General Psychology Syllabus for 2014-2015
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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Course

PSYC-2301-012 General Psychology

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: RDNG 0331-minimum grade of C or a score on a state-approved test indicating college-level reading skills

Course Description

General Psychology is a survey of the major psychological topics, theories and approaches to the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

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\ Required: Psychsmart, 2nd Edition

\                    McGraw Hill Publishers,ISBN 9780078035234

\ Used textbooks are acceptable for this course.  

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Supplies

You will need access to a computer with an Internet connection and Microsoft Office software. You must be able to save your files in a .doc or .docx  or .rtf format. It is more convenient to hav

Student Performance

LEARNING OUTCOMES

After studying the material presented in this course of study, the student will be able to do the following:

1. Define psychology and list and discuss the goals of psychology
2. Compare and contrast the major theoretical perspectives in contemporary psychology.
3. Explain what is meant by the scientific method and describe the various research methods.
4. Describe the parts and functions of the nervous system.
5. Define and discuss sensation and perception.
6. Describe learning from the behavioral and the cognitive perspectives.
7. Describe the functioning of sensory, short-term and long-term memory.
8. Define motives, needs, drives, and incentives.
9. Explain and evaluate the cognitive-appraisal theories of emotion.
10. Discuss the nature-nurture controversy in developmental psychology.
11. Define Piaget's concepts and outline Piaget's four stages of cognitive development, describing the major characteristics of each.
12. Describe the major personality theories and projective and objective measures of personality.
13. Describe the psychological disorders and the biomedical and psychological therapies that are used.
14. Describe the social context of human behavior, emphasizing attribution theory, relationships between attitudes and action, conformity, group/cultural influences, prejudice, aggression, social conflict, attraction, altruism, and peacemaking.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

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Expected Student Behavior

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: It is expected that each online student will do their own work. Assisting a student while they are taking an online exam is cheating - don't do it and don't let others help you! Not only could you be caught (and the methods of catching cheaters are becoming more sophisticated daily) but you are cheapening your own education. The only purpose of grading this course (in this instructor's opinion) is to show your level of understanding the material. Education is your investment in YOURSELF - why would you want to cheat yourself?

CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE:

NO CELL PHONES OR PAGERS ARE ALLOWED TO BE TURNED ON IN THE CLASSROOM, EVEN ON VIBRATE.  THIS ALSO MEANS NO TEXT MESSAGING.  THESE ARE VERY DISRUPTIVE TO THE CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT.  IF YOU ARE ON CALL OR HAVE AN EMERGENCY AND NEED TO HAVE THEM ON, PLEASE TALK TO ME BEFORE CLASS.  OTHERWISE, PLEASE PLACE THESE DEVICES IN BACKPACKS, PURSES, ETC. 

Disruptive behavior in class will not be tolerated.  This includes talking amongst yourselves during lecture or oral reports.  This is a college course, and you are expected to behave accordingly.  Disruptive behavior of any kind will result in your removal from class.

PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL OF OTHERS AT ALL TIMES.   

Grading Criteria

There will be four to six exams and an oral project which are worth 80% of your final grade.   There will also be graded quizzes, short essays, etc. worth 20% of your final grade.   Some of the projects will include group work.  All quizzes and major exams will be online.  All graded work will go towards the final grade.  This instructor reserves the right to alter the exam schedules and grading opportunities.

The grading criteria is as follows:

A=90-100

B=80-90

C=70-80

D=60-70

F=BELOW 60

All incompleted work and late assignments will be dealt with on an individual basis.  A minimum of 10 points will be deducted from late assignments, unless there was an emergency that prevented you from completing assignment on time.  The assignments are open for lengthy periods to give everyone a chance to complete them, regardless of work schedules, etc.  This is the only fair policy for those students who come to class and complete all assignments on time.

Attendance

 Students are expected to attend all classes in which they are enrolled.  For any course, this means "attending" to your due dates online and attending the classes on campus that are required.  You will receive two extra points on final grade if you do not have over two absences.   Excessive absences will jeopardize your final grade. 

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Additional Information

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