Mississippi College PSY 201 Introduction to Psychology Rick Parker- ABD, Texas Tech University I. COURSE TITLE: Introduction to Psychology (3 hours) II. PREREQUISITES: None; approved for core curriculum III. COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course provides a survey of the fundamental processes and concepts of human behavior. Topics include research methods, physiological bases of behavior, sensation, perception, sense of consciousness, learning, memory, cognition, language, and intelligence, child development, and adolescence, and adulthood. Other topics include motivation, emotion, psychological disorders, therapies, etc. IV. RATIONALE: The purpose of this course is to inform the student of the many differing influences on an individual’s behavior and mental processes. The course is designed to enable the student to better understand oneself and others. This course is designed to provide students with a general, overall background for study of Psychology. V. LEARNING OBJECTIVES: General Core Objectives: A. Learn how to explore research, conduct activities, reflect, and assess oneself in learning psychological principles. B. Learn how to present research findings orally and in writing. C. Learn how to work in teams to conduct activities and understand psychological principles. D. Learn and apply information related to personal development. Specific Course Objectives: A. Understand the scientific method, various early theories, and ethical principles that guide animal and human research. B. Be familiar with the importance of the physiological bases of behavior. C. Understand how sensations and perceptions affect human behavior. D. Understand modern views of consciousness and sleep patterns, along with the effects of drugs on human consciousness. E. Be aware of the different methods of learning. F. Be aware of the biological and cultural factors that affect memory. G. Be familiar with what constitutes intelligence and how it is measured. H. Understand the theoretical stages that explain child development. I. Understand the cognitive, social, and physiological changes that occur during adolescence and adulthood. J. Understand Psychological Disorders/ Therapies K. Understand Social Psychology VI. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Mississippi College expects all students to be scrupulously honest. Plagiarism and other forms of cheating will be dealt with in accordance with the policies of the university. Further details on the school’s honesty policy are found in the undergraduate catalog, on the M.C. webpage, and in the Office of Student Affairs. VII. COURSE TOPICS: A. Research methods B. Brain and behavior C. Sensation and Perception D. States of Consciousness E. Learning and Intelligence F. Thinking and Language G. Memory H. Child Development I. Adolescent Development J. Adult Development K. Motivation & Emotion L. Personality Theory & Assessment M. Psychological Disorders N. Therapies O. Social Psychology VIII. INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS Instructional procedures will include lectures, group discussions, reflective activities, and possibly video assignments. These assignments will be completed often, yet some of these assignments will be completed for homework. Other instructional methods may be included also. IX. ASSIGNMENTS: Careful reading of assigned textbook chapters and supplemental materials is expected of students. Students will participate in hands-on-activities, reflective activities, and classroom discussions. Further details will be addressed during each class period. X. LEARNING MATERIALS: The textbook for this course is The World of Psychology, 7th edition, by Wood, Wood, and Boyd. Other materials include possibly internet sites, handouts, and videos. Additional learning materials may be distributed or incorporated into powerpoint lectures. XI. METHODS OF EVALUATION There will be five non-comprehensive chapter tests given during this semester. Test dates will be tentatively announced on this syllabus. Each test will comprise 10% of the student’s final grade. This means that the average of all 5 tests will compose 50% of your final grade. Five tests will be calculated in the student’s overall test average. Students will be penalized for skipping class. If a student misses a class, then he or she will lose 10 points off of his/her attendance average. Students must realize that they start off with 100 points attendance average. A student can miss two classes, unexcused, and still have a “90” attendance average which is an “A” average. However, all absences are counted “unexcused” except for absences that pertain to MC sporting/school events such as basketball games, volleyball games, etc. These MC events are considered “excused” absences. Basically, you can only miss two classes “unexcused” and still have an “A” attendance average. Students can only miss a certain number of classes according to Mississippi College’s handbook. If a student misses more classes than the handbook reports, then he or she automatically receives an “F” grade for this course. Please check the M.C. handbook for the required number of absences that are allowed. Students can not miss more than 3 ADP classes. After the third absence, the student will be given an “F” as required by the program. A student can miss one class without any points counted off; the second absence, however, results in a deduction of 10 points. Each absence after, results in a 10 point deduction no matter whether the excuse is legitimate or not. Students will also be required to complete and turn in each multiple choice chapter assignment at the end of each chapter. Each of these multiple choice chapters is approximately 17 questions. Our class will cover chapters 1-10, 13,14, 15; The assignments will be due the week that the chapters are discussed. Some of the questions will be on the tests. Each student gets 17 points if he or she attempts to answer each and every chapter test question. These assignments are 20% of a student’s overall final average. If a student is tardy, he or she gets counted tardy. Two tardies count as an absence. The total number of tardies and absences will be combined together to figure a student’s overall attendance grade. Keep in mind that the MC handbook only allows a certain number of absences. If the total number of tardies plus absences exceeds the limit, then the student will receive an “F” for this class. There will be several in-class activities, reflective activities, etc. These assignments will compose 20% of the student’s final grade in the course. Most assignments will be worth approximately 5 or 10 points, but some may be worth 20, 30, etc. Therefore, students need to be in class in order to receive credit. If a student misses a class, it is his/her responsibility to contact me, Rick Parker, in order to discuss the work missed for make-up credit. My current cell phone number is (601) 953-7060; my email is Parker10@mc.edu. I can also be emailed at rick.parker@ttu.edu. I am available any time as I will be checking my email periodically Monday- Friday and Sunday. I prefer that students send me e-mails, but if email is not working, then my cell phone is always handy. All assignments need to be completed either during class or at the beginning of the following class period. Late work will be docked 5 points if it is not turned in by the beginning of the following class period. If a student does not turn in a classwork/homework assignment two days after a class period, then he or she will not receive credit for the assignment. Students are responsible for calling me, Rick Parker, or emailing me if they miss a classwork/homework assignment. He or she must call or email me or call or email another classmate in order to get a missed assignment. Rick Parker may email an assignment to a student if possible. If not, then the student must discuss the assignment with me, Rick Parker, in order to receive instructions about how to complete and make up a missed assignment. If a student does not call me or email me, Rick Parker, before two days elapse after a missed class, then he or she will not receive credit for a missed classwork/homework assignment. If a student can not understand directions or instructions from Rick Parker through e-mail, the student must then call Rick Parker (601-953-7060) to work out an arrangement in order to make up the assignment. Students must understand that if they miss class, they must contact me ahead of time or on the day that they miss to discuss the missed assignment. The missed assignment is due two days after the missed class unless prior discussion and arrangements have been made with Rick Parker, your instructor. The lowest classwork/homework assignment will be dropped!!! NO test scores will be dropped!! Attendance is 10% of your overall final average. XII. OTHER COURSE INFORMATION ATTENDANCE IS 10% OF YOUR OVERALL AVERAGE. If a student is late to the class and is marked absent during roll-call, it is that student’s responsibility to inform the instructor the he or she was in class; otherwise the absence will remain on the roll. A student who is more than 15 minutes late to class will be considered absent. XIII. Instructor Information Once again, my email is Parker10@mc.edu or rick.parker@ttu.edu. My phone number is (601) 953-7060 (cell). XIV. Disability Services Disabilities under the ADA are categorized as physical, mental, and learning disabilities. In order for a student to receive disability accommodations under Section 504 of the Americans with Disabilities Act, he or she must schedule an individual meeting with the Director of Student Counseling Services immediately upon recognition of their disability (if their disability is known they must come in before the semester begins or make an appointment immediately upon receipt of their syllabi for the new semester). The student must bring with them written documentation from a medical physician and/or licensed clinician that verifies their disability. If the student has received prior accommodations, they must bring written documentation of those accommodations (example Individualized Education Plan from the school system). Documentation must be current (within 3 years). The student must meet with SCS face-to face and also attend two (2) additional follow up meetings (one mid semester before or after midterm examinations and the last one at the end of the semester). Please note that the student may also schedule additional meetings as needed for support through SCS as they work with their professor throughout the semester. Note: Students must come in each semester to complete their Individualized Accommodation Plan (example: MC student completes fall semester IAP plan and even if student is a continuing student for the spring semester they must come in again to complete their spring semester IAP plan). Student Counseling Services is located in Alumni Hall Room #4 or they may be contacted via email at christia@mc.edu or rward@mc.edu. You may also reach them by phone at 601-925-7790. Tentative Schedule of Topics, Tests, and Assignments #Dates are subject to change but will be announced# Date Week 1 Topic Science of Psychology Chapters C1 Research Methods C1 Week 1 Brain and Behavior C2 Week 1 Endocrine System C2 Genetics Week 2 Test 1 C1-C2 Week 2 Sensation & Perception C3 States of Consciousness C4 Learning C5 Test 2 C 3,4, 5 Week 4 Memory C6 Week 4 Cognition, Lang, IQ C7 Week 4 Test 3 C6-7 Week 5 Child Development C8 Week 5 Adolescence & Adulthood C9 Week 3 Week 6 Week 6 Motivation C10 Emotion C10 Test 4 C 8,9, 10 Assessment C13 Assessment C13 Week 7 Assessment C13 Week 7 Personality Theory C14 Personality Theory C14 Psychological Disorders C15 Week 8 Therapies C16 Week 8 Test 5 C 13,14, 15, 16 Week 8 Make-up test day last day of class