitted electronically without making specific arrangements in advance.
- Final grades will not be given out through my office telephone or by email.
- If you should decide to stop attending class, it is your responsibility to drop yourself at Admissions. If you just stop attending and do not file a drop card with admissions or drop yourself on-line, you may receive an F.
Additional Text Info
Effective in Fall 07, I have adopted a custom version of the text. This was done so that we could continue to offer the same excellent textbook at the same discounted price in order to help cut the cost of your books. If you have acquired the regular version already, do not have a heart attack! The content is identical for both books and you may use either as long as it is the 11th edition. The only difference is that you will not be able to sell the regular version back to the bookstore at the end of the semester. Psychology 1 Learning Outcomes (not in order of curriculum sequence)
- Illustrate and identify differences between classical and operant conditioning.
- Name the differences in training and orientation between counselors, clinical psychologists, and psychiatrists.
- Demonstrate how emotions influence thinking and vice-versa.
- Explain the relationship between psychology and philosophy.
- Identify and elaborate on the major goals of psychology.
- Compare and contrast the major theories of emotion.
- Describe and illustrate the major components of the mind per Freud.
- Compare and contrast clinical and experimental psychology.
- Differentiate between the major research methods and list advantages and disadvantages of each.
- Describe the anatomy and physiology of the major parts of the brain and nervous system.
- Describe neural transmission and the major of the neuron.
- Explain the meaning of abnormal in psychology.
- Discuss and illustrate heredity verses environment.
- Describe the major factors and theories of intelligence.
- Explain the medical model of mental illness and its advantages and disadvantages.
- Describe and explain the major fields of psychology.
- Describe and discuss the model of human declarative memory.
- Explain and discuss the elements of stress and stress management.
Academic Dishonesty Policy College study is the process of learning to be an independent scholar. All students are expected to do their own work. All forms of cheating and plagiarism are absolutely forbidden. This is the official policy of this class. Students found cheating will have their assignments marked 0 for failure and may receive a failing grade for this course. Examples of cheating include, but are not limited to, the following: •using unauthorized materials on exams •copying other student exams •submitting any assigned work that is not the student's own •copying other written materials without proper credit to the original author •downloading from computer networks without citation All incidents of cheating will be reported to the Vice-president of Student Services. | 
