General Psychology Course Syllabus - INMON. PSYC 2301 General Psychology. Psychology. Behavioral Sciences Department. Division of Arts and Sciences

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1 PSYC 2301 General Psychology Psychology Behavioral Sciences Department Division of Arts and Sciences Asst. Professor Robyn Inmon Fall 2012 South Plains College Note: The first section of the syllabus is a Common Course Syllabus and is used by all sections of PSYC 2301 at SPC. The second section of the syllabus is titled Instructor s Course Information and contains the requirements for this particular section. The first thing you need to do for this course is to READ THE ENTIRE SYLLABUS. I know it is long, but it is very important that you understand all that is expected of you, the student, in this course. 1

2 SPC Common Course Syllabus for PSYC 2301 General Psychology Department: Behavioral Sciences Discipline: Psychology Course Number: PSYC 2301 Course Title: General Psychology Credit: 3 Lecture, 0 Lab Satisfies a core curriculum requirement? Yes, Behavioral or Social Science Prerequisites: TSI compliance in Reading Available Formats: Conventional, INET, ITV Campus: Levelland, Reese, ATC, Plainview Textbook: Psychology, 10 th ed., Myers, David G., Worth Publishers You can purchase the textbook from the South Plains College bookstores at the Levelland or Reese Campuses. Or, you can purchase the textbook directly from the publisher at: Loose Leaf Version ISBN-10: Hard Cover Version ISBN-10: You are required to utilize Psych Portal for this course. Psych Portal is an interactive internet program that contains all of the course quizzes and assignments. It is designed specifically for the David G. Myers 10 th edition textbook. Your individual code for Psych Portal is free with your purchase of a new David G. Myers textbook. You can purchase your textbook as a hardback, loose leaf, or you can just purchase the PsychPortal access code--it comes with an e-book version of the textbook. This is an electronic version of the textbook that you read online or download to a computer or mobile device. Do not purchase the e-book alone. You need PsychPortal. 2

3 Course Specific Instructions: Each instructor will attach his/her course specific instructions. Course Description: Survey of major topics in psychology. Introduces the study of behavior and the factors that determine and affect behavior. Course Purpose: To acquaint students with the diverse field of psychology, methods of research used and how it contributes to the body of knowledge in psychology, promotion of critical thinking, generation of new ideas, and consideration of alternate explanations when evaluating information. Course Requirements: To maximize the potential to complete this course, a student should attend all class meetings, complete all homework assignments and examinations in a timely manner, and complete all other projects or papers as assigned on the course specific instructions. Course Evaluation: See the instructor s course information sheet for specific items used in evaluating student performance. Attendance Policy: Whenever absences become excessive and in the specific instructor s opinion, minimum course objectives cannot be met due to absences, the student will be withdrawn from the course. Each instructor will have additional information about attendance on his/her course information sheet. Student Learning Outcomes: Students who have completed this course will be expected to: demonstrate knowledge and understanding of major perspectives in psychology (e.g., behaviorism, psychoanalytic, and cognitive), demonstrate knowledge and understanding of biological bases of behavior and mental processes (e.g., physiology, sensation, and perception), understand the nature of psychology as a science and basic research methods used in psychology (e.g. descriptive, correlational, and experimental), evaluate the quality of information with an open but critical mind, (e.g., differentiating empirical evidence from speculation), understand major applied areas of psychology (e.g. clinical, counseling, and industrial/organizational), recognize the necessity for ethical behavior in all aspects of the science and practice of psychology, tolerate ambiguity and realize that psychological explanations will often be complex and tentative, and apply psychological knowledge to every-day life which fosters personal growth and self-awareness and increases awareness and understanding of others. 3

4 Through course assignments, papers, activities, and assessments, students will: demonstrate the ability to read and write clearly and concisely, value diversity and differences in people, explore relationships of ideas and see their similarities and differences, gain a basic understanding of the career fields related in the major, assimilate and synthesize information, integrate ideas across the curricula, and interrelate the past to the present. 4

5 Semester: Fall 2012 General Psychology Course Syllabus - INMON Instructor s Course Information Course: PSYC MW 1:00 p.m. 2:15 p.m. AD149 PSYC MW 2:30 p.m. 3:45 p.m. AD149 PSYC TR 9:30 a.m. 10:45 a.m. AD149 PSYC TR 11:00 a.m. 12:15 p.m. AD149 PSYC TR 1:00 p.m. 2:15 p.m. AD149 Instructor: Robyn Inmon, Assistant Professor in Psychology Contact Information: rinmon@southplainscollege.edu Phone: , ext Office: AD135 Office Hours: Mondays: 9:30 a.m. to 10:55 a.m. Tuesdays: 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesdays: 9:30 a.m. to 10:55 a.m. Thursdays: 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Fridays: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (I am often in meetings on Fridays which take me out of my office, so be sure to schedule an appointment on Fridays.) Final Exams: PSYC MW 1:00 p.m. 2:15 p.m. WED. Dec :15 a.m. PSYC MW 2:30 p.m. 3:45 p.m. MON. Dec. 10 3:15 p.m. PSYC TR 9:30 a.m. 10:45 a.m. THU. Dec. 13 8:00 a.m. PSYC TR 11:00 a.m. 12:15 p.m. TUE. Dec :15 a.m. PSYC TR 1:00 p.m. 2:15 p.m. THU. Dec :15 a.m. Academic Integrity - See SPC General Catalog, p. 23 and p.11 of the Student Guide. You are expected to do your own work. You may not work with another person to complete your quizzes, exams, or any other assignment given as homework. You may not copy another student s work and present it as your own. You may not allow another student to copy your work. This is your reminder that any form of cheating will not be tolerated. Complete honesty is required of the student in the presentation of any and all phases of course work. This applies to quizzes, class exams, final examinations, and daily reports and term papers. - SPC General Catalog, p. 23. If the instructor determines that cheating is occurring or an assignment has been plagiarized the resulting grade will be zero for that assignment. A second offense will result in failure of the course. 5

6 Guidelines for Classroom Behavior I would like to welcome all students into an environment that creates a sense of community, pride, courtesy and respect; we are all here to work cooperatively and to learn together. In order to create a smooth and harmonious learning community, please make every attempt to come to all the class sessions, to come to class on time, and to stay until the end of the class unless you have informed the instructor that you must leave early. There may be a time when you are unavoidably late for class. In that case, please come into the room quietly and choose a seat closest to the entrance. Please see me after class to record your attendance; otherwise you will be marked absent. Once the class session has begun, please do not leave the room and then re-enter unless it is an emergency. If you miss a class meeting for any reason, you are responsible for all material covered, for announcements made in your absence, and for acquiring any materials that may have been distributed in class. It is important that we are all able to stay focused on the class lecture/discussion and not have disruptive behaviors in the class. For this reason, only one person at a time in the class should be speaking. Side conversations are distracting for surrounding students and for me. Also, it is very rude to read papers, sleep or work on assignments for other classes in this class. If you feel the need to do any of these things you may leave and return the next class. For additional information on student misconduct refer to pages of the Student Guide. Failure to abide by policies may result in expulsion from the class and an F for the semester. As you can see, simple norms of courtesy should be sufficient to have our class run in the best interests of all of us. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. Cell Phones, Pagers, and other Electronic Devices Cellular phones, pagers and other electronic devices will not be used for this course. Cell phones should be set in a manner that will not cause disruption in the classroom (either silenced of off) and placed out of sight of the instructor. Any student seen using a cell phone during class will be asked to leave the class immediately. Any devices that ring, beep, or otherwise disrupt the classroom during an exam will result in the student s exam being taken up immediately. The use of any electronic device during an exam will result in immediate expulsion from the class and a grade of zero (0) will be given for the exam. The use of a lap top during class is not permitted. Attendance You are expected to attend class each time it meets. Regular attendance is to your advantage, as test questions will include information from the lecture, class discussion and other material presented in class. Roll will be taken at each class session and a record of attendance maintained. Students will be allowed three (3) absences during the semester. Upon the fourth (4 th ) absence, a student may be administratively withdrawn from the course with a grade of U. Any student missing four consecutive classes will automatically be dropped from the course. Tardiness: Being late does not constitute being absent but it is very disruptive and rude to come to class late so allow enough time in your schedule to arrive a few minutes early to class. If you do arrive late, quietly take a seat closest to the entrance. Two tardies will equal one absence. 6

7 Grading Policy: 1) Learning Curve on PsychPortal (64 pts./8%) Students will complete 32 self-paced exercises (worth 2 pts. Each). These game-like exercises will help in students understanding of key concepts and chapter material, and identify areas for further study. 2) Pre-Lecture Quizzes on PsychPortal (100 pts./12%) Prior to class lectures students will complete 10 quizzes consisting of questions over material in that chapter. 3) Class Activities/Homework (50 pts./6%) During the semester, students will have opportunities to complete activities in class or as homework assignments. Participation in these activities/assignments will provide the opportunity for students to apply the concepts learned in the course to real-life experiences. 4) Written Assignment (150 pts./18%) Students will complete one written assignment (essay) over an assigned topic provided by the instructor. Further details will be provided later in the semester. 5) Exams (480 points/56%) There will be 4 class exams each worth 120 points. The final exam will not be comprehensive. Exams will consist of multiple-choice items. The test questions will cover the chapters assigned, lecture notes, and class discussions over material that may or may not be in your text. Students should make every effort to take each exam on the scheduled date. Students who miss a scheduled exam can make it up after taking their final exam in December. A student will be allowed to make-up only one missed exam. Failure to take a second exam on the scheduled date will result in a zero (0) for that exam. Failure to take an exam on the scheduled date for a third time will result in the student being administratively dropped from the course. All electronic devices will be turned off and put out of sight during exams. Any violation of this rule will result in a zero (0) for that exam. No hats, caps, or any type of headwear (including earphones) will be allowed during an exam. Grading Scale 765 pts. to 850 pts. = A (90% -100%) 680 pts. to 764 pts. = B (80% - 89%) 595 pts. to 679 pts. = C (70% - 79%) 510 pts. to 594 pts. = D (60% - 69%) 0 pts. to 509 pts. = F (0% - 59%) Any student concerned with their grade is welcome to meet with the instructor throughout the semester to discuss ways of improving study habits, test-taking skills, etc. Disabilities Statement: Students with disabilities, including but not limited to physical, psychiatric, or learning disabilities, who wish to request accommodations in this class should notify the Special Services Office early in the semester so that the appropriate arrangements may be made. 7

8 In accordance with federal law, a student requesting accommodations must provide acceptable documentation of his/her disability to the Special Services Coordinator, Eric Awbrey on the Levelland Campus and Dawn Valles on the Reese Campus. For more information, call or visit the Special Services Office in the Student Services building, ext ***Lecture notes over the Power Point presentations I use in class are available on Blackboard. Students are encouraged to read each chapter in the book and print out the power point notes prior to each class.*** Semester Schedule for Chapter Coverage in General Psychology Week 1 Week 2 Prologue: The Story of Psychology Ch. 1 Thinking Critically with Psychological Science Week 3 Ch. 12 Stress and Health (pp ) Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Exam I: Prologue, Ch. 1 and Ch. 12 (Stress) Ch. 2 The Biology of Mind Ch. 3 Consciousness and the Two-Track Mind Ch. 6 Sensation and Perception Week 8 Exam II: Ch. 2, 3, and 6 Week 9 Week 10 Ch. 7 Learning Ch. 8 Memory Week 11 Exam III: Ch. 7 and 8 Week 12 Weeks 13 & 14 Week 15 Week 16 Ch. 13 Personality Ch. 15 Psychological Disorders Ch. 16 Therapy Final Exam 8