Southern State Community College
Curriculum Committee – December 2010
PSYC 1110 – Principles of Psychology
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I.
COURSE TITLE:
OTM: 14991
TAG: OSS015
Principles of Psychology
COURSE NUMBER:
1110
II.
PREREQUISITES: None
III.
CREDIT HOURS: 3
LABORATORY HOURS: 0
IV.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
CATALOG PREFIX:
PSYC
LECTURE HOURS: 3
OBSERVATION HOURS: 0
The course is an overview of psychology as a science. The course considers different
conceptualizations of psychology, neuro-physiological bases of behavior, perception,
sensation, sleep and consciousness, human assessment, personality, psychological
conflict, motivation and emotion, abnormal behavior, psychotherapy, social psychology,
learning and memory.
V.
ADOPTED TEXT:
Exploring Psychology
Most Recent Edition
Myers.
Worth Publishing
ISBN# 0-7167-1544-9
VI.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
To develop an understanding of the field of psychology, basic concepts and theories
related to this science, and historical contributors to this knowledge.
To identify various parts of the brain as well as their functions… including: the limbic
system, the reticular formation, the brainstem, and neurons.
To explore the nature nurture issue as it relates to psychology and human behavior.
To become familiar with research methods used in the area of psychology.
To develop an understanding of developmental issues relating to psychology.
To acquire a basic knowledge of the psychological areas of consciousness, sensations and
perceptions, learning, memory, motivation, emotion, and personality.
To introduce students to the area of common psychological disorders and various
PSYC 1110 – Principles of Psychology
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therapies used to treat such disorders.
To introduce students to the field of social psychology.
VII. GRADING:
The grading scale will follow the policy in the college catalog.
A
B
C
D
F
90 – 100
80 – 89
70 – 79
60 – 69
0 – 59
Your work may be submitted electronically for plagiarism. Plagiarism is a serious
offence. Work submitted by the student must be the students’ own creation. The
instructor reserves the right to fail any student who submits plagiarized or duplicated
work. A grade of “zero” will automatically be given to the duplicated submissions. The
instructor will be the sole judge in such cases. If a student cannot demonstrate
conclusively that a work was not copied or plagiarized or, in the case of the original
author, was copied without consent, the penalty will stand. (refer to the college catalog).
VIII. COURSE METHODOLOGY
Classes will consist of lectures, class discussions, small group projects, videos, outside
assignments and supplemental materials. Interactive class discussion is encouraged and
staying current on reading assignments necessary to be able to actively participate in class
discussions.
IX.
COURSE OUTLINE:
1. Week
Introduction to course: The syllabus will be distributed and explained
History of Psychology
Various approaches to Psychology
2. Week
Common mental and emotional disorders
Psychological experiments and research
Depression and suicide
3. Week
Physiology and Psychology
Video: The Working Brain/ The Responsive Brain
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Zimbardo
Class Discussion
4. Week
The Nature vs. Nurture – Develop class discussion by breaking into small
groups. A handout to state the student’s current position on this topic will
be utilized.
The Bruce Reimer Story: NOVA Video, followed by the class processing
the video.
EXAM #1
5. Week
Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development
Erickson’s Stages of Psycho-Social Development
Kolberg’s Levels of Moral Development
Life Span Development
6. Week
Sensation and Perceptions Lecture
Psychology of Advertising Video
Absolute threshold and Subliminal messages
7. Week
Sleep and Dreams Lecture, Sleep Disorders
Altered states of consciousness
Alcohol and Drug effects on states of consciousness
8. Week
Motivation Lecture
Zimbardo: Discovering Psychology video; Motivation
EXAM#2
9. Week
Personality Development Theories, Freud, Rogers and Others
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
DSM- IV-TR
Psychotherapy Efficacy
MBTI assignment
10 Week
Learning
Classical and operant conditioning
Ivan Pavlov, and the paring of stimuli
Aversive conditioning
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11. Week
Memory
Group exercises regarding memory
Alzheimer’s and loss of memory video
12. Week
Thinking and Intelligence
Self IQ tests taken and processed
Various types of Intelligence explored
EXAM #3
13. Week
Psychopathology
Video#1: Anti-Social Personality Disorder
Psychological experiments and research
Personality Disorders
14. Week
Psychotherapy
Various methods and schools of therapy will be introduced
Treatment effectiveness
15. Week
Review and Q/A
EXAM #4
16. FINALS WEEK EXAM #5
X.
OTHER REQUIRED BOOKS, SOFTWARE AND MATERIALS:
Other requirements for the course will be at the Instructor’s discretion.
XI.
EVALUATION:
A. There will be four tests over the materials covered in book, class lectures, and
videos. The fifth test will be the final exam.
B. There will be at least six quizzes over reading assignments (10%).
C. The average of the highest four tests will count as 80% of grade.
D. Class attendance is 10% of your grade. Perfect attendance= 10 points, 1 Absence = 8
points, 2 Absences=6 points, 3 Absences=4 points, 4 absences=2 points. Students
who miss more than 6 classes (both excused and non-excused), may be asked to
withdraw from the class by the instructor. If the student fails to officially
withdraw from the class, the student will receive an “F” for the course.
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XII. SPECIFIC MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS:
A. Classroom attendance is mandatory. Make-up exams will only be given if student
has an excused absence. A written excuse will only be necessary if the student is
absent on an exam day. The missed exam must be taken by the next class or a zero
will be issued.
B. Students who miss more than six classes (both excused and non-excused) may be
asked to withdraw from class by the instructor and issued a grade of “F” if they fail to
officially withdraw from the class.
C. Extra Credit assignments can be completed for up to 5 points on exams at the
instructor’s discretion.
XIII. OTHER INFORMATION
FERPA: Students need to understand that your work may be seen by others. Others may
see your work when being distributed, during group project work, or if it is chosen for
demonstration purposes. Students also need to know that there is a strong possibility that
your work may be submitted to other entities for the purpose of plagiarism check
DISABILITIES: If you have any condition or situation which will make it difficult for
you to carry out the work as outlined, please notify the instructor as soon as possible.
Students will disabilities may contact the Disabilities Service Office, Central Campus at
800-628-7722 or 937-393-3431.