Syllabus – Psychology 100
Professor: Dr. Franklin Thompson
Office: 204 South Hall
Phone: 207-768-9417
e-mail:
[email protected]
University of Maine at
Presque Isle
Psy 100 – Section 3
General Psychology
CRN# 17132
Fall 2009
Office Hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays 3:30-4:30 or by appointment
Class Times: Tues. and Thurs. 11:00- a.m.to 12:15 p.m. Class Location: Pullen 213
Required Text:
David G. Meyers, Exploring Psychology, Seventh Edition in Modules. 2008,
New York, NY: Worth Publishers. ISBN: 978-1-4292-0589-4
Course Description
This class is a university level introduction to the study of psychology and related behavioral sciences. The objectives include exploration of the field of psychology and the study of human behavior. It looks at the history of the roots of psychology and its transformation into a science. Additional objectives include an introduction to the scientific method and psychological principles as they apply to everyday behavior. There will be emphasis on biological, neurological, perceptual, cognitive, abnormal, and social behavior. The course also exposes students to the varied career possibilities in the behavioral sciences. Prerequisite: PBS Reading Credits: 3.
Objectives
Upon successful completion of the course, the student should be able to demonstrate:
1. An understanding of the major concepts of psychology.
2. Knowledge of the various sub-disciplines in the behavioral sciences.
3. An understanding of the interaction between brain, nervous system, body, mind, and psyche. 4. Knowledge of the various factors related to normal human development, including personality,
motivation, emotions, social interactions, and some of the causes of abnormal behavior, thoughts, and moods.
5. A general understanding of some treatment approaches to mental illness.
Purpose of the Syllabus:
The syllabus is the key document for any college course, and it is the basic reference to help guide you through the course successfully. It serves as a roadmap, a source of information, a schedule, and ultimately a kind of contract between students and the professor and university. Please refer to this syllabus frequently, and it will help you to plan your time and energy more effectively.
Technology Requirements:
University students need to develop a reasonable level of computer literacy and technological skills in order to function effectively in both their school environment, and also in their potential career area of choice. All students are required to activate their campus e-mail address and to activate and use their Blackboard account for this course. You must make certain that you can send and receive e-mail through Blackboard. Blackboard is a web-based instructional and course management tool, designed to assist both professor and students in communication, test administration, posting of assignments and grades, and other tasks related to course administration. Any student who has difficulty accessing Blackboard will be expected to contact Computer Services in the Library (768-9626) to seek assistance. Access to the Blackboard website is through: www.courses.maine.edu.
Special Needs Accommodations:
Any student who requires special accommodations should contact Mary Kate Barbosa in the Student Support Services office in South Hall. Special arrangements will be made.
Writing Center Available
UMPI WritingCenter If you require any help with any course in terms of writing, contact someone there. Located on the first floor of South Hall, the writing center offers one-on-one consultations for writers at all levels of course work, at all stages of the writing process. Call 768-9615 or stop by to set up an appointment.
Confidentiality and Privacy Guidelines:
Examples of personality characteristics, symptoms and behavior patterns from real-life cases may be presented by Dr. Thompson, but these will be done in a “composite case” manner. This means that no personally identifiable information will be divulged, names and places will be altered, and features of various cases may be combined for instructional purposes.
Students should not discuss in class the details of persons who have specific symptoms or behaviors, unless they specifically omit or alter any personally identifiable information
Examinations and Grades
There will be four tests and a final exam. The exams will typically be presented through the Blackboard format, and may include multiple choice, matching, and word bank. The final exam will not be comprehensive. Quizzes may be offered under certain circumstances.
Your overall grade in the course will be determined as follows:
Tests (four) 80%
Final Examination 20%
Extra Credit
Extra credit is offered in three categories:
a) A student who fails a test may take an extra quiz to help bolster his/her grade. Points are awarded according to a formula. b) Any student who attends a specific university event or participates in a pre-approved research project conducted in another Psychology class on campus can receive a designated number of points. c) Attendance credit; points are added to your final course grade at the end of the semester, according to the following schedule:
Perfect Attendance—5 extra points; 1 or 2 unexcused absences—4 points 3 or 4 unexcused absences—3 points
Grades:
Letter grades will be based on the following percentages: A(93-96), A-(90-92), A+(97-100) ; B(83-86), B-(80-82), B+(87-89); C(73-76), C-(70-72), C+(77-79); D(60-69), F(59 or below), L(student left the course).
Any test or quiz that is submitted late will have one point for each academic day deducted from that test, unless a written medical excuse is provided.
Attendance and Participation
College-level courses are rigorous and demanding. It is expected that you will attend class regularly. Students who are absent are responsible for finding out what was covered during class time. Class participation is encouraged, as well as asking questions when needed for clarification. Excessive talking and distracting behavior interferes with the learning of other students, so you are expected to show courtesy to your fellow students and to the professor.
Academic Integrity and Student Conduct
This class will be conducted in compliance with the UMPI Student Academic Integrity Policy.
Anyone engaging in cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, or other violation will be subject to campus penalties. Students are expected to abide by the University of Maine Conduct Code.
Lecture Topics, Reading Assignments, and Exam Schedule
Sept 1 Introduction to course and text, Blackboard overview.
Module 1, History and Scope of Psychology
Sept 3 Module 2, Research Strategies
Sept 8 Appendix A – Statistical Reasoning; it will be helpful to you as
you read through the text
Sep 10 Modules 3 & 4 – Neural and Hormonal Systems, The Brain
Sept 15 Module 5, Behavior Genetics And Evolutionary Psychology
Sept 17 Module 6, Environmental Influences on Behavior
Sept 22 ***TEST 1*** (covers Modules 1 – 6, Appendix A)
Module 7, Developmental Issues; Module 8, Infancy and
Childhood
Sept 24 Module 9, Adolescence, and Module 10, Adulthood
Sept 29 Module 11, Sensation and Perception; Vision
Oct 1 Module 12, The Other Senses, Module 13, Perceptual
Organization
Oct 6 ***Test 2***(Covers Modules 7-13)
Module 15 – Waking and Sleeping Rhythms.
Oct 8 Module 17 – Drugs and Consciousness
Oct 12-18 Fall Break
Oct 20 Module 18 – Learning, Classical Conditioning
Oct 22 Module 19 - Operant Conditioning, Module 20 – Learning by
Observation
Oct 27 Module 21 – Memory; Information Processing
Oct 29 Module 22 – Forgetting, Memory Construction, and Improving
Memory
Nov 5 ***Test 3*** (Covers Modules 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, and 23) Module 24-Language and Thought, Module 25 - Intelligence
Nov 10 Module 26 - Motivation; Hunger
Nov 12 Module 27 – Sexual Motivation
Nov 17 Module 29 – Theories and Physiology of Emotion, Module 30 – Expressing and Experiencing Emotion
Nov 19 Module 40 – The Psychological Therapies
Nov 24 ***Test 4***(Covers Modules 24-27, 29, 30, and 40) Module 33- 35 - Personality
Nov 25-29 Thanksgiving Vacation
Dec 1 Modules 36& 37 – Psychological Disorders: Anxiety,
Dissociative, and Personality Disorders Dec 3 Module 38 – Mood Disorders
Dec 8 Module 39 - Schizophrenia
Dec 10 Module 31-Stress and Illness
Dec 15 Reading Day-No Classes
Dec 16 **FINAL EXAM** (Covers Modules 33 –39, and 31)
