Columbia College Online Campus P a g e 1 PSYC 260 DEA Introduction to Applied Psychology March Session 14-54 March 23 May 16, 2015 Course Description Textbooks An introduction to Applied Psychology, including uses of psychology in personal adjustment across the lifespan, in education, interpersonal relationships, marriage, family and parenting, work, physical and psychological health, and in identifying and treating psychopathology. A service learning component may be used as a means of providing students with practical experience with applied psychology. Students will be exposed to major theoretical perspectives in applied psychology and methods and findings based in scientific psychology. Prerequisite: none Proctored Exams: Final Required Text Weiten, W. (2015). Psychology Applied to Modern Life: Adjustment in the 21 st Century (11 th ed.) Cengage. ISBN 13: 978-1-285-45995-0 Recommended Text Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6 th edition, 2 nd printing. (2010). Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association. ISBN-13: 978-1433805615 Textbooks for the course may be ordered from MBS Direct. You can order online at http://direct.mbsbooks.com/columbia.htm (be sure to select Online Education rather than your home campus before selecting your class) by phone at 800-325-3252 For additional information about the bookstore, visit http://www.mbsbooks.com. Course Overview Material in this course is intended to introduce psychology as it applies to personal adjustment throughout life. We will look at the dynamics of adjustment as it refers to the psychological processes people use in adapting to day to day living, challenges and change. This course and the text are designed to facilitate the pursuit of additional information on adjustment-related topics. The course also encourages you to take charge of your own life and promotes the development of active coping. We begin by exploring adjustment as it relates to self-realization, personality, stress and coping skills in daily life. You will have a chance to identify the processes involved in modifying behavior and discuss possible application to your life. We will investigate the interpersonal realm as it relates to self-concept, self-perception, social thinking and social influence, interpersonal communication in relationships, friendship, love, and intimacy. This is followed by developmental
Columbia College Online Campus P a g e 2 transitions, exploring gender and behavior; personality, physical, cognitive and role changes through adolescence, adulthood, and the process of aging. During the section on work and career development, you will have the opportunity to identify the elements contributing to college success and make personal application of materials for career and life-planning. Finally, we will explore the connection between psychology and physical health. You will be exposed to fascinating information on illnesses related to stress, drug-related issues, psychological disorders, elements of psychotherapy, types of therapies, and therapeutic experience. Technology Requirements Participation in this course will require the basic technology for all online classes at Columbia College: A computer with reliable Internet access, a web browser, Acrobat Reader, Microsoft Office or another word processor such as Open Office. You can find more details about standard technical requirements for our courses on our site. Course Objectives To understand the application of basic psychological theory and research to individual experience. To become acquainted with applied content areas and their major theories. Measurable Learning Outcomes Describe past personal experience in terms of relevant psychological theory. Identify milestones of normative development (e.g.; development of gender identity, adolescent development, sexual development, movement into the workforce, aging) and be able to describe the changes occurring during each. Demonstrate knowledge of the etiology of stress and the applicability of different means of coping. Explain how self-concept, social cognition, interpersonal communication, and social influence attempts affect the quality of interpersonal relationships. Identify the factors contributing to friendship, love, and long-term intimate relationships, as well as factors that inhibit the development of such relationships. Identify common physical and psychological disorders and the treatments used to address them.
Columbia College Online Campus P a g e 3 Grading Grading Scale GRADE POINTS PERCENT A 450-500 90-100 B 400-449 80-89 C 350-399 70-79 D 300-349 60-69 F 000-299 0-59 Grade Weights ASSIGNMENT POINTS PERCENT Discussions (8) 160 32 Quizzes (7) 140 28 Paper 100 20 Current Event Assignment 20 4 Final Exam 80 16 Total 500 100 Schedule of Due Dates WEEK ASSIGNMENT POINTS DUE 1 Observation 5 Sunday Quiz 1 20 Sunday Observation 5 Sunday 2 Quiz 2 20 Sunday Proctor Information -- 3 Observation 5 Sunday Quiz 3 20 Sunday 4 Observation 5 Sunday Quiz 4 20 Sunday 5 Observation 5 Sunday Quiz 5 20 Sunday Observation 5 Sunday 6 Current Events Assignment 20 Sunday Quiz 6 20 Observation 5 Sunday 7 Quiz 7 20 Sunday Paper 100 8 Observation 5 Saturday Final Exam 80 Saturday Total 500
Columbia College Online Campus P a g e 4 Assignment Overview : You are expected to complete the reading assignments for each week prior to entering the discussions and completing the weekly quizzes. Reading assignments are posted in the Course Schedule section of this syllabus and in the Content area of the course. Discussions: Each week there will be two discussion topics: Questions and Observation. All postings must be original and intelligible. Your grade is dependent on the completion and quality of your work, including timelines. Please see the grading rubric for more detailed grading criteria. Each week I will list three questions. You are required to answer all three questions. Each answer must be at least a complete paragraph (100 words) in length. Your original postings should reflect your comprehension of the readings and mastery of the material presented. Points for postings are based on how well you have answered the question(s), your depth of analysis, and how well your answer(s) reflects broad research and understanding of the material. In addition to your original answers, you are required to respond to at least two of your classmates answers. Each response must be at least a complete paragraph (100 words) in length. In your responses to your classmates, you might: Provide additional information based upon your readings or research on the subject; Debate what another student has stated; or Provide additional examples to support or refute their position. Do not use comments such as "good posting." These types of comments are referred to as "Atta-boys." Your reply comments should reflect that you have read and understand the readings. You may comment on as many other postings as you would like, but two are required. Responding to others is an important part of the discussion assignment and is essential for receiving full credit. textbook related to the reading assignment and describe at least one situation you have experienced in your own life that demonstrates these characteristics. Your posting must be a minimum of 100 words in length. Your original observation posting is due by Sunday each week. Paper: You will be required to write a paper in the APA format for this course. The list of topics can be found in the Content section of the course. Specific instructions for completing this paper will be posted in the Content area at the beginning of Week 2. The paper will be due at the end of Week 7. Please refer to the grading rubric for specific grading criteria. It is plagiarism to submit work done in a previous course, in whole or in part, and such work will not be accepted. Please take the plagiarism quiz in the quiz section at the beginning of Week 1. Quiz: The purpose of the weekly quiz (Weeks 1-7) is to monitor your comprehension of the information presented in the text reading for each week. Each quiz is comprised of 20 multiple choice questions with the exception of Quiz 1, which is comprised of 10 multiple choice questions and one short answer question. You will have 1 hour to complete each quiz, which can be accessed in the Quizzes area from 6:00 a.m. Monday until midnight Sunday of the week it is assigned. Current Event Assignment: You are required to complete one current event assignment during Week 6. For this assignment, you will review the current news for items related to mental health and mental illness. Select an item or items that catch your interest and share your thoughts regarding the issue based on what you have learned from this course. Your two-paragraph, written assignment will be submitted via a post in the Discussions area under a special topic for Week 6. Final Exam: During Week 8, each student will be required to complete a proctored, comprehensive (Chapters 1-16) Final Exam. There are 70 multiple-choice questions and 1 essay question. You will have 2 hours to complete this exam, which is computerized. Reviewing textbook reading assignments
Columbia College Online Campus P a g e 5 in recommended prior to attempting the exam. If you are not prepared you may run out of time. The grade that appears upon submission is for the autograded portion (M/C section) of the exam. The essay question must be graded by the instructor. Course Schedule Week 1 Bringing Psychology to Life : Chapter 1: Adjusting to Modern Life Chapter 16: Positive Psychology 1. Evaluate the degree to which technology has improved the quality of our lives by doing a cost-benefit analysis (weigh what society has gained against what you believe it has lost). 2. Empiricism is the premise that knowledge should be gathered through observation. However, this type of scientific observation is different than relying on one s own personal observations of life. Explain how these two forms of observation differ. 3. To demonstrate our higher self, please share a moment that you are proud of, such as a good deed you did for its own sake without thoughts of reward or approval? What is a story you can tell that illustrates the best in you? textbook related to the reading assignment and describe at least one situation you have experienced in your own life that demonstrates these characteristics. Your posting must be a minimum of 100 words in length. Your original observation posting is due by Sunday each week. Quiz 1: Please complete Quiz 1, which will cover the readings in Chapter 1 & 16, by midnight Sunday. The quiz will be available from 6:00 a.m. Monday until midnight Sunday. Week 2 Personality, Stress and Coping Processes Chapter 2: Theories of Personality Chapter 3: Stress & Its Effects Chapter 4: Coping Processes 1. Which theoretical orientation (psychodynamic, behavioral, humanistic, biological) do you think does the best job of explaining personality? Why? 2. What are some of the main stressors in your life? Identify the key factors that cause these events to be stressful and the kind of stress involved. 3. Discuss ways in which you might cope with the main stressors in your life and how these types of coping are examples of the topics in Chapter 4. textbook related to the reading assignment and describe at least one situation you have experienced in your own life that demonstrates these characteristics. Your posting must be a minimum of 100 words in length. Your original observation posting is due by Sunday each week.
Columbia College Online Campus P a g e 6 Quiz 2: Please complete Quiz 2, which will cover the readings in Chapters 2-4, by midnight Sunday. The quiz will be available from 6:00 a.m. Monday until midnight Sunday. Proctor Information: Post your Proctoring Information to the Dropbox by midnight Sunday. Research Paper: Begin your paper now by going to the Content section of the course. The paper will be due at the end of Week 7. Detailed instructions for preparation of the paper will be provided to the class in the Content section at the beginning of Week 2. Week 3 Psychology and Physical Health, the Self, and Social Thinking Chapter 5: Psychology and Physical Health Chapter 6: The Self Chapter 7: Social Thinking and Social Influence 1. Many of us have tried to change our health-impairing lifestyles only to find ourselves backsliding into our old behavior patterns. Why do you think it is so difficult to overcome or avoid self-destructive behavior? Is it even possible to do so? 2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of self-discrepancies? Are they a force motivating positive change? Or do they lead the individual to feel dejected and agitated? 3. What are everyday examples of the self-fulfilling prophecy at work? textbook related to the reading assignment and describe at least one situation you have experienced in your own life that demonstrates these characteristics. Your posting must be a minimum of 100 words in length. Your original observation posting is due by Sunday each week. Quiz 3: Please complete Quiz 3, which will cover the readings in Chapters 5, 6 & 7, by midnight Sunday. The quiz will be available from 6:00 a.m. Monday until midnight Sunday. Week 4 The Interpersonal Realm Chapter 8: Chapter 9: Interpersonal Communications Friendship and Love 1. Chapter 8 discusses self-disclosure in verbal communication, but it is also possible to selfdisclose in written form or through computer-mediated communication (e.g., email, online courses). Do you think that people may be more willing to self-disclose in situations other than face-to-face interactions? Why or why not? 2. What are the most important qualities you look for in a friend? How are these qualities different from the qualities you look for in a romantic partner? 3. Chapter 9 suggests that one reason relationships fail is the availability of a more attractive relationship. Does it seem fair to bide your time in an unsatisfying relationship until
Columbia College Online Campus P a g e 7 something better comes along? Do you think this is a conscious strategy for many people, or do you think this is something that could happen without being aware of it? textbook related to the reading assignment and describe at least one situation you have experienced in your own life that demonstrates these characteristics. Your posting must be a minimum of 100 words in length. Your original observation posting is due by Sunday each week. Quiz 4: Please complete Quiz 4, which will cover the readings in Chapters 8 & 9, by midnight Sunday. The quiz will be available from 6:00 a.m. Monday until midnight Sunday. Week 5 Relationships, Gender, and Behavior Chapter 10: Chapter 11: Marriage and Intimate Relationships Gender and Behavior 1. What do you think are the biggest adjustments a person has to make when entering a marriage? Can you think of any strategies that could be used to minimize the stress associated with these adjustments? 2. What do you think of cohabitation as a kind of trial marriage? As divorce becomes less stigmatized and easier to accomplish, would you expect the cohabitation rates to decrease? 3. What do you think are the main factors in our society that have caused the steady increase in divorce rates? What are your predictions concerning this trend, i.e., will the divorce rate continue to increase, level off, or start to decrease? textbook related to the reading assignment and describe at least one situation you have experienced in your own life that demonstrates these characteristics. Your posting must be a minimum of 100 words in length. Your original observation posting is due by Sunday each week. Quiz 5: Please complete Quiz 5, which will cover the readings in Chapters 10 & 11, by midnight Sunday. The quiz will be available from 6:00 a.m. Monday until midnight Sunday. Course Evaluations: Please evaluate the course. You will be able to submit your course evaluation between Sunday of Week 5 and Thursday of Week 7. A link will be sent to your CougarMail that will allow you to access the evaluation. Week 6 Psychological Disorders and Psychotherapy Chapter 14: Psychological Disorders Chapter 15: Psychotherapy Discussions: Please answer each question with a 100-word (minimum) paragraph response midnight Wednesday. Read all discussion postings. Then, respond to at least two of your classmates original answers in no less than a full paragraph by midnight Wednesday. 1. What do you think of the process of labeling people with psychological disorders? Do you think pinning a potentially derogatory label on a person may do more harm than good? Why do you think psychiatrists and psychologists generally support the use of some classification
Columbia College Online Campus P a g e 8 system for psychological disorders? 2. It is not uncommon for students studying abnormal psychology to begin to feel that they have signs of many of the disorders themselves. Did you experience this feeling as you read the material in Chapter 15? What do you think of the notion that normality and abnormality exist on a continuum of behavior? Do you think most people view abnormal behavior as quantitatively or qualitatively different from normal behavior? 3. Some insurance plans strictly limit coverage for mental health treatment, such as paying for only a small number of therapeutic sessions or restricting coverage to the most severe cases. Why do you think insurance companies limit mental health care when even very small physical ailments are covered? What might be the justification for limiting care for psychological disorders? What are some potential problems with this approach? textbook related to the reading assignment and describe at least one situation you have experienced in your own life that demonstrates these characteristics. Your posting must be a minimum of 100 words in length. Your original observation posting is due by Sunday each week. Current Event Assignment: For this assignment, you will review the current news for items related to mental health and mental illness. Select an item or items that catch your interest and share your thoughts regarding the issue based on what you have learned from this course. Your two-paragraph, written assignment will be submitted via a post in the Discussions area under a special topic for Week 6. Post your two-paragraph response to the correct topic in the Discussions area by 10:00 p.m. Sunday. Quiz 6: Please complete Quiz 6, which will cover the reading in Chapters 14-15, by midnight Sunday. The quiz will be available from 6:00 a.m. Monday until midnight Sunday. Week 7 Careers and Work Chapter 13: Careers and Work 1. In this discussion we will explore the Holland Occupational Themes using the link provided above. This self-assessment tool uses Holland s theory to help the user identify three categories or themes to direct the career choice process. After you have completed the assessment, share your findings with the rest of the class. Step 1: For each theme, check those items that describe you. Step 2: Total the items checked for each theme/category. Identify the top 3 categories/themes that create the most accurate picture of you. What are your top 3 categories/themes? Step 3: How accurately do you believe your (3) top themes describe your personality and interests? 2. Research indicates a positive correlation between amount of education and income. Do you think this is because there is a direct cause and effect relationship between these two variables, or are there other factors that might influence this relationship (e.g., intelligence, motivation, socioeconomic status)? 3. According to research, most of the burdens associated with dual-earner households are borne by wives. Why do you think this is the case? In general, do you think most husbands consciously try to get out of household responsibilities? textbook related to the reading assignment and describe at least one situation you have experienced in your own life that demonstrates these characteristics. Your posting must be a minimum of 100
Columbia College Online Campus P a g e 9 words in length. Your original observation posting is due by Sunday each week. Research Paper: Submit your final Research Paper to the correct Dropbox folder by midnight Sunday. Quiz 7: Please complete Quiz 7, which will cover the readings in Chapter 13, by midnight Sunday. The quiz will be available from 6:00 a.m. Monday until midnight Sunday. Week 8 Development and Expression of Sexuality Chapter 12: Development and Expression of Sexuality 1. Do you think sex is strictly a biological need, or do you believe that psychological factors play a more important role? 2. There seems to be an inconsistency between many people s tendency to avoid talking about sex and the prevalence of sexual activity portrayed in the media (e.g., films, television, books). Why do you think it seems easier for us to read about and watch sex than it is to talk about it? 3. Having a low level of sexual desire is labeled as a disorder, hypoactive sexual desire. However, it is normal to expect that the level of sexual desire will vary from person to person and throughout one s lifetime. At what point does low sexual desire become something that is wrong and in need of treatment? What factors should be taken into consideration? textbook related to the reading assignment and describe at least one situation you have experienced in your own life that demonstrates these characteristics. Your posting must be a minimum of 100 words in length. Your original observation posting is due by Midnight CT Saturday this week. Final Exam: Please complete the Final, which will cover the readings from Chapters 1-16, by Midnight CT Saturday. The exam will be available beginning at 6:00 a.m. Monday. The Final Exam is proctored and computerized. You will have a two-hour time limit to complete the exam. Course Policies Student Conduct All Columbia College students, whether enrolled in a land-based or online course, are responsible for behaving in a manner consistent with Columbia College's Student Conduct Code and Acceptable Use Policy. Students violating these policies will be referred to the office of Student Affairs and/or the office of Academic Affairs for possible disciplinary action. The Student Code of Conduct and the Computer Use Policy for students can be found in the Columbia College Student Handbook. The Handbook is available online; you can also obtain a copy by calling the Student Affairs office (Campus Life) at 573-875-7400. The teacher maintains the right to manage a positive learning environment, and all students must adhere to the conventions of online etiquette. Plagiarism Your grade will be based in large part on the originality of your ideas and your written presentation of these ideas. Presenting the words, ideas, or expression of another in any form as your own is plagiarism. Students who fail to properly give credit for information contained in their written work
Columbia College Online Campus P a g e 10 (papers, journals, exams, etc.) are violating the intellectual property rights of the original author. For proper citation of the original authors, you should reference the appropriate publication manual for your degree program or course (APA, MLA, etc.). Violations are taken seriously in higher education and may result in a failing grade on the assignment, a grade of "F" for the course, or dismissal from the College. Collaboration conducted between students without prior permission from the instructor is considered plagiarism and will be treated as such. Spouses and roommates taking the same course should be particularly careful. All required papers may be submitted for textual similarity review to Turnitin.com for the detection of plagiarism. All submitted papers may be included in the Turnitin.com reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism. This service is subject to the Terms and Conditions of Use posted on the Turnitin.com site. Students are strongly encouraged to take the plagiarism tutorial that can be found in your course content area in D2L. Plagiarism in this course, will include work done in a previous course in whole or in part, and will not be accepted. Non-Discrimination There will be no discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, ideology, political affiliation, veteran status, age, physical handicap, or marital status. Disability Services Students with documented disabilities who may need academic services for this course are required to register with the Coordinator for Disability Services at (573) 875-7626. Until the student has been cleared through the disability services office, accommodations do not have to be granted. If you are a student who has a documented disability, it is important for you to read the entire syllabus before enrolling in the course. The structure or the content of the course may make an accommodation not feasible. Online Participation You are expected to read the assigned texts and participate in the discussions and other course activities each week. Assignments should be posted by the due dates stated on the grading schedule in your syllabus. If an emergency arises that prevents you from participating in class, please let your instructor know as soon as possible. Attendance Policy Attendance for a week will be counted as having submitted a course assignment for which points have been earned during that week of the session or if the proctoring information has been submitted or the plagiarism quiz taken if there is no other assignment due that week. A class week is defined as the period of time between Monday and Sunday (except for Week 8, when the week and the course will end on Saturday at midnight). The course and system deadlines are all based on the Central Time Zone. Cougar E-mail All students are provided a CougarMail account when they enroll in classes at Columbia College. You are responsible for monitoring e-mail from that account for important messages from the College and from your instructor. You may forward your Cougar e-mail account to another account; however, the College cannot be held responsible for breaches in security or service interruptions with other e-mail providers. Students should use e-mail for private messages to the instructor and other students. The class discussions are for public messages so the class members can each see what others have to say about
Columbia College Online Campus P a g e 11 any given topic and respond. Late Assignment Policy An online class requires regular participation and a commitment to your instructor and your classmates to regularly engage in the reading, discussion and writing assignments. Although most of the online communication for this course is asynchronous, you must be able to commit to the schedule of work for the class for the next eight weeks. You must keep up with the schedule of reading and writing to successfully complete the class. Late assignments will receive ZERO credit. Course Evaluation You will have the opportunity to evaluate the course near the end of the session. Course evaluations will open on Sunday of Week 5 and will remain open until Thursday of Week 7. A link will be sent to your CougarMail that will allow you to access the evaluation. Be assured that the evaluations are anonymous and that your instructor will not be able to see them until after final grades are submitted. Proctor Policy Students taking courses that require proctored exams must submit their completed proctor request forms to their instructors by the end of the second week of the session. Proctors located at Columbia College campuses are automatically approved. The use of Proctor U services is also automatically approved. The instructor of each course will consider any other choice of proctor for approval or denial. Additional proctor choices the instructor will consider include: public librarians, high school or college instructors, high school or college counseling services, commanding officers, education service officers, and other proctoring services. Personal friends, family members, athletic coaches and direct supervisors are not acceptable. Additional Resources Orientation for New Students This course is offered online, using course management software provided by Desire2Learn and Columbia College. The Student Manual provides details about taking an online course at Columbia College. You may also want to visit the course demonstration to view a sample course before this one opens. Technical Support If you have problems accessing the course or posting your assignments, contact your instructor, the Columbia College Helpdesk, or the D2L Helpdesk for assistance. Contact information is also available within the online course environment. CCHelpDesk@ccis.edu 800-231-2391 ex. 4357 helpdesk@desire2learn.com 877-325-7778 Online Tutoring Smarthinking is a free online tutoring service available to all Columbia College students. Smarthinking provides real-time online tutoring and homework help for Math, English, and Writing. The Writing Center can be used for writing assistance in any course. Smarthinking also provides access to live tutorials in writing and math, as well as a full range of study
Columbia College Online Campus P a g e 12 resources, including writing manuals, sample problems, and study skills manuals. You can access the service from wherever you have a connection to the Internet. I encourage you to take advantage of this free service provided by the college. Access Smarthinking through CougarTrack under Students->Academics->Academic Resources. Grading Criteria Discussions Paper Criteria Description Points Original Answers Reply Comments Observation Answers each question posed with at least a one-paragraph answer (100 words minimum). All answers must be original and intelligible. Content of answer shows analysis, broad research, and an understanding of the material. Minimum of two reply comments to other classmates original answers. Replies must be in paragraph format (100 words minimum), be original, and show that you understand the material. Your reply should add to the conversation, provide more insight derived from the readings, and either respectfully debate or academically support your classmates answer. Attaboy replies, such as Good job or I agree alone will not be accepted. Less than two comments or one sentence comments will not be graded. Your personal observation must be original, intelligible, and show an understanding of the week s psychological theories and how they may be applied to real-world situations. Total 20 Criteria Description Points Content Organization/ Mechanics Paper is written in APA format. The paper is well thought out with good coverage of the material. References are relevant and support original positions made by the student. Paper is written using proper English and with few to no grammar/spelling mistakes. Paragraphs are organized in a coherent fashion with relevant transitions between ideas. Conclusion Paper includes a strong, academic conclusion. 10 APA components Includes a Title Page, Abstract, and Reference Page in the APA format. Each element is worth 5 points Abstract Includes a distinct abstract in APA format. 5 References Both in-text and reference page sources are properly cited using the APA citation style. Word Count The body of the paper must be 1,500-2,000 words. 10 Total 100 10 5 5 50 5 15 5