PSY 150A1 - 001: The Structure of Mind and Behavior
Winter 2011-12
Instructor: Beatriz Alvarado, MA
Office Hours: Daily from 1-2 PM & by appt. online using Elluminate
Email me at: alvarado@email.arizona.edu
Textbook:
Rathus, S. A. (2012). Psych (2nd ed.). Belmont, CA:
Wadsworth.
You will also be responsible for reading any excerpts found
on the course website each day. These are usually short readings,
and they will be posted with the lecture. As the syllabus shows,
you will need to read from the course book every day. To get the
most out of this class, you should read each assignment prior to
lecture/discussion.
ISBN 10: 1-111-18578-6
ISBN 13: 978-1111-18578-7
Course Description:
This is an introductory course in psychological science. The purpose of this
course is to explore a range of human behaviors, to gain a better understanding what we
do, how we do it, and why. We will start by investigating some of the forces that serve to
influence human behavior, such as social pressure, emotions, and drives. Then we will
learn what psychology is and is not, and the tools used to conduct research. Next we will
get an overview of the brain and its structures, and we will discuss the relationship
between what the brain does and what the person does. We will explore some different
aspects of how we process information, including sensation and perception, memory, and
learning and problem solving. We will conclude the winter session with a discussion of
psychological disorders and their treatment.
In this course, a main objective will be to think critically about the information we
encounter in the world. There will be an emphasis on learning to evaluate the relative
strengths and weaknesses of the arguments we are presented with, in order to make
informed judgments about what we choose to believe.
Class Format:
As you know, this class will be completely web-delivered utilizing D2L and
Elluminate. Each class day will have a topic for the textbook reading, and a “lecture”
that will be posted under “Content” on D2L. There you will find the day’s supplemental
information, class assignment, quiz, discussion, exam, or combination thereof. The due
dates for each task will be clearly labeled in the “lecture” and on the class calendar that
appears to the left of the D2L site. Because we only have 14 class days, we will be
covering a large number of complex topics each day. Therefore, it is imperative that you
log in on each class day to go over the lecture, and complete that day’s assignment. You
will have full control over when you log in (morning, noon, or night), but plan to spend at
least 2 hours online each day.
Course Requirements:
Discussions (40%)
Participation in the Discussions is a required part of this course. The goal of the online
discussions is to expand your understanding of the course material. In a regular classroom
environment, we would have group discussions about the readings that would include
questions, opinions and personal connections. Online discussions do the same thing, but
rather than taking place in the classroom, you are posting your own thoughts and
responding to the thoughts of others in D2L’s online forum.
Exams (30%)
There will be four exams during the semester, and you will be allowed to drop the lowest
grade. The exams will be taken on D2L in multiple choice and short answer format.
Exams will be treated as open-book.
Quizzes (20%)
Quizzes will be assigned throughout the course, including during, before and after
“lecture”. The goal of the quizzes is to familiarize you with D2L’s quizzing system and to
help you remember key facts throughout the shortened semester.
Participation (10%)
Your opinions matter in this course. Therefore, you will be required to visit the
discussions of your classmates and make ratings on their comments. This will be
explained in more detail when you are assigned your first discussion. Also, dropping in
on office hours at least once during the semester to ask questions or just to chat will count
toward your participation.
Grading:
Grades will be assessed based on discussions, exams, quizzes, and participation.
Assignment
Possible
points
Discussions
200
Exam 1
50
Exam 2
50
Exam 3 (lowest score
50
on Exams1-4 will be
dropped)
Quizzes
100
Participation
25
Total Possible Points 475
Letter Grades will be assigned as follows:
Total points:
Grade
427.5 - 475
A
380.0 - 427.4
B
332.5 - 379.9
C
285.0 - 332.4
D
0.0 – 284.9
E
Once the final grades are computed for the semester, I will not raise yours
because you are very close to the next higher grade. For example, if after the final exam,
you find that you have 427.2 points which is a ‘B’, will I give you an ‘A’? The answer is
no. In fairness to all students, to raise your grade I would need to do the same thing for
every other student who achieved a 427. If I did that, students with 426 points would
then ask me to raise their grade because they only missed an ‘A’ by 1 point under this
new curve, and so on. The only fair and just solution is to set a grade standard at the
beginning of the semester and stick to it. That is why I do not raise grades at the end of
the semester after final grades are computed.
Missed tests or assignments:
Because of the truncated nature of the winter session and the 24/7 availability of the
course website, missed tests or assignments cannot be completed late or “made-up”.
Exceptions will only be made in the case of extreme, documented, and verifiable
emergency.
Academic Environment According to the ABOR 5-308, Student Code of Conduct, “the
aim of education is the intellectual, personal, social, and ethical development of the
individual. The educational process is ideally conducted in an environment that
encourages reasoned discourse, intellectual honesty, openness to constructive change and
respect for the rights of all individuals. Self discipline and a respect for the rights of
others in the university community are necessary for the fulfillment of such goals.”
Threatening Behavior is Prohibited “Threatening behavior” means any statement,
communication, conduct or gesture, including those in written form, directed toward any
member of the University community that causes a reasonable apprehension of physical
harm to a person or property. A student can be guilty of threatening behavior even if the
person who is the object of the threat does not observe or receive it, so long as a
reasonable person would interpret the maker’s statement, communication, conduct or
gesture as a serious expression of intent to physically harm. The UA Policy on
Threatening Behavior by Students can be found
at http://policy.web.arizona.edu/~policy/threatening.pdf
Special Needs and Accommodations for Students with Disabilities Students who need
special accommodation must make their needs known to the instructor immediately as the
DRC will be closed during the winter session. Please email the instructor for more
information.
Student Code of Academic Integrity Students are encouraged to share intellectual
views and discuss freely the principles and applications of course materials. However,
graded work/exercises must be the product of independent effort unless otherwise
instructed. Students are expected to adhere to the UA Code of Academic Integrity as
described in the UA General Catalog. See: http://dos.web.arizona.edu/uapolicies/.
Confidentiality of Student Records
Please see: http://www.registrar.arizona.edu/ferpa/default.htm
Schedule of Topics and Readings
Date:
Mon, 12/19
Tue, 12/20
Wed, 12/21
Thu, 12/22
Fri, 12/23
Mon, 12/26
Tue, 12/27
Wed, 12/28
Thu, 12/29
Fri, 12/30
Mon, 1/2
Tue, 1/3
Wed, 1/4
Thu, 1/5
Fri, 1/6
Mon, 1/9
Tue, 1/10
Topic:
Introduction to the course, Review syllabus
Social Psychology
What is Psychology?
Psychology as Science
Independent and Dependent Variables
Correlation & Causation,
Neurons, The Nervous System, The Brain,
Brain Function & Genetics
Development over the Lifespan
Nature v. Nurture & Exam #1
Sensation and Perception: Sight, Sound
Touch, and the others
HOLIDAY- No Class
HOLIDAY- No Class
Consciousness & Sleep
Who are you thinking at?
Learning: Conditioning, Behaviorism, and
Reinforcement Schedules & Exam #2
Memory
Psychology and Law: Memory in the Law
HOLIDAY- NO CLASS
Thinking, Language, and Intelligence:
IQ: What is it? How do we measure it?
Motivation & Emotion & Exam #3
Human Personality
Stress & Health Psychology
Psychological Disorders
Psychology and Law: Insanity?
Psychological Therapies:
Do they work? & Exam #4
Reading:
Ch. 14 p. 288-307
Ch. 1 p. 3-23
p. 317-320
Ch. 2 p. 25-48
Ch. 3 p. 51-71
Ch. 4 p. 73-95
Ch. 5 p. 97-117
Ch. 6 p. 119-139
Ch. 7 p. 141-161
Ch. 8 p. 163-185
Ch. 9 p. 187-207
Ch. 10 p. 209-227
Ch.11 p. 229-245
Ch. 12 p. 247-267
Ch 13 p. 269-287
Subject to Change Statement
Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grade and absence policy, may be
subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.