Tulsa Community College
Northeast Campus
Spring 2013
Course Syllabus
PSY 1113 – Introduction to Psychology
Days:
Time:
Room:
Call #:
Wednesdays - 16 weeks
5:30pm – 8:20pm
NE 1358
20195
Contacting your instructor
Instructor: Amy Howard, LCSW
Message Phone: 918-595-7473
Email: amy.howard1@tulsacc.edu
Contacting the division office
Division: Liberal Arts
Office: NE2425
COURSE PREREQUISITE: None
Office Hours: By Appointment
ACS Office: A151
Division Associate Dean: Ernie Evans
Phone: 918-595-7089
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course will survey some of the major areas of study in psychology
including: history of psychology, research methods, the brain and behavior, states of consciousness,
learning, memory, personality, social psychology, and psychological disorders. No laboratory.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
1. Introduce psychology as a scientific discipline and examine some of the key research areas and
issues that psychologists investigate
2. Increase understanding of the scientific method and how it is used to answer questions about
behavior and mental processes
3. Show how many psychological findings have practical application and can be used to improve and
enhance your life
TEXTBOOK AND OTHER MATERIALS:
 Required text: Discovering Psychology, 5th Edition, by Don & Sandra Hockenbury (Worth
Publishers), 2010, ISBN: 978-1429216500
 Not required but available: Study Guide to Accompany Discovering Psychology 5e by Cornelius
Rea, (Worth Publishers), 2010: ISBN: 978-1429217484
NEXT COURSE (S) IN SEQUENCE:
 PSY 1313 – Human Relations
 PSY 2023 – Developmental Psychology
 PSY 2053 – Social Psychology
 PSY 2423 – Introduction to Abnormal Psychology
COMMUNICATIONS:
Email: All TCC students receive a designated “MyTCC” email address
(ex: jane_doe@mail.tulsacc.edu). All communications to you about TCC and course assignments
will be sent to your MyTCC email address; and you must use MyTCC email to send email to, and
receive email from, the instructor regarding this course.
Inclement Weather: TCC rarely closes. If extreme weather conditions or emergency situations
arise, TCC always gives cancellation notices to radio and television stations. This information is
also posted on the TCC website (www.tulsacc.edu).
GENERAL EDUCATION GOALS: General Education courses at TCC ensure that our graduates gain
skills, knowledge, and abilities that comprise a common foundation for their higher education and a
backdrop for their work and personal lives. TCC’s General Education goals are: Critical Thinking, Effective
Communication, Engaged Learning, and Technological Proficiency.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: TCC provides accommodations for qualifying students in compliance
with the Americans with Disabilities Act. For information, students may contact the disabled Student
Resource Center, 918-595-7115, or the Resource Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, 918-5957428V, 918-595-7434TTY.
INSTITUTIONAL STATEMENT: Each student is responsible for being aware of the information contained
in the TCC Catalog, the TCC Student Policies & Resources Handbook, and semester information listed in
the class schedule. All information may be viewed on the TCC website: www.tulsacc.edu
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Academic dishonesty (cheating) is defined as the deception of others about
one’s own work or about the work of another. Academic dishonesty or misconduct is not condoned or
tolerated at campuses within the Tulsa Community College system. Tulsa Community College adopts a
policy delegating certain forms of authority for disciplinary action to the faculty. Such disciplinary actions
delegated to the faculty include, but are not limited to, the dismissal of disrespectful or disorderly students
from classes. In the case of academic dishonesty a faculty member may:
 Require the student to redo an assignment or test, or require the student to complete a substitute
assignment or test;
 Record a "zero" for the assignment or test in question;
 Recommend to the student that the student withdraw from the class, or administratively withdraw
the student from the class;
 Record a grade of "F" for the student at the end of the semester. Faculty may request that
disciplinary action be taken against a student at the administrative level by submitting such a
request to the Dean of Student Services.
COURSE WITHDRAWL: The deadline to withdraw from a course shall not exceed 3/4 the duration of any
class. Check the TCC Academic Calendar for the deadline that applies to the course(s). Begin the process
with a discussion with the faculty member assigned to the course. Contact the Advisement Office at any
TCC campus to initiate withdrawal from a course ('W' grade) or to change from Credit to Audit. Withdrawal
and/or change to an audit from a course after the drop/add period can alter the financial aid award for the
current and future semesters. Students may receive an outstanding bill from TCC if the recalculation
leaves a balance due to TCC. Students who stop participating in the course and fail to withdraw may
receive a course grade of “F,” which may have financial aid consequences for the student.
CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE: Open and mutually respectful communication of varied opinions, beliefs, and
perspectives during classroom or online discussion encourages the free exchange of ideas that is essential
to higher learning and to the ability to learn from each other. Students are expected to turn off or place on
silent all electronic devices during class. This also includes turning off I-Pods and refraining from texting
during class. Ten points (10 points) will be deducted from a student’s grade for each violation of this policy.
ATTENDANCE & PARTICIPATION: Since this is an 8 week course attendance is very important. It is the
responsibility of the student to attend class with appropriate materials and be punctual. The student is
encouraged to avoid excessive absences and tardiness. Poor attendance does have an adverse effect on
the students’ grade as attendance points are built into the final point calculation. If excessive absences
become a problem an excessive absence notice may be initiated. Participation points will be given for
class participation in discussions. Please feel free to speak in class during open discussions. No two
people think the same and on one person should dominate the discussion. Please be mindful of
participation points during discussions as I will also be during discussions.
LATE ASSIGNMENTS & MAKE UP WORK: Late assignments may be accepted at the beginning of the
next class period for a 15% reduction in grade. After that no late assignments will be accepted. Quizzes
will not be able to be taken late.
SYLLABUS CHANGES: Occasionally, changes to the syllabus may be necessary. Students will be
notified of any changes to the syllabus in writing and/or on blackboard.
EVALUATION TECHNIQUES:
Exams will be drawn from lectures, class discussions, and guest lectures as well as reading assignments.
Course work will be measured in terms of quality of content, precise use of the English language & overall
participation as a member of the class. ALL assignments done outside of class should be proofread &
MUST BE TYPED or they will not be accepted. See Attendance & participation for more details.
FORMAT FOR PAPERS:
Out of class assignments should be typed. Font size should be no more than 12 (Times New Roman) and
one-inch margins should be used. See the instructor if additional help is needed.
EXTRA CREDIT: There may be options for open credit, however it will be at the instructors discretion and
will be announced in class only.
GRADING SCALE:
Final grades will be assigned on the basis of the total number of points accumulated during the semester,
using the following scale:
Point Total
Percentage
Letter Grade
450-407 points
100%-90%
A
409-362 points
89%-80%
B
369-315 points
79%-70%
C
329-271 points
69%-60%
D
Below 270 points
59% or below
F
ASSIGNMENTS:
Quizzes – 175 points Total
o There will be a total of 5 quizzes. Each quiz will be worth 35 points each. Additional information
will be discussed in class prior to each quiz.
Final Exam – 25 points Total
o Final exam will NOT be comprehensive. It will be over Chapters, 12, 13, & 14
In Class Activities – 80 points Total
o There will be 8 in class activities that will be 10 points each. Again, attendance and participation
are important since these activities will NOT be allowed to be made up.
Attendance & Participation – 80 points Total
o It is important for you to both attend and participate in class.
Reflection Journal – 10 points Total
o There will be 5 topics given during class for a take home reflection journal entry, 1 – 2 pages
(typewritten) in length.
Writing Assignment – 40 points Total
o There will be two writing assignments worth 20 points each. Details of the written assignments will
be handed out in class. Each will be 2-4 FULL pages in length with guidelines shown above.
Crossword Puzzle – 40 points Total
o There will be 13 crossword puzzles given as homework assignments. They will be due the
following class session.
Tentative Class Schedule
January 16th
January 23
rd
January 30th
February 6th
February 13th
February 20th
February 27th
March 6th
March 13th
March 20th
Review Syllabus
Chapter 1 – Introduction and Research Methods
Crossword Puzzle Due
Reflection Journal #1 Due
Chapter 2 – Neuroscience and Behavior
Crossword Puzzle Due
Chapter 3 – Sensation and Perception
QUIZ 1 (Chapters 1 & 2)
Crossword Puzzle Due
Chapter 4 – Consciousness and Its Variations
Crossword Puzzle Due
Reflection Journal #2 Due
Chapter 5 – Learning
QUIZ 2 (Chapter 3 & 4)
Crossword Puzzle Due
Chapter 6 – Memory
Crossword Puzzle Due
WRITING ASSIGNMENT #1 DUE
Chapter 7 – Thinking, Language and Intelligence
QUIZ 3 (Chapters 5 & 6)
Crossword Puzzle Due
Chapter 8 – Motivation and Emotion
Crossword Puzzle Due
Reflection Journal #3 Due
SPRING BREAK – NO CLASS!!!!!!
April 24th
Chapter 10 – Personality
QUIZ 4 (Chapters 7 & 8)
Crossword Puzzle Due
Chapter 11 – Social Psychology
Crossword Puzzle Due
WRITING ASSIGNMENT #2 DUE
Chapter 12 – Stress, Health and Coping
QUIZ 5 (Chapters 10 & 11)
Crossword Puzzle Due
Chapter 13 – Psychological Disorder
Crossword Puzzle Due
Reflection Journal #4 Due
Chapter 14 – Therapies
Crossword Puzzle Due
May 1st
Final Review (Chapters 12, 13 & 14)
Reflection Journal #5 Due
March 27th
April 3rd
April 10th
April 17th
May 8th
Finals Exam