South Portland, Maine Title: Introduction to Psychology Course Number: PSYC 100 Credit Hours: 3 Total Contact Hours: 45

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1 South Portland, Maine Title: Introduction to Psychology Course Number: PSYC 100 Credit Hours: 3 Total Contact Hours: 45 Instructor : Roya Hejabian, LMSW Office : Harborview Hall Office Hours: By appointment only Course Syllabus Course Description This course is designed to provide a broad overview of the field of Psychology. Special attention will be given to helping the student become a better thinker, by learning to take charge of ideas one has about psychology. The goal of this course is to think consciously, deliberately and skillfully about human behavior. Topics such as physiological psychology, perception, learning, cognition, emotions, health psychology, psychological disorders, as well as others are included. Prerequisite(s): none Co requisite(s): ENGL-050, ENGL-075 Course Format A combination of lectures, reading, multimedia presentations, quizzes, tests and writing will be used in order to obtain a better understanding of basic psychology. Course Objectives Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to: 1. Define psychology as a discipline and explain its history, and how it is distinct from and related to other disciplines. 2. Explain how psychology is a science and become familiar with the research methods used by psychologists, including different research designs, limitations of research findings, and APA ethical principles. 3. Explore the subject matter of the field of psychology and become familiar with the vocabulary, major concepts, theories, and research findings of psychology. 4. Further develop critical thinking skills by applying them to the field of psychology 5. Become a cautious and analytical consumer of psychological information that is proclaimed to be scientific or based on research and recognize the usefulness and limitations of research findings. 6. Understand and apply psychological principles to personal, social, and organization issues. 7. Become aware & respectful of diversity issues which affect behavior & psychological processes and recognize that sociocultural contexts may influence the development and application of psychological principles. 1

2 Learning Outcomes Competencies: Critical Thinking: Upon Completion of this course students will have: 1. Read and demonstrated an understanding of complex ideas by identifying key concepts in the field of psychology. 2. Applied theory to practice using problem solving techniques and data analysis. 3. Analyzed and evaluated research data to produce a well-reasoned argument or position on an issue. Global Citizenship: Upon Completion of this course students will be able to use psychology concepts to: 1. Explain how social interactions are influenced by local, regional, national, and/or global cultures. 2. Recognize cultural and individual differences that underlie the complexities of human behavior and social interaction. 3. Demonstrate an understanding and knowledge of cultures that are diverse from their own. Text, Tools and / or Supplies King, L. A., The science of psychology, third edition. New York, McGraw-Hill Topical Outline Introduction and Research Methods Chapter 1 & 2 1. Contemporary perspectives used by psychologists to understand behavior and mental processes in context. 2. Major subfields and career opportunities that comprise psychology 3. Research strategies used by psychologists to explore behavior and mental processes 4. Purpose and basic concepts of statistics 5. Ethical issues in research 6. Development of psychology as an empirical science Biological Basis of Behavior Chapter 3 1. Structure and function of the neuron 2. Organization of the nervous system 3. Hierarchical organization of the structure and function of the brain 4. Technologies and clinical methods for studying the brain 5. Structure and function of the endocrine system 6. How heredity interacts with the environment to influence behavior 7. How psychological mechanisms are influenced by evolution Sensation and Perception Chapter 4 1. Basic concepts explaining the capabilities and limitations of sensory processes 2. Interaction of the person and the environment in determining perception 3. Nature of attention 2

3 States of Consciousness Chapter 5 1. Nature of consciousness 2. Characteristics of sleep and theories that explain why we sleep 3. Theories used to explain and interpret dreams 4. Basic phenomena and uses of hypnosis 5. Categories of psychoactive drugs and their effects Learning Chapter 6 1. Characteristics of learning 2. Principles of classical conditioning 3. Principles of operant conditioning 4. Components of social, observational, and cognitive learning 5. Roles of biology and culture in determining learning Memory Chapter 7 1. Encoding, or getting information into memory 2. Sensory, working or short-term, and long-term memory systems 3. Retrieval, or getting information out of memory 4. Biological basis of memory 5. Memory constructions 6. Methods for improving memory Thinking, Intelligence and Language Chapter 8 1. Basic elements comprising thought 2. Strategies and obstacles involved in problem solving and decision-making 3. Influence and interaction of heredity and environment on intelligence 4. Nature of intelligence and intelligence testing 5. Structural features of language 6. Theories and developmental stages of language acquisition 7. Links between thinking and language Life Span Development Chapter 9 1. Development as a lifelong process 2. Research techniques used to gather data on the developmental process 3. Theories of development 4. Issues surrounding the developmental process (nature/nurture, continuity/discontinuity, Stability/instability, critical periods) Motivation and Emotion Chapter The role of biology and learning in motivation and emotion 2. Major theories of motivation 3. Interaction of biological and cultural factors in emotions and motivations 4. Role of values and expectancies in determining choice and strength of motivation 5. Physiological, social cultural, cognitive, and behavioral aspects of emotions 3

4 6. Effects of motivation and emotion on perception, cognition, and behavior Personality Chapter Psychodynamic Perspectives 2. Humanistic Perspectives 3. Trait Perspectives 4. Other perspectives and personality assessment Social psychology Chapter Social judgment and attitudes 2. Social and cultural categories 3. Social influence and relationships Psychological Disorders Chapter Characteristics and origins of abnormal behavior 2. Classifying abnormal behavior 3. Major categories of abnormal behavior 4. Impact of mental disorders Treatment of Psychological Disorders Chapter Prominent methods used to treat individuals with disorders 2. Types of practitioners who implement treatment 3. Challenges involved in delivery of treatment CORE REQUIREMENTS: Attendance and Participation are expected. (10%) Because this is a condensed course, three missed classes will result in an F. Two missed classes will result in a 10 point deduction from your final grade. Critical Thinking Requirement: (25%) Introduction to Psychology has been designated by the college as a critical thinking course. As we proceed through the semester, you will learn what critical thinking is and will hopefully be utilized more for everyday as well as for this class. The related assignment will be disused in class. Information Literacy. Information Literacy is a requirement for this course set by the college. Students in this course must be able to critically evaluate information and discern credible from non-credible material. The related assignment will be discussed in class. (15%) Metacognition. (10%) One of the major goals of this class is to strengthen your ability to be an engaged and motivated learner. An assignment involving Attribution Theory and Locus of Control will be utilized during the semester. This assignment will be discussed in lecture. Assessment of Textbook Reading: (10%) Students should be able to locate and integrate information using advanced analysis of the meaning and form of the text. Students should be able to provide specific text support for references, informative statements, and comparisons within and across readings. This component will be met through weekly Study Questions that are given in class. These questions are to be filled out as you read the chapter and are the basis of the class discussion. Tests: 15% ea. = 30%) You will be given 2 exams. 4

5 GRADE BREAKDOWN A A B B B C C C D D F Below CLASS SCHEDULE Week 1 08/25/2014 Introduction, Syllabus, Ch. 1 and Ch. 2 Week 2 09/01/2014 Biological Foundations of Behavior Chapter 3(Wednesday) Labor Day/ No class on Monday Week 3 09/08/2014 Sensation and Perception Chapter 4 Week 4 09/15/2014 States of Consciousness Chapter 5 Metacognition assignment (Wednesday) Week 5 09/22/2014 Learning Chapter 6 Week 6 09/29/2014 Memory Chapter 7 Week 7 10/06/2014 Thinking, Intelligence and Language Chapter 8 Exam 1 Week 8 10/13/2014 Human Development Chapter 9 (Wednesday) Columbus Day/ No class on Monday Week 9 10/20/2014 Motivation and Emotion Chapter 10 Critical Thinking Assignment (Wednesday) Week10 10/27/2014 Motivation and Emotion Chapter 10(con.) Week 11 11/03/2014 Personality Chapter 12 Week 12 11/10/2014 Social Psychology Chapter 13 Week 13 11/10/2014 Social Psychology Chapter 13 Information Literacy (Wednesday) 5

6 Week 14 11/17/2014 Psychological Disorders Chapter 15 Week 15 11/24/2014 Therapies Chapter 16 Thanksgiving/No class on Wednesday Week 16 12/01/2014 Therapies Chapter 16 Chapter 16(con.) Week 17 12/08/2014 Exam Review, study Guide Exam 2, class evaluation SEE STUDENT HANDBOOK FOR OTHER ACADEMIC POLICIES. End-of-Course Evaluation In order to gain access to final course grades, students must complete evaluations for each course attended at SMCC. Evaluations are submitted online and can be accessed through the student portal site. Students can access the course evaluation report beginning two weeks before the end of classes. The deadline for submission of evaluations occurs 24 hours after the last day of classes each semester. Instructors will announce when the online course evaluation is available. ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act): Southern Maine Community College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution and employer. For more information, please call If you have a disabling condition and wish to request accommodations in order to have reasonable access to the programs and services offered by SMCC, you must register with the Disability Services Coordinator, Sandra Lynham, who can be reached at Further information about services for students with disabilities and the accommodation process is available upon request at this number. Course policies about online testing are modified to suit each individual s accommodations. SMCC Pay-for-Print Policy In an effort to control the escalating cost of supplies and to encourage students to conserve resources, SMCC charges for printing. Students receive a $20 credit every semester. This credit resets for each semester and extra credit is not rolled over to the next semester. Per page costs are as follows: 8.5"x11" black and white: $0.10 per page 8.5"x11" color: $0.50 per page 8.5"x14" and 11"x17" black and white: $0.20 per page 8.5"x14" and 11"x17" color: $1.00 per page Duplex (two-sided) pages are discounted 50% from the listed page costs. Students can monitor their remaining credit and number of pages printed by visiting the IT Help tab on MySMCC or by checking the Printing Information icon in the lower right corner of the screen while logged in to an SMCC computer. More information about the Pay-for-Print Policy is available on the IT Help tab on MySMCC. 6

7 Add-Drop Policy Students who drop a course during the one-week add/drop period in the fall and spring semesters and the first three days of summer sessions receive a 100% refund of the tuition and associated fees for that course. Please note any course that meets for less than the traditional semester length, i.e., 15 weeks, has a pro-rated add/drop period. There is no refund for non-attendance. Withdrawal Policy A student may withdraw from a course only during the semester in which s/he is registered for that course. The withdrawal period is the second through twelfth week of the fall and spring semesters and the second through ninth week of twelve-week summer courses. This period is pro-rated for shorter-length courses. To withdraw from a course, a student must complete and submit the appropriate course withdrawal form, available at the Enrollment Service Center (no phone calls, please). The designation W will appear on the transcript after a student has officially withdrawn. A course withdrawal is an uncompleted course and may adversely affect financial aid eligibility. Failure to attend or ceasing to attend class does not constitute withdrawal from the course. There is no refund associated with a withdrawal. Plagiarism Statement Adherence to ethical academic standards is obligatory. Cheating is a serious offense, whether it consists of taking credit for work done by another person or doing work for which another person will receive credit. Taking and using the ideas or writings of another person without clearly and fully crediting the source is plagiarism and violates the academic code as well as the Student Code of Conduct. If it is suspected that a student in any course in which s/he is enrolled has knowingly committed such a violation, the faculty member should refer the matter to the College s Disciplinary Officer and appropriate action will be taken under the Student Code of Conduct. Sanctions may include suspension from the course and a failing grade in the course. Students have the right to appeal these actions to the Disciplinary Committee under the terms outlined in the Student Code of Conduct. 7